Ricky Bobby
Registered User
- Aug 31, 2008
- 8,457
- 312
When Burke was the Leafs GM he frequently brought in veterans on short term deal like Armstrong, Connolly, Beauchemin, Komisarek, CMac to prevent youngsters from being handed positions. All were signed to short term deals and Burke got them by overpaying and offering playing opportunity. The Flames just like the Leafs who were a bad team will only attract free agents by offering playing minutes that better teams can't as well as overpaying in dollars and term that other teams can't/won't. With the exception of Komisarek all of them were signed for 3 years or less so expect Burke to do the same by offering 2, 3 and potentially even 4 year deals to placeholder UFAs. Always remember cap space can't be carried forward to future years.
Burke also took chances on players at low value points like Phaneuf and Lupul. He will seek similar sorts of moves. I'm not sure who he'd target or even be able to acquire but think names like Tyler Myers, James Wisnieswki who are at low value points.
Burke will look to fully utilize his cap space and budget to gain extra assets like he did by gaining a pick by taking on the Kolzig contract and or how he gained Franson by taking on Lombardi who had an uninsurable contract and potentially was never going to play again at the time of the trade. Burke was one of the biggest advocates if not the biggest of getting the new CBA to include teams being able to retain cap hits in trades so expect him to retain cap space in trades to get better trade returns.
I predict Burke will do the following moves till the end of the season:
1. Yougsters:
-Baertschi will see more time in the AHL. Burke held back all of Lupul, Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan and Kadri. I expect Burke to do the same with Baertschi.
-Monahan will be spent back to junior to dominate and play in the World Juniors
2. Burke will look to load up on Dmen just like he did in Toronto because Dmen are always in demand every deadline and Dmen always get injured.
I expect Burke to sign one of the remaining UFA dmen to a 1 year deal like Gill, Gilbert or take a chance on someone like Barker/Teubert to create extra competition and another potential trade asset.
I also expect Burke to take on a Dman at a low value point with Liles being the obvious name. Liles could be the 3rd or 4th best Dman for the Flames. With the cap going back up after this season he could be a great trade asset at the deadline and Burke always has the option of retaining cap space to make him more attractive to other teams. Liles is also only signed for 3 years which isn't a long contract.
3. Just like Burke traded pending UFAs in Poni, Moore and Antropov for draft picks in his first year Burke will trade pending UFAs Stajan, Cammalleri and Stempniak for prospects/picks.
4. Burke will try to sign every college UFA that he can by selling them on the opportunity to gain a roster spot on a poor team.
5. Burkes hardest decision will be on Giordano who by the time the Flames turn it around in a few seasons could leave as a UFA and will be on the downswing of his career. Gio is the one player who could bring in a kings ransom of young assets to help accelerate the rebuild but I feel Burke won't trade him this year. Similar to how he held onto Kaberle.
It will take a few seasons but Burke will turn the Flames around and with two potential front line building blocks in elite prospects Baertschi/Monahan plus some other decent secondary pieces like Backlund/Jankowski the Flames are ahead of what Burke inherited when he joined Toronto.
Burke also took chances on players at low value points like Phaneuf and Lupul. He will seek similar sorts of moves. I'm not sure who he'd target or even be able to acquire but think names like Tyler Myers, James Wisnieswki who are at low value points.
Burke will look to fully utilize his cap space and budget to gain extra assets like he did by gaining a pick by taking on the Kolzig contract and or how he gained Franson by taking on Lombardi who had an uninsurable contract and potentially was never going to play again at the time of the trade. Burke was one of the biggest advocates if not the biggest of getting the new CBA to include teams being able to retain cap hits in trades so expect him to retain cap space in trades to get better trade returns.
I predict Burke will do the following moves till the end of the season:
1. Yougsters:
-Baertschi will see more time in the AHL. Burke held back all of Lupul, Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan and Kadri. I expect Burke to do the same with Baertschi.
-Monahan will be spent back to junior to dominate and play in the World Juniors
2. Burke will look to load up on Dmen just like he did in Toronto because Dmen are always in demand every deadline and Dmen always get injured.
I expect Burke to sign one of the remaining UFA dmen to a 1 year deal like Gill, Gilbert or take a chance on someone like Barker/Teubert to create extra competition and another potential trade asset.
I also expect Burke to take on a Dman at a low value point with Liles being the obvious name. Liles could be the 3rd or 4th best Dman for the Flames. With the cap going back up after this season he could be a great trade asset at the deadline and Burke always has the option of retaining cap space to make him more attractive to other teams. Liles is also only signed for 3 years which isn't a long contract.
3. Just like Burke traded pending UFAs in Poni, Moore and Antropov for draft picks in his first year Burke will trade pending UFAs Stajan, Cammalleri and Stempniak for prospects/picks.
4. Burke will try to sign every college UFA that he can by selling them on the opportunity to gain a roster spot on a poor team.
5. Burkes hardest decision will be on Giordano who by the time the Flames turn it around in a few seasons could leave as a UFA and will be on the downswing of his career. Gio is the one player who could bring in a kings ransom of young assets to help accelerate the rebuild but I feel Burke won't trade him this year. Similar to how he held onto Kaberle.
It will take a few seasons but Burke will turn the Flames around and with two potential front line building blocks in elite prospects Baertschi/Monahan plus some other decent secondary pieces like Backlund/Jankowski the Flames are ahead of what Burke inherited when he joined Toronto.
Last edited:
