[News] Feaster and Weisbrod relieved of duties. Burke will hire a new GM

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I hope the new GM (or Burke) doesn't shake up the scouting team too much (more than it is already with Weisbrod being relieved). That has been seemingly improving every season.

Also, with the talk of Feaster going to the media threatening to do something, and not following through - his whole "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me" speech. Burke seems all Klingon:

NSFW!

Any workplace where that is NWS is a place I don't want to work!!!

[FBI]

Not sure I'm excited about Burke leading the charge on the rebuild. He says He is impatient. We need PATIENCE in a rebuild otherwise it will all be for nothing.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

What stood out to me the most was that Burke specifically mentioned how he spoke to other GMs around the league and asked them about:

1) The perception of the Calgary Flames
2) If we got full value from the trades that we made

Said that these 2 factors really fed into his decision making process. I was actually blown away by this response. But I think it speaks volumes.

Elliot Friedman was on the fan during the 3 o'clock hour today and was incredibly direct about the perception around the league of interference from the president and ownership.

It was in response to a question of the desirability of the GM job in Calgary and he suggested that the position will be quite sought after IF the candidate will have the appropriate assurances of control. I think that will grow to be burke's largest role and is why he was hired; as a filter and barrier between ownership, their representative (king), and the hockey operations department.

If those assurances aren't in place, it will be difficult to attract a decent candidate.

[flylock shox]

Just heard about this and totally stunned.

My initial reaction is to really dislike this move. Why switch horses in mid stream, especially when your horse is going in the right direction? This team's not supposed to be competitive, they're supposed to be learning and building a solid foundation for the future. They've been doing that. What are they going to do differently now? Trade for Kane and Buff and try for the Cup this year?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

Just heard about this and totally stunned.

My initial reaction is to really dislike this move. Why switch horses in mid stream, especially when your horse is going in the right direction? This team's not supposed to be competitive, they're supposed to be learning and building a solid foundation for the future. They've been doing that. What are they going to do differently now? Trade for Kane and Buff and try for the Cup this year?

The problem I think Burke has seen is that there is no identity or real direction behind anything feaster has done. If you look at all of his moves in a vacuum, he has brought in some good players. He has not assembled a good team. They're too easy to play against. They aren't mean. they aren't skilled. They get pushed around. Yes they try hard. But LA, Anaheim and phoenix aren't getting smaller or easier to play. Is it any surprise that a team this soft and small is constantly ravaged by injuries?

Burke has a vision. You may not like it, but it has won him a championship in the last decade. And the same philosophy Won championships in LA, Boston, and Chicago. And isn't that what we're watching for?

[ricosuave]

I just watched the presser on Sportsnet.CA and I have to say I am impressed. It seems like we are potentially watching the upward swing happen before our eyes.

I can't wait.

[IgiTang]

Little late to the party but damn.. So torn over this move. Scared to see what comes of it.

[oldschoolcalgary]

was never a fan of Feaster, so the firing doesn't particularly surprise me, tho the timing is pretty poor form - really, two weeks before christmas?

With respect to the RR issue, even if one believes there was 50% chance the NHL would agree, that isn't even the most egregious part: The Flames were clearly a team on the down ward spiral at that point to sacrifice a top ten pick (which we were at the time) said to me that Feaster either is just a puppet for Murray, or his hockey acumen was poor at best.

would anyone seriously even consider trading Monahan for RR straight up now? Cause that is exactly what Feaster was rolling the dice on.

And when that hail mary failed and the team continued to sink, the Flames proceed with a fire sale not 5-6 weeks later?

This wasn't a management team with any sort of real plan...more like wildly flailing in the dark.

Our Christmas miracle is that Brad Richards decided to stay on the East Coast under the bright lights of NYC, or we'd have another 6 years or so of his immovable contract.

Thanks Brad!

[newts]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Elliot Friedman was on the fan during the 3 o'clock hour today and was incredibly direct about the perception around the league of interference from the president and ownership.

It was in response to a question of the desirability of the GM job in Calgary and he suggested that the position will be quite sought after IF the candidate will have the appropriate assurances of control. I think that will grow to be burke's largest role and is why he was hired; as a filter and barrier between ownership, their representative (king), and the hockey operations department.

If those assurances aren't in place, it will be difficult to attract a decent candidate.

This is exactly right. A big part in attracting talent to your team is managerial credibility. The way I see it:

Over the last 3 years:

Flames ownership:tarnished but recoverable credibility

Ken King: tarnished but recoverable credibility

Feaster: zero credibility and isn't going to bring it back

Burke: great credibility

New Gm: a clean slate and will be viewed favorably across the league because of Burke.

The hiring of burke automatically garnered some lost respect for the organization (aka ownership/king), and getting rid of Feaster and bringing in Burkes GM is a great reset and goes a long way in steering the ship straight in terms of how the league will perceive this team and respect the management.

