Brian Burke blames Kevin Lowe

From Eric Stephens of the L.A. Times:

Burke said it was a reflection of the offer sheets that were handed out last summer by Edmonton General Manager Kevin Lowe, with whom Burke had a bitter feud after the Oilers threw a five-year, $21.25-million deal at Dustin Penner that the Ducks didn’t match.

“They’re all being re-signed at inflated prices,” Burke said. “Everything I said a year ago has come true. Every single word.

“Most [general] managers don’t like starting fights with any other managers. . . .

Thanks to the Edmonton Oilers, the second contract [for players] has disappeared.”You go right now from entry-level to what used to be the third contract, thanks to two offer sheets from Kevin Lowe.”

Read the entire article here.

Burke is correct when he says that the second contract has disappeared. Whether that can be directly attributed to Kevin Lowe is another story.