Brian Burke To Land In Toronto

Since Brian Burke’s reign as the leader of the Anaheim Ducks has come to a close, there has been no shortage of speculation as to where he will end up.

Each story and rumor has its own merits based around Burke’s desire to be closer to family, back in Canada, or whatever the case may be.  One thing is for certain and that is the Toronto Maple Leafs need Burke and had better get their act together and get him signed.

Why Toronto?

There are several reasons why it makes sense for Toronto to obtain Brian Burke’s services, not the least of which is his ability (and affinity) to handle the media spotlight.  And, make no mistake, when it comes to the NHL the media spotlight shines brightest in Toronto!

The Maple Leafs have positioned themselves thus far in the 2008-2009 season as a possible playoff contender, which should bode well for acquiring the Burke’s services.  With a host of young talent, Burke has a similar opportunity as was presented to him when he arrived in Anaheim.  This opportunity to build upon a solid foundation of youth and talent fits well with his innate ability to add just the right amount of experience, leadership and grit through free agency.

Is Money and Issue?

Some reports, notably out of the Boston Globe, have indicated that Burke may be headed to either Chicago or Ottawa if the money isn’t there in Toronto. However,  if the Leafs as the most profitable franchise in the league cannot “afford” Burke during their time of desperation, then they may as well just fold up shop.

Mike Milbury recently reported on CBC that he believes the table is set for Toronto and they simply need to find the time to get an offer sheet out to Burke.  Milbury concluded that he expects a deal for Burke to go to Toronto by the end of this week.

While Brian Burke as the General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs makes a lot of sense on many levels, anything can happen in the National Hockey League.

If history is any indicator, a media outlet trying to anticipate what Brian Burke may do or say is a risk to say the least.  That said, Burke should be good for a few great sound bites at his first press conference wherever he may land!

Interview With XM Radio’s Joe Thistel

Your pick for a player to watch from last year, Alex Ovechkin, was right on the money. While Ovechkin is currently struggling, who do you think will be the player to watch as this season unfolds?

I have a head start this season, so it would be too easy to point at Semin and Malkin and predict they’ll surpass their more famous teammates.

Instead I’ll turn my focus to the West and shine the light on Corey Perry in Anaheim.  Playing on that line, and with any kind of creative freedom, he’s capable of being a top 10 scorer this season and beyond.  I so wanted to say Jason Spezza, but the inconsistency is too consistent.

We’ve seen the Rangers actually get the on ice results from a team that looks fantastic on paper – what is the secret in NYC this year?

I suppose if you want to point at something, it would be that some distractions have disappeared, and the players can concentrate on hockey. Jaromir Jagr was their best player and still seemed to be a beacon of controversy.  Brendan Shanahan’s future was another story-line, and then of course there was Shawn Avery.  I’m not saying its addition by subtraction, but I will let you do the math.

Any chance we’ll see Mats Sundin in New York City for his retirement year a la Wayne Gretzky?

Naw.  There are 10 million reasons for Mats to take his hockey tack to Vancouver.  And now that it looks like the Canucks can be a playoff team, he can say it wasn’t for the money and actually keep a straight face.   And he’ll be good there too, so play-by-play broadcasters better take heed:  Sedin, Sundin and Sedin are coming to a barn near you.

With Brian Burke finished in Anaheim, where to you see him landing?  Any chance he’ll end up in Toronto?

Rumors have connected Brian Burke to a half dozen teams already, and all seem to have legitimate reasons for the hook-up, including family considerations, but none make as much sense as the Leafs.  It’s been talked about for too long and just fits on too many levels.  The confusing Toronto organization, who not too long ago allowed Pat Quinn to pick his own boss, has one shot to get it right.  It’s a six inch putt – even these guys can’t get the yips bad enough to miss this gimme.  Can they?

With Melrose being let go in Tampa Bay, do you think Rick Tocchet will complete the season as Head Coach of the Lightning?  If not, who is the most likely candidate?

Why not Tochett, a guy who has zero experience as a head coach to go along with everything else that’s happened in Tampa?  The team bus should be one of those miniature circus cars bursting with clowns.  Listen, Rick Tochett might be the best coach since Toe Blake, who knows, but this ownership has been an embarrassment of biblical proportions.  I could go on, but then you’d all miss dinner.

Is, or could, the Kontinental Hockey League a legitimate threat to the National Hockey League and its position as the premiere hockey league in the world?

Nyet, nyet Soviet.  I was once sitting between two former players – one who had spent his career in the minors, and the other who had played for years in the NHL.  In the middle of some glory days chatter, the minor leaguer announced rather proudly that there were some “great places to play in the American Hockey League”.  The National Hockey Leaguer stayed silent for a moment, slowly took a sip of beer and then replied, with perfect timing,…”Yeah.  There are some great places to play in the NHL too.”   The National Hockey League – accept no substitutes.

