Well, at least the Calgary Flames have given us something to talk about.
With millionaire players Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff and Jay Bouwmeester in the rear-view, it was looking like a year that had you scrambling to offer informed opinions on neophyte NHLers like Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund.
Not any more. As of Sept. 5, Brian Burke is the team’s new president of hockey operations.
We now have more to discuss than the weather and Reto Berra’s goals-against average.
The opinions of Burke and his work in the National Hockey League are as varied as the teams he’s managed, which include Hartford, Vancouver, Anaheim and Toronto. He also spent five seasons as the National Hockey League’s executive vice-president and director of hockey operations.
And, while winning a Stanley Cup as Anaheim’s GM in 2007, it was only his second year with a club largely assembled prior to his arrival. Although, he did convince defenceman Scott Niedermayer to sign as a free agent and traded for Chris Pronger. The veteran defencemen were pivotal in Anaheim’s Stanley Cup run.
Pronger, by the way, was selected by Burke in the 1993 NHL entry draft after the then-Hartford GM flipped Sergei Makarov and a trio of picks to San Jose for the No. 2 pick, which he spent on Pronger.
His most notable move as a GM, arguably, came at the 1999 NHL draft. As Canucks GM, he swung deals with the Blackhawks, Lightning and Thrashers ensuring the Canucks would get both Sedins with the second and third overall picks in the draft. He took Daniel second and Henrik third, and the Swedish twins have been lighting it up on the Coast ever since.
When you consider Patrik Stefan went first and Pavel Brendl fourth in that draft, it makes Burke’s draft dealing even more luminous.
History aside, a spin through web-based reaction reveals Flames fans thoughts of “Burkie.”
Phillip C in YYC comments: “The team has no long-term vision or plan and stutters from pillar to post. (GM Jay) Feaster came in to ‘advise’ Darryl Sutter and advised him right out of a job. Darryl went on to win the Stanley Cup in L.A. Now Burke is going to ‘advise’ Feaster. Well, Mr. Feaster, dust off that resume because you will need it before the season’s over.”
Flames Fan writes: “Great Move. Burke will do great.”
The apocalyptic Chuck comments: “Burke . . . really? What has he done? Has he built successful teams? Has he won anything with a team he has built? Is he anything more than an angry old man? This is the saviour for a mediocre team? The end is near.”
And this upbeat nugget from Josh: “Jeez, guys. Give the man some credit with what he had done with Anaheim (Cup). Vancouver (Finals) and most recently T.O. (Playoffs). It’s a great move by Calgary.”
Yes, Burke is a Flames executive now. The team already has a general manager (Feaster) and a president and CEO (Ken King). Only time will tell if the Saddledome executive suite is too cramped for this power trio.
It’ll definitely give us something to talk about. Burke has a way of polarizing hockey fans. He can be as blunt as a ball-peen hammer which, for some (Toronto most recently), is confounding.
You either love him or loathe him. But Flames fans will be compelled to talk about what he does and how he does it.
Which should provide a full tank of conversation fuel around water cooler this season. At least, more than there would have been without Brian Burke in the Flames front office.
