[browna]

Lost in all this credit is Brian Burke. The notion that the Flames have a plan and that the management and coaches are up front about what each player may have in it, is a big deal, and that's the no BS attitude, and plan that Burke brought.

There was a lot of eyerolling at Burke picking his GM, people searing he was paying lip service to the fact that he was not going to stay out of the way.

You know what, he's hired a solid guy, stayed out of the day to day, and is not trying to get in front of the media, and am sure is turning down a lot of media requests.

Yeah, players (and their agents) who have a choice as to where they want to go, look at a variety of factors. Winning is one of them, and the way this team won shows that the organization, is, well, organized and well run, and a plan in the short and long term, to get them to that stage.

Secondary credit to the owners and Ken King for realizing there was an issue and bringing in Burke. The no BS style was a hallmark of the Sutter era which was able to land free agents post 2004 because there was a plan and not some random method to his madness. The owners didn't like the power that Sutter had, and thus took that away from him....and swung way, way, way too far the other way with the next regieme, and the Flames reputation was suffering big time amongst players (and agents) as a result, and the results on the ice reflected that.

Realizing this, they brought in Burke, he's righted the ship with a plan and following through on it, which has had players from the previous regime had career years in his first full year with full control and, had players choose Calgary over other options, as we as Flames fans are seeing the early fruits of those labors and that decision.