NHL teams
Pierre LeBrun, ESPN Senior Writer 11y

Burke welcomed to Calgary by Cammalleri

Flames veteran winger Mike Cammalleri welcomed the news that Brian Burke was appointed Calgary's president of hockey operations.

"I’ve never really talked to Brian and yet it’s one of those things where I feel like I know him because I’ve talked to so many people, mutual friends, I’ve talked to players who have played for him," said Cammalleri, who spoke to Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf on Thursday about Burke.

"I played in L.A. and had to play against those Anaheim teams; those were some really good Brian Burke teams. I like the way his teams play. I thought he did a tremendous job in Toronto, too. Look where they’re at now."

Ironically, Cammalleri could have ended up playing for Burke in Toronto years ago when, as an unrestricted free agent, he met with Leafs brass in Toronto on July 1 before ultimately signing in Montreal.

"Brian was actually in Sweden that day on July 1, that’s when he signed the Monster (Jonas Gustavsson)," said Cammalleri. "But I was dealing with Dave Nonis and met with them down at their office."

The question now is what is in store for Cammalleri on a rebuilding Flames team that has shed many veteran players over the last year. Cammalleri is entering the final year of his contract.

"Who knows? We’ll see," he said of his future in Calgary. "We’ll see what they want to do. Truthfully, I got a lot of respect for (GM) Jay (Feaster) and (assistant GM) John (Weisbrod), I’ve had an open dialogue with them. Nothing to report, but we’ll see what they want to do. I like it there, it’s a good place. I’m open (to an extension)."

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