Brian Burke, well known hockey figure and former general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs went on the Leafs Nation show to discuss an upcoming trade between the Leafs and Flames. What he had to say was very insightful. <h3>Burke Shares Trade Secrets In Discussion About Upcoming Trade For Leafs</h3> The focus of the conversation with Burke on the show was the ongoing trade discussions between the Leafs and Flames involving Flames defensemen. The name that has been floating around the most is Nikita Zadorov, but the Flames have also expressed a desire to move on from defenders Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev. Notably, Leafs GM Brad Treliving just came to Toronto from the Flames. He was asked if that would help trade discussions with his former team, This is what Brian Burke had to say. <q>You'd like to think you have superior knowledge, it's a team you worked for and you think you know their players. I can still tell you any player I had in Pittsburgh, I can still tell you everything you wanna know about him, if he's still there I can tell you everything you wanna know about him... I think Connie (Craig Conroy) has the same body of knowledge so you're dealing with two guys with equal knowledge, and Craig Conroy is new at this, but he's a real good guy, he's a real smart guy, and I think he'll do a good job. It gives you an advantage that you both know everything that there is about these players, it might be simpler in some cases to make a fit, rather than thinking you have superior knowledge [over the other GM]</q> <h3>Brian Burke: Leafs Should Prioritize Role And Extension For New Defensemen</h3> Brian Burke went on to say that the important thing for the Leafs is that they make sure they have a proper role in mind for the player, whoever it is they decide to bring in. The team needs to figure out the roles for each of their defenseman so that they can get the most out of them. <q>The key is getting these defenseman the right seat at the table, it's a phrase that Tre used to use when I was working there. You want everyone at the right seat at the table, so you do have a number one defenseman, you do have a number two defenseman, you do have a number three defenseman, you do have a number four defenseman.</q> He also noted that the Leafs should already have a plan in mind to extend whoever they trade for. His philosophy is that if they bring them in during a trade and then immediately let them go in the offseason, they've just lost assets for nothing. <q>I think they got to make sure they got to sign them both if they're going to pay any kind of meaningful price. You have to have some agreement that they're going to sign or else why bother?</q> The question remains as to what exactly the Leafs are going to do. The team certainly needs help on defense, especially with John Klingberg potentially being out for the rest of the season. The full interview with Burke can be seen below. <div align='center'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TLNdc/status/1727425509964100075'> </a></blockquote></div> As seen on Maple Leafs Daily: <a href='https://www.mapleleafsdaily.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/Former-Leafs-GM-discusses-why-the-Leafs-and-Flames-are-perfect-trade-partners' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Former Leafs GM discusses why the Leafs and Flames are perfect trade partners</a>