Arizona Coyotes Jerseys: Numbers 1 Through 5
Part One: Jerseys 1-5
1. Sean Burke: In five-seasons with the Coyotes he went 97-78-29 with a 2.39 GAA and 15-shutouts. Burke is currently the Coyotes’ Goaltending Coach and Assistant to the General Manager.
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Burke played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings.
He started 11 games for the Devils in the 1987–88 NHL season, including an overtime victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on the final night of the season that qualified the Devils for their first playoff series.
Because he played only 11 games in the 1987–88 regular season, he maintained his rookie status for the next season. The next season, Burke was elected into the NHL All-Star Game, and becoming the first rookie goaltender to play in the All-Star game.
Burke played for the Devils through the 1990–91 NHL season, and then sat out the 1991–92 season in a contract dispute. Instead, he played for the Canadian national team and played in the Olympics for a second time. This time, he backstopped Canada to a silver medal.
As happens so many times when a player does well early in their career, they tend to hold out thinking they are worth more money. Back then General Managers just said “fine, hold out if you want, but we’ll get rid of you soon.”
On August 28, 1992, Burke was traded to the Hartford Whalers for Bobby Holik, a second-round pick in 1993 draft (Jay Pandolfo) and future considerations. He played there (and with the relocated Whalers team, the Carolina Hurricanes) for six seasons. He was voted Whalers’ team MVP from ’93–’97. Burke then played with several teams, including the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, and Florida Panthers.
He then signed with the Phoenix Coyotes, and played there for five seasons, where he was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy and 3rd finalist for the Hart Trophy in the 2001–02 NHL season.
After that, Burke played for the Philadelphia Flyers (for the second time) recording his 300th career win (the twentieth goalie to reach this milestone), and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Burke was placed on waivers by Tampa Bay before the 2006–07 NHL season, but no team picked him up.
He then played for the Lightning’s American Hockey League affiliate Springfield Falcons, (who just signed an affiliation agreement with the Arizona Coyotes) however, he struggled with the Falcons and lost his starting job to Karri Ramo, who know plays for the Calgary Flames. He was then placed on waivers by the Lightning and picked up off re-entry waivers by the Los Angeles Kings.
Burke, a 3-time NHL All-Star (1989, 2001, 2002), officially announced his retirement on September 18, 2007.