He previously worked in the NHL league office, including as the director of hockey operations, and worked as general manager of the Hartford Whalers, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks—with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2007—and Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as president of hockey operations for the Leafs, Calgary Flames, and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Burke was general manager for the silver-medalist United States national team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

[1] Burke graduated from Edina High School followed by Providence College in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.

[2] While attending Providence, he played for the Friars Division-I ice hockey team, where, during his senior year, he served as captain under coach Lou Lamoriello.

Burke stepped down[6] after one year in Hartford, so he could join the NHL front office as executive vice president and director of hockey operations, under league commissioner Gary Bettman.

Zezel had requested he be traded to an East Coast team in order to be closer to Toronto where he could see and spend more time with his 5-year old niece who had terminal cancer.

In his first year with the club, the Ducks made it all the way to the third round before falling to the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final.

He proposed allowing the NHL oversee a world championship which had potential to a financially lucrative venture while league games were not being played.

[15] During his time in Toronto, Burke was notably criticized for a controversial trade in 2009 with Boston, when he acquired sniper Phil Kessel for two first-round draft picks and a second-round selection.

The Bruins used the picks to select star forward Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton and Jared Knight.

In December 2011, Burke drew criticism in the media for his mid-season extension of head coach Ron Wilson, a longtime friend.

[18] News of the contract broke on social media site Twitter, where Wilson posted that "This Xmas could be better if Santa stuffs a certain piece of paper in my stocking" and "'He came!

[22] After firing Jay Feaster and John Weisbrod, Burke assumed the role of acting general manager during the search for a permanent GM.

[23] After nearly five years on the job, Burke stepped back from his role as president of the Flames' hockey operations on April 27, 2018.

"[27] Following his departure from the Calgary Flames, Burke joined Rogers Media as an ice hockey analyst during the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs in April 2018.

[32] Burke also has four children from a previous marriage, including Patrick, a former scout for the Philadelphia Flyers[33] and as of 2015 a director in the NHL's Department of Player Safety.

On March 4, 2012, Burke and his son Patrick launched the You Can Play project in honor of Brendan, which is targeted at ending homophobia in sports.