ESPN's Scott Burnside takes a look at the likely candidates for a new GM today, a list that, if you're Brian Burke's agent, you want to all be bidding for his service. Yes, there's a very, very good chance Burke heads to Toronto, perhaps as soon as the next few weeks, but they're not the only candidate.

Here's who Burnside lists with a snippet of his reasoning:

N.Y. Rangers: "A source familiar with the principals told ESPN.com on Wednesday that he thinks longtime manager Sather might be looking to step aside as GM of the Rangers."

Toronto: "Cliff Fletcher, no longer tabbed as the "interim" GM, has brought in Al Coates, who worked with Burke in Anaheim, and former player Joe Nieuwendyk. Doug Gilmour is also part of the organization now. Is there room for Burke, too?"

Chicago: "Multiple sources have said there is an unease between new president John McDonough and GM Dale Tallon."

Atlanta: "At one point this past spring, it looked as though Waddell would be moved to a front-office position away from hockey operations. This might be the perfect time to revisit such a plan if ownership wants to pay what would be significant freight to help move the organization forward."

Florida: "With all due respect to GM Jacques Martin, he is ill-qualified to do the job, and the team's moribund performance so far this season (14th in the Eastern Conference as of Wednesday) suggests yet another year without playoffs in a market where the team already has laid off staff because of the economy."

Tampa Bay: "If we were the owners of the Lightning and wanted to bring some instant stability to a franchise that has struggled to maintain just that since its ownership change, maybe Burke would be a welcome presence -- if only for a finite period of time."

Ottawa: "Owner Eugene Melnyk is a mercurial sort, and Burke might be right up his alley. Again, not necessarily fair, but eminently possible for a team that looks to be life and death to make the playoffs."

Burke's leaving a situation in Anaheim where he has free reign, where he's paid well and where he's comfortable with the staff. He's going to go somewhere where he has the ultimate say in what's done, where he can work as a GM and where he's going to be one of the top paid executives in the NHL.

In my mind, that excludes Atlanta and Tampa Bay entirely. Toronto is the most likely destination, but the Rangers could make a move with Sather going into a presidential role, and GMs in Chicago and Florida are on shaky ground. The only way the Senators would make such a move is if the team really tanks this season.

It's not impossible that Burke ends up anywhere but the Leafs — just incredibly unlikely.