People are over analyzing the GM, President, non GM thing. Let's call a spade a spade, it's all just labels ect..... This "new" format the Flames went to doesn't really change much. The day Burke was hired, Feaster essentially took a demotion to what is traditionally a Assistant or Associate GM role.
Burke is the President of Hockey for the Flames. That means, regardless of title, he is the "final" stop, the "head honcho" of anything on ice related for the Flames. In most NHL organizations, that is the GM. All the Flames have done is create a new position where the "Head of Hockey Strategy" (therefore the head of scounting, drafting, trading, coaches, etc...) actually has a role and title that allows him to do less of the tedious day to day work of a GM and focus more on planning short and long term. Could be a good thing in my mind. But lets not kid ourselves about Burke have a secret agenda.........why wouldn't he want that job. Just like in any organization, hopefully things are collaborative and all levels get a say, but at the end of the day strategic direction comes down from the top layer, and for the Flames hockey matters that's Burke, for most other NHL clubs, that's the GM.
Anyone who takes our GM job knows it's going to have less autonomy than any other GM job in the NHL, and they will be driving Burke's direction, hopefully with some say of there own. That's why I think we will get a more junior guy, someone who wants to get the GM job on his resume, but also might feel like he could use a little more coaching or seasoning from someon with Burke's experience.
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