What is one thing about XM Radio and your National Hockey League coverage that may surprise hockey fans?

Hell, we’re just like they are: hockey fans who are privileged to be able to shoot off our mouths.  Sure, some of us have extensive media backgrounds and are proud professionals of sports broadcasting, but guys like Mick Kern and Boomer Gordon, two of my more popular personalities, are doing this on-air nonsense for the first time.  Know your stuff, have a valid opinion, be passionate and don’t be intimidated by the microphone.  You’ll be fine.

How do you view XM Radio with regard to the company’s position in bringing NHL news and commentary to the fan base? ie. What is your unique value proposition?

30 teams, no waiting.  While radio stations still hang onto that ridiculous argument that sports is local, we’re serving listeners from San Jose to Halifax.  And we get as much positive feedback from players and management right across North America as we do from our subscriber base.  Sports is local.  Right!  And Gordie Howe was a flash in the pan.

Is there anything that XM Radio has found through your market research that would be surprising to the average hockey fan?

It surprised me.  Statistics show that over 80% of sports fans in a particular city actually cheer for an out-of-town team.  That’s why our play by play is so important.  If you’re a Philly fan living in Dallas, we’ve got you covered.  And vice versa.

Can you tell our readers a little bit about what you do and about upcoming programming or features on XM Radio and Home Ice Channel 204?

I’ve been with XM Canada since the very beginning and oversee all the sports, talk and comedy channels while Jeff Leake looks after the music.  NHL Home Ice is truly my baby though.  I even named it.  So if you have a beef, you can blame me (joe.thistel@xmradio.ca).

I have been in broadcasting 30 years now, and if I could write my own job description, I wouldn’t change a thing. We have some excellent programming on the horizon too, including the World Jr Championships over the holidays, plus an exciting new partnership agreement with The Hockey News to announce in the very near future.   For me, its the quintessential labor of love.

NHL Digest would like to thank Joe Thistel for taking time to provide us with this interview.  If you haven’t yet had a chance to check out what XM Radio has to offer hockey fans, please visit XM Radio’s Home Ice channel.  They are even offering a Free trial, so you really have no excuse not to check them out!

The Kevin Lowe and Brian Burke Saga Continues

Wild Ink Nolan

The Minnesota Wild continued their off-season makeover Sunday, signing gritty winger Owen Nolan to a two-year contract worth $5.5 million US.

Here is What Wild GM Doug Risebrough had to say about the gritty forward:

“Owen Nolan is a true power winger who can score goals, play a physical brand, play either wing and take faceoffs”

Nolan should be a nice addition to the Wild who have been very active in signing fre agent forwards this off-season.  Minnesota will, no doubt, benefit from Nolan’s experience, leadership and tenacious style of play.

Lowe and Burke At It Again

Edmonton Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe tore into Brian Burke on Friday when he made an appearance on Edmonton’s Team 1260 radio station. Lowe called him a moron, described the Anaheim hockey market as pathetic, and then discussed how Burke destroyed the Vancouver Canucks.

Lowe went on to describe Burke as a “Media Junkie” and then makes reference to Burke’s single Stanley Cup compared to Lowe’s six.  To be fair, I don’t think that Lowe is comparing apples to apples as his cups came courtesy of his playing days.

It doesn’t appear that Burke wants to continue the “feud” as he is reportedly not commenting on the remarks made by Lowe.

Penguins Cooke-ing!

The NHL Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins went the free-agent route to replace agitator Jarkko Ruutu on Saturday, signing forward Matt Cooke to a two-year contract.

While Ruutu was clearly an asset for the Penguins last season, it is believed that Cooke is a better two-way player with more offensive upside than Ruutu.  Cooke is known as a character player throughout the league and should fit in nicely with the Penguins as Shero continues to mold an exquisite supporting cast for Crosby and Malkin.

Leafs Have High Hopes

The Toronto Maple Leafs signed centre Mikhail Grabovski to a one-year, US$850,000 contract on Friday, one day after acquiring him in a trade with Montreal. The 24-year old had three goals and nine points in 24 games with the Canadiens last season.

The Maple Leafs sent prospect Greg Pateryn and a second-round draft choice to Montreal in exchange for Grabovski.  I think Montreal got a steal of deal here.  A prospect and a pick for Grabovski who has a questioanable future in the National Hockey League.

Players Feel Buffaloed By Sabres

The Buffalo news is reporting what we have known for years, the Sabres have a poor reputation among players.

Gleason goes on to comment that It has become increasingly evident that the only way to get quality veterans into Buffalo is to force them here through trades. It’s an unpleasant way to survive.

“Forget the woe-is-Buffalo excuse. Everybody knows this is a passionate hockey town, but the word has spread about the organization’s business practices. The Sabres are known more for their commitment to the bottom line than their commitment to winning. To players, it might as well be Edmonton.”