[GDT] Brian Burke Press Conference

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Feaster will still be the one talking to other teams and setting up deals.

Burke will not be the one calling teams and negotiating trades, so I don't see what everyone is worried about.

Lol. Just because he isn't failing the phone and speaking through it doesn't mean he won't have a voice in deals made by Feaster and players he wants Feaster to target. Basically people were complaining about Ling meddling where he shouldn't so they when out and got a guy who should. This is a good move IMO and I think Wiesbrod and Burke are going to be doing most of the building while Feaster works as the talking head, which is great because that's Feasters strong suit.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

At least we know that when a trade go's through that Burke will have been the one to sign off on it. To me if we make a trade and Burke signs off that probably means that was the best we could get. I really fail to see what kind of input KK could have had on past trades.

Agree.

This move has done a lot to restore my comfort level. It's been downright terrifying these last 2 years having Feaster/King collaborating together.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

Oh I totally agree. I just have to wonder if someone like Feaster is on their way out.

Not necessarily but Burke will be able to make the call if he sees fit so I would think that everyone under him will be continuously evaluated. It's possible that they end up being quite compatible and the relationship lasts a few seasons. It may get dicey if Burke feels Hartley needs to go. The team could be a disaster on the ice this season so I don't know how much heat would be placed on the coach.

[bubbsy]

pretty solid interview wiht burke on the fan, at the moment.

[Ashasx]

"Calgary had the best draft by far"

It would be interesting to know how much of this is just posturing for the fans or honest opinion.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

"Calgary had the best draft by far"

It would be interesting to know how much of this is just posturing for the fans or honest opinion.

Burke is a pretty blunt guy, I honestly feel like that isn't too far from how he actually feels about this draft though Columbus did well too.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Looking at the quotes from Green Lantern in this thread, I am encouraged greatly by this press conference. Now I know he's just talking right now, but I think we can trust that Burke is the epitome of "intellectual honesty", so I will take him at face value.

-Feaster is the GM.
-Burke will avoid media interaction.
-Feaster will run the day to day.
-Burke will give input on the direction of the club.
-Burke is in love with the ownership group.
-Burke thought the Flames had the best draft of any team.
-Burke likes the moves Feaster has made to begin the rebuild.
-Burke will do his best to be a teammate rather than a dictator.
-Burke will not spend the cap room unwisely.
-Burke will not give a timeline as it only buys time for the management group.
-Burke's main goal is to win.
-Burke will not make any rash decisions until he knows the team and the franchise better.
-Burke likes the current scouting and will only make a change if it seems like it needs to be done.
-Burke has a great deal of respect for Feaster.
-Burke was unsure about the position until researching it more, but loves the idea now.
-Burke loves the city of Calgary and the hockey market there.

All this tells me this is a very happy man excited about the current situation. Add to that his track record and this is the best news for this franchise in a long time. (since, say, drafting Sean Monahan )

All this means: Feaster on short leash

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

"Calgary had the best draft by far"

It would be interesting to know how much of this is just posturing for the fans or honest opinion.

Remember the what he said when he drafted Bobby Ryan in the 2005 draft 2nd overall after Crosby?

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Remember the what he said when he drafted Bobby Ryan in the 2005 draft 2nd overall after Crosby?

You'll have to remind me.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I like that Burke is convictive in his actions. I find Feaster is far too much of a waffler for my liking. At the least Burke should be a strong leader who puts an identity back on the team. No GM makes perfect hockey moves every time, but for the most part Burke has tended to be on the good side more often than not.

Agreed. Burke isn't perfect, but we have direction now, and Burke is well connected. I think the past year has been a bit of a circus, its the first step back to credibility. Very happy with having BB on board.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Remember the what he said when he drafted Bobby Ryan in the 2005 draft 2nd overall after Crosby?

I can't find a quote but I'm guessing it must have been something like "we are excited to have selected Bobby, because in our opinion he is unquestionably the best player in this draft".

I remember him saying something similar about Morgan Reilly too. I think too many people here confuse being blunt with being honest. Burke won't be shy about using his loud voice, but that doesn't mean he has to be telling the truth 100% of the time.

[CaptainCrunch]

I hope he punches Lowe out, that would increase ticket sales

[cral12]

Couldn't help but think Burke was following RDJ's mantra as he went through the presser:

Robert Downey Jr. quote:
"Listen, smile, agree & then do whatever the f*&k you were gonna do anyway."

[Huntingwhale]

I found it interesting that King mentioned that he started inquiring with ownership about this position over 2 1/2 years ago. Looks like they did their due diligence and waited for the right fit at the right time. I'm pumped to have Burke on board.

Burke, Torts and Lowe all in one division?? Awesome. If anything, our division will have the most interesting off-ice story lines all season long.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

You'll have to remind me.

He actually said with a straight face; "We couldn't believe he was still available". It's one of my all-time favourite draft quotes.

[nemanja2306]

On Friday, The Score posted an interview with Burke — now GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs — talking about the drawn-out battle.
“(It) got to the point where Kevin challenged me to a fight on a radio interview,” Burke says in the interview. “So I’m like, that’s not really how you challenge a guy to a fight. If you wanna challenge a guy to a fight, you pick a place and a time and you show up. So I called Glen Sather and I say look, this guy went on the radio and challenged me to a fight. I said, I’m gonna be at Lake Placid at the U.S. junior camp. I gave him three dates. I told him I’d rent a barn. I picked the address and the time and I’d fight Kevin Lowe.”
“Dead serious.”

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/...owe-in-a-barn/

Burke is awesome.

[Igottago]

As bad as the team will be this year there should be no shortage of good quotes from the Flames president. I know he said he wants to be out of the spotlight but inevitably he's going to have to speak.

Add to that Tortarella in Vancouver and western Canada will get a lot of attention from the hockey media.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Igottago

As bad as the team will be this year there should be no shortage of good quotes from the Flames president. I know he said he wants to be out of the spotlight but inevitably he's going to have to speak.

Add to that Tortarella in Vancouver and western Canada will get a lot of attention from the hockey media.

Hockey is an entertainment business. That's entertainment!

[Phanuthier]

I don't care who talks or what they talk about, as long as they improve the Flames.

[DazzlinDino]

I think Ken King has it right, you have to have the right spokesperson with the qualifications to speak about hockey matters. That's what brings respect among other NHL teams, players and managers. That's no slight on Ken King, however a non hockey guy sitting with the GM plotting out the course of the Flames future hurts credibility when mistakes arise. Now we have credibility!! Burke has even more contacts on top of the ones Feaster already has which should give us more opportunities to make trades, acquire players from specific teams. That's on advantage D.Sutter had when he was a GM he seemed to have connections which allowed him to go out and acquire certain players.