THE ART OF THE DEAL:
Here’s how Brian Burke authored one of the defining moments in Canucks’ draft history
1 HELLO BOB, IT’S BRIAN
The Canucks had the third overall pick, but quietly got the fourth from Chicago GM Bob Murray.
“We got it a week before the draft, but we didn’t tell anybody,” said Burke. “I didn’t file the trade until the Friday before the draft. It was a firstround pick (Pavel Vorobiev in 2000) — the extra pick we got in the Bure deal — so we felt we could spring for a first and then (trade) McCabe. It was a very expensive trade, but we felt the twins were worth it.”.
2 THE DUDLEY DO-RIGHT
Tampa Bay held the first overall pick, which meant Burke had to convince GM Rick Dudley to part with it. It was tough.
“I had some difficult and profane conversations with him,” said Burke. “I told him: ‘Nobody is leaving with these kids except me.’ And finally, I told him we had two of the top four picks (third and fourth overall) and he said that hadn’t come across yet. I said it was registered a couple of hours ago.”
3 ‘I WAS GOING TO GET FIRED’
Burke didn’t put the pieces in place the night before the draft.
“I went to bed that night thinking I was going to get fired,” he said.
“It was 2:30 in the morning and we both swore at each other and hung up.”
4 THE BIG BOLT JOLT
Persistence paid off. The Lightning gave the Canucks the first and third overall picks in exchange for the fourth, 75th and 88th selections.
“Now we had No. 1 and No. 3 and I didn’t want to go up there (to the podium) twice,” said Burke. “I said to Atlanta (GM Don Waddell): ‘You’re a brand new team and do you want to draft first overall? Go up there first and be the stars of the show, but you’ve got to give me your pick.’
“We got the pick.”
The Thrashers would later select Stefan first overall.
5 MAD SCRAMBLE, FINAL HURDLE
Burke had the pieces, but assistant GM Dave Nonis had to complete them before the draft because there are no timeouts in the first round.
“It was like: ‘Davey, you’ve got to get these deals done,’ “recalled Burke. “He did and I went up and told the twins you’re coming to Vancouver.
“I didn’t know which one was which. I held out the sweaters and Danny took his. That’s why they wear 22 and 33 — they were second and third overall.”