Brian Burke and the Business of NHL Event

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Thanks to those that shared the notes. Burke seems like Sutter with a bigger vocabulary.

If burke looked in Abby and College and loved what he saw Feaster and Weisbrod would still be here, so no one should be surprised that hes just not that into the flames prospects.

Dissapointing to hear they are still figuring out a plan for 2015, other than to be terrible. Makes it seem like 2014 is throwaway for the organization. They've just said fata it and hit 'sim'. Yay oilers..i mean young guns..i mean flames.

His arena comments are interesting. I cant see practice facilities being anywhere near the same kind of criteria as team, management, salary and structure etc. but who knows. Maybe the money is usually a wash and players rarely care about the team as long as they get paid and have cushy workspace.

[ComixZone]

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.

Wants to be involved in the lottery for McDavid I imagine. Fantastic news. No shortcuts. Draft and develop a team identity with massive depth.

If we can land a top 5 pick this summer, and a top 5 pick next summer alongside an additional 1st in each draft (Cammy this year, Glencross next year?), we should be on our way to some nice organizational depth.

Have to think that the ideal situation is for Burke to get to draft Ekblad this summer and McDavid next summer.

I also like his note on Westgarth. Not a good hockey player, but is there to help establish a confidence level in players like Backlund/Byron going forward. Ott and Downie may be UFAs to target to replace Cammalleri/Stajan this summer.

"act as if"

NSFW!

[nik-]

If we ended up with Ekblad this year (still unlikely as the Grease are so bad) and Eichel next year ... well that wouldn't be so bad.

This franchise doesn't have the luck to end up with McDavid. Even if we finish last.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Thanks to those that shared the notes. Burke seems like Sutter with a bigger vocabulary.

If burke looked in Abby and College and loved what he saw Feaster and Weisbrod would still be here, so no one should be surprised that hes just not that into the flames prospects.

Dissapointing to hear they are still figuring out a plan for 2015, other than to be terrible. Makes it seem like 2014 is throwaway for the organization. They've just said fata it and hit 'sim'. Yay oilers..i mean young guns..i mean flames.

His arena comments are interesting. I cant see practice facilities being anywhere near the same kind of criteria as team, management, salary and structure etc. but who knows. Maybe the money is usually a wash and players rarely care about the team as long as they get paid and have cushy workspace.

To be fair, Burke emphasized the 2015 draft as being important because of its quality. He also bluntly stated that there's no way of getting around it, we'll have a high pick at that time likely.

I don't think this means 2014 is unimportant; moreso that the McDavid / Eichel 2015 draft looks to be very fruitful.

I actually liked that honesty.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by codynw

So, I take it you don't like Burke?

On a personal level I don't know the man so I'm completely indifferent to him, although I find his public persona irritating and find that he comes off as loadmouthed and arrogent... neither of which are qualities one should want in an executive. As a front office executive you're correct I have a low opinion of Brian Burke, I had a low opinion of him before he was affiliated with the Flames and I've seen no reason to alter that opinion since.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Dissapointing to hear they are still figuring out a plan for 2015, other than to be terrible. Makes it seem like 2014 is throwaway for the organization. They've just said fata it and hit 'sim'. Yay oilers..i mean young guns..i mean flames.

.

Not sure what you are complaining about here? The guys that were steering te ship were let go. They are going to trade their assets and draft the bpa with their top 5 pick. Seriously what do you expect? Firing the GM was a massive move by the organization.

[Kiran403]

Originally Posted by Parallex

On a personal level I don't know the man so I'm completely indifferent to him, although I find his public persona irritating and find that he comes off as loadmouthed and arrogent... neither of which are qualities one should want in an executive. As a front office executive you're correct I have a low opinion of Brian Burke, I had a low opinion of him before he was affiliated with the Flames and I've seen no reason to alter that opinion since.

I was also at the breakfast this morning and I have always had mixed feelings about him as a GM. However after hearing him speak to an audience that wasn't media, it's easy to see that he is passionate about winning and definitely cares about taking the time to build a team from the foundation up. He's not trying to go for the quick-fix and I think his emphasis on building a winning culture both on and off the ice for the long-term is great for the team. He may come off as arrogant but I think it's because he knows what he wants to achieve and he's made it clear that he wants to do it his way. He believes in his system and I would rather have someone that was dedicated and confident in his methods rather than a guy who was a good/well-liked public speaker but a flakey strategist and decision-maker.

[saillias]

He's certainly not acting or talking like someone who intends to hire a GM and take a step back himself. I'm not sure he knows how tbqh. It seems like that "I didn't come here to be the GM of this team" talk earlier was just him fooling himself.

Like Craig MacTavish and his search for a new helper for Kruger only to realize that what he wanted was a new coach entirely, I think Burke just doesn't realize that he wants to be the GM of this team period... He's not going to find this hypothetical person who is a good hockey person who just executes his will.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

I would rather have someone that was dedicated and confident in his methods rather than a guy who was a good/well-liked public speaker but a flakey strategist and decision-maker.

Being dedicated and confident in your methods is only valuable to the extent that your methods are optimal. I'd rather have someone who's constantly willing to evaluate and then re-evaluate those methods and take any mistakes as teachable moments then stubbernly insisting that no mistakes were made. Someone who's willing to let other voices into the room in a collaborative approach rather then insisting on everyone thinking like you do. I think fostering an environment full of groupthink is a bad thing. I'd rather have someone who seems to know what they don't know then someone who seems to think they know everything.

