This is an old-fashioned tip of the hat to one of the good guys in the NHL, Sean Burke. The Tampa Bay Lightning put him on waivers at the start of the season, and when no teams bit, down he went. Not in the organizations plans for the future, he didn't see much action, relegated to minor league third stringer. He took on the role of asst. coach, and even did some broadcast work for the team. His career was basically over, when out of nowhere, the Los Angeles Kings came calling. I can only imagine what the call between Sean and Dean Lombardi, the Kings GM, sounded like.
Sean has put up more than reasonable numbers for the Kings, a hapless team in the throes of a woeful season. He very well might be the last stand-up goalie left in the league. I remember watching him as a kid play for the New Jersey Devils, taking them within one game of the Cup finals in 1990 against the Boston Bruins almost by himself. It's better a guy like this go out in the NHL, not wallowing in the minors.
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