"I will personally challenge anyone who wants to get to rid of fighting to a fight."
Brian Burke is taking the latest round of general managers meetings relatively seriously. Think any of the anti-fighting brigade could take B.B. in a one-on-one?
8 months ago
James Mirtle
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Well...
Not sure he is against fighting, but I wouldn’t bet against Gainey.
Anyway, it’s all in good spirit, right?
by Olivier on Mar 8, 2009 10:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
To a duel? Like on the Office?
Ain't nothing but puck drops and poke checks, babydoll.
Now Princess Game Thread.
by wrap around curl on Mar 8, 2009 10:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I found the rest of the article more interesting than the fighting stuff
Why is it that Brian Burke absolutely loves to hear himself talk, for whatever reason? I’ve never really seen any sort of evidence that he’s a great GM. That cup in Anaheim was as much the work of his predecessor than he. Oh well.
I like the delay of game rule. Sometimes it burns you, sometimes it doesn’t…whatever. I think the last thing the last thing the NHL needs to be doing is giving the refs MORE discretion over penalties.
Gotta love how the NHL goes in cycles with officiating. It really creates a bush league vibe to the whole thing. It seemed like for months this year, they ignored blatant interference…now in the last few weeks (at least in the games I’ve watched) they dramatically increased their calls of it. Maybe it’s just a coincidence.
Usually they come out of the gate strict and calling everything tightly, then it degenerates to the point where the playoffs become more of wrestling match than anything. I could be wrong, this year it just seems to be a reversal of that.
by Make a play Whitner on Mar 8, 2009 11:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
That cup in Anaheim was as much the work of his predecessor than he
Yeah, Bryan Murray is really showing that he was the brains behind that Stanley Cup.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Mar 8, 2009 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve never really seen any sort of evidence that he’s a great GM. That cup in Anaheim was as much the work of his predecessor than he.
I’ve written about this quite a bit … disagree entirely. Burke remodelled what was a non-playoff team almost entirely.
by James Mirtle on Mar 9, 2009 12:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Please mail that to every senators fan.
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
by PPP on Mar 9, 2009 12:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently every GM in the league has to trade away every single part of the club in order to really put his stamp on it and get the credit.
Brian Burke only got rid of 75% of the Ducks players, thus it is still Bryan Murray’s team (actually it should really be considered Pierre Gauthier’s team as he brought in Giguere, McDonald, Pahlsson and Bryzgalov). By comparison, all Murray did was get R.Niedermayer, sign Kunitz and draft Perry and Getzlaf.
-Kevin Forbes
Hockey's Future
by kforbes on Mar 9, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Fair enough, you got me there
I read the link to the article you posted- well done.
So I rescind my comment about leeching off the work of Murray. Yet, as crazy as this sounds- I don’t think winning the Stanley Cup in about a decade worth of work is necessarily the earmark of a “great” GM. Is Jim Rutherford a “great” GM too, for winning the same number of cups as Burke in roughly the same about of time since Burke landed in Vancouver? Obviously, you can’t take the Cup away from the Ducks in 06-07. But as physically imposing as that Ducks team was, they don’t get by Detroit if Kronwall and Schneider were healthy.
He also did a lot to gut the team he built by signing Bertuzzi and Schneider to irresponsible, stupid contracts. Since joining Vancouver, his draft history has been pretty weak too, except for when he was gifted top 5 picks.
I don’t know…I just don’t see what’s so great about the guy that he can be thought of in the same class as Lamiorello and Holland. Maybe it’s because his mouth is always open and he always has something to say. To me, he’s like Bob Clarke a decade later…always in the spotlight, always a good quote…but doesn’t always do the right thing for his team.
Just my thoughts.
by Make a play Whitner on Mar 9, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Since I wrote that two years ago, I think Burke’s dropped a few pegs. The Ducks were sort of a mess coming into this season, and Toronto’s obviously a work in progress. But he’s done some terrific work in the past and is definitely among the top 5-10 managers in the league.
by James Mirtle on Mar 9, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Burke’s really a turn-around guy. He’s got the cojones to make the tough deals and decisions, get a team back on track and reverse the course of the franchise. But at the same time, his pride and stubbornness mean that organizations need to pull the chute on him quite quickly after he takes the team as far as he can take them.
In Vancouver, he clearly overstayed his welcome, which led to his act wearing thin on his bosses and his pride blinding him from addressing the final pieces that the early-2000s Canucks needed to take them over the top. I think it’s pretty telling that the notable happening of the post-Burke era in Vancouver was the Luongo trade, addressing the major weakness that held the Canucks back all those years.
In Anaheim, he more or less left after it was clear he couldn’t take this team any further. The Schneider and Bertuzzi signings were bad, but at the time, when faced with no Selanne and an indecisive Niedermayer, I don’t think there was much better that he could have done for the money he had. If Niedermayer and Selanne returned to start the 2007-08 season and Bertuzzi and Schneider did not sign with the club, I think Anaheim may have placed themselves in position to repeat and maybe Burke would still be their GM. Despite what is looking to be a tough season this year, with some cap troubles and veterans no longer playing to the same level they have in the past, Burke did set the Ducks up to bounce back quickly, with most of the contracts expiring this offseason and the chance for Bob Murray to put his own stamp on the team quite quickly and effectively, without losing the core.
Clearly Toronto is still unknown, but that move puzzled me a bit, simply because Burke was brought to Vancouver and Anaheim to attract as much attention off the ice as the team did on the ice. I don’t think it’s any surprise that both the Canucks and the Ducks have enjoyed (and more or less sustained) increased numbers at the gate during the time Burke was in charge and since those days have gone by. Burke saved a struggling Canucks franchise and helped put Anaheim Duck hockey on the map. In Toronto, he won’t need to improve anything off the ice.
-Kevin Forbes
Hockey's Future
by kforbes on Mar 9, 2009 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Burke saved a struggling Canucks franchise and helped put Anaheim Duck hockey on the map. In Toronto, he won’t need to improve anything off the ice.
That’s not exactly true. The Leafs have a ways to go in the PR department, and they really risk losing a portion of their fan base in the future as the demographics of the market change and prices put actually going to games well out of reach.
Burke’s a much larger persona in the city than JFJ ever was. He can make a major impact in the local media and in terms of improving the team’s standing in the community.
by James Mirtle on Mar 9, 2009 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s my look at how Burke built the Ducks team in 2006-07. It’s a more accurate portrait of his credentials than you’re giving us.
by James Mirtle on Mar 9, 2009 1:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Spoken like a true bully, which is exactly what Burke fancies himself.
by Jibblescribbits on Mar 8, 2009 11:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Are we sure this is Brian Burke and not “Brian Burke”? Sometimes it is actually difficult to tell those two apart.
by Matthew Dirt on Mar 9, 2009 9:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You’re not kidding…
Down Goes Brown - Unapologetically nostalgic for the past. Brutally realistic about the present. Grudgingly optimistic about the future.
by Down Goes Brown on Mar 9, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t usually like Burke, but +1 to him for this stance.
by Resolute on Mar 9, 2009 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
More fighting Not Less!
1000% Agree!
We need MORE Not Less fighting!
by Fauxrumors on Mar 9, 2009 12:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Burke and respect his record as a GM. But just because you’re the loudest kid in the class doesn’t mean you’re always right. For my money, Ken holland is the brightest mind in the game.
http://puckreport.blogspot.com
MG
by puckreport on Mar 9, 2009 4:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Whether or not Burke is always right – and he sure as hell aint – that doesn’t change the fact that he is right in this case.
by Resolute on Mar 9, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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