Quote:
Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard
Instead of bashing Erixon maybe the Flames organization should take a look in the mirror and determine what makes them a less attractive organization to play for relative to other teams. Blake Wheeler did something similar in Phoenix because at the time the Coyotes organization was one of the worst run in the NHL and it was more of a circus rather than a professional club with the hockey team being a sideshow almost to Gretzky coaching.
Right now the Flames need to invest in their young make it a hospitable place for players to develop - give more opportunities to make the team and grow as players - every player that has been brought up over the past few years seems to be shoved into a third line grinder type role to start and then they are benched when they don't excel at that type of game.
Maybe Erixon just wanted to play in New York, maybe he just didn't want to play in Calgary and while the trade that was made will do the best for the Flames given their options at the time - in the long run the real winners are going to be the Rangers who have a very solid young defensive core.
I strongly believe that Calgary needs to revamp their scouting and the way that they treat their young - they don't have the worst draft record by any stretch but in the past decade the only player to have a major impact was Phaneuf. Past that the moves that Sutter made in which he traded away his young players (Kobasew, Lombardi) or gave a player a single shift in the league (Ramholt).... Granted Ramholt gave the puck away or something but I wouldn't be surprised if young players take note of something like that and say - if it could happen there, it could happen to me as well.
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Ironic that the reality is exactly the opposite of what King would have you believe. Keep the PR machine rolling, Ken. It's obviously working from what I'm reading hear.