[united]

My take...some repetition. Don't shoot the messengers.

• Burke opened with a shot about needing a new arena and continued throughout the session. Seems he really wants one, as many of us do.
• For years now, Ken King has said an arena announcement would be coming in 3-4 months, however today he suggested an announcement was likely 8 or more months away. Maybe he’s pulling a joke on us all and it will be announced tomorrow? The mystery continues.
• The arena complex will have 2 other big features that aren’t part of the arena. Football? Entertainment district? I took it to mean things like that.
• Question from the crowd regarding what will occur first: the Flames having a new arena or the Flames being a contender. (Burke throws a quick arena jab) King says 8 months to announcement, a year in permit getting, 3 years to build, so likely around the same time.
• Flames think that all 30 teams likely have the same top 5 in mind, but all 5 will be in different orders. Regardless of picking 1st to 5th, all teams will get a great player. Treliving says he has had discussions with Florida about 1st overall, but no other details. Flames are very unlikely to move down, but anything is possible for the right price.
• Treliving has met with Cammalleri twice, and met with his agent last week at the combine. There is mutual interest; however term and price will dictate whether the mutual interest results in a contact being agreed upon. Burke did indeed give Cammalleri an offer prior to Brad’s hiring.
• Burke used a top 6-bottom 6 model for forwards in Anaheim, but believes the game has evolved and teams now require a top 8-bottom 4 or even top 9-bottom 3 for elite teams. Believes in having at minimum 2 “tough guys”.
• Burke thinks the turning point in the season was the brawl game against Vancouver. Further, believes the addition of Westgarth had a huge mental impact on the roster, and claimed the Flames collectively got hit way less immediately after his addition and for the remainder of the season. He really really likes Westgarth…not sure many including myself agree, but that’s what it is.
• Burke stated again his belief the Flames nailed the 1st round last year – the best draft of any team – and says they must nail the 4th overall and 2nd-round picks this year.
• At this point there is no rush to sign any of the UFAs or RFAs, though the UFAs will be looked at after the draft.
• On Sven Baertschi: they don’t hate him as seems have become the norm, they simply want him to learn the full game. His two biggest flaws are he loses interest when things aren’t going good and quits – I took that to mean he doesn’t play a “full 60” in losses – and he doesn’t concentrate on playing defence. Compared him to Nazem Kadri and Bobby Ryan, who spent time in the minors to work on a full game despite having tremendous skill. Also mentions that Detroit and Los Angeles do the same with all prospects regardless of anything else.
• The usual stuff about how the Flames have to get bigger. Mentioned the Kings and his Cup winning Ducks as teams who have a psychological advantage over opponents because of size, hitting and resulting intimidation.
• Shane O’Brien was sent down because he wasn’t buying into the Flames’ culture of hard work every shift and in practice. Had to convince ownership to eat his contract. So basically what everyone knew about O’Brien before the Flames acquired him.
• Gaudreau is immensely skilled and received unanimous praise from NHL-level team mates at the World’s, but he is smaller than small. He’ll be fine if he can avoid contact, but he gets hit hard too often. May need to adjust (in the minors). If he’s good enough to make the NHL, he’ll be here, but they aren’t going to rush him or anyone else.
• Paperless tickets are here to stay, but fans can get paper or some souvenir if they want, likely for a small price.
• Burke liked Ward but Treliving chose not to retain him. Treliving would not elaborate why, out of respect for Ward. Burke fully supported Brad’s decision.
• Burke praised Bob Hartley as per many interviews.
• Treliving mentioned how fans get way too excited about prospects, way too fast. Cited an example of when Baertschi scored against Phoenix in his 1st game, 1st shift, and Brad tuned into the Fan960 postgame show and couldn’t believe fans were already declaring him an all-star, etc. Nature of the business, but it’s tough to keep fans realistic.
• Burke was furious when he found out the players boycotted the 3rd jersey for a game. Says players shouldn’t give a damn what the jersey looks like, they should play the same regardless. Also doesn’t understand players’ superstitions and wishes they didn’t have any. Joked that he would love a player who played the same in a hockey jersey as he would in a nun’s habit.