Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Burke Speaks

FAN · 01-31-2014, 06:50 AM

Burke likes to talk and it's hard to read too much into it. Take Burke's position on NTCs. Burke has at one time or another said that 1) he will never ask a player to waive his NTC because it's something that was negotiated and has something to do with fairness 2) He will never give out full NTCs because he doesn't believe in it absent extraordinary circumstances, and 3) he will not be bound by NTCs given by the previous regime. Yep it sounds a bit contradictory but at the end of the day Burke really isn't a fully predictable guy. You can kind of take his word because he's stubborn but then again you can't take his word because he sets conditions.

In terms of prospects and the draft should you be worried? Yes and no. Burke is really good when he targets a player. If he believes a player will be a star/franchise player he is likely to be right. With a top 3 pick he's been money. With lower picks? Not so much. He is going to influence the draft as far as the first round and what he is looking for in a prospect, but beyond the first round, Burke has always been someone who lets his scouts pick.

The fact is to put blind faith on Burke is to be stupid. Burke is not opposed to driving players with potential to be good players out of town. He could care less if his actions or words lower the trade value of a player. He did that with Umberger and he did it with Kadri until Kadri blossomed. In fact his comments about Sven is similar to his comments to Kadri. Sure you can interpret it as Burke trying to get his prospect to reach their potential, but I think Burke really doesn't care. Burke isn't the type to micromanage. He's all about the big picture. He's not about saying the right things about a prospect to maintain the prospect's trade value. He's about acquiring the necessary players to make the team a contender.

So if he said that the 2013 draft is the only draft he liked it's probably true. Then again, it doesn't mean that prospects from other drafts can't impress Burke and prove him wrong or that Burke is a good drafter. At the end of the day it just might be Burke opening his mouth.

01-31-2014, 06:50 AM	#237
FAN First Line Centre Join Date: Mar 2010 Exp:	Burke likes to talk and it's hard to read too much into it. Take Burke's position on NTCs. Burke has at one time or another said that 1) he will never ask a player to waive his NTC because it's something that was negotiated and has something to do with fairness 2) He will never give out full NTCs because he doesn't believe in it absent extraordinary circumstances, and 3) he will not be bound by NTCs given by the previous regime. Yep it sounds a bit contradictory but at the end of the day Burke really isn't a fully predictable guy. You can kind of take his word because he's stubborn but then again you can't take his word because he sets conditions. In terms of prospects and the draft should you be worried? Yes and no. Burke is really good when he targets a player. If he believes a player will be a star/franchise player he is likely to be right. With a top 3 pick he's been money. With lower picks? Not so much. He is going to influence the draft as far as the first round and what he is looking for in a prospect, but beyond the first round, Burke has always been someone who lets his scouts pick. The fact is to put blind faith on Burke is to be stupid. Burke is not opposed to driving players with potential to be good players out of town. He could care less if his actions or words lower the trade value of a player. He did that with Umberger and he did it with Kadri until Kadri blossomed. In fact his comments about Sven is similar to his comments to Kadri. Sure you can interpret it as Burke trying to get his prospect to reach their potential, but I think Burke really doesn't care. Burke isn't the type to micromanage. He's all about the big picture. He's not about saying the right things about a prospect to maintain the prospect's trade value. He's about acquiring the necessary players to make the team a contender. So if he said that the 2013 draft is the only draft he liked it's probably true. Then again, it doesn't mean that prospects from other drafts can't impress Burke and prove him wrong or that Burke is a good drafter. At the end of the day it just might be Burke opening his mouth.