Burke turned down trade involving Gretzky

[sfgiants5518]

Back in 1988, as assistant GM of the Canucks, Brian Burke turned down an offer for The Great One.

It's on TSN home page. He had an interview with TSN radio and he said he was offered Gretzky for '2 top 5 players, 3 first round picks, and 18 million bucks.' He turned it down because of the money involved.

[BlueJayFanDan]

For the price involved, I can live with it... Even if it is Gretzky.

[carson005]

For someone who has no clue about 1988 hockey, who would the "2 top 5 players" be. For reference if we had traded for him the next 3 seasons were all 100+ point seasons.

[BlueJayFanDan]

Yeah, it would be interesting to know who the top 5 players were.

[ink]

For someone who has no clue about 1988 hockey, who would the "2 top 5 players" be. For reference if we had traded for him the next 3 seasons were all 100+ point seasons.

You sure you mean 1988? Linden and Skriko would have been the forwards (both 30 goal scorers) and Reinhardt would have been a D man (50 assists) they would have considered. But Burkie wasn't the GM until 1998, he was just the Director of Hockey Operations. Pat Quinn was GM and would have made the call. Maybe it's just Burkie making up stories again ...

[BlueCollar]

I believe he said two of 'our' top 5 players, not 2 of 'the' top 5 players.

[ink]

Question I have for Burkie is how did he "turn down" a Gretzky trade when he wasn't even GM?????

Pat Quinn does not delegate like that so there's no way it was Burke's decision in the first place. In 1988 Burkie was just starting out in management ... he's so full of hot air that burkie. lol.

[sfgiants5518]

I believe he said two of 'our' top 5 players, not 2 of 'the' top 5 players.

right. Obviously van didn't have 2 of the top 5 players to offer.

[BlueCollar]

I wouldn't put it past Burke to think that though