Shanahan and Burke have a history together from their New Jersey days, and it’s been reported the Leafs have interviewed Burke at least once.
It’s not clear what Sean Burke could add to the existing structure and personnel mix that isn’t already there, and it seems unlikely he would be filling the Leafs vacant goaltending coach role as he’s turned down multiple offers for a lateral move to another team in the same dual coaching-management role he filled in Arizona. Between Mike Smith’s emergence under Burke, Ilya Bryzgalov’s success in Phoenix (and not so much anywhere else), and Devan Dubnyk crediting him as a key figure in his turnaround when he looked to be on his way out of the league, it’s obvious Burke is a great goalie coach option — but it’s also well known his aspirations are on the management side of things.