NHL players are not eligible to play in the 2018 Olympics.
Canada's roster is expected to be comprised of Europe-based players and those eligible from the American Hockey League. Others, such as eligible NCAA players, will also be considered.
"It's probably the first time in Olympic hockey history that so many countries are going in feeling they have a chance to win … us being one of them," Burke said. "We know the challenge. We know we have to maximize every day between now and February. We relish that. In order to do that we've had to put together what we feel is the right staff to do that. We're very fortunate."
Burke, a professional scout for the Montreal Canadiens, played for Canada at the 1988 Calgary Olympics and the 1992 Albertville Olympics, where he helped win a silver medal. He played 18 seasons in the NHL and was goaltending coach for the Arizona Coyotes from 2008-15. He will be helped by another former NHL goalie: Martin Brodeur, who is also part of the management team.
Brodeur, an assistant general manager with the St. Louis Blues and the winningest goaltender in NHL history with 691 victories, helped Canada win gold at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and again in 2010.
Desjardins, 60, coached the Vancouver Canucks from 2014-17 and was 109-110-27. He won a silver medal coaching Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championship.
Dave King, Scott Walker and Craig Woodcroft will be assistants.
"I'm so lucky to be able to work with these guys," Desjardins said. "Already we've had a short time together. It's just amazing when you see the integrity and the depth. It's an opportunity of a lifetime. We look forward to it."
Canada's Olympic roster will be built following five international tournaments over the next six months, including the Sochi Hockey Open in Sochi, Russia, from Aug 6-9 and the Tournament of Nikolai Puchkov in St. Petersburg, Russia, from Aug 14-17.
"We need to find out what we have, but a lot of what we don't have," said Burke, 50. "We'll build for November, narrow our team down and work a little more on team building. As we head into December, we're going to need that to be what we think will be most of our Olympic team.
"There is a process we have in mind. Obviously, we're not writing anybody off. We want to give everybody a chance. We want to identify every player that can help us. That's going to take a lot of work."
Canada will also participate in the Karjala Cup in Helsinki, Finland, from Nov. 9-12, the Channel One Cup in Moscow from Dec. 12-17 and the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland from Dec. 25-31.
"When you look at past Olympic teams and the way it's done, we have a great opportunity for five events to play and be around a lot of these guys," Burke said. "It really is the building of a team over a nice period of time and that's what we know is going to be a key for us.
"I have no doubt that when we get to the games, whoever our roster is, they will compete extremely hard and be extremely prepared, and that's our job to make sure that's what we do in the next six months."
