[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think it is more than fair to criticize Feaster for this trade.

Iginla - you give him a 'pass' on in my opinion. Totally different scenario - beloved long-time Calgary Flame and one of the NHL's most recognizable and classy players, and one who is trying to win a cup in his twilight years. Some measure of goodwill can definitely be incorporated into the trade return. I was fine with it - after a few hours to think about it anyways. All the analysts and fans say Feaster was fleeced... again, 'goodwill' fills a lot of holes in that trade, and I really am 100% fine with it (as long as it was Pittsburgh anyways - best shot for him to win it there).

Bouwmeester - initial trade reaction is yet another 'fleecing'. I understand that Bouw also had a NTC. I understand his salary is in effect next season. I understand that there are not too many teams out there. 5'9" defencemen have a hard time playing in this league, and even a harder time being effective. As for the "Best goalie not in the NHL" routine - we have heard that song and dance before. Funny how Calgary has BOTH of the best goalies not in the NHL, right? I like Cervenka, and I hope the Flames re-sign him - and I think he really was (or almost was) the best player not in the NHL. But I doubt the Flames have 'cornered the market' on the 'best players not in the NHL'.

What I also really hate about Feaster is how much of a blowhard he is. This is no 'apology'. It isn't 'taking responsibility'. Saying sorry does not come with a 'but'. This is Feaster trying to clean the egg on his face. Is he horrible? I don't think he is 'horrible' - but I would just wish he would STFU in the media. He isn't classy. He will back-stab anyone to save himself. At any rate, he hasn't been good at trades. What trade has he actually won?

GM's are responsible for their team's fate - standings and post-season success. However, you can also judge a GM based on his personnel moves. FA's were good. Trades have not been good.

Not saying Feaster should be fired.... but for once, in a total seller's market where teams typically lose-it and over-spend - and this one being the biggest seller's market that a few GMs have ever seen (Chiarelli for one)... you would think that one of these trades would have been a 'fleecing' on our side. At the very least, a 'neutral' trade.

Insinuate as much as you want that Calgary has been held 'hostage' by NTCs or cap considerations by other teams, but the fact is that media+fans think that the Flames are fleeced yet again.

Oh well, at least there is a lot of cap room next season, and with the cap going down there will be a few teams in trouble, and Calgary will be one of the few teams able to spend to the cap, I think, out of the bunch with excess cap space. Hopefully the Flames can do some 'dirty trades' taking advantage of that fact either with really good 'fleecings' in terms of returns, or taking a couple of pretty ugly cap