Brian Burke

Could these debacles have been avoided by Ducks’ GMs Brian Burke (in 2007 and 2008) and Bob Murray (present) telling Niedermayer to take a hike?  Very much so.  But you know as well as I do that if a Ducks GM turned his back on the team captain, the fan-favorite, he would be run out of town by the Ducks roster and his beloved fans.  Management’s hands were tied.  They had to retain Niedermayer in order to save face.

Continue reading "Niedermayer Not the Hero Everyone May Think He Is"

eason.  He will retire graciously, despite many Maple Leaf message board posters claiming that Brian Burke wants him on his roster.  Lets be smart about this NBC; do USA hockey fans a favor and fire that joke of a hockey expert Mike Milbury and replace him with Modano.  He is a proud teacher of the game who has experienced almost everything a professional hockey player can go through.  The banter between he and his American comrade Jeremy Roenick may be what NBC is looking for anyway.

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and get five or six goals a night.”

Doug also questioned Team USA General Manager Brian Burke's decision to name New York Ranger Chris Drury to the Olympic squad. 

Continue reading "A Chat with Doug Stolhand of the Puck Podcast"

It seems that Leafs' GM Brian Burke has not needed sleep this weekend.

Burke announced on Sunday morning that the team had made two blockbuster moves that will see all-star defenseman Dion Phaneuf and all-star goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere in Maple Leaf jerseys.  Burke shipped forwards Jamal Mayers, Matt Stajan, and Nick Hagman with defenseman Ian White to the Flames for Phaneuf, forward Fredrik Sjostrom and prospect Keith Aulie.  The second trade involved Giguere heading to Toronto from Anaheim for forward Jason Blake and goaltender Vesa Toskala.

Continue reading "Maple Leafs Make Some Big Moves"

Brian Burke had to find a way to have his team compete in a tough Olympic tournament in February.

Not long after Canada, Russia, Finland and Sweden announced their Olympic rosters,

Continue reading "Is This the Right Team USA?"

Leafs GM Brian Burke was not done adding some grit to his lineup after signing New York's Colton Orr to a 4-year, $4 million contract.  He continued on a few hours later, picking defenseman Mike Komisarek up from free-agency.

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sts in 63 games.  He has seen a lot of time killing penalties and on the top line at times for Brian Burke’s club, who is in the outside of the playoffs looking in.

Ponder’s Call:  Moore will add speed and defensive play to an already tight defensive team.  It doesn’t hurt to have that reassurance for your third line though.  Good deal for both teams.

Continue reading "NHL Trade Deadline Analysis: Part Two"

hrough re-entry waivers.  Gerber did not pan out in Ottawa as they had hoped.  Toronto GM Brian Burke hopes that things change in Toronto.

Ponder’s Call:  Waivers, why not?  Good deal.  Take the guy and see what happens.

Continue reading "NHL Trade Deadline Analysis: Part One"

sit tonight’s game against the New Jersey Devils.  Dominic Moore will be shopped, but GM Brian Burke will not find any deals that please him.  Antropov will be dealt to a Western Conference team, possibly the Edmonton Oilers or the Minnesota Wild, who are both still battling for their playoff lives.

Continue reading "Trade Deadline Predictions"