Brian Burke and the Business of NHL Event

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Brian Burke gives an entertaining talk on the Business of Sport over breakfast on January 14th @ Petroleum Club


Information here

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Good thing there is nothing going on with the flames so Burke can work the speaker circuit.

[Tyler]

Is anyone else getting tired of Brian Burke galavanting off to every event and promo opportunity he can and running his big fat mouth off?

Jesus, start running the Flames why don't you? We could use a few players who can score some goals I hear.

[Roof-Daddy]

Hahaha, oh man LOL.

It really cracks me up at how there is always somebody ready to over react and flip out over absolutely nothing.

[Muta]

I'll be attending this.

[Rocky Raccoon]

He will be in Red Deer on January 13, 2014 to speak over lunch with respect to "Business Working with the Community"; I will be in attendance and am looking forward to it.

[Lego Man]

Honestly it's like some people forget the Flames have just started the rebuilding process.

Have at lease one seasons worth of patience before the comments for goal scorers please. Those kinds of players are desired everywhere and cost assets.

The Flames were due for a season like this after all the failed playoff pushes - we all saw this coming miles away.

[Northendzone]

to bad brian burke does not have some kind of mobile communication device that would allow him to make trades for 60 goal scores while he is roaming around the countryside....

[Lego Man]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

to bad brian burke does not have some kind of mobile communication device that would allow him to make trades for 60 goal scores while he is roaming around the countryside....

what if there was a system/network of advanced typewriters that were able to communicate with other typewriters in real time? They could even share Polaroids and VHS tapes of each others players!

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Is anyone else getting tired of Brian Burke galavanting off to every event and promo opportunity he can and running his big fat mouth off?

Jesus, start running the Flames why don't you? We could use a few players who can score some goals I hear.

Brian Burke is a big advocate of players getting involved in the community so he leads by example in this regard which is good. Not to mention giving the Flames a high profile in the city and community.

As I pointed out to another poster previously, Brian Burke is an experienced manager and has people around him working on the ins and outs of everyday business.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Is anyone else getting tired of Brian Burke galavanting off to every event and promo opportunity he can and running his big fat mouth off?

No.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Is anyone else getting tired of Brian Burke galavanting off to every event and promo opportunity he can and running his big fat mouth off?

Jesus, start running the Flames why don't you? We could use a few players who can score some goals I hear.

[Muta]

Hey guys, quick update: I attended this event this morning. Here's some tidbits, some may not be revolutionary:

- This is a rebuild, plain and simple. When you're losing, you have to play entertaining hockey (very aggressive, no trap hockey) and players have to be active in the community and volunteer. If you say no, you go on waivers, or you're traded. No exceptions. This is especially true for young players.
- Team is way too small as it is. Apparently smaller in size overall than the Hitmen.
- Flames are wanting to spend right to the cap; emphasized taking on money from terrible contracts that are attached to draft picks - ONLY 1st and 2nd rounders, likely not even seconds (he said 50-60th spots aren't highly valued)
- Emphasized the ability to retain salary when trading players away in order to make them more attractive in the trade market.
- Mentioned there is no 'valuation grid' for to base your transactions off of when conducting monetary transactions; very difficult and other GM's are cautious.
- Mentioned Westgarth is NOT a good hockey player, but brings an element of toughness and intimidation (along with McGrattan) that is instilling confidence in the dressing room. It's a long-term thing, but slowly working.
- Thinks Arnold is a great player, not sure if he'll be an NHL player though. Tough to call.
- Thinks Gaudreau is extremely small.
- Doesn't think Gillies is ready at this point.
- Inferred he's not worried about signing NCAA players, or the ability to lose them at the end of their college days. Said you should be worried if an NCAA player plays for four years anyways; most of the good ones sign after 2-3 years in college.
- Flames scouts will be all over the top prospects game on Wednesday. Entire scouting team will be there.
- Flames are mapping out a plan for 2015; expect to have a high pick that draft. Mentioned this is the most important draft coming up.
- Said Flames need a new arena in order to attract free agents. Most people don't think it matters, but in the hockey world it does. Says the Saddledome is antiquated and the new arena needs to happen as soon as possible.

Anyways, was a great event. Glad I went, got a chance to ask questions and speak with Brian Burke himself afterwards.

EDIT: Burke mentioned that half of our UFA's he will re-sign, the other half are getting moved before the deadline. Take that for what you will.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Muta

- Flames are mapping out a plan for 2015; expect to have a high pick that draft. Mentioned this is the most important draft coming up.

Waves of relief ... washing over me.

Also, I had guessed not retaining salary was an ownership thing, it appears it was a Feaster thing after all.

[ClubFlames]

Aaron Ekblad this coming draft and Connor McDavid in 2015 would be a very nice prize for going through this rebuild.

[Rubicant]

I am happy about virtually everything in that post. Very happy about the prospect of taking toxic contracts with high draft picks attached - I'm also hoping that's what Burke meant when he talked about speeding up the rebuild.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by fotze

Countdown to meltdowns over the Gaudreau comment.

I thought so too, but he never said Johnny won't make it... he did mention that our college guys are being overhyped and people need to tone down their expectations at the moment.

[Burke Salad]

Would you roll the dice on trading our first this year (2014) for say a weaker team's first pick next year (2015)?

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

Would you roll the dice on trading our first this year (2014) for say a weaker team's first pick next year (2015)?

Not a chance.

[smalltownref]

Originally Posted by Burke Salad

Would you roll the dice on trading our first this year (2014) for say a weaker team's first pick next year (2015)?

No. If we have a top three pick in this years draft you take it. Anything can happen next year, the risk is too large. The flames will still be bottom 5 next year and have a legit shot at drafting McDavid.