What a job by Brian Burke

I must say, Brian Burke has done an amazing job as our GM so far. And I'm not even talking about bringing in Scott Niedermayer, I'm talking about the moves he made that were very criticized. For starters:


Trading the 59th overall pick in the 2005 draft for Todd Fedoruk

Everyone thought this was a retarded move, and that Clarke fleeced Burke, and while Philly came out of it well, Burkey did well, too. On the open market, enforcers got a big payday, with guys like Andre Roy getting around $1 million. Instead, he did give up a second rounder, but it wouldn't have been that great of player, anyway, and he got a young, true enforcer for the league minimum. And for a team that would later get into a bit of cap trouble, that was crucial.


Drafting Bobby Ryan with 2nd overall

Everyone thought Burke passing on Jack Johnson was almost equally dumb, but he has most certainly made amends for it. He signed a true #1 defenseman in Scott Niedermayer, giving him a minimum of 4 years to find another #1 guy for the future, and that's if Smid doesn't exceed expectations, and Scott Niedermayer leaves. Instead, Burke's added a top power forward, another need of this team, to an already solid forward core, and could potentially create one of the most dominant twosomes in the NHL with Bobby Ryan Getzlaf. If they add Corey Perry, or even a more confident Stanislav Chistov(if he comes back), to that bunch, it looks even better.


Trading Mikael Holmqvist for Travis Moen

This had to be easily the most criticized Brian Burke move yet. Trading a potentially solid third liner for a part-time fourth liner. Yet, this could be one of his better moves. Holmqvist was good, but it looks like he could be in Sweden for 3 more years. And if he does come back, there's a good chance he'll want more than the league minimum. Instead, he brought back Jonathan Hedstrom, who is a similar player, for near the league minimum. He also might not've been able to bring Hedstrom back if he was tied up with Holmqvist. So, rather than pay $600,000 or more for Holmqvist, he's paid league minimum for Moen, and near the minimum for Hedstrom.


So, while bringing in Scott Niedermayer is what he'll get credit for, he's really made many other great moves, including bringing back Sandis Ozolinsh for less that he probably could've gotten on the open market, and all the moves you see before you. While he probably should create some cap room, he's really done a remarkable job in his two months or so as Ducks GM.

I do wonder, though, where's Wetcoaster now? ;)

Going into this summer, many people expected Brian Burke is hold a fire sale, getting rid of salary. The Ducks didn't lose anyone. Instead, we gained one of the top defensemen in the market and strengthened the depth on this team without tapping into the prospect system and rushing kids like we have in the past. It also helps to have an owner like Henry Samueli who basically is giving Burke full authority to make hockey decisions. Too often in the past, our GM was checked by Disney bean counters who cared more about the bottom line than making sound hockey moves. Its good to see this franchise move in the right direction for a change.

I do wonder, though, where's Wetcoaster now? ;)
Hey he finally left, lets hope it stays that way. However with that line though I now expect to see his brian burke essay in this thread sooner or later.

Anyways I agree with you except for one thing. I have read this by a couple of posters as well. Now that we sign S. Nieds people think oh well it doesn't matter that they didn't draft Johnson now. I disagree with this completely, these two moves have nothing to do with eachother. Jack Johnson will not be a number 1 defensemen within the next 4 years so I don't see how this works. I'm not saying I wanted Burke to draft Johnson because I'm fine with Ryan and I think he will be great. Going into the draft as long as Burke didn't take Pouliot or Kopitar I would be happy (Johnson, Ryan, Brule were choices I would of been fine with at #2). So all I'm saying I guess is the Nieds signing should in no way be linked with drafting Ryan/Johnson! :teach:

I think the most overlooked thing is, Burke knows he has several expiring deals next year with the youngsters being ready to step in.

Carney could be replaced by Smid
Rucchin could be replaced by Getzlaf
Sykora could be replaced by Perry
leclerc could be replaced by Penner

Not to mention money to spend on free agents, even if the cap is 36-37 mil next year thats over 8 million that comes off the books. What will be critical this year is Popovic showing he can play here, and that vish continues to improve that way you can let carney walk or sign him cheaply.

Burke knows what he's doing, the ducks core of forwards are set for years with lupul,getzlaf,ryan,perry and penner.

I'd hate to be the pessimist / Devil's advocate ...

BUT....
hrmm.. icant see penner replacing Leclerc...Leclerc has the skills to light the lamp...

Penner's barely 0.5 pts a game in NCAA...what will he get in the NHL?

maybe there are some facts unknown..

And i just had a look at Vancouver's last 10 years in the draft, he's had very few success after the first rounds aside from Jason King, most of the other picks have been fairly ordianry, and 3rd line grinders at best.

Here's a link of Vancouver's past draft history.

http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000039.html

hrmm.. icant see penner replacing Leclerc...Leclerc has the skills to light the lamp...

I don't either, but there are plenty of UFAs in the next off season to consider as well. And Leclerc wants to remain in Anaheim so maybe he'll give us a home town discount.

And i just had a look at Vancouver's last 10 years in the draft, he's had very few success after the first rounds aside from Jason King, most of the other picks have been fairly ordianry, and 3rd line grinders at best.

Burke had the sense to keep Alain Chainey around and that should help.

Don't praise Burke based on 3 marginal trades. He's a great GM but lets wait and see how he fits the team under the salary cap.

Seconded. No warm fuzzies until we actually ice a team and get some results.

Don't praise Burke based on 3 marginal trades. He's a great GM but lets wait and see how he fits the team under the salary cap.

The praise is more directed because Burke took alot of flack around here for those moves, and a month later, they've all become to look fantastic. He hasn't done anything yet, but I'd just like to give him props for making three moves that look very good now, even though they looked terrible in the beginning.

The praise is more directed because Burke took alot of flack around here for those moves, and a month later, they've all become to look fantastic. He hasn't done anything yet, but I'd just like to give him props for making three moves that look very good now, even though they looked terrible in the beginning.


Nothing changed from the time he made those moves. All of them are still questionable. Moen might not crack the line up and Fedoruk's upside is a 4th liner who might play a regular shift. As for Ryan..it's wayyy to early to tell dude. Jack Johnson might be an all-star by the time Ryan cracks the line up. It could also go the other way. You can't blame Burke for taking Ryan at #2 but you sure as hell can't praise him for it yet. The Kings took kopitar and he might end up being a better player than Ryan but do you see us giving Dave Taylor the Executive of the year award?

I just think you're jumping the gun.

Nothing changed from the time he made those moves. All of them are still questionable. Moen might not crack the line up and Fedoruk's upside is a 4th liner who might play a regular shift. As for Ryan..it's wayyy to early to tell dude. Jack Johnson might be an all-star by the time Ryan cracks the line up. It could also go the other way. You can't blame Burke for taking Ryan at #2 but you sure as hell can't praise him for it yet. The Kings took kopitar and he might end up being a better player than Ryan but do you see us giving Dave Taylor the Executive of the year award?

I just think you're jumping the gun.

Much has changed with all three. The Fedoruk move was criticized because of the amount of heavyweights on the open market, and that he wasn't worth a second rounder. Considering the Ducks could've never afforded one of those heavyweights, the deal looks much better. The Moen deal looks fantastic, even if Moen is a healthy scratch for half of the season. Now, we don't have to be worried with Holmqvist, and it allowed us to bring back a similar player for cheaper. The drafting one hasn't changed, but considering he's locked up a #1 defenseman as it is, it looks a little better.

Dude, I don't even think you read a word I typed in there, other than the bold and the first paragraph. Those moves were questionable, but right now, they look wonderful. If one can judge him on those moves then, why can't one judge him now?

I'd hate to be the pessimist / Devil's advocate ...

BUT....
hrmm.. icant see penner replacing Leclerc...Leclerc has the skills to light the lamp...

Penner's barely 0.5 pts a game in NCAA...what will he get in the NHL?

maybe there are some facts unknown..

And i just had a look at Vancouver's last 10 years in the draft, he's had very few success after the first rounds aside from Jason King, most of the other picks have been fairly ordianry, and 3rd line grinders at best.

Here's a link of Vancouver's past draft history.

http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/teams/dr000039.html
Penner would be more of a third line player, i like him he's a potential power forward. Maybe not a ton of scoring potential but a guy that can stand in front of the net and hit guys.

you can use the leclerc money to sign a 2nd line player anyways. I guess my point is young guys are ready to come in.

Much has changed with all three. The Fedoruk move was criticized because of the amount of heavyweights on the open market, and that he wasn't worth a second rounder. Considering the Ducks could've never afforded one of those heavyweights, the deal looks much better. The Moen deal looks fantastic, even if Moen is a healthy scratch for half of the season. Now, we don't have to be worried with Holmqvist, and it allowed us to bring back a similar player for cheaper. The drafting one hasn't changed, but considering he's locked up a #1 defenseman as it is, it looks a little better.

Dude, I don't even think you read a word I typed in there, other than the bold and the first paragraph. Those moves were questionable, but right now, they look wonderful. If one can judge him on those moves then, why can't one judge him now?


