Calgary Flames: Clueless and Pointless (Damien Cox)

[Tinordi]

The same logic applies to the idea that you can just always recoup a second rounder if you trade your own.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

Not often you see agents going for less money unless its a hometown discount or a ridiculously long contract term though.

No one is obligated to follow any precedent set in other player negotiations. But they do.

Backlund signed for less than his QO no?

O'Reilly easily could have extended his deal longer term based on the cap hit, not on what the QO would have had to be.

[Iggy Snipe]

This guy has some points, but overall I think its a crap article.

Camy is a good pick up, and still having Iginla is for the best right now. Calgary is not as for out of the playoff picture as people think.

[Ro]

I think of Cox as a more successful Eric Francis.

Hyperbole, opinion, and sensationalism masquerading as journalism.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by vanisleflamesfan

Ha ha ha... well if there are so many 5M veterans that the Flames can "drop" easily, perhaps you would like to throw out several names... and methods of "dropping" them.

Cammy for one obviously they planned on it with the cap coming down...easily trade him for a pick. They feel he is a young #1 center. Trade Jaybo he has tons of value right now, Kipper ect.

Had they aquired him somebody would be moving...people are so worried about something that didn't happen they didn't realize the Flames tried to add a young player which would have made them have to get rid of one of the "core" guys

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

That is my complaint as well - not just Cox but many shabby journalists who make aggressive assertions just to make a name. Then there is absolutely no accountability if they turn out to be wrong.

I don't mind journalists being bold and making unpopular opinions. But I would like to see more accountability.

People need to understand the difference between a reporter and a columnist. The job of a columnist is to attract eyes to the page by expressing strong, often inflammatory or polarizing opinions. An editor doesn't care what opinions a columnist expresses, so long as they get people riled up.

If that approach irritates you, stick to news stories. They'll be the articles that don't have a name or mug shot featured prominently.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

People need to understand the difference between a reporter and a columnist. The job of a columnist is to attract eyes to the page by expressing strong, often inflammatory or polarizing opinions. An editor doesn't care what opinions a columnist expresses, so long as they get people riled up.

If that approach irritates you, stick to news stories. They'll be the articles that don't have a name or mug shot featured prominently.

I fully understand what their roles are.

As I said, I have no problem with extreme, or headline-grabbing articles.

But they would garner a whole lot more respect from me if they (the columnists and their emplyer) followed up and admitted when they erred, etc.

You can rile people up and still be accountable.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I fully understand what their roles are.

As I said, I have no problem with extreme, or headline-grabbing articles.

But they would garner a whole lot more respect from me if they (the columnists and their emplyer) followed up and admitted when they erred, etc.

You can rile people up and still be accountable.

He's not looking for your respect. He's hoping like a big auto accident that people take a look as they drive by. The fact you/we are talking about is already his win. Wether you agree or like his opinion it matters not and he doesn't care in the least. If nobody talked about him or read his stuff he would be out of work hence the eye raising, sensationalistic nature of his articles.

[sven]

Damien is a no talented troll that makes his living by stirring up his readers.
I for one stopped reading his articles a while back.

He should really stick with reporting on his beloved Leafs.

If he has changed his act, my apologies but I wouldn't know because I boycott his articles.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's not looking for your respect. He's hoping like a big auto accident that people take a look as they drive by. The fact you/we are talking about is already his win. Wether you agree or like his opinion it matters not and he doesn't care in the least. If nobody talked about him or read his stuff he would be out of work hence the eye raising, sensationalistic nature of his articles.

Again, I know that. Thanks

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Again, I know that. Thanks

Then hoping for them to take the high ground to gain your respect is futile isn't it?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Then hoping for them to take the high ground to gain your respect is futile isn't it?

hoping?

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Iggy Snipe

Calgary is not as for out of the playoff picture as people think.

