Burke at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce

[saXon]

Fan960 playing Burke soundbytes right now from the CoC meeting.

[Ducay]

How does Burke manage to look disheveled and sweaty 100% of the time. Guy looks like he's in 1920s Havana, sweating it up in his linen suit, tie undone, red face, hair slicked back from the sweat.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Tyler

I love how Burke is pissed off that we're in a "state of the art 1988 building", when the Dome is actually 4 years older than that LOL

When it was built, it was built for the 1988 Olympics and a little ahead of it's time. Burke means that we peaked in 1988 and it's been in decline ever since.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think the Sams are gone in the top 2 picks. Florida takes a risk at losing Ekblad and picks a Sam.

It will be up to Edmonton whether or not we pick Ekblad or Draisaitl.

Hmm.. if Fla picks 1st perhaps. If they trade it, then it's a coin toss again.

[Beatle17]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Actually, I think we could get 3 great players at 34, 55 and 64. There are about 70-80 players in total that I think are worth rolling the dice on. We should get 4 maybe 5 if things go right. There are about 15-20 really good defensemen that are rated in the 25-70 range that would definitely be worth picking (half or more are better prospects than Wotherspoon and Sieloff for quality comparisons)

Seriously, you have seen all of these players who are better prospects than two young guys already in pro hockey , one of whom has proven capable of playing in the NHL and was one of the best Junior defencemen the previous year? Which team is paying you to scout for them?

[CedarMeter]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...628/story.html

It is getting a little ridicules. Would you just announce the thing already.

[Table 5]

It's funny how the Flames keep putting out these arguments that they need a new arena, yet after I don't know how many years of "planning", they still haven't even released a concept proposal to replace it. They don't need anyones permission to build a new arena. They need financing, land, a design... but hey, it's all up to them to get things going. It's not like the city has a "no more arenas" rule.

Of course what they really mean when they say "we need a new arena", is "we need you to pay for a new arena".

Good luck with that...but at least put something out there already.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Fan 960 just played clips from the Burke Breakfast and Burke says there is a 5th player in consideration and that is Nick Ritchie.

Calls him a Lucic type player.

He said the same thing about Tyler "bust" Biggs too.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by CedarMeter

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...628/story.html

It is getting a little ridicules. Would you just announce the thing already.

"Ridiculous"

And don't kid yourself. Burke isn't making this statement to chastise his own employers. That statement is entirely political, and it is aimed at politicians. It is also really the first sign of overt campaigning for government funds to support a new arena.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It's funny how the Flames keep putting out these arguments that they need a new arena, yet after I don't know how many years of "planning", they still haven't even released a concept proposal to replace it. They don't need anyones permission to build a new arena. They need financing, land, a design... but hey, it's all up to them to get things going. It's not like the city has a "no more arenas" rule.

Of course what they really mean when they say "we need a new arena", is "we need you to pay for a new arena".

Good luck with that...but at least put something out there already.

There is work going on all the fronts you mentioned, though. There are 'arena things' happening. It's just not news that requires releasing at this time.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Muta

There is work going on all the fronts you mentioned, though. There are 'arena things' happening. It's just not news that requires releasing at this time.

The concourse flooring has been selected ... and it's fabulous

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Fan 960 just played clips from the Burke Breakfast and Burke says there is a 5th player in consideration and that is Nick Ritchie.

Calls him a Lucic type player.

Lucic is not a great comparable based on junior numbers

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=83957

A better comparable based on junior numbers is Chris Dingman

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=11365

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=138947

Both guys were about half a point a game guys in their first year in junior, moved up to almost a PPG in their second year and really began to dominate when they were big enough to physically dominate their competiton

[mile]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Lucic is not a great comparable based on junior numbers

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=83957

A better comparable based on junior numbers is Chris Dingman

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p....php?pid=11365

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=138947

Both guys were about half a point a game guys in their first year in junior, moved up to almost a PPG in their second year and really began to dominate when they were big enough to physically dominate their competiton

The Lucic comparisons are perfectly valid for Ritchie and have everything to do with their similar styles of play.

Being able to translate your game from junior to the NHL is the most important thing to look for in prospects and junior numbers have very little to do with that.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by mile

The Lucic comparisons are perfectly valid for Ritchie and have everything to do with their similar styles of play.

