Congrats to my second favourite NHL franchise; you have just landed a champion. Before Burke's arrival in Toronto, the organization had nothing in terms of a capable front office, no prospect depth, and no marquis talent anywhere in the organization, save for Luke Schenn. The team that took the Bruins to game 7 was the team that Burke built. That organization now has a healthier prospect pool which promotes internal competition across the board. Don't underestimate the importance of that element of your rebuild. Top tier talent no longer inherits NHL exposure by default; they claw their way out of the AHL by proving their mettle. Secondly, he stabilized the boardroom by hiring knowledgeable hockey executives whose opinions all carry weight. No dead weight, no old cronies interfering with hockey operations. Third, he made sure the development program reflected the systems and philosophies employed by the NHL team. Expect to see something very similar happen in CGY. Your AHL and junior players will br groomed from the ground up to play Flames style hockey, which will be based on pride of ownership, accountability, and a hostile brand of puck that will make the battle of Alberta absolutely epic. Here's something to consider: While Feaster's dismissal is not imminent, Burke will certainly be charged with both the task of evaluating and overseeing his ability to follow a critical path to success of his particular design, as well as the ultimate responsibility of alleviating the franchise of Feaster's presence should he fail to execute according to that plan. Your house will be in order much sooner than the Toronto project took, because you have assets that are moveable, prospects in the system, picks in the hopper, and some pretty solid building blocks to jump off with. Good luck, and while I'm primarily a Leaf fan, I'm also a fan of the game. I'll be watching this team closely and with great interest.
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