Burke Speaks - January 30, 2014

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Major Major

I think Burke's talent evaluation is evidently poor when he calls Backlund slow. Perhaps he is not a notable speedster, but he is quick. Don't know why he went there.

His straight away speed is good. If his lateral skating was a bit better, you'd see tremendous gains. Or at least thats what I'm guessing BB is getting at.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

CP a week ago: We love Burkie!

CP today: Burke is stupid!

CP in 4 days: Burkie is best!

Of course, he said he didn't like our 2011 draft. So all CPers who have convinced themselves already that Sven and Gadreau are elite level players in our system don't want to hear that anyone might not be sold on that yet. Therefore, Burke = idiot today.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by strombad

For any of us to say he's wrong because the 2011 draft was apparently amazing is so ridiculous.

I'm sure people would cut him more slack if his own 2011 draft wasn't such a train wreck. I know I would.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by devo22

I'm sure people would cut him more slack if his own 2011 draft wasn't such a train wreck. I know I would.

Maybe he doesn't like his 2011 draft either at this point................. did he say he thought it was good looking back now?

Also isn't the point that 2011 draft is a little early for most fans to be judging at this point. Heck all the CPers on here who are so convinced our 2011 is great are doing so with out seeing anything tangible from our prospects at the NHL level other than Sven. Heck, Gadreau hasn't even played a professional hockey game at this point and many on here on convinced he's got what it takes, not sure that's even possible with out more data for average CP user.

[SuperMatt18]

Also should note that the whole drafting for size thing is actually not a new thing this year.

Feaster and Weisbrod both mentioned drafting for size last year and the need for the team to get bigger via the draft.

[Hockeyguy15]

I'm wondering in what context he said he didn't like the 2011 draft. Did he elaborate? Maybe he just means he didn't like that we drafted so many smaller players rather than having a variety of sizes. Maybe he doesn't like it because he would have tried to trade up for Couturier or someone else?

[Locke]

It has nothing to do with draft years or anything else, it has to do with the nature of his statements.

Hes taking personal digs at players and staff and making broad sweeping generalizations based on little to nothing.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by strombad

Holy hand wringing.

For any of us to say he's wrong because the 2011 draft was apparently amazing is so ridiculous.

What, we can tell how amazing a draft is based on the number of players that are doing average-good in the minors? Sven is the only guy who has emerged from that draft and even HE isn't very good yet.

I mean hey, Ashasx can hammer out how there's no disputing that something he believes to be true is without question more valid than what Burke believes to be true, but I'm not sure how someone can be so full of themselves. Considering there is zero evidence thus far that 2011 was a great draft or how 2013 compares to it, maybe a bit of chill is in order. At most, you can debate the merits of the draft. But a draft without any bonafide NHLers being fantastic without question? Yeah, riiiiight.

I think there is a little bit of "prospect blindness" stemming from the fact that the Flames did so poorly for so long, that one decent looking draft suddenly looks incredible simply by comparison.

How can you put the 2013 draft ahead of the 2011 draft, ignore what Burke said?

We selected Monahan with a high draft pick. It was an obvious pick and you can give credit to no one for it.

Poirier I like, but he won't be playing in the NHL for at least 2 and probably more seasons.

Klimchuk will return to junior next year, but will probably take even longer than Poirier to break into he NHL. He's also small, so you just can't like that.

Kanzig is the pick I hate the most. Just awful. If he ever makes it to the NHL, he would be among the lowest scoring junior players in NHL history. I don't think he's the player that'll set that record.

Roy is fine for a 5th round pick but he's just so awful in his own zone that his ceiling is probably being very generous.

Harrison has 4 assists in 22 college games, has often been a healthy scratch. But he's big. Gotta like that.

Rafikov again is fine for his draft position, but he's never going to come over to North America. I will never be a fan of Russian draft picks.

So yeah, instead of me defending my claim all the time, how about you guys tell me why the 2013 draft is better than the 2011 draft?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

So no Reinhart or Bennett if Ekblad is gone.

Not sure either of those guys qualify as small. Both are average and could still grow.

I'd pinpoint William Nylander as an undersized guy we won't be drafting.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Locke

It has nothing to do with draft years or anything else, it has to do with the nature of his statements.



Hes taking personal digs at players and staff and making broad sweeping generalizations based on little to nothing.

Did he? What are these personal digs you speak of?

Everything he said regards the actions of players, not the person. If he's being critical, it's critical of something that can be improved, or critical of mistakes. Those aren't "personal digs".

How do you know what he's basing things on? Isn't it possible he's actually basing everything he says on real, identifiable things?

I mean hey, did you even hear him speak? Or are you basing your assumptions on the transcript someone posted that was jotted down over text by someone else. Things gets lost in translation. Half of Burke is tone, and just taking text quotes from him is a bit presumptuous.

[Oling_Roachinen]

I think there would need to be some elaboration on the "Wont be drafting small players in upcoming draft" before fretting too much over it.

It might be pure and simple that he doesn't think there's a small player in the draft worth picking. If this was Patrick Kane's draft year and he was saying he wouldn't draft the 5'10'' 160 pound forward there could be some concern. However, this year the potential top 10's are all listed at 6 feet or over with the exception of Nylander.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by Locke

It has nothing to do with draft years or anything else, it has to do with the nature of his statements.

