Burke, who assumed an advisor role with the Maple Leafs after being fired just before the season, has accepted a part-time pro scouting position with the Anaheim Ducks.

“Brian and I discussed this opportunity after Anaheim approached the Leafs for permission to speak with him about a possible scouting role,” said Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) President Tom Anselmi. “We both agreed that taking this role with Anaheim would best position Brian for his next general manager opportunity in the League. We have granted permission and we will terminate his consulting contract with MLSE so that he can pursue this role with Anaheim.”

Burke returns to the Ducks after originally serving as executive vice president/general manager from 2005-08 and helping the team capture their first Stanley Cup in 2007.

“We are happy to welcome Brian back to the organization,” said Ducks executive vice president/general manager Bob Murray. “Anytime you can add a person of his quality to your staff, it makes your organization better. We’ve had success working together before and look forward to doing it again.”

“I think (the Leafs) want to give him that chance to be a general manager again elsewhere,” the source told the Toronto Sun. Burke has been around the rink scouting for USA Hockey of late. Under the terms of his departure, he has an advisory role to the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment board of directors, but does not have a say in hockey decisions.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News suggests the proposed hiring of Brian Burke in Dallas lacks in logic.

“It makes no sense to me to make all of the changes they made in the front office (adding Bob Gainey and Mark Recchi), and then to hire Brian Burke, who would want to do things his own way. It also makes no sense to hire Burke to preside over GM Joe Nieuwendyk. So, no it doesn’t make sense. But I’ve said that before and had an owner make an unexpected move, so I can’t guarantee anything. That said, I have not heard anything that would lead me to believe they are going to hire Brian Burke …”

Shortly after he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Burke made it clear he was interested in joining another organization immediately.

James Cybulski of TSN radio 1050:  ”I’m told Brian Burke and the Leafs have said no thanks to the Kings regarding goalie Jonathan Bernier.”

Bernier has one year left on his contract before becoming an restricted free agent.

As negotiations with the NHL resumed Tuesday, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr indicated that the union was getting close to responding to the league’s initial proposal, which included a decreased share of hockey-related revenue, term limits on contracts and a 22-percent salary rollback.

“I doubt that it will be weeks plural,” Fehr said. “But could it be two? Yeah. It could be two, it could be less.”

The sides have entered gently into talks. This week’s three-day session in Toronto marks the fifth consecutive week Fehr and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman have sat across the table from one another, but they still seem to be feeling their way into the process.

The NHL delivered its initial CBA proposal to the union during a bargaining session on July 13. In response, the NHLPA requested a “fair amount of additional information,” according to Fehr.

“They’ve indicated that they’re in the process of compiling it and will get it to us,” he said. “In addition to looking hard at what they’ve given us and doing our own work, we’re going to have to look at that additional information before we get to the stage of making a proposal of our own, making a counterproposal or doing something else.”

Serious negotiations won’t begin until that happens.

On Tuesday, the three-hour session at NHLPA headquarters largely centered around how the league handles discipline. Brendan Shanahan, the league’s disciplinarian, was in attendance along with Colin Campbell, Rob Blake and Stephane Quintal all members of the hockey operations staff. Veteran Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke also took part.

“We’ve had good discussions across the table,” Bettman said. “I think the lines of communication have been good, the temperature in the room has been good. And so the process continues.”

Bettman has been slow to speak publicly about virtually anything pertaining to the CBA. Fehr has so far been more open about the process, and made it clear Tuesday that his membership is interested in seeing the current system of discipline changed as part of the next agreement.

“It’s no secret that that’s an issue,” he said, “which has sparked a lot of discussion among players.”

The sides will continue talks in Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday and are scheduled to get right back at it next week with sessions in New York on Monday and Tuesday. The CBA expires September 15.

At this stage, Bettman remains optimistic that there is enough time to complete a deal without having a lockout like the one that wiped out the entire 2004-05 season.

“We think that if everybody works hard,” he said, “we can get the job done in the appropriate time frame. I’m not going to place odds on it. I’m focused on making a deal, not on what might happen if we don’t.”

The NHL regular season is slated to start on October 11.

“Rick Dudley’s move from Toronto to Montreal likely before NHL Draft, but Dudley won’t be allowed to work the event for the Habs.”

May 6th: Darren Dreger reports that Rick Dudley is expected to become the next assistant General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens. However, the move from Toronto to Montreal is complicated.

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke and newly appointed Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin are in discussions over Dudley’s jump from one team to the other.

Dudley, a member of Toronto’s management team, has an “out” in his contract with the Leafs, but has done extensive work for Toronto on the upcoming 2012 NHL Entry Draft and sources say Burke would prefer Dudley not join the Canadiens until after the Draft.

Compounding the issue is the fact Toronto and Montreal both have top five picks (Canadiens at third overall, Leafs fifth), an obvious concern for the Maple Leafs, who would rather not share Dudley’s expertise with the rival Habs.

The NHL no longer allows teams to seek compensation when coaches or executives are lured to other teams. However, Burke and other concerned General Managers will push for restrictive procedures to be reintroduced in the near future.

TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie has learned that if Dudley takes a position with Montreal, and it could happen by the end of the month, it would be conditional on him not being able to work on the 2012 NHL Entry Draft for the Canadiens.

Dudley is currently the director of player personnel for the Maple Leafs. He has an “out” clause in his contract that allows him to leave his post in Toronto.

It was reported last week that Dudley is expected to take a position as assistant General Manager with the Canadiens. But with Montreal selecting third overall and Toronto fifth in the June 22-23 draft, the Leafs preference is that Dudley not switch camps armed with knowledge of Toronto’s draft plans.

Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke and Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin have had discussions over a possible move by Dudley.