Flames hire Brian Burke as president of hockey operations

The Calgary Flames made it official on Thursday, announcing the hiring of Brian Burke as the club's new president of hockey operations.

The position is a new one for the Flames, and "includes overall responsibility for the sports side of the Calgary Flames," said Flames president Ken King.

Burke went out of his way to say that Jay Feaster remains the general manager in Calgary. Feaster will report to Burke. Ken King, meanwhile, remains the president and CEO of the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Group. Burke will report to King.

Burke said he won't be face of the Flames, and that he'll remain in the background in his new role. He also said that people will believe that when they see it, and he's absolutely right. 

His philosophy for the future of the Flames sounds familiar:

Burke also added that the Flames' ownership is willing and committed to spending to the salary cap. And Calgary will have money to spend, between almost $30 million and $40 million, depending on what the cap is, according to reports, heading into the 2014-2015 season.

In Burke's Q&A with the media, he said he initially wasn't interested in the job as president of hockey operations with the Flames, especially after years as a GM. At this point in his career, Burke wants to do less of the "grunt work," as he put it; less of the day-to-day operations involved with running a hockey team.

He spoke with Los Angeles Dodgers GM Ned Colletti about the role, and Colletti helped convince him the gig was a good one.

"I don't think I need to be driving the bus," Burke said. "I'm actually a good teammate." 

Burke joins the Flames after stints in Toronto (as general manager and president), Anaheim (as GM), Vancouver (as GM), the NHL front office (as vice president and director of hockey operations), and Hartford (as GM).