The Grousing Gets Old After a Time

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 3, 2008 7:42 AM MDT

Everyone's favourite ex-Canucks General Manager is at it again. From TSN, today:
Burke told the Los Angeles Times that the rise in salaries for young players can be traced back to Lowe.

"You go right now from entry-level to what used to be the third contract, thanks to two offer sheets from Kevin Lowe," Burke said to the Times.

"Most [general] managers don't like starting fights with any other managers. . Thanks to the Edmonton Oilers, the second contract has disappeared."

"They're all being re-signed at inflated prices," he explained to the newspaper. "Everything I said a year ago has come true. Every single word."

Brian Burke is generally a good GM. He has his flaws (didn't take Penner to arbitration, shipped Bryzgalov away for nothing, signed Bertuzzi, etc.) but on the whole he's probably still a top-5 GM in the NHL.

That's why it's surprising that he's still being so asinine about this. The salary cap just went up a ton. Salaries were on the rise anyway. The other thing about it is there are plenty of desperate teams out there, and if Lowe hadn't done what he did, someone else would be doing it this year.

The thing about Lowe is he figured out right away that the only way to get an RFA was to overpay. None of this Kesler/Backes close-to-reasonable contract nonsense; if you want the guy, you have to take the hit, both in money and draft picks. Burke can talk all he wants about how Lowe is running his team and his league into the ground, but there's only so much money out there in a salary capped league; the total money spent on players isn't changing any more than it would have otherwise, it's just being allocated differently between RFA's and UFA's. It changes the model that a team needs to use, but it doesn't destroy the system.

And now, Burkie's just embarrasing himself.

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Comments

Agreed 100%. Burke can whine all he likes but if he doesn't qualify his guys its his fault.

Is it Lowe's fault that TOR pays Finger 3.5 or whatever? I don't think so, the Streit contract isn't Lowes fault either.

The cap world has dictated that instead of getting 'low' salaries for the first 2-3 contracts and then getting a retirement contract in your early 30's GM's are paying up for potential earlier and hoping the player outperforms it.

This year I would think the Penner contract looks in line with alot of the other players in a similar role. If the cap goes up again next year his contract may even look appealing. Look at the Souray $'s and after this FA blitz is on the status quo, even though last year was 1Mill high.

Burkie can whine all he likes but the amount of ash available to players is like a pie, as the pie gets bigger you can invite more people to the table or you could give the guys you want to bigger pieces.

Burke just doesn't like that he had all these good young guys on the cheap when he won the cup, and now they are expecting to get paid. (same like the oil in '06) same as the pens in '08)

As business changes you have to adapt and I think thats where he runs into problems. Find a scapegoat - cause it surely can't be him...right?

by DOOGIE81 on Jul 3, 2008 9:06 AM MDT reply actions

What makes Burke a top 5 GM? honestly?

by Oilman on Jul 3, 2008 11:35 AM MDT reply actions

That's exactly what I thought; the amount of money being spent didn't change, simply its allocation. The same rules apply to everyone so what's the difference?

by Kyle on Jul 3, 2008 11:42 AM MDT reply actions

A top 5 NHL GM would seemingly be able to grasp that.

by Oilman on Jul 3, 2008 11:52 AM MDT reply actions

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What makes Burke a top 5 GM? honestly?

A top 5 NHL GM would seemingly be able to grasp that.
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Totally agree. I haven't seen anything from Burke to convince me he's more than an average gm. Take away the Pronger trade and what's he done that makes anyone think he's savvy?

I wouldn't want the guy near a team that I cheer for but would be more than happy to see his particular brand of drama added to the soap opera that is the TML.

by relic on Jul 3, 2008 12:11 PM MDT reply actions

What makes Burke a top 5 GM? honestly?

Stanley Cup in 2007, largely based on some very, very bright moves (Fedorov trade, Niedermayer signing, Pronger trade). The Canucks teams he built were good ones, and acquiring the best two picks of the Sedin draft (I know the 1st stayed in Atlanta, but it wasn't a good pick). Aside from his seeming inability to deal with goaltenders not presented to him on a silver platter, he's a really good GM.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 3, 2008 1:02 PM MDT reply actions

You'd think a Top Five NHL General Manager™ would remember that Rick Nash was signed to a big-money second deal three years ago, or two years before the Penner deal.

I guess he was too busy printing up pictures of Kevin Lowe for his dartboard to remember that.

by Doogie2K on Jul 3, 2008 1:36 PM MDT reply actions

Brian Burke inherited a Stanley cup caliber goaltender....his biggest weakness is his inability to judge goal tending talent (that and a terrible drafting record) and if they had fallen one game short of winning everything, I doubt he would have retained Giguere. How many goalies did he go through in Vancouver? 10? and he settled on Cloutier?

by Oilman on Jul 3, 2008 3:42 PM MDT reply actions

Jonathon...I ranted based on the first line of your arguement...but it appears that you actually agree with me. How can a man be considered one of the top 5 team builders in the game when there is a glaring flaw (goaltending) on his record.

by Oilman on Jul 3, 2008 3:49 PM MDT reply actions

I'd argue that Burke is probably top-5, definitely top-10, but I haven't put serious thought into it (GM rankings would be a fun post later this year). Still, it isn't really a strong field (Don Waddell, Jacques Martin, Cliff Fletcher, Larry Pleau, et al.).

Incidentally, what Burke thinks, and what Burke says, are two different things.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 3, 2008 4:03 PM MDT reply actions

Jonathon...you don't think Burkes a fella who speaks his mind?

There can really be no hidden agenda with his ranting lately....there is nothing to gain from it (other than headlines)

by Oilman on Jul 3, 2008 5:43 PM MDT reply actions

Jonathon...you don't think Burkes a fella who speaks his mind?

I think he's both duplicitous and clever and he does a good job of hiding both by presenting a gruff, loud, public persona. He's a lawyer and a former player agent, and I'm relatively sure he's capable of saying one thing and meaning another.

Anaheim has yet to sign any big-ticket free agents. Isn't throwing dust at your opponent a nice way to camouflage that?

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 3, 2008 5:48 PM MDT reply actions

His big signing last year was bought out this year...and he has no budget to speak of (because of Lowe I hear).

The top 5 GM thing with Burke is overblown....Would he ever be considered that prior to Anaheim (where he stepped into a situation where A) Selanne didn't want to play anywhere else B) Neidermeyer wanted to play with his brother C)Doug McLean was still a GM and had a hard on for Fedorov D) Perry, Penner, Getzlaf and Gigure were already in the system, and E)He was Kevin Lowes buddy and Prongers wife didn't like Edmonton.

I didn't hear Ken Holland taking jabs at anyone to sign Hossa.

You're right though - this is a good blog topic - and if Burke lands in you top 5 I'll be rehashing these points again.

by Oilman on Jul 3, 2008 8:10 PM MDT reply actions

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