Being able to translate your game from junior to the NHL is the most important thing to look for in prospects and junior numbers have very little to do with that.

I did not say the Lucic comparables were not valid, just that I think Dingman is an equally valid comparable.

[sureLoss]

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...818/story.html

When holders of the first overall pick at the National Hockey League draft announce that they’re entertaining offers, everyone scrambles for his smartphone.

Including Flames general manager Brad Treliving.

“Brad’s made the call — and he should make the call to see what the price tag is,” Flames boss Brian Burke said Thursday morning at the Calgary Chamber breakfast at the Hyatt Regency. “But to pay a high price to move up? I don’t think so.”

Nevertheless, with the Florida Panthers listening to all bids, the NHL ripples with chatter.

“To me, it’s like throwing a handful of crumbs into a koi pond,” Burke said. “Everyone’s buzzing around, seeing what it would take. It’s produced a frantic amount of activity.

“The rainbow, when you have a poor year, is a high pick. When you have the first pick overall, you control the draft . . . (so) very few teams trade that pick.”

Burke offered handy snapshots, in no particular order:

* D Aaron Ekblad (OHL Barrie) — “Great big horse of a defenceman. Hard shot. Very intelligent player. Not real belligerent. Not real truculent. But this kid can hammer the puck and he’s smart. He’s going to play 20 years.”

* C Leon Draisaitl (WHL Prince Albert) — “A 210-pound centre. Big centre. Big ass. Protects the pucks well. Really skilled. This (German) kid’s a dynamite hockey player. His English is perfect. This kid is an exceptional player.”

* C Sam Reinhart (WHL Kootenay) — “Brainiac centre . . . he dismantled our team, the Hitmen, in the playoffs. Smartest player available by a mile. This guy’s hockey IQ is off the charts. This is Albert Einstein on skates.”

* C Sam Bennett (OHL Kingston) — “A Doug Gilmour-type centre, who scores, puts up big numbers, has leadership skills. And this kid is a mean little (cuss). They’re making fun of him because he couldn’t do any pull-ups at the combine last week. I don’t give a (hoot) if he can do pull-ups.”

* RW Nick Ritchie (OHL Peterborough) — “A six-four, 230-pound mean winger with skill. A (Milan) Lucic-type winger. Which I think we can use, last I looked.”

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Muta

There is work going on all the fronts you mentioned, though. There are 'arena things' happening. It's just not news that requires releasing at this time.

They've yet to present a proposal to the City. There's been talk over many years, but very little concrete.

They could simply build it - what, their billionaire owners cannot afford it?? Their wealthiest of the 6 owners by himself could bankroll the arena on just the increase in his net worth from 2013-14 (~$400m).

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/list...-2014-ranking/

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Bunk

They've yet to present a proposal to the City. There's been talk over many years, but very little concrete.

They could simply build it - what, their billionaire owners cannot afford it?? Their wealthiest of the 6 owners by himself could bankroll the arena on just the increase in his net worth from 2013-14 (~$400m).

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/list...-2014-ranking/

I don't know anything about the arena finances, so I won't comment on that. Just don't assume that because there's no 'formal' proposal to the City yet, or that there's no news, that nothing is going on. Projects of this magnitude have many factors playing into it, often including unknown timeframes for various issues.

[Red Slinger]

Originally Posted by Bunk

They've yet to present a proposal to the City. There's been talk over many years, but very little concrete.

They could simply build it - what, their billionaire owners cannot afford it?? Their wealthiest of the 6 owners by himself could bankroll the arena on just the increase in his net worth from 2013-14 (~$400m).

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/list...-2014-ranking/

Before we start facilitating the arena negotiations on CP, first I need to know who'll be recording the minutes.

[Stay Golden]

Hats off to Burke blasting the aged Dome. I wonder if this is also a direct shot at KKing since he is supposedly heading that task and JMO the Flames have procrastinated in that area for several years. If so more kudos to Burke.

[It's a great day 4 hockey]

As a Flames fan I want what's best for the team. As a tax paying citizen of Calgary I want what's best for generating more tax dollars. If it can shown that in a reasonable amount of time that a significant amount will be recouped then I'm all for it.

As a sports fan I would rather see McMahon Stadium replaced. The dollars to do that just don't justify it without another Olympics, which is too bad because in 1988 it was already a relic.