don't shoot the pianist
he is doing the best he can

I’m beginning to see why reporters love Brian Burke. See if you can follow this:

1. Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke made some comments regarding a trade rumour that (inadvertently, we are led to believe) became public, and the Vancouver Canucks alleged tampering on the part of the Leafs. The NHL addressed the complaint and ordered both sides to “refrain from further public comment”.

2. On Friday, Burke commented on the feud with the Canucks in an address to the Vancouver Board of Trade, saying that the Canucks should not have complained to the league but should instead have taken up their concerns with him directly.

3. Burke then commented on his address to the Board of Trade, explaining why those comments in his address didn’t violate the NHL’s gag order.

In other words, Burke commented that the comments on the comments he made didn’t violate the NHL gag order on commenting on the comments on the original trade rumour.

Confused yet?

Here’s something I don’t get. Why hasn’t anybody pointed out the giant conflict of interest the NHL has entered by placing its own bid for the Phoenix Coyotes while it requires that all bids for the franchise receive its stamp of approval? While we’re at it, if the NHL has the right to reject all other potential bidders, why doesn’t the NHL lower its bid to a dollar?

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