Eklund: Noon Press Conference in Calgary. Brian Burke returning to the NHL!

eighth. flames are really (frank)ed

Burkie

Might as well hand the cup over to the Flames right now.

The JOYLESS TURD Burkie's back to spread his wonderful brand of sunshine.....lucky Flames fans and media.

For all of the Burke haters out there, you have to give him credit for one thing. He knows how to build an organization and in time, they do become successful. It would be the best thing that could happen to the Flames. In time, he will wear out his welcome, but when he leaves, they'll be a playoff team with lots of organizational depth and development. Slag the Flames all you want over this, but it'll be the moment that this franchise turns a corner and starts moving up.

For all of the Burke haters out there, you have to give him credit for one thing. He knows how to build an organization and in time, they do become successful. It would be the best thing that could happen to the Flames. In time, he will wear out his welcome, but when he leaves, they'll be a playoff team with lots of organizational depth and development. Slag the Flames all you want over this, but it'll be the moment that this franchise turns a corner and starts moving up.
- PrinceLH

teehee

Brian Burke is the most overrated hockey man in the NHL.

He did well to get the twins in Van but never realized that you need a goalie to win a cup.

He was handed a Stanley cup winner in Anaheim. Sure he added Neidermayer (but he wanted to go there anyways and play with his bro - a monkey could have made that signing) and Pronger, but other than that, the Ducks were Bryan Murray's team.

He set the Leafs back by at least 2-3 years. Sure, the Leafs finally made the playoffs last season and he was the one who built that team. With that said, any average GM could have eventually done that with the money and high draft picks the Leafs have had over the past decade.

I'm not saying he is going to hurt in Calgary (and to be honest, if there's one guy he's better than, it's probably Feaster), but I wouldn't be getting too excited if I'm a flames fan. Now instead of having just the worst GM in the league, you have the worst GM in the league with the most overrated hockey guy sitting beside him.

For all of the Burke haters out there, you have to give him credit for one thing. He knows how to build an organization and in time, they do become successful. It would be the best thing that could happen to the Flames. In time, he will wear out his welcome, but when he leaves, they'll be a playoff team with lots of organizational depth and development. Slag the Flames all you want over this, but it'll be the moment that this franchise turns a corner and starts moving up.
- PrinceLH

I agree!

Burke is an pompous ass and doesn't belong in the NHL anymore. He and Don Cherry should go riding off into the grumpy sunset together

Return to what "Greatness" you speak of? Last I remember the Flames have one cup to their name. I wouldn't call that "Greatness". Maybe "good' or "atta boy" but not god-like.

Brian Burke is the most overrated hockey man in the NHL.

He did well to get the twins in Van but never realized that you need a goalie to win a cup.

He was handed a Stanley cup winner in Anaheim. Sure he added Neidermayer (but he wanted to go there anyways and play with his bro - a monkey could have made that signing) and Pronger, but other than that, the Ducks were Bryan Murray's team.

He set the Leafs back by at least 2-3 years. Sure, the Leafs finally made the playoffs last season and he was the one who built that team. With that said, any average GM could have eventually done that with the money and high draft picks the Leafs have had over the past decade.

I'm not saying he is going to hurt in Calgary (and to be honest, if there's one guy he's better than, it's probably Feaster), but I wouldn't be getting too excited if I'm a flames fan. Now instead of having just the worst GM in the league, you have the worst GM in the league with the most overrated hockey guy sitting beside him.
- Charliebox

He also added Beauchemin, and I believe Moen, Pahlsson and others... basically the defense that wins (win) championship(s) was built by Burke.

says who? oh yeah, all his competition.

He also added Beauchemin, and I believe Moen, Pahlsson and others... basically the defense that wins (win) championship(s) was built by Burke.
- lumlums

He did what he had to do and won.

End of story.

teehee
- dt99999

If your laughing at the nuclear winter that was the Leafs, after the JFJ days, then you don't understand. JFJ left nothing on the farm, traded away allot of first round picks for deadwood and left the Leafs franchise in total disrepair. Burke added many young pieces, working with nothing but deadwood, and put them on the path to a playoff spot. You can teehee, being a Sens fan, but the Leafs are better off and will give the Sens all of the grief that they deserve.

Brian Burke is the most overrated hockey man in the NHL.

He did well to get the twins in Van but never realized that you need a goalie to win a cup.

He was handed a Stanley cup winner in Anaheim. Sure he added Neidermayer (but he wanted to go there anyways and play with his bro - a monkey could have made that signing) and Pronger, but other than that, the Ducks were Bryan Murray's team.

He set the Leafs back by at least 2-3 years. Sure, the Leafs finally made the playoffs last season and he was the one who built that team. With that said, any average GM could have eventually done that with the money and high draft picks the Leafs have had over the past decade.