C'mon I just think you should wait till you have a 23 man roster before you praise him. I understand you're excited and all but it's too early.

Nothing changed from the time he made those moves. All of them are still questionable. Moen might not crack the line up and Fedoruk's upside is a 4th liner who might play a regular shift. As for Ryan..it's wayyy to early to tell dude. Jack Johnson might be an all-star by the time Ryan cracks the line up. It could also go the other way. You can't blame Burke for taking Ryan at #2 but you sure as hell can't praise him for it yet. The Kings took kopitar and he might end up being a better player than Ryan but do you see us giving Dave Taylor the Executive of the year award?

I just think you're jumping the gun.
Theres a reason Kopitar fell to 11, we heard the same things about Smirnov concerning his skill level and he is a total bust. I'm not sure about Kopitars work ethic but I do know he's a perimeter player. Ryan is not Andrew Ladd, he didn't leach off of a top end player.

Alot of people assumed Burke would have to dump Sykora or Salei, and he still might but it appears he's going to be under the cap and he was able to add an all star defensemen.

C'mon I just think you should wait till you have a 23 man roster before you praise him. I understand you're excited and all but it's too early.

I'm not praising him for compiling a great team. I'm praising him for making educated moves even though at first glance, they look totally lopsided. He could've been arrogant about it, and not given into Bobby Clarke's demands for a second rounder, and overpaid for a free agent. Or he could've demanded too much for Holmqvist, and ended up keeping him, and either not qualifying him(and losing him for nothing) or be stuck trying to get him to come back over for little. Some GMs would've cared too much about the flack he'd receive for a move, and took too much of a hard-line stance on it, but Burkey stuck to his guns, probably swallowed a bit of pride, and made those deals anyway. Maybe I'm overexaggerating the process, but either way, there isn't a person in the world that could say Burke hasn't done a great job as Ducks GM thus far.

And, I also doubt we'll have a 23 man roster, so I won't be waiting for that to happen.

Theres a reason Kopitar fell to 11, we heard the same things about Smirnov concerning his skill level and he is a total bust. I'm not sure about Kopitars work ethic but I do know he's a perimeter player. Ryan is not Andrew Ladd, he didn't leach off of a top end player.

Alot of people assumed Burke would have to dump Sykora or Salei, and he still might but it appears he's going to be under the cap and he was able to add an all star defensemen.

Yeah I know Kopitar isnt a lock to be a player in this league and any GM in their right mind would take Ryan over Kopitar.

I think he gets too much credit for the Neidermaybe signing. Would you agree that the brother influenced Scott to sign with the Ducks? And it's not like Burke got him for a bargain price.

I'm not praising him for compiling a great team. I'm praising him for making educated moves even though at first glance, they look totally lopsided. He could've been arrogant about it, and not given into Bobby Clarke's demands for a second rounder, and overpaid for a free agent. Or he could've demanded too much for Holmqvist, and ended up keeping him, and either not qualifying him(and losing him for nothing) or be stuck trying to get him to come back over for little. Some GMs would've cared too much about the flack he'd receive for a move, and took too much of a hard-line stance on it, but Burkey stuck to his guns, probably swallowed a bit of pride, and made those deals anyway. Maybe I'm overexaggerating the process, but either way, there isn't a person in the world that could say Burke hasn't done a great job as Ducks GM thus far.

And, I also doubt we'll have a 23 man roster, so I won't be waiting for that to happen.


I think you are overexaggeratiing the process. Both trades were low risk low reward, thus making them marginal trades.

As far as drafting Ryan..there's no point in discussing that. But I do understand your point.

I think you are overexaggeratiing the process. Both trades were low risk low reward, thus making them marginal trades.

As far as drafting Ryan..there's no point in discussing that. But I do understand your point.

They may be low risk, low reward trades, but he added a crucial player in one trade(Fedoruk) and avoided a headache/got something for nothing in another(Moen). You might say Fedoruk isn't crucial, but trust me, he is.

I pretty much made this thread because people said what horrible moves they were by Burke, and I'm just defending him a little, and yes, even praising him a bit. It's all in good fun.

Yeah I know Kopitar isnt a lock to be a player in this league and any GM in their right mind would take Ryan over Kopitar.

I think he gets too much credit for the Neidermaybe signing. Would you agree that the brother influenced Scott to sign with the Ducks? And it's not like Burke got him for a bargain price.

