CBC-Sports

Two GMs desperate for a shakeup

January 31, 2010 03:21 PM | Posted by   Elliotte Friedman  

It was Brian Burke’s best chance to napalm his roster, finding another GM equally as desperate for a huge shakeup.

Thanks to a nine-game losing streak (although it ended Saturday night), Darryl Sutter became that guy.

That’s the way it goes in a cap world. You create your core and hope it works. It’s clear his wouldn’t.
You take a step back – like Tampa did with Brad Richards – and hope the added flexibility gives you a chance to find the right fit.

I understand Sutter is getting roasted in Calgary, but let’s see what he does with the added space. Three of the four players he acquired are done after this year. Add that to Olli Jokinen’s $5.25 million (US) removal (providing Sutter does not resign him), and there’s a lot of ability to find the right piece(s).

Sutter can still “win” this trade. But, he doesn’t have to do it for six months. Calgary’s not winning the Stanley Cup this year.

If there was one other surprise (besides the trade itself), it’s that the Flames would include AHL defenceman Keith Aulie. Once Tyler Myers’ partner at the World Juniors, Aulie has a chance to be a good player for a long time.

One GM called him “a decent prospect, but not an ‘A’ prospect,” while another coach said he “will be an NHLer for 15 years.”

That was Burke’s blueprint. Not only does he get the contract you want to unload, he gets something else of value.

Will Phaneuf mesh?

It’s amazing how polarizing a player Phaneuf is. On one hand, there’s the edgy hitter with a heavy shot and incredible offensive skills. On the other, there’s complaints he lacks hockey sense in the defensive zone and doesn’t mesh with teammates.

But he’s 24 years old. And, nothing can shock a player to his senses more than his first trade, especially if you don’t see it coming. Calgary coaches worked hard with Phaneuf, showing him plenty of video of things like how to defend cycle plays.

For whatever reason, it didn’t work. Maybe a new approach/voice will.

I’m curious, though, to see how Phaneuf handles Toronto. If he thought Calgary was stifling, wait ‘til he gets a load of this. The Anaheim deal was put together because one player (Giguere) wanted to go to Toronto, while two others (Blake, Toskala) were praying for escape.

The two GMs had no choice. Both teams were drowning in disappointment. Right now, Burke looks like the winner. But Sutter’s defining moment comes in July.

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