There won’t be many NHL general managers feeling sympathy for the Chicago Blackhawks and the battles the Stanley Cup champs will have with the salary cap this summer.
Least among them, is the Leafs’ Brian Burke.
“I understand what (Hawks GM) Stan Bowman is going through,” Burke said in Los Angeles. “I had to do the same thing (in Anaheim). I had to make some decisions after we won. They weren’t pleasant.
“It’s not fun to win and then have to peddle guys that helped you win.”
There had been plenty of speculation that the Leafs were interested in Chicago forward Patrick Sharp and that Bowman was willing to deal him.
But when the Hawks traded Dustin Byfuglien to Atlanta on Wednesday, the Hawks suddenly had breathing room.
“We have been in contact with (the Hawks),” Burke said. “None of the transactions made sense for us.”
