Bobby Ryan Is Not A Fan Of Brian Burke

((HT: Sportsnet))

Brian Burke took over the front office duties in Calgary recently after the beginning of their season was nothing short of awful...

The US and Canada five-ringed squads were announced recently and some folks were left off of them (ex.- Keith Yandle) that maybe, just maybe, should not have been left off the rosters...and, by Team USA's admission, the 25 men were picked best to give the country a chance to win, not necessarily the "best 25."

Burke also, and more importantly for context, is also the Director of Player Personnel for Team USA made some comments about Ryan inside an all-access piece on ESPN.com that were less than flattering- including that Ryan is "passive." This "passivity" led to Burke taking Jack Johnson instead:

“He is not intense. That word is not in his vocabulary,” Burke said during a USA personnel meeting. “It’s never going to be in his vocabulary. He can’t spell intense.”

“He’s a passive guy.”

Ryan was less than pleased...

Here's Ryan...
Also, in the Jeff Simmons piece, came this bit of thought from Team USA: Ryan said he received a missed call from Burke when the U.S. team was announced, but learned about his omission from TV. According to ESPN, the USA brass felt that if Ryan was not going to play on the team’s top two lines, he would be a poor fit on the third or fourth line due to his lack of speed and defensive prowess.