I'd rather have someone that let's the work speak for itself and if you're not going to be a good/well-liked public speaker then I'd rather you choose to speak as little as possible. You're going to do no service to anyone by running your mouth so just don't do it.

[timbit]

A lot of people have been looking for honesty, a realistic evaluation and subsequent strategy to reconstruct the mess that is the Calgary Flames.

Based on the sound bites, Burke seems to be committed and passionate about providing just that. The organization, starting at the ownership, has finally come to grips at to where they are and the colossal gap and deficit there is between the team's makeup and that of a
Championship contender.

I am sure a great many of the candidates for the vacant managerial position will have a similar belief in what it will take to get to the top.

There won't be a lot of bullshat , clever little phrases and over hyping of players and prospects. Burke is not one to tell the truth with grace. Very blunt, closing in on harsh, seems to be the norm.


Perhaps just a solid, well constructed intermediate and long term plan that is executed properly with pertinent and necessary changes as it evolves.

That would be very welcome, wouldn't it?

[sureLoss]

Seems kind of silly to point this out, but except for Feaster over hyping prospects and Burke lowering expectations on them, Burke has said basically the same thing Feaster has been saying over the last 2 seasons regarding the future of the team.

Granted Burke may be better equipped to execute the plan but it doesn't sound very different than the one Feaster has been trying to sell to the fans.

[Komskies]

/u/rehx also posted a summary over on Reddit. Here's a link to it. Some additional information to what's in this thread.

http://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comme...is_morning_in/

[timbit]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Seems kind of silly to point this out, but except for Feaster over hyping prospects and Burke lowering expectations on them, Burke has said basically the same thing Feaster has been saying over the last 2 seasons regarding the future of the team.

Granted Burke may be better equipped to execute the plan but it doesn't sound very different than the one Feaster has been trying to sell to the fans.

I remember Feaster et al flipping around like live salmon on shore.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, most of the owners make their income in American dollars, but would be paying the labour in Canadian dollars.

Yes the owners do make most of their income in American dollars... but how much of the cost of a new arena is going to be from the team owners?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Seems kind of silly to point this out, but except for Feaster over hyping prospects and Burke lowering expectations on them, Burke has said basically the same thing Feaster has been saying over the last 2 seasons regarding the future of the team.

Granted Burke may be better equipped to execute the plan but it doesn't sound very different than the one Feaster has been trying to sell to the fans.

Disagree.

Burke has only had the opportunity to make a handful of comments compared to the years of Feaster commentary.

What he has done in his comments is lay out a strategy that seems completely different than what Feaster had been implementing, namely, getting bigger and tougher. Feaster was seemingly implementing a plan of an undersized roster without centres.

If the belief is that the Colbourne acquisition has Burke's fingerprints on it, you've got a bit of a history developing of Calgary making moves to get bigger, and improving the centre ice position, the opposite of what Feaster had accomplished previously.

I think they sound wildly different in how they have talked about the team and franchise direction. Burke actually speaks with confidence about the direction of the organization whereas Feaster never sounded like anything more than the pointman for a hockey operations department. That in and of itself is a massive change. Not hearing much from Ken King is part of that residual change.

Burke might include a 'we' here or there and talk about the ownership group and king, but it's very clear that he is the one with his hands on the wheel and his feet on pedals. Feaster always seemed like he was reading the map in the passenger seat or taking input on what radio station to listen to.

Even hearing him be candid about the state of the team is refreshing, not hearing that nonsense that was continually spouted. Admitting next year's pick will be a high one is plainly invigorating in some ways. Nik said as much in this thread I think, a 'waive of calm' washed over him.

Night and day difference and Burke has only appeared in control for a few weeks.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Komskies

/u/rehx also posted a summary over on Reddit. Here's a link to it. Some additional information to what's in this thread.

http://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comme...is_morning_in/

I found this interesting:

He believes that no city, Calgary included, will become a serious Cup contender until it has a new (or recently built) building.

Does that mean Burke thinks UFAs are crucial to a contender, and you can't get UFAs without a state-of-the-art facility?

Also, that comment puts a lot of heat on his bosses.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by Komskies

/u/rehx also posted a summary over on Reddit. Here's a link to it. Some additional information to what's in this thread.

http://www.reddit.com/r/hockey/comme...is_morning_in/

"I hope you have a ####ty day" made me laugh.

Burke does seem passionate about winning. Far more comfortable with the future of this team than I was earlier tbis season.

Liked the arena comments also.

[ah123]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Also, that comment puts a lot of heat on his bosses.

Or...it is a message from his bosses to the Calgary business community (and indirectly to city hall)

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I found this interesting:



Does that mean Burke thinks UFAs are crucial to a contender, and you can't get UFAs without a state-of-the-art facility?

Also, that comment puts a lot of heat on his bosses.

Just laying the groundwork for when they ask the governments for money.

[Kiran403]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I found this interesting:



Does that mean Burke thinks UFAs are crucial to a contender, and you can't get UFAs without a state-of-the-art facility?

Also, that comment puts a lot of heat on his bosses.

He used the example of the Rangers. They play at MSG but they have their own practice facility in Rye, NY which is state of the art and fully equipped with everything they would need. In comparison, the Flames don't even have their own practice facility and must shuttle between a couple rinks while playing their games at one of the oldest arenas in the league.
He said that it's tough to get athletes to come to cities that don't have top practice or playing facilities because it's easy for teams to match dollars but the perks that come with top-notch facilities are often the difference maker when players decide where to sign.