Flames are upset with a mystery team for starting ‘stupid’ Dougie Hamilton trade rumors

A week of media speculation about a possible Dougie Hamilton trade finally forced Calgary Flames president of hockey operations Brian Burke to speak publicly about it. And boy, was it worth the wait.

Some background: Hamilton, who the Flames acquired in a big trade with the Bruins at the 2015 draft, has lived in the NHL trade rumor mill throughout the early part of this season. The mill has churned enough that top NHL insiders like TSN’s Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie have spoken about it recently, with Dreger going so far as to suggest the rumors are consistently coming up in discussions.

It appears Burke has had enough. The colorful veteran front office man spoke with TSN Radio 1050 on Wednesday and forcefully shot down the rumors.

Some of the highlights (emphasis mine):

“This is one where we think we can trace the leak. Our GM Brad Treliving got a call from a team who shall remain nameless, at least for now. If this goes on much further then they probably won’t remain nameless. They said ‘Would you move Dougie Hamilton?’ And (we) said no. We expended a tremendous amount of assets to get this player. We’re really happy with him. He’s a quality guy. He’s six-foot-five, weighs 237 pounds, he’s a right shot, skates like a deer and is a good hockey player.

Yeah, let’s move him. Let’s get rid of him. It’s not hard to get guys like that.”

“By the way, the offer they made was insulting.”

“So we told the team, no, we’re not moving him, and next time you have an idea that stupid save the quarter. Don’t go to the payphone. That team started telling teams (they) made an offer on Hamilton. Now it’s a rumor. It’s got legs. (We) must be moving him!”

“We haven’t offered him to anyone. We don’t intend to move him. If someone offers us 20 first round picks, are we making that deal? Probably. Wayne Gretzky got traded. But the difference between listening and shopping ... those are different things.”

Honestly, reading it doesn’t do it justice, so make sure you watch the full TSN video. Burke also made sure to emphasize that the people carrying the leaks publicly have “no goddamn idea what they’re talking about.”

Hamilton is just 23 years old and in the second year of a six-year, $34.5 million contract signed just days after Boston traded him for a first-round pick and two second-round picks in the 2015 draft. The Bruins turned those into Zachary Senyshyn, Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson, and Jeremy Lauzon, all of whom are well-regarded prospects. Hamilton has 12 points in 25 games with Calgary this season.