Brian Burke's Relationship with Kevin Lowe to Change

Brian Burke's conference call with the media wrapped up this afternoon with Burke pulling no punches in his description of Kevin Lowe. Some highlights:

On the offer from Lowe:

I thought that was gutless. I have no problem with offer sheets. They're part of the CBA. But in my opinion, Edmonton has offered a mostly inflated salary for a player, and I think it's an act of desperation for a general manager who is fighting to keep his job


On whether he and Lowe speak often,

We used to, quite a bit.

On whether that will continue,

I have no idea



It honestly seems to me Burke is more steamed about the way Lowe went about this, or just the fact that Lowe did go about this, than he is about losing a hockey player, which as an Oiler fan is very bad news. Honestly, if any GM has the motivation to keep Kevin Lowe around it should be Burkie. I mean, that ring Kevin gave to him in the spring should be worth at least one tongue bite.

I guess they're just like every married couple though. Once Burke got that ring I guess it doesn't matter anymore. Can't take it away.

link to the transcript

Kukla's Korner reaction

Just Beauty

Some quick thoughts because I don't have time to make a proper post until later next week:

• Pretty much everyone overestimated Ottawa and underestimated the Ducks.
• No one fully recognized how sophisticated Carlyle's systems were. He made a very good team look like a throwaway.

• The 'New' NHL is not all about speed and skill. Hockey is more the same today than it ever was; in other words, it's still about a combination of speed, skill, smarts, determination, depth, health and physicality. The best team will always have a combination of all of those attributes.
• Buffalo lacked physicality.
• Ottawa lacked smarts and physicality.
• Detroit lacked health.
• NYR lacked depth.
• SJ lacked determination.
• Vancouver lacked skill/depth.
• Calgary lacked smarts/physicality.

• Scott Niedermayer is the second greatest defenceman ever, the greatest if winning it the only determination.

• Rob Niedermayer went from Special Needs to special teams. He's become a top quality forechecker/shutdown guy who turns it on when it counts most.

• It's unfair to say that Giguere is good only because of his pads. Everyone else has the same opportunity to use those pads, and there isn't anybody else doing it successfully (or at least very few.) It's like saying Kovalchuk has a great shot because he's got a one-piece stick.

Oilers vs. Ducks - Hanging by a thread...

To say the Oilers need to win tonight is probably a bit of an understatement. To say they've stunk lately is an understatement. But these Ducks are ripe for the (hunting?) - no Pronger, no Francois Beauchemin, and most likely no JS Giguere. I would also like to point out that statistically at least, playoff shutout record maker Bryzgalov has been playing terribly. I know this because I have him in Fantasy Hockey. Dammit.

But for far more interesting and in depth pre-game analysis, direct yourself to The Battle of California who astutely point out that both teams are now Prongerless.

Finny over at girl with a puck there is no pregame up as of yet, but rarely a day goes by that Finny doesn't make an entry, so if there is no pregame up by gametime, I would expect a post game. Don't disappoint me Finny!

D-Day

The Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks are the best team in the NHL today. Since day 1 of this NHL season they have been dominating, running off 25 wins, scoring more than every team in the league save one (Buffalo), and they have more points than any other team in the league. They show no signs of slowing, having the best record (8-2-0-0) in the league in their last 10 games.

Not that I think this is a particular suprise to hockey fans. After having won the Scott Niedermeyer sweepstakes thanks to an ace in the hole (Damn you Special Neids!) the Ducks (or more specifically Brian Burke) aquired the disgruntled Pronger from Edmonton, thus having locked up possibly the best 1-2 defensive group in the history of the NHL. Supergenius coach Randy Carlyle has determined playing them apart at about 25 minutes a night (usually more) assures that at any moment one of the two of Niedermeyer and Pronger are on at any one time, creating an unstoppable defensive force. Who is Pronger paired with? Who is Niedermeyer paired with? Does it matter? All apologies to Beauchemin and O'Donnel, but I'm pretty sure Zyuzin could play with Neids or Pronger and look like all-star material.

That is why the Flames' game against the Ducks tonight is of the utmost importance. Already Calgary has had what could be termed as huge success against the Ducks with a home shutout victory (1 of only 4 regular time losses the Ducks have accrued all season). But the Flames are no longer at home. The Flames are facing their nemesis - the road. With a road record hovering around .500 and 10 straight home wins, you can do the math and figure out the Flames are having a second straight Jekyl and Hyde season.

The current road trip has been much of the same, loss against division rival Canucks, but a win against the basement dwelling Coyotes. Tonight though, is the real test, D-Day, if you will. Tonight's game could become a turning point for the Flames this season; pull their proverbial shit together, beat the best team in the league and prove to themselves AND their critics they have what it takes to be the best, or fall back into old patterns of being good to great at home and terrible on the road, leading what could be another first round playoff flop.

To be fair, the Flames have a slapdash defensive group tonight, the pairings being Regehr/Ference, Phanuef/Giordano (hope Mark is ready for a 20+ minute night) and Regehr/Ference II (by the way, how wierd is that?) But there are always ways to find excuses, always ways to find reasons to win. The Flames need to find reasons to win.

As Rod Stewart sang, "tonight's the night." But will it be alright?

Keys to the Game

Shut Down Selanne - The Masterton Trophy winner has been a Flame killer in the past, and he's simply on fire this season. He is the key to the Ducks' offense.

Giggy vs. Kipper - Giguere couldn't get the job done in the playoffs last year but his record this year is a stunning 21-3-5 with a .922%. Kipper played very average against the Ducks in the playoffs but shut them out once already this year. He may need a repeat type performance for the Flames to win.

Secondary Scoring - Don't count on the Flames winning without at least a goal from a line other than the Iginla Langkow Tanguay one. Huselius has had his moments versus the ducks, in my opinon, he's the one to watch.

• check out Finny for the view from the opposition!