Now entering his 21st season, Burke has overseen the Sharks create a solid foundation of talented players from which to build the franchise around - including Joe Pavelski (2003), Marc-Edouard Vlasic (2005), Justin Braun (2007), Logan Couture (2007), Dylan DeMelo (2011), Tomas Hertl and Chris Tierney (2012), and Timo Meier (2015).
Despite owning the lowest average draft selection amongst all 31 NHL teams over the past 15 years, the players selected by Burke and his staff rank eighth or higher in all major statistical categories, including: games played (5th), goals (5th), assists (8th), and points (7th).
Burke and Will will report to Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson
In addition, Doug Wilson Jr. has been named the team's director of scouting. He will report to Assistant General Manager Tim Burke.
Now in his seventh season with the Sharks, most recently as director of hockey operations, Wilson will continue to work in tandem with Burke overseeing the annual NHL draft. In addition, Wilson will now oversee the scouting department including pro and amateur free agency, along with continuing to lead the valuation analysis for player and draft pick acquisitions.
Wilson has most recently worked on expanding the Sharks reach throughout the undrafted and unsigned free agency markets, which in recent years has included players such as Melker Karlsson, Marcus Sorensen, Vincent Praplan, Antti Suomela, Lukas Radil, Jacob Middleton, Alexander True, Josef Korenar, Jeff Viel, Matt Fonteyne and Jayden Halbgewachs.
"This restructuring and changing of titles more accurately represents the areas that Tim and Doug focus on within our organization," said Will. "Each has been an integral part of our scouting process and the evaluating of players inside and outside of our organization and we feel that our recent drafts and player acquisitions are a reflection of their efforts and expertise."
