Burke coming up on the Fan 960 (4pm)

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Praising Stajan a lot and said he never wanted to trade him out of Toronto, but Sutter demanded he be part of the Phaneuf deal. Other GMs said Stajan's contract was right on the money. Also said Stajan's salary would be higher if he produced more (duh).

[btimbit]

-Likes Stajan, doesn't think it's fair people think of him negatively just because the team hasn't played well overall. Says he never blames that on one player. Said he's great with the kids.

[getbak]

When he was hired, he told Stajan that he's not following him around just to keep trading him.

[btimbit]

-Talking to a few UFA's about extensions, won't say who at this point. Going to start talking to RFA's too

-No update on the GM search. Wants to do it quietly. Used to be able to compensate teams in regard to hiring from their staff, i.e giving a 2nd round pick for a coach (Carlyle) but can't do that anymore. Burke wants to wait until he is allowed to talk to certain people that he's been told he can't yet. Expects and is willing to wait until after the season or after the draft

[Robbob]

Thanks for the updates

[MissTeeks]

Again said he didn't come here to be GM. And that they've been told by some organizations to not even ask to talk to their people yet.

[saXon]

Update: It's not his first rodeo.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

On hiring a G.M.:

-Still doesn't want to be the G.M.

-Can't get permission to talk to the guys he wants right now.

-No compensation rules in the league to allow hiring guys away is part of the problem.

-Might have to wait until after the draft to have the discussions he wants.

-Will likely remain as the acting general manager until after the draft.

[Red John]

-Goes to Toronto area a lot to scout
-Wants another look at Breen
-Decision on O'Brien was a long time in the works
-Willing to trade O'Brien and retain salary
-O'Brien hasn't been exiled, could be recalled at some point, but isn't playing his best right now
-Doesn't interfere with coaches but has asked Ward to play Breen "until he drops" - wants to see exactly what he has with him
-Not willing to give high picks automatic time with Flames, they need to put in their time and pay their dues in the minors, draft position doesn't change that (mentioned Wotherspoon, Baertschi)
-Teams go thru 4 stages, crawl, walk, run, sprint - can't get to the next level without hard work and buy in from players and that's been there for Hartley
-Still need more skill and size
-Colin Campbell made a mistake fining Hartley
-Hockey isn't fun at the NHL level, only winning is fun, wants a coach who makes games hard, respects that Hartley had to pay his dues to get to this level
-Phone activity has picked up recently, teams will make trades before the trade freeze but there will be much more movement after it
-Probably going to wait towards end of deadline as a seller, thinks higher prices may be paid then
-Prices are never lower before the deadline, but as a buyer likes to get the player sooner
-Stajan's been very good for the Flames despite lack of team success and is underappreciated by Flames fans
-Only traded him because Sutter wanted him, has high hockey IQ and has been great with young kids
-Needs to get stronger still
-Got 10 calls from other GMs telling him that he got a good deal with Stajan, that his cap number was a good one
-Given lack of production his cap hit is a fair number for both sides
-Instruction from ownership/King is to be fair with players and not try to cheat them all out of money on contracts
-In discussions with a couple players right now regarding extensions, going to start talking to RFAs as well, if numbers don't make sense with UFAs they'll be dealt
-No update on search for GM, it will be done quietly
-Does not want to be GM, but list of guys they want to talk to they aren't getting permission to talk
-With prohibition to provide compensation for hiring GMs/coaches, you won't get permission during the season or even until after draft
-Will hire assistant GM as well
-Just had amateur scouting meetings, guys know what the team is looking for
-Team is fully functional right now with Burke as acting GM, no need to hurry
-Will start to focus on Sochi about an hour before he gets on the plane

[btimbit]

-Not shifting any more focus to the olympics until he heads to the airport, unless injuries means he has to look at the roster again.

[Gaskal]

-Enjoys work ethic
-Players buying into that system, Hartley is doing great
-Reiterates that Hartley didn't do anything wrong vs Torty("All Bob did was start 2 big guys")
-Respects Hartley's meritocracy
(Honestly doesn't sound like he wants to get rid of Hartley in the offseason at the time being)

-The trade freezes are coming up and he speculates that moves will be dealt for clubs to save money (because they're still paid through the Olympic break) but after the break will be when the phones are ringing off the hook

-Always tries to make deals in advance but he's more used to a buying mode instead of a selling mode.

-Always paid the same 'premium' price whether there is a deadline or whether it's early in the season. Never took pride in big deals, just felt that they worked out just the way they should've.

-Thinks Matt Stajan is a great player and is unfair that he's living under the shadow of the Phaneuf trade and that the fans have kinda put that on him. ("Don't think I'm following you around and I'm gonna get rid of you again") It's nice to have his leadership to the youngsters locked up. Doesn't mind falling production, says he's contributing in more important ways as well.

-Wants to be fair with the players in terms of contracts as a whole.

-'In discussions' with a couple Flames approaching free agency. Coyly acknowledges the fan's incessant need to stay up to the minute on any team news.

-The GM hiring will be done 'quietly'. He did not come here to be GM or be the GM. Two positions for sure to be filled are the GM and AGM, but in offseason.

- "It's not my first rodeo" - Being asked on being part of repeated rebuilds and how he's approaching this one.

-"Probably an hour before I get on that plane" - Asked on when he's going to turn his attention over to Team USA and Sochi.

[Anduril]

Anticipates and possibly expects not to make a hire until even after the draft as teams are not open to letting front office people be available for any sort of conversation.

[Dion]

- Been working hard via the phones to see if we can improve our team.

- SOB was sent down for not playing well and not exiled.

- Wanted to see Breen at the NHL level and see what they can do. Has earned his right to be called up. SOB could be called up again if needed.

- Stages a rebuilding team goes through. They crawl they walk and then they sprint. - Need 2 building blocks - work or work harder than the other team and total buy in from the players.

- Likes how Hartley coaches and coaches who are hard and deminding of the players. Also creates a learning enviroment for the players.

- Likes to make deals before the deadline. Still think you get gouged but in the end you get the player you want.

- Burke loves Stajan. He's got a very high hockey IQ and works well with
the younger players. Other GM"S aproved of Matts deal when talking with Burke.

- Ownership and KK wants Burke to be fair with players. Create a player friendly enviroment. We can't trade all of our vets so we started with the best.

- No update on GM. The list of people they want to talk with some said you can't talk with them. It will be after the regular season, playoffs or draft.

[MissTeeks]

He spent a whole minute and a half talking about the Olympics.

[Robbob]

nvm Red John answered my question in his phenomenal update.

[saXon]

I'm just glad the Flames finally have someone in the office competent to shed dead weight.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by getbak

When he was hired, he told Stajan that he's not following him around just to keep trading him.

He probably didn't say the same to O'Brien.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Did he mention anything about the Olympic trade deadline and whether if a deal was there, would he make it then or wait till the 5th. Just trying to gauge the fire sale logistics.

Said he expects trade activity to pick up before the Olympics, and mentioned even though there's a trade freeze during the Olympics he expects himself and other teams to still be working the phone quite a bit while they're going on.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Anticipates and possibly expects not to make a hire until even after the draft as teams are not open to letting front office people be available for any sort of conversation.

Hrmm... didn't seem to stop the Sabres.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Did he mention anything about the Olympic trade deadline and whether if a deal was there, would he make it then or wait till the 5th. Just trying to gauge the fire sale logistics.

He mentioned he didn't feel like there would be a difference in what the Flames would get in return whether he makes a trade now or just before the deadline.