Burke deserves alot of credit for that signing. He made trips up to Cranbrook himself(which no other GM did), told Scott that he was the only guy who could cross off everything on his list(or something like that), and while he could've concentrated on getting Scott, and then signed Rob for cheaper(which could've been bad as Scott could've taken NJ's offer and then Rob just signed his QO, and left next season), he concentrated on getting Rob done first, which helped his cause more than anything.

I still think he should have taken Johnson.
You don't draft for your needs, but for the BPA.
And Johnson was IMO the BPA.
Time will tell.
Also before praising Burke, we have to see if all salaries fit under the cap, otherwise it means dumping some players (Sykora) which is NOT a good move.

The praise is more directed because Burke took alot of flack around here for those moves, and a month later, they've all become to look fantastic. He hasn't done anything yet, but I'd just like to give him props for making three moves that look very good now, even though they looked terrible in the beginning.

Im still waiting for them to look fantastic

Trading the 59th overall pick in the 2005 draft for Todd Fedoruk

Instead, he did give up a second rounder, but it wouldn't have been that great of player, anyway

How can you know that a month after the draft already?

I still think he should have taken Johnson.
You don't draft for your needs, but for the BPA.
And Johnson was IMO the BPA.
Time will tell.
Also before praising Burke, we have to see if all salaries fit under the cap, otherwise it means dumping some players (Sykora) which is NOT a good move.

Burke is getting too much blame/credit for taking Ryan. He publicly stated at the draft, Ryan was the scout's pick. He went with the guy they wanted or the player they thought was the BPA. I would be more concerned if the pick was made more out of vanity. Hey, sometimes you just got to trust the scouts and their track record the past few years have been pretty good starting with Lupul.

C'mon I just think you should wait till you have a 23 man roster before you praise him. I understand you're excited and all but it's too early.
22 man roster (according to the Orange County Register) and I agree. It's way too early to praise Burke for anything.

Going into this summer, many people expected Brian Burke is hold a fire sale, getting rid of salary. The Ducks didn't lose anyone. Instead, we gained one of the top defensemen in the market and strengthened the depth on this team without tapping into the prospect system and rushing kids like we have in the past. It also helps to have an owner like Henry Samueli who basically is giving Burke full authority to make hockey decisions. Too often in the past, our GM was checked by Disney bean counters who cared more about the bottom line than making sound hockey moves. Its good to see this franchise move in the right direction for a change.

Well if I'm not mistaken, Samueli owns Arrowhead Pond as well right? It basically means its a gravy train for Burke because teams that have control of their own arenas usually have a lot more cash flow.

Burke is getting too much blame/credit for taking Ryan. He publicly stated at the draft, Ryan was the scout's pick. He went with the guy they wanted or the player they thought was the BPA. I would be more concerned if the pick was made more out of vanity. Hey, sometimes you just got to trust the scouts and their track record the past few years have been pretty good starting with Lupul.
Sure.
Pens do the same thing, and it's worked great the last few seasons.
But when it comes to the top pick, the GM should have a say in there.
But if he trusts his scouting team, then I blame his scouting team :)
Still they know better than us all, so it might turn out good for you guys.

Well if I'm not mistaken, Samueli owns Arrowhead Pond as well right? It basically means its a gravy train for Burke because teams that have control of their own arenas usually have a lot more cash flow.
The City of Anaheim owns the Pond. Samueli runs the company that oversees operations.

Yeah I know Kopitar isnt a lock to be a player in this league and any GM in their right mind would take Ryan over Kopitar.

I think he gets too much credit for the Neidermaybe signing. Would you agree that the brother influenced Scott to sign with the Ducks? And it's not like Burke got him for a bargain price.
I'm sure his brother had something to do with it, but Burke spent two days in canada talking to them, he was the ONLY GM to meet with them face to face. He went the extra mile, and the other teams did not.

I still think he should have taken Johnson.
You don't draft for your needs, but for the BPA.
And Johnson was IMO the BPA.
Time will tell.
Also before praising Burke, we have to see if all salaries fit under the cap, otherwise it means dumping some players (Sykora) which is NOT a good move.
The scouts with a great track record happen to disagree with you, and who am I to question them with their previous 3 drafts?

How can you know that a month after the draft already?

Well, people thought they knew before the draft, so I figure it's all the same.


I still think he should have taken Johnson.
You don't draft for your needs, but for the BPA.
And Johnson was IMO the BPA.
Time will tell.
Also before praising Burke, we have to see if all salaries fit under the cap, otherwise it means dumping some players (Sykora) which is NOT a good move.

The need for a number one defenseman was greater than a need for a power forward. Burke did indeed draft BPA.