Brian Burke on fan 960 this morning..

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Of course they do? Honestly, he's Treliving's boss, how many peoples bosses have the ability to veto something their employees might do? Doesn't mean Tree has to run everything by him, or that Tree even chooses to tell him everything, but I doubt something as big as even a minor trade doesn't get pushed up to Burke as an FYI before the trigger gets pulled. Expecting otherwise would be crazy.

Good example of that was the Stone commentary. Clearly that wasn't a Burke deal or player, but Burke didn't veto Tree making a move for a player he wasn't sold on because Tree was. Doesn't mean he might not veto something else though.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He may have veto power (why wouldn't he?), but they also have multiple people in the management team. Conroy, Gelinas and Maloney would all be part of that - maybe others.

The days of a lone GM sitting in his office, doing deals by himself are long gone.

Hey, I'm not saying its a bad thing but every time anyone mentions Burke having influence on this team it get shot down with a comment that this it Trelivings team not Burkes.

[Kipper_3434]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He may have veto power (why wouldn't he?), but they also have multiple people in the management team. Conroy, Gelinas and Maloney would all be part of that - maybe others.

The days of a lone GM sitting in his office, doing deals by himself are long gone.

Reminds me of the old behind the scenes draft video from when Boston traded Seguin. A big table of open discussion on all the players. Then the GM makes the final call

[Enoch Root]

It is Treliving's team.

And as a good manager, and as a good organization, he is surrounded with good support people.

It is not a good idea to manage in a vacuum.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It is Treliving's team.

And as a good manager, and as a good organization, he is surrounded with good support people.

It is not a good idea to manage in a vacuum.

Did you happen to listen to the interview?

"The entire management team reviews and discussed all roster moves before they happen" is different then "Treliving couldn't make any short sighted moves we didnt like because we have to approve them before they happen".

[neo45]

Vancouver should probably be concerned that their biggest rival knew who they were drafting. Benning let's way too much loose in his interviews

[bubbsy]

the biggest surprise for me in the interview was when he was asked about what caused the team to suddenly seem to just figure it out and the recent turn around. He mentioned that it was likely a lot of factors, but the one that surprised me was that he mentioned that they dumbed down the system a bit, as there may have been challenges in the team picking up some of the complexities.

it was actually a pretty solid interview, got into some decent level of detail on things (ie. backlund's development, etc).

[EVERLAST]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

the biggest surprise for me in the interview was when he was asked about what caused the team to suddenly seem to just figure it out and the recent turn around. He mentioned that it was likely a lot of factors, but the one that surprised me was that he mentioned that they dumbed down the system a bit, as there may have been challenges in the team picking up some of the complexities.

it was actually a pretty solid interview, got into some decent level of detail on things (ie. backlund's development, etc).

I think the addition of stone and Bart and them grasping the system and being a part of this teams success suddenly makes me wonder how much they had to do with the change.

It says allot when pairings change and those pairings work almost immediately.

Our defence serves allot of credit......also Widemans absence has helped greatly.....dude reminds me of the fun gobbler of the whole team when things aren't going well.

Go flames.

[Benched]

and he said they dumbed down the system 'cause guys were struggling....doesn't mean they can't slowly ramp it back up to 'more complicated' as the guys get the basics down.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

For the record, Burke said when he arrived he thought Backlund was "expandable." And it was Backlund's newfound consistency that changed his mind.

Changing your mind? Based on new information? What voodoo is this?

[Gaudfather]

Burkie obviously doing the media rounds today - he was on Bobcat's show on PTS. One of the interesting comments he made is that the team is now internally targeting one of the divisional playoff spots and not just a wild card spot. Obviously with the usual caveats - ie your not in until your in, taking it one game at a time etc. - but clearly they are raising their internal objectives.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/590/prime-ti...till-lot-work/

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Benched

and he said they dumbed down the system 'cause guys were struggling....doesn't mean they can't slowly ramp it back up to 'more complicated' as the guys get the basics down.

Exactly.

What that comment says to me is that there is still plenty more to come next year.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

For the record, Burke said when he arrived he thought Backlund was "expandable." And it was Backlund's newfound consistency that changed his mind.

