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The Tampa Bay Lightning sent goalie Sean Burke to the minor leagues today in favor of a no-name backup. For those here in North Carolina who are unfamiliar, Sean Burke was once the hero and savior of the pre-Raleigh team known as the Hartford Whalers. He had some big-time seasons for a losing franchise, and took them on a vaunted playoff run back in the mid-90s.

He struggled after being traded, suffered through injury, was resurrected a couple years ago in Phoenix, and has in recent years been the late-season veteran goalie pickup or rumor-du-jour every March-April around trade deadline.

He's a pro's pro. If he accepts the assignment to Springfield, it wouldn't surprise me to see him back in the NHL when Tampa realizes that Karri Ramo is no backup. Of course, having traded for Marc Denis as their starting goalie, Tampa probably doesn't have much need for backup. Denis is a horse.