Hot off the press……and it’s about time this long, anticipated move is finalized!!!

From Globesports.com (David Shoalts) :

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Brian Burke have reached an agreement on a contract, which is still not official because he has not signed it, and he could be presented to the hockey public as the team’s new president and general manager on Friday.

A source familiar with the negotiations indicated that the only thing that remains to be done is to get Burke’s signature on the contract, which is expected to happen on Friday. Burke has been in Boston all week with his family to celebrate the U.S. Thanksgiving and did not plan to travel to Toronto until Friday.

Burke said earlier that he expected the contract, which covers the rest of this NHL season plus five more at $3-million (U.S.) per year, to be wrapped up by Saturday at the latest. He said there were no obstacles in sight.

The plan is for Burke to stay in Toronto until Sunday, when he and his wife Jennifer and their two children will return to their home in Anaheim. Then the now-former GM of the Anaheim Ducks will join the Leafs on Monday for their three-game western road trip which starts against the Los Angeles Kings.