Hes taking personal digs at players and staff and making broad sweeping generalizations based on little to nothing.

He's basing it off of his opinion, and isn't evaluating current and future talent almost all based off of opinion?

He was hired because of his hockey knowledge, and that includes his opinions. Agree or disagree with him, but if he was way off base he wouldn't have been employed in the NHL for this long.

[tvp2003]

Burke: Goalies are incomplete, expect to use a later round pick on a goalie.

Yeah, because a fourth round prospect is the missing link to our goalie situation

You may not like Berra, and you may not even like Ramo. But unless you're willing to give up assets in trade, or throw money at a UFA, that's who you've got.

[Gary83]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

How can you put the 2013 draft ahead of the 2011 draft, ignore what Burke said?

We selected Monahan with a high draft pick. It was an obvious pick and you can give credit to no one for it.

Poirier I like, but he won't be playing in the NHL for at least 2 and probably more seasons.

Klimchuk will return to junior next year, but will probably take even longer than Poirier to break into he NHL. He's also small, so you just can't like that.

Kanzig is the pick I hate the most. Just awful. If he ever makes it to the NHL, he would be among the lowest scoring junior players in NHL history. I don't think he's the player that'll set that record.

Roy is fine for a 5th round pick but he's just so awful in his own zone that his ceiling is probably being very generous.

Harrison has 4 assists in 22 college games, has often been a healthy scratch. But he's big. Gotta like that.

Rafikov again is fine for his draft position, but he's never going to come over to North America. I will never be a fan of Russian draft picks.

So yeah, instead of me defending my claim all the time, how about you guys tell me why the 2013 draft is better than the 2011 draft?

I find it absolutely hilarious that you think you can compare the 2011 and 2013 draft as we head into February of 2014. What's CP without some good ole Ashasx drama though.

[Coach]

The only thing that bothers me is his comments on Gaudreau. Yeah he is tiny, but there have been exeptionally talented, small players that have dominated this league in pretty much every generation. He does acknowledge the skill but it always sounds more like "Yeah, he's pretty good, BUT LOOK HOW SMALL!" Would it kill him to acknowledge that he has shown to be one of the best college players EVER and that he might be a least a little OK with having him on the team? I know he mentioned in the first presser that he just needs to surround him with some beef, which is fine, but he seems more and more "meh" on him as time goes on. Maybe it's just because of contract negotiations or something. But he's probably earned a first rounder-type deal at this point.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

How can you put the 2013 draft ahead of the 2011 draft, ignore what Burke said?

So yeah, instead of me defending my claim all the time, how about you guys tell me why the 2013 draft is better than the 2011 draft?

I'm not saying it's better, I'm saying that you claiming to know how good 2011 is, or that it's better than 2013 (a draft that happened 8 months ago) is laughable.

Nobody from 2011 is an NHLer yet. One player from 2013 is. Maybe you should wait until you have any evidence before making outlandish statements, that way, people wouldn't ask you to defend them.

[taxbuster]

Will try to collect notes, if different from (or additional to) those posted at another STH event tonight. Would assume BB will be there with KK (what is it with the double-doubles here?)

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

How about you reply in regards to the content of my posts instead of my history as a poster?

...annd you ruined it.

But since you asked, your posts in this thread, as usual, deal in absolutes, that is why it is funny that you think Burke is "too arrogant for his own good".

Despite your absolute assertion....there is no black and white in dealing with the two drafts mentioned, only one player from 2013 is playing pro (but he IS in the NHL and leading the team in goals) so how you can flat out say that 2011 is better is mind numbing. It amazes me that people agree with you actually.

How can you evaluate the success or failure of the 2013 draft at this point? If you really wanted to, 2013 has 5 less NHL games played than 2011....barring injury 2013 will pass 2011 in approx 6 games.

Now, I think the 2011 draft was the best in recent memory, so far, and I am a fan of Sven and I think he will be a player in this league but you can't reasonably compare the two for about 4-5 years....you just can't.

You simply can't write off an eighteen year old draft that happened 7 months ago. The 2011 kids are older, wiser....and not playing in the NHL.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Gary83

I find it absolutely hilarious that you think you can compare the 2011 and 2013 draft as we head into February of 2014. What's CP without some good ole Ashasx drama though.

But that's what Burke just did. He just compared the 2011 and 2013 drafts. Why am I not allowed to disagree? Is this not a discussion board?

The 2011 draft was good because of the picks outside of the first round. All of them are playing above their draft position.

Not a single one of our post-first round picks from 2013 are trending in that direction.

So tell me, would you rather have a prospect that is developing well and playing above is draft position now, or a prospect that has a small chance of being as good as the former player two years from now?

Seriously. I could say that the earth is round and you guys would argue with me

Again I'm right in my analysis.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

So yeah, instead of me defending my claim all the time, how about you guys tell me why the 2013 draft is better than the 2011 draft?

The point is the draft was only 7 months ago so no one knows yet....except you apparently.

I have no idea if it's better yet but how can you flat out say it is when most of the 2013 draft kids still can't get a beer in BC?