45 replies to this topic

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Burke hurt by Canuck snub on Linden's night

VANCOUVER — Toronto Maple Leafs boss Brian Burke is disappointed he wasn’t asked to participate in Wednesday night’s tribute to Trevor Linden.

Burke, the former Vancouver Canucks general manager, pulled off the Nov. 10, 2001 trade that brought Linden back to Vancouver and has had a close relationship with the Canuck icon for many years.

“I would have flown around the globe to be there last night,” Burke told The Vancouver Sun today. “I was extremely disappointed to have been excluded.”

Burke was one of many people Linden thanked in his speech before his No. 16 banner was raised to the rafters...

The Vancouver Sun

Will we/Should we invite him to be here when we honor Teemu?

[QuacksMeUp]

Burke hurt by Canuck snub on Linden's night



Will we/Should we invite him to be here when we honor Teemu?

I thought Burkie had to tuck his grown kids to bed every night in Boston.

[sugarmama]

I can understand why he was upset, but how tacky to whine to the media. In a 20 year career I don't think the building can hold everyone that was ever part of his career, and the video tribute would still be going. There were several people noticeably absent, and some for good reason IMHO.

As for Teemu, yes I think BB should be invited to attend. I'm not as certain if he should be given mic time, but at least in the building yes.

[Dark Knight]

I thought Burkie had to tuck his grown kids to bed every night in Boston.

...

[ladiesandgentlemen]

I am finding it very amusing that the very people who bitched about Brian Burke's "grandstanding" have subsequently empowered him with the greatest Grandstand in Hockey: The Toronto Media

I don't know about anyone else, but I think Burkie is playing them like a fiddle now. They are all going to him for the "newsworthy interview" now, and he is using it to send out messages, cross-signals, and all the other tactics GM's use to try and work deals from every angle possible.

They bow at his feet now to garner any tidbit that might get them the "break" or make a splashy story with juicy quotes, and feed the starving hockey masses in TO with the crumbs he throws out. DTP posted a story that reveals just how popular he's become there, from racetracks to the Big Blue Vatican.

It's amazing.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Is Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke A Bust?

What a difference six months makes! Six months ago, Toronto Maple Leaf fans were begging for Brian Burke’s selection as the Leafs general manager.

Hell, Leaf fans were willing to give Burke the keys to the city! Now, after joining the Leafs halfway through the season, completing his first National Hockey League entry draft as Leafs GM and stumbling through the first two days of free agency, you are hard pressed to find a Leafs fan who isn’t ready to lock Burke in a room and throw away the key. I guess the saying is true, “Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.”

In all fairness, Burke is trying to make a beautiful flower out of a turd. What Burke inherited was a far cry from a competitive NHL hockey team. In fact, there are many NHL fans that suggest the Leafs were nothing more than a glorified American Hockey League team last season. There is some truth in that statement.

With that in mind, just what were you all expecting Burke to do over the past six months? I know there are those of you out there that think Burke is the second coming of Moses, but come on people!...

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

[ahtikullervo]

I believe Mr. Burke's will make some noise in East this season!

[ladiesandgentlemen]

... However, when it comes to managing the message in the NHL, nobody can touch Brian Burke. The Maple Leafs GM is the undisputed champ’een of the chat, verbally painting pictures that – compared to some of the drudgery emanating from his colleagues (I’m giving you the stink-eye, Darryl “Ben Stein” Sutter) – come off looking like the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel...

Another very entertaining article by Adam Proteau of THN

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Here's one of the things I miss about Brian Burke:

Burke extended his appreciation to everyone who spent the better part of a week in St. Paul in the name of making themselves and the sport even better.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank every coach in this room for what you do,” said Burke. “The lynchpin to our game is the volunteer coach. Every person in the NHL owes you a debt of gratitude for what you’ve given to the game.”

Link to article originally posted by DTP in the Van Oly's thread

Promoting the game of hockey is one of his strong suits, including from the ground up.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Vintage Burke (on the need for hard-working role players for Team USA):

"When you go to a symphony orchestra, the first violinist is elegant and there's a spotlight on her in the front row," Burke said Wednesday in the final day of USA Hockey's Olympic orientation camp in Woodridge. "And then there's a guy like me, in the back row blowing on a tuba, and they don't start the show until we both sit down."

From article originally posted by DTP in the Van Oly's thread

Added: Here's a link to the video if you care to see and hear...

[Todrick]

Classic Bruke-ism

[Rage]

I did a double take when I heard Burke say that in the video. It was definitely a 'huh?' reaction.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

No captain yet in TOR, but they do have:

... It’s telling that no successor to Sundin jumps out as the obvious choice. Arguably the Leaf “brand’’ these days, the face of the franchise, is Burke. In his image the club has purportedly been designed. He’s the template.

