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Originally Posted by Mike F
The organization had decided before Burke was brought in that it needed a change, thus the Iginla and Bouwmeester trades. What, exactly, is the culture change you feel Burke brought in? Serious question.
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As mentioned, a strong message of accountability and discipline, and then the stability and proven leadership he's brought and proven again, all feeds the change, over the previous few years since Sutter left.
I think all the things Burke touched on his his early pressers, he's done and passed on down the line. For example, the fact that he has pointed out a few times that he expects the team to give back to the community, and that's non negotiable. That gives a glimpse into his values and what he believes in expecting players to hold themselves to a higher standard off the ice. I am sure there are other "standards" that he's communicated to those players and coaches, as his expectations and the organization's, both for off the ice and on the ice, and coaching staff, and everyone has had to buy in over the past 15 months.
Also, the Flames once again having that structure, and strong leadership direction from a proven leader and winner in this league by itself makes players respect, and that helps gives the players confidence that the management and coaches are now all on the same page and have communicated that plan. And that gives players confidence in how things are moving forward.
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Originally Posted by MIKE F
Hartley instilled a work ethic and attitude the summer after the 12-13 season and in the 13-14 camp that was showing results, which carried through the entire season, notwithstanding poor results on the ice.
IMO, for you to try to draw a direct connection between Brian Burke's general attitude and, e.g. Brodie's emergence or Gio's continuation of his great season last year, is some pretty extreme speculating.
Right now, previous regimes deserve credit for putting together the players on the roster (with a few exceptions), and Hartley and the leadership in the room deserve the credit for getting those players to perform. Any credit to Burke is going require some proof.
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Not giving Burke 100% credit, of course, but what has changed since last season? Gio has always been solid, but the emergence this year is a lot more clearer. For a veteran, he's not "learning" any more so much, so (outside of any injury) improvement in him and other vets in their game is more a matter of comfort/confidence of some variety. Brodie as well younger, but he's not doing anything more, he's just doing it more confidently and consistently...looks like increased confidence. Wideman too...he's been here a couple years as well. What has changed since last year to make his game improve? Again, IMO, I think its the confidence/comfort level that comes with stability in the leadership of organization, and organization now settled with GM and coaches, so these vets now know their roles, IMO.
All those intangibles lead to an increased confidence. Confidence that this team is in the right direction leadership wise. and there is a plan of progression...confidence that their role on the team is better defined and their position on this team. Confidence that the organization, the coach and GM are no longer in a state of flux. As I said, all intangibles, hard to measure, but I think that full year with Burke installing his values/putting his mark on the hockey operations, letting the players know where they fit, gives players the confidence that they just have to worry about what's happening on the ice, not all the other questions that were circling the organization.
Don't get me wrong, winning believe confidence and there are all sorts of other things that contribute, but I think Burke coming in and taking over and shoring up hockey operations from the previous situation, has, at the most very basic level, settled a lot of the instability/crap off the ice that lead to distractions which , like it or not, affected players and coaches.