Struggling Flames fire GM Feaster, assistant GM Weisbrod
Jay Feaster was fired as general manager of the Calgary Flames on Thursday, with the team in next-to-last place in the Western Conference.
Assistant GM John Weisbrod also was let go. Brian Burke, the team's president of hockey operations, will serve as acting general manager.
Burke said the moves were needed to get the franchise back on track toward a championship.
''I wouldn't have come here if that wasn't the ultimate goal,'' he said. ''I have to look at the steps that have been taken and figure out what's the best way for us to get on that path. And I reached the conclusion that we needed to make this change.''
Calgary did not make the playoffs in Feaster's two full seasons as GM.
Burke was hired by the Flames in early September. Calgary took an 11-15-4 record into Thursday night's home game against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Flames have just 26 points for 13th in their conference.
Feaster became acting general manager midway through the 2010-11 season. In 2004, he was general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning team that beat Calgary to win the Stanley Cup.
Burke has had a long career as a hockey executive. He has previously served as GM in Vancouver, Toronto, Hartford and Anaheim, when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup under his watch in 2007.