Burke rejects that characterization. “I don’t want to be the face of the team. Sure, I’ve been doing all the TV and radio to kick off the season but now the players take over. Soon, you’ll be looking for me on milk cartons.”...

Link

He wants to be the pope, but not the face of the team?

[Just Duckie]

It's Burke version of theater of the absurd. Burke feeds on the hype and the spotlight; that'll be the day when he shies away from the limelight and the media long enough to be on milk carton. Even in our obscure little hockey market he was good for a quote at least once a week.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

And the early-season sourness in TOR turns towards the pope:

Burke's big splash may sink Leafs

With each passing disaster, the pressure on Phil Kessel grows.

Sadly, he has yet to play his first game for the Maple Leafs, but by the time he does in mid-November, his acquisition by Brian Burke could well become the central point of conversation in this season going nowhere.

In a move calculated by the bold and loud general manager, who believed this Leafs team to be something it has yet to show, Burke parted with first-round draft picks for 2010 and 2011 in the deal for the speedy Kessel. The deal can be defended if the draft picks are nowhere near a lottery selection. But six games into this nightmare of a season, that's a big if, with no real signs that anything is about to change with the Leafs, with the coach and his players appearing equally inept and the Leafs looking every bit the part of the NHL's worst team...

... Yes, the draft watch already has begun in earnest, and yes, with 76 games still to play, with almost everything about this Leafs team looking wrong, there is little even an optimist can believe after a promising pre-season.

This team can't score, can't defend, can't kill penalties, can't stop pucks, and can't pick first in the draft...

Link

Though Kessel's name is abundantly used in the article as a front, this is a clear finger-pointing of Burke.

I wonder how he's enjoying his throne in the holy city?

[cubby1]

The Leafs are brutal this year despite the hype. They are bigger and tougher but can't score or play defense. Beauchemin has had a rough start (he really misses Scotty!) Burke is still yapping but the press is starting to point fingers in his direction. It will get worse when Boston uses the pick they got in the Kessel deal to draft Taylor Hall. Go Ducks!!

[Todrick]

Beauchemin has had a rough start (he really misses Scotty!)

Hate to say i told you so... but... well... I did.

Frankie was never the player many fans thought he was... it was clear as day in the 07/08 season that his stats were the product of a HoF defensive partner, not his own skill.

Hell, I'd look good playing next to scotty.

But back on subject....

How long before Burkie get's canned?
How long will the fans tolerate his excessive spending and dealing of draft picks with no gains in performance?

and part two....

Do you think we'd take him back?
(not do you think we should?.... do you think we would?)

[DropThePuck]

In a private ceremony before Monday's game against the Ducks, Burke received a congressional citation for his charitable works while working in Anaheim.

"I was flattered to be acknowledged," said Burke on Wednesday. "It was really touching."

Burke was honoured by congressman John Campbell especially for his support of U.S. troops.

<link>

[HillerGirl]

just received my Hockey News magazine.
one of the articles is how to dress as someone in NHL for Halloween.
at Burke's costume
step 1: Dye your hair white
step 2: suck your way through a bucket of lemons to achieve maximum scowl capacity
step 3: pay somebody at the Halloween party to pound the stuffing out of another partygoer
step 4: Use a crapload of multi-syllabic words, colorful analogies and "the hockey culture" to justify it.

anyone wanna take a shot?

[QuacksMeUp]

just received my Hockey News magazine.
one of the articles is how to dress as someone in NHL for Halloween.
at Burke's costume
step 1: Dye your hair white
step 2: suck your way through a bucket of lemons to achieve maximum scowl capacity
step 3: pay somebody at the Halloween party to pound the stuffing out of another partygoer
step 4: Use a crapload of multi-syllabic words, colorful analogies and "the hockey culture" to justify it.

anyone wanna take a shot?

step 5: Bring some adorable kids as props.
step 6: Don't forget to inflate that enormous ego balloon that comes with the costume.

[sugarmama]

Burkie to march in opening ceremony

[QuacksMeUp]

Burkie to march in opening ceremony

I think a nice little two-step would be much more appropriate.

[sugarmama]

I think a nice little two-step would be much more appropriate.

Funny, I pictured him walking backwards.

[QuacksMeUp]

Funny, I pictured him walking backwards.

Oh! Like the moon walk!!

[Dark Knight]

Thata parade better end early since he'll have to fly back to the other coast and tuck his kids in