[FBI]

Any notes on the sportsmet conference?

[Delthefunky]

Originally Posted by FBI

Any notes on the sportsmet conference?

Nothing new, except that you may have a happy holiday and we`re the best fans in the NHL.

[Husky]

Hopefully I got the years right for drafts. I am more of the "what have you done recently". Based on the last half a decade in TO Burke drafting has been downright horrible. His saving grace was a few shrewed trades.

Toronto Draft: Burke GM 2008-2013
2008
Luke Schenn
Jimmy Hayes
Mikhail Stefanovich
Greg Pateryn
Joel Champagne
Jerome Flaake
Grant Rollheiser
Andrew MacWilliam

2009
Nazem Kadri
Kenny Ryan
Jesse Blacker
Jamie Devane
Eric Knodel
Jerry D'Amigo
Barron Smith

2010
Brad Ross
Greg McKegg
Sondre Olden
Petter Granberg
Sam Carrick
Daniel Brodin
Josh Nicholls

2011
Tyler Biggs
Stuart Percy
Joshua Leivo
Tom Nilsson
Tony Cameranesi
David Broll
Dennis Robertson
Garret Sparks
Max Everson

2012
Morgan Rielly
Matt Finn
Dominic Toninato
Connor Brown
Ryan Rupert
Viktor Loov

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by FBI

Any notes on the sportsmet conference?

He mentioned that Feaster did a good job drafting Monahan, Klimchuk, Gaudreau, Gillies.

Didn't say anything about Baertschi or Jankowski.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

He mentioned that Feaster did a good job drafting Monahan, Klimchuk, Gaudreau, Gillies.

Didn't say anything about Baertschi or Jankowski.

Slight amendment - he said that they got the Monahan pick right, and that both Poirier and klimchuk would be players, though not next year. Said Gilles was a legit prospect as was Gaudreau. Likes the way Abbotsford is playing, but not sure how many are legit NHL prospect

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by newts

This is exactly right. A big part in attracting talent to your team is managerial credibility. The way I see it:

Over the last 3 years:

Flames ownership:tarnished but recoverable credibility

Ken King: tarnished but recoverable credibility

Feaster: zero credibility and isn't going to bring it back

Burke: great credibility

New Gm: a clean slate and will be viewed favorably across the league because of Burke.

The hiring of burke automatically garnered some lost respect for the organization (aka ownership/king), and getting rid of Feaster and bringing in Burkes GM is a great reset and goes a long way in steering the ship straight in terms of how the league will perceive this team and respect the management.

But if King and ownership meddled in hockey operations, how do they have more credibily than Feaster? It's King and Murray who have zero credibility when it comes to hockey. So the issue is whether they can keep their mitts off hockey operations.

And if the concern out there is about autonomy, I'm not sure how the prospect of Burke looking over his shoulder will be appealing to a GM candidate.

[troutman]

If Feaster was inadequate, shouldn't Ken King be on the hot seat too?

[Zulu29]

Work in a place where there is no cell reception, got back near home and got a text from my dad telling me what happened...about time!!! Chalk me up as one of the guys who was not happy with Feaster. I wish him the best in the future but I'm glad he's gone. I trust Burke and believe he'll make the right choice for our new GM. Looking forward to a bigger, meaner Flames team!

[Buck Murdock]

I'm all for this move, but really dislike this "President of Hockey Ops" smoke screen. Why not just fire Jay in the summer, and hire Burke as the GM? why not just name Burke the GM today, instead of going through this charade of hiring an (assistant)GM? Everyone can see through it.

[browna]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

But if King and ownership meddled in hockey operations, how do they have more credibily than Feaster? It's King and Murray who have zero credibility when it comes to hockey. So the issue is whether they can keep their mitts off hockey operations.

And if the concern out there is about autonomy, I'm not sure how the prospect of Burke looking over his shoulder will be appealing to a GM candidate.

I don't think Burke would put up with any of that. He was hired by Edwards knowing that Feaster and the franchise needed more help, and Burke's not the guy going to take hockey operations advice from anyone.

Feaster put up with it, probably even encouraged that participation/opinion at times, both as part of getting the job in the first place, and ongoing for self preservation. At some point (the ROR thing?) it was clear to those above him, that Feaster wasn't going to be able to cut it and was turning into a liability.

[flames_fan13]

Found the timing of the firing odd at first but now realizing this is probably the best time to let a G.M go. If Burke does intend to hire someone else it gives them plenty of time to evaluate the roster and prospects before the trade deadline and get as much information from scouts prior to the draft. Hiring a new G.M after the season is over would be handicapping the new G.M for the draft as well as getting a proper evaluation on the organization's roster.