• We have very consistently won about 1 game in 3 since the start of the season.
• We are 27th at 5 on 5 hockey, dead last in number of hits, 21st in blocked shots, 29th in FO% and 24th in shots for.
• We are 8th in total shots against but none of our goalies are above .900 in SV%.
• We have played more at home than at road so far, and we have played more games against the 6 other teams below the playoff line than the 8 teams above it. Yet even with 5 three point games we're still below .500.
• We have 4 points out of 16 against the teams above the playoff line.
• We are second to last in the conference.
• We have lost both times to the team directly above us, and our GM just made that team better (for this season at least).
• We have the third worst +/- in the league, which is a relatively reliable stat for predicting how a team will do in the long run.
• We are also terrible shootout team and the only team yet to win a game when trailing after first.
• We have already played about 40% of the regular season.

In light of all this, I feel it's more accurate to say that we are further from the playoff picture than people think.

We're 8th in powerplay (although 21st in PP opportunities) and 8th in takeaways. That's the good, along with the SA.

I would also mention that our SF/SA has been getting notably worse. In the first 10 games we got outshot only once, in the last 9 games we've been outshot 7 times.

EDIT: Oh, and 25th at penalty killing, although we are 3rd in times shorthanded, which does help.

[$ven27]

Originally Posted by Itse

• We have very consistently won about 1 game in 3 since the start of the season.
• We are 27th at 5 on 5 hockey, dead last in number of hits, 21st in blocked shots, 29th in FO% and 24th in shots for.
• We are 8th in total shots against but none of our goalies are above .900 in SV%.
• We have played more at home than at road so far, and we have played more games against the 6 other teams below the playoff line than the 8 teams above it. Yet even with 5 three point games we're still below .500.
• We have 4 points out of 16 against the teams above the playoff line.
• We are second to last in the conference.
• We have lost both times to the team directly above us, and our GM just made that team better (for this season at least).
• We have the third worst +/- in the league, which is a relatively reliable stat for predicting how a team will do in the long run.
• We are also terrible shootout team and the only team yet to win a game when trailing after first.
• We have already played about 40% of the regular season.

In light of all this, I feel it's more accurate to say that we are further from the playoff picture than people think.

We're 8th in powerplay (although 21st in PP opportunities) and 8th in takeaways. That's the good, along with the SA.

I would also mention that our SF/SA has been getting notably worse. In the first 10 games we got outshot only once, in the last 9 games we've been outshot 7 times.

EDIT: Oh, and 25th at penalty killing, although we are 3rd in times shorthanded, which does help.

We also have a very tough March schedule coming up. Canucks, Sharks, Kings x2, Wings, Preds x2, Blues, and Blackhawks. The most winnable games would be Stars, Jackets x2, and the Avs.

[Corral]

I fail to see what is relevant about some blowhard in toronto thinks about the Flames. The media coverage of the NHL in Canada is just way over the top. And I'm thankful that I don't have to wake up every day and try to invent a media story about the NHL like these writers and TV folks have to do.

Having watched how HNIC handled the ROR matter tonight - full marks to Ron MacLean and the hotstove crew. Class and professionalism.

[Flames89]

As someone said Cox is minor step up from Francis.
I liked cammy signing (the 2nd was in neccesary). Wideman is a great pickup. Mayyyybe $1 MM overpaid.
Feaster is smart. He is a lawyer. He knew about KHL clause. He may not be a good gm but his intellect should not be doubted. I respect his ability to hire smart people and let them do their job.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by Corral

I fail to see what is relevant about some blowhard in toronto thinks about the Flames. The media coverage of the NHL in Canada is just way over the top. And I'm thankful that I don't have to wake up every day and try to invent a media story about the NHL like these writers and TV folks have to do.

Having watched how HNIC handled the ROR matter tonight - full marks to Ron MacLean and the hotstove crew. Class and professionalism.

i have to hear it every day living in Toronto but i agree that the hockey media in Canada in general is over the top...

i didn't see the hot stove lounge but on the reporters this morning they handled it very well too and didn't try to crucify feaster like everyone else...they actually put more blame on the avs gm.