So... Initially he thought Backlund was expandable, like elastic? Now he thinks he has a non-expandable consistency, like iron?

That's an odd take

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by united

That's scary talent evaluation...Backlund has been an excellent two-way centre since the moment he stepped into the Flames lineup full-time, before Burke even arrived. Thankfully Burke didn't jettison Backlund back then, or during the gross misuse of Backlund during Hartley's coaching tenure. It's no surprise Backlund has excelled under proper usage.

I won't bother touching on what other posters already mentioned, but the bolded is completely false as well.

Hartley was not pleased with Backlund's play and called him TOO defensive. Sutter really did a good job at getting Backlund to buy in to the defensive side of the puck - and that is always a good thing - but Hartley felt that Backlund was always too worried about that aspect. He wanted more balance out of Backlund in all zones.

Some of the stuff that gets talked about with regards to Hartley is really convenient narratives. I didn't agree with the firing, gave Gulutzan a shot, started to get really worried it wasn't the right hire, but it is looking like a slam dunk now. It doesn't mean it is cool to piss in Hartley's cornflakes either and absolutely make stuff up.

Hartley gave it to Backlund and Monahan for not making a bad play defensively. However, he was also careful not to make them overly worried about the defensive side of the game. There was a tonne of talk about Monahan being 'too defensive' when he went ice cold in his 2nd year for too long, when he was put up as the 1st line center because almost every other center was injured. Hartley sat him down, and told him that he needs to produce as well as be strong defensively.

That was Hartley. People still talk about him like it was some run-and-gun river hockey system bereft of any semblance of structure. Nonsense. Hartley would chew out his players on the bench when they made a bad play defensively. There were defensive assignments and expectations.

Didn't want to take this thread off-topic, but it is something that I noticed a lot of posters writing about lately.

This is also coming from someone who really thinks Gulutzan has finally got to know this team, and has his finger firmly on the pulse. He has turned this team around, and if I continue seeing what I am seeing on the ice - both on team results AND on the development of the young core of this team - there is no way I would want him let go for any coach made available in the league - Darryl Sutter or Mike Babcock included.

/off-topic rant over

[transplant99]

What a great interview that was.

I do not understand how anyone can dislike Burke. The entire premise of sport is to entertain. Burke is as entertaining as anyone in the game. So he is a little gruff and direct. I find that refreshing among the landslide of cliches normally found in those type of interviews. He is really smar,. has a lifetime of experience both in and outside the game, and really does seem to love his job and the city. Not a lot of negative things among all that.

Glad he is here.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by transplant99

What a great interview that was.

I do not understand how anyone can dislike Burke. The entire premise of sport is to entertain. Burke is as entertaining as anyone in the game. So he is a little gruff and direct. I find that refreshing among the landslide of cliches normally found in those type of interviews. He is really smar,. has a lifetime of experience both in and outside the game, and really does seem to love his job and the city. Not a lot of negative things among all that.

Glad he is here.

I'm glad hes here too, but I can totally understands why some might not like him. He drives me nuts sometimes too.

Hes like something out of 'Slapshot.'

Old time hockey! Eddie Shore!

Or when he sued people who made fun of him on the internet.

And sometimes I dont think that is relevant anymore or has a place in modern hockey and I dont believe in his concept of civics.

But then he goes and demonstrates his intelligence and mental faculties in interviews.

He isnt a robot, hes a human and he says things nobody else would.

[edn88]

I like Brian Burke.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

Sutter traded him too soon also! Same with Lydman.

We have had a few Bret Hall, and Martin St. Louis to name a couple. Craig Button admitted he should not have let Marty walk but it is what it is.

[Captaincanada80]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

We have had a few Bret Hall, and Martin St. Louis to name a couple. Craig Button admitted he should not have let Marty walk but it is what it is.

Huh?

[djsFlames]

Did Burke actually bash Incubus?

Come on now. Incubus is great.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Did Burke actually bash Incubus?

Come on now. Incubus is great.

He started right off saying Jes** Chri** what is that, then he told Boomer to turn it off, before he would start the interview. Then he added that the guy who likes that music is tone deaf! So no, not an Incubus fan!