Oilers take issue with Burke comments
 Brian Burke Darren Dreger
10/5/2007 8:05:32 PM
Was Brian Burke's bombastic tirade this week over the top?
Absolutely!
Conversely, the Edmonton Oilers "turn the other cheek" response to the attack seemed too controlled as well.
Historically, the Oilers haven't been known to back down from a fight.
So, are we sure they have?
Sources say the Oilers are concerned over the public relations hit the NHL takes when one general manager so openly berates another - a concern the team intends to share with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Ducks owner Henry Samueli in an effort to discourage future Brian Burke outbursts.
It's also been pointed out that 30 teams agreed to the current collective bargaining agreement and while Burke is free to criticize, for anyone to suggest another team shouldn't utilize the tools of the agreement in a manner they see fit, may hint to collusion or anti-trust.
Burke will immediately shoot that down and has stated his issue isn't with offer sheets, but his belief that the Oilers grossly inflated Dustin Penner's salary - an issue that impacts all teams.
That being said, Oct. 28 has now become noteworthy, marking the first meeting between the two teams in Anaheim.
|