I'm not saying he is going to hurt in Calgary (and to be honest, if there's one guy he's better than, it's probably Feaster), but I wouldn't be getting too excited if I'm a flames fan. Now instead of having just the worst GM in the league, you have the worst GM in the league with the most overrated hockey guy sitting beside him.
- Charliebox

Set them back 2-3 years? Did you see the state of the team when he showed up? He gets a lot of flak because of his personality and style but the fact is that he did a fantastic job in Toronto and he'll do the same in Calgary. He's exactly the kind of guy the Flames need at the helm, they've played it safe for way too long.

Brian Burke is the most overrated hockey man in the NHL.

He did well to get the twins in Van but never realized that you need a goalie to win a cup.

He was handed a Stanley cup winner in Anaheim. Sure he added Neidermayer (but he wanted to go there anyways and play with his bro - a monkey could have made that signing) and Pronger, but other than that, the Ducks were Bryan Murray's team.

He set the Leafs back by at least 2-3 years. Sure, the Leafs finally made the playoffs last season and he was the one who built that team. With that said, any average GM could have eventually done that with the money and high draft picks the Leafs have had over the past decade.

I'm not saying he is going to hurt in Calgary (and to be honest, if there's one guy he's better than, it's probably Feaster), but I wouldn't be getting too excited if I'm a flames fan. Now instead of having just the worst GM in the league, you have the worst GM in the league with the most overrated hockey guy sitting beside him.
- Charliebox

This is all dumb.
So...turned around Vancouver but didn't win the cup so he sucked.

Won the cup in Anaheim...but that was given to him?

Yeah....you seem really neutral on this.

Burke would be better in an administrative role with the NHL than with a team. If he's that good for the game as you suggest, then his presence should be more than team building. The NHL needs smarter guys and not just x-players (Shannahan) calling the shots.

The 29 teams who don't have Burke working for them are better off

If your laughing at the nuclear winter that was the Leafs, after the JFJ days, then you don't understand. JFJ left nothing on the farm, traded away allot of first round picks for deadwood and left the Leafs franchise in total disrepair. Burke added many young pieces, working with nothing but deadwood, and put them on the path to a playoff spot. You can teehee, being a Sens fan, but the Leafs are better off and will give the Sens all of the grief that they deserve.
- PrinceLH

This is all dumb.
So...turned around Vancouver but didn't win the cup so he sucked.

Won the cup in Anaheim...but that was given to him?

Yeah....you seem really neutral on this.
- stormey

People say that Anaheim was Murray's team but if you look at the roster, aside from a few top end forwards and a goalie (which I admit, are huge factors) he pretty much overturned the team. That team was full of essential role players and Burke was the guy who brought them in. That cup is more his than Murray's.

As for the Leafs, I really don't think people realize how hopeless they were before Burke showed up. Basically they were the current Flames, minus the recent draft pick depth.

Hurry up with Kadri TO...Burke smells blood.

Brian Burke is the most overrated hockey man in the NHL.

He did well to get the twins in Van but never realized that you need a goalie to win a cup.

He was handed a Stanley cup winner in Anaheim. Sure he added Neidermayer (but he wanted to go there anyways and play with his bro - a monkey could have made that signing) and Pronger, but other than that, the Ducks were Bryan Murray's team.

He set the Leafs back by at least 2-3 years. Sure, the Leafs finally made the playoffs last season and he was the one who built that team. With that said, any average GM could have eventually done that with the money and high draft picks the Leafs have had over the past decade.

I'm not saying he is going to hurt in Calgary (and to be honest, if there's one guy he's better than, it's probably Feaster), but I wouldn't be getting too excited if I'm a flames fan. Now instead of having just the worst GM in the league, you have the worst GM in the league with the most overrated hockey guy sitting beside him.
- Charliebox

IMO you are wrong. The leafs that just made the playoffs were the leafs that burke put together and gets 0 credit for

This is all dumb.
So...turned around Vancouver but didn't win the cup so he sucked.

Won the cup in Anaheim...but that was given to him?

Yeah....you seem really neutral on this.
- stormey

Guys.. I said he's overrated.. not terrible. Huge difference. Think of an overrated player. They are still average to good players..

I'm pointing out why he is overrated. Not why he is bad.

If you had to rank GMs in the past decade, I would rank him somewhere around the average. Not great, but not terrible.

He is overrated
1. because in his first NHL job, he didn't realize that Dan Cloutier wasn't going to take the Nucks anywhere. Listen to interviews he gave during that time and how highly he talked of Cloutier. The guy sucked.. plain and simple.
2. his Stanley cup win wasn't a team he groomed for 5-10 years before that. He was handed the majority of that team.
3. he did set the leafs back. He made a bad trade with Boston. He made a few bad signings. Grabo had to be bought out this summer cause he was massively overpaid. He also spoke of 'truculence' and brought in tough players, then decided to hire a coach who didn't coach that style. An average GM could have done the same thing with the Leafs over the same time span that Burke had with them.

Eklund: Noon Press Conference in Calgary. Brian Burke returning to the NHL!
- Eklund

this is probably the first ever Ek blog written that i can actually agree with... there's no fabrication, no fantasy details, nothing... just a straight up logical and probable blog.

for once you can legitimately place an E4 or E5 at the end and you forget it!

smarten up ek.