[News] Brian Burke joining Calgary Flames as President of Hockey Operations - Page 21 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ashasx · 09-05-2013, 10:27 AM

Well, he's saying all the right things.

At the least, I feel better about the Flames today than I did yesterday.

MrMastodonFarm · 09-05-2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Oh, he's the GM alright. There is no way in hell Burke is going to leave Feaster et al to do their jobs. People bitched about King's alleged meddling. Burke will be a million times worse.

You want the President of Hockey Operations meddling though. People didn't like King meddling because he wasn't a hockey guy. I don't mind if Brian Burke meddles, he has a proven track record. It remains to be seen how long he and Feaster will work together but meddling is exactly what he should do.

Clever_Iggy · 09-05-2013, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Except Burke knows hockey. Ken King knows about as much as a regular fan.

Laugh. I would suspect his numerous years in the organization would put him a wee bit higher than that.

Gravitykillr · 09-05-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

I love the way this guy interviews... highly entertaining and sure of his points of view. Despite what he says, I doubt he stays in the background for long.

I agree he seems like he's getting tired of the media and he's only been with the team for 30 minutes lol

handgroen · 09-05-2013, 10:31 AM

"i've been able to fix every team i've worked for."

Wolven · 09-05-2013, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike F

My impression, Burke had to convince himself to take a position he didn't really want.

Ominous start to his tenure. Still think Feaster should be uncomfortable.

I don't think it would be that hard of a sale. He gets to be President of Hockey Operations for a team in a good market that is willing to spend to the cap and the team is in a full blown rebuild so he won't have to deal with the drama of trading away someone like Iginla since it has already been done.

I don't even know if he will be in any rush to fire Feaster as he can now impose his Hockey knowledge / will on Feaster while being able to leave Feaster to do things he is good at (contract negotiations, etc.).

Throw on the fact that he apparently has family in the area and that makes it as good a job as any other that he could get in the NHL.

Table 5 · 09-05-2013, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Laugh. I would suspect his numerous years in the organization would put him a wee bit higher than that.

Yeah, except when he started he had zero. If you or I were made president, we would learn something too eventually....but that would be a pretty irresponsible way to make hockey decisions.

Burke on the other comes in with real experience and credentials. He's not learning on the job.

St. Pats · 09-05-2013, 10:34 AM

Not a Feaster fan so this is great news. Burke knows what he is doing and some abrasiveness will be good for this organization. They need hockey people in charge not businessmen and a GM who has been scary.

Good solid move.

Clever_Iggy · 09-05-2013, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

Yeah, except when he started he had zero. If you or I were made president, we would learn something too eventually....but that would be a pretty irresponsible way to make hockey decisions.

Burke on the other comes in with real experience and credentials. He's not learning on the job.

"King knows about as much [hockey knowledge] as a regular fan". He started with zero. An average fan still has zero. King does not. Perhaps just semantics or talking past each other.

I like the structure. I think Burke will lean heavily on Feaster/Weisbrod/Conroy for awhile as he gets to know the NHL squad, AHL, Alaska, scouting, etc. With the size of organizations these days and the amount of information available, it takes a larger team to properly address it all. As Burke said, this structure is in place in another NHL franchise, in the MLB and NFL. I think it's needed and gone are the days of scouting, trading, signing just on "feel", "instinct", "guts" or one scout's opinion. Another set of eyes is going to be a good thing.

PlayfulGenius · 09-05-2013, 10:41 AM

I'm happy about this.

Resolute 14 · 09-05-2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

You want the President of Hockey Operations meddling though. People didn't like King meddling because he wasn't a hockey guy. I don't mind if Brian Burke meddles, he has a proven track record. It remains to be seen how long he and Feaster will work together but meddling is exactly what he should do.

