Source – Calgary Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke said Monday he’s glad struggling forward Sam Bennett is playing in Calgary and not facing the media scrutiny of Toronto.
Bennett picked up his first point of the season on Thursday and now owns just one assist through 16 games. The 21-year-old has been moved from center to left wing as Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan looks to spark him toward his 18-goal form from 2015-16.
Burke said Monday the team still has full faith in Bennett to turn things around, but is glad the 2014 fourth- overall pick isn’t dealing with the media circus Burke dealt with while general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“If he were in Toronto, they would have traded him 70 times, shot him six times, condemned his parents four times,” Burke said facetiously. “Sam has had a tough start. We really think the world of this young man and he’s going to be fine.
“But yeah, it’s a better market. If he was going through that here he’d be getting crucified.”
Bennett signed a two-year, $3.9 million contract as a restricted free agent this off-season. He scored 13 goals and 26 points in 81 games last season, down from 36 points in his first full NHL season.
As a whole, Burke said he believes the Toronto media has a different attitude towards their team than the media in other cities.
“The problem [in Toronto] is there’s a 100 people in the dressing room after practice and when the team loses, 80 of them are picking up the biggest rock they can find. That’s the problem here. There’s actually a significant chunk of the media that want you to fail. We don’t have that in Calgary. We don’t have that in Edmonton. It’s a different vibe, it’s a different tone.”
Burke served as president and general manager of the Maple Leafs from 2008-2013. He joined the Flames as president of hockey operations in September of 2013, nine months after he was fired by the Leafs.
Brian Burke is the guy that dated the hottest chick in high school 20 years ago, fucks it up and blames everyone else they can’t let it go for 20 years.
Seriously. Brian Burke is still eating Jay Feasters lunch in Calgary which is the only reason he has a job. The Flames were a playoff team when he got there and abysmal after. He set the leafs back ten years signing Lupul, Phaneuf, Kessel, Clarkson Etc to long-term deals that he blames the players for.
He loves to tell the world how stupid everyone else is and somehow every place he lands it’s better than the last.
Brian Burke sabotaged the leafs for 10 years on purpose. He’s a Canadian who would rather look American than everyone else, and his meatball son Patrick isn’t far behind. Hiding behind tough talk and one-way conversations with ball licking media and quick hits on Twitter, the Burkes have mastered the art of trailer park karate. Taking pot shots at people without the ability to have a reasonable conversation.
Below is a perfect example of the kind of decent human beings that Brian Burke goes after. Brian Burke would systematically go behind the backs of friends, colleagues and the media that might not agree with his MO. He’s the definition of a sycophant based on his lecherous track record and a bully based on everyone who’s disagreed with him.
Brian Burke is so useless at his job; he would break broken if he could. He’s standing on the shoulders of other executives and his untied tie and calls himself tall.
Don Cherry doesnt miss much except for some last names. He’s bang on here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UdMFFueztA
