The Los Angeles Kings have assigned forward Brian Boyle to the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League (AHL), Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today. Boyle, 23, has played in 14 games with the Kings this season, recording one point (1-0=1) and 12 penalty minutes. Last season, the 6-7, 252-pound native of Hingham, Mass., recorded five points (4-1=5) and four penalty minutes in eight games with the Kings. With Manchester last season, he recorded 62 points (31-31=62) and 87 penalty minutes in 70 regular season games. Boyle?s 31 goals last season led Manchester and all AHL rookies, as did his 16 power play goals and his six game-winning goals. He was originally selected by the Kings in the first round (26th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Avalanche captain Joe Sakic will be sidelined indefinitely with a back injury, according to a Yahoo.com report on Sunday. The 39-year-old center has been limited to five games in November. Coach Tony Granato said Sakic would not accompany the team to Minnesota for Monday?s game. It?s expected that Sakic will undergo a second MRI sometime this coming week.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired right wing Lauri Tukonen from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, it was announced by Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton. Tukonen, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound native of Hyvinkaa, Finland, has skated in 22 games with Lukko Rauma of Finland this season, tallying five goals, eight assists and 22 penalty minutes. Originally drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Tukonen, 22, has skated in five career games with the Kings (2006-07 and 2007-08). He appeared in 185 career American Hockey League games with Manchester, tallying 36 goals, 103 points and 74 penalty minutes. Tukonen skated in three World Junior Championships for Finland from 2004-2006, collecting Bronze Medals in 2004 and 2006. In 2006 he finished third in tournament scoring with three goals and 10 points in seven games. On July 21 he was traded to Dallas by Los Angeles in exchange for Richard Clune. Hutchinson, 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, skated in two games with the Lightning this season, averaging 14:43 of ice time. Signed as a free agent by the Lightning prior to the season, he appeared in 20 games with Norfolk this season, recording a goal, 13 assists and 14 penalty minutes. The 28-year-old native of Evanston, Illinois has appeared in 97 career NHL games with Tampa Bay, Carolina and Nashville. He has accumulated 10 goals, 33 points and six power-play goals.

Joe Pavelski scored twice, including the go-ahead goal with 8:37 remaining, and the Sharks rallied from an early two-goal deficit to beat the Coyotes 3-2 Saturday night for their seventh straight win, as reported by the Associated Press.

The Avalanche placed Adam Foote on the injured list Saturday due to injuries to his lower back and knee and recalled Aaron MacKenzie from Lake Erie of the AHL, according to an Associated Press report. Foote was injured in the second period of Colorado?s game against Los Angeles on November 22 and didn?t return. He has already missed three games.

If Mats Sundin decides to resume his playing career, he will likely do it with a team other than the Maple Leafs, as reported by the Associated Press. New Leafs GM Brian Burke said Saturday that he spoke with Sundin recently and came away thinking that he wanted to join a Stanley Cup contender. ?I don?t think we fit the profile he is looking for,? Burke said after officially joining the Leafs organization.

The Islanders on Saturday recalled goaltender Yann Danis from Bridgeport of the AHL, as reported by Yahoo.com. Danis played in one game with the Islanders this season, turning aside 27 of 32 shots in a loss to the Canadiens on November 1. In a corresponding move, the Islanders reassigned fellow goalie Peter Mannino to Bridgeport.

Devils defenseman Mike Mottau is expected to be in the lineup for Saturday?s contest against the Penguins after serving a two-game suspension, as reported by Yahoo.com.

Richard Peddie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., announced Saturday that Brian Burke has been named the new President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. In keeping with club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. ?I?m extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Brian Burke as president and general manager of the Leafs,? said Peddie. ?We all agreed that our hockey team needed an experienced, established decision-maker who will make the Leafs a winner. We know Brian possesses the necessary qualities to meet the challenges ahead for our organization and in this market. ?I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Cliff Fletcher for his professionalism and commitment over the last 11 months. I?m delighted that he is going to stay on board with the team as a consultant.? The 53-year-old Burke becomes the 13th General Manager in Toronto Maple Leafs history and brings over 20 years of National Hockey League experience in various roles to the franchise. Most recently, Burke served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Anaheim Ducks from 2005 to 2008. In just over three seasons in Anaheim, Burke guided the Ducks to their first Stanley Cup (2007), first Pacific Division title (2007), and first-two 100+ point seasons (2006-07 & 2007-08). The Ducks also qualified for post-season contention in all three seasons, winning six-of-eight playoff series over that span. ?I?m extremely honoured to join the Toronto Maple Leafs,? said Burke. ?This is one of the most prestigious jobs in our game. ?This is an opportunity of a lifetime to work for a team in a world-class city with passionate fans, solid ownership and a rich history. I can?t wait to get started.? Burke received two outstanding honours in the summer of 2008. On June 6, he was chosen by USA Hockey as General Manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, and was named a recipient of the 2008 Lester Patrick Award for outstanding service to hockey in the United States on August 7. Burke was ranked No. 1 by The Hockey News in the magazine?s Annual GM Rankings in March of 2008, and was a finalist for The Hockey News Executive of the Year in 2006. He was named the Sporting News Executive of the Year in 2001, and was a runner-up for the same award following the 2005-06 season. Burke joined the Ducks after a six-year stint (1998-2004) as President and General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks where he revitalized the team and the community en route to consecutive 100+ point seasons and the 2004 Northwest Division title. Under Burke?s leadership, the Canucks improved their point total in four consecutive years from 1999-2003. Since the 2000-01 season, Burke?s teams have qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs all seven times, playing in 13 total postseason series. In addition, all seven of those clubs recorded at least 90+ points, including four 100-point seasons. Born in Providence, Rhode Island and raised in Edina, Minnesota, Burke was named the Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations by the Vancouver Canucks in June of 1987. Burke left Vancouver to serve as General Manager of the Hartford Whalers for one season in 1992, before joining the NHL front office as Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations in September of 1993. Some of his duties with the NHL included acting as chief disciplinarian by ruling on violations for on-ice player conduct, and working closely with Commissioner Gary Bettman on league direction and collective bargaining matters. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in History from Providence College in 1977, Burke signed with the Philadelphia Flyers prior to the 1977-78 season and won a Calder Cup Championship with the Flyers? American Hockey League affiliate the Maine Mariners. He then returned to school and graduated from Harvard Law in 1981. Burke practiced law in Boston for the next six years, representing professional hockey players until joining the Canucks in 1987. Brian resides with his wife Jennifer and has six children: Katie, Patrick, Brendan, Molly, Mairin and Gracie.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned defenseman Matt Smaby to Norfolk of the American Hockey League, it was announced by Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton. Smaby, a 6-5, 220-pound native of Minneapolis, was recalled on November 27 and served as a healthy scratch November 28 at Minnesota. He has skated in 17 games with Norfolk this season, recording a goal, two assists and 22 penalty minutes. Selected in the second round, 41st overall by the Lightning at the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Smaby made his NHL debut with the Lightning in 2007-08, skating in 14 games. The 24-year-old has appeared in 141 career AHL games with Norfolk and Springfield, tallying four goals, 21 assists and 131 penalty minutes. Smaby played three seasons for the University of North Dakota (2003-04 through 2005-06), captaining teams that reached the NCAA Frozen Four in consecutive seasons.