In all his years as GM, his teams have only made the playoffs half the time, and his only real success came in Anaheim, and largely on the back of the previous GM's work. His big moves there were to have Scott Niedermayer fall into his lap out of a desire to play with his brother and Selanne to return after learning the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Ashasx · 09-05-2013, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

In all his years as GM, his teams have only made the playoffs half the time, and his only real success came in Anaheim, and largely on the back of the previous GM's work. His big moves there were to have Scott Niedermayer fall into his lap out of a desire to play with his brother and Selanne to return after learning the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Surprised to see you don't like this move.

Clever_Iggy · 09-05-2013, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

In all his years as GM, his teams have only made the playoffs half the time, and his only real success came in Anaheim, and largely on the back of the previous GM's work. His big moves there were to have Scott Niedermayer fall into his lap out of a desire to play with his brother and Selanne to return after learning the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

I suppose then that any credit given to the success achieved by Nonis (Vancouver) and Nonis (Toronto) is largely on the back of the previous GM's work.

kyuss275 · 09-05-2013, 10:47 AM

Finished watching the presser. If you ask me it sounds like Feaster and Burke are going to be co-gm's. I don't think it will last beyond this season. Every media guy is going to want to talk to Burke. Feaster will be gone at this time next year.

Knut · 09-05-2013, 10:48 AM

Tie is loosened now. Haha

Parallex · 09-05-2013, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I don't mind if Brian Burke meddles, he has a proven track record.

If you minded that Ken King meddled (if he did) then you should mind that Brian Burke meddles (if he in fact does so). TBQH I have no issue with the President having the ear of the GM... but I think only so long as it doesn't involve hibitual overruling.

Frankly I think it's silly to want a "hockey guy" (whatever the hell that means) in the first place. If the job is managing what you should want is a "Management Guy". Really being a GM is essentually just managing an asset portfolio so anyone with any aptitude as an investment manager could do the job so long as they had proper evaluation skills.

Ashasx · 09-05-2013, 10:50 AM

Burke's job is to meddle. He wouldn't have a hockey ops position if his job wasn't to meddle.

strombad · 09-05-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

In all his years as GM, his teams have only made the playoffs half the time, and his only real success came in Anaheim, and largely on the back of the previous GM's work. His big moves there were to have Scott Niedermayer fall into his lap out of a desire to play with his brother and Selanne to return after learning the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

He also hired Carlyle, and acquired Pronger (amongst everything else).

Oh but you know, it all just FELL into his lap.

Clever_Iggy · 09-05-2013, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Finished watching the presser. If you ask me it sounds like Feaster and Burke are going to be co-gm's. I don't think it will last beyond this season. Every media guy is going to want to talk to Burke. Feaster will be gone at this time next year.

1) Burke said that his role will be more of a background role and for many people it will be a "wait and see" type thing. We'll see if he is made accessible or responds to questions when walking to his car after a game.

2) Media requests to talk to someone doesn't dictate who the GM is.

I don't disagree that Feaster will likely be gone in a year or so, but I don't think it's so Burke can take over both President Hockey Ops and GM. Burke could bring in his own guy (is Nonis available yet).

Any idea who the other NHL team is that operates like this? The Oilers?

Red John · 09-05-2013, 10:53 AM

So happy to get Burke. He truly is going to do wonders just for rebuilding the credibility of the Flames around the league. He's a polarizing guy but a proven hockey guy.

Also agree that Feaster is gone in a year's time. Although both do seem to have the very best of intentions in working with each other it just seems like there's one too many cooks in the kitchen.

Feaster's strength is as a delegator of duties - he's the one figure who really isn't needed. A bit of a yes-man too but at least he'll be saying yes to Burke who really does know what he's doing.

Weisbrod - director of personnel, in charge of scouting
Burke - hockey guy
King - business guy
Edwards - owner

It just makes a lot more sense that way. The Flames organization is very classy and don't just dump guys on the side of the road, hence why Feaster still has a job.

But if this arrangement doesn't work out long-term Feaster will be the first to go, and that's ok.