[greentree]

Originally Posted by Dion

Dan Tencer, 630CHED: Man. Flames play Avalanche tonight in Denver and they sign O’Reilly to an offer sheet on their way in. Ballsy move by Feaster. Good for him….The biggest thing here is that the Avalanche can’t trade O’Reilly if they sign him, and many believe that relationship is irreparably broken….I like the aggression from Feaster. Flames ownership won’t let him burn it down, so might as well just grab your guns and get aggressive…And, if you’re a Flames fan, it’s worth recognizing Feaster’s absolutely brutal draft history. Picks simply worth less with him in charge.

James Mirtle, Globe & Mail: About time a team gave O’Reilly an offer sheet. Makes no sense this doesn’t happen more often….Based on points percentage, Flames would have the ninth overall pick right now. Bigger problem is if they fall in standings….But O’Reilly is worth quite a bit more than a ninth overall pick. Can Avs move past the animosity that’s been created?

Pierre LeBrun, ESPN: Says a rival Western Conference team exec: “Avs will match for sure.” Well, we shall see …

Jesse Spector, The Sporting News: If I’m Greg Sherman, I say “thanks for the lottery pick and for screwing yourself more on the cap, Feaster!” and move on with my life….Maybe the smartest part of Feaster’s plan is avoiding ridicule for whatever he might have done with the first-round pick.

Bruce Arthur, National Post: It’s amazing the NHL doesn’t encourage more things like offer sheets to create player movement. Manufactures hot-stove debate and interest.

Hockey agent Allan Walsh: And of course, the offer sheet is somehow the greedy players fault, something players should be penalized for in the next CBA negotiation….Calgary’s owner was one of the primary advocates of a hardline against the players. Another “I just couldn’t control myself” moment?

Steve Simmons, Toronto Sun: Kudos to Flames GM Jay Feaster by signing Ryan OReilly to an offer sheet. At least he’s trying to make his team better.

Greg Wyshynski, Puck Daddy blogger: Let me get this right: Draft Pick X is better than retraining your leading scorer or getting known commodity?

Erik Erlendsson, Tampa Bay Tribute: The Flames want to pay Ryan O’Reilly $6.5 million in 2013-14? … That sort of contract makes agents around the league smile as it drives up price for comparables; nice to see the lockout already forgotten.

This just goes to show how utterly clueless and ill-informed most hockey pundits really are (aside from Mirtle) Bunch of blowhards. Would love to see them try to cope in a war zone, covering real news.
It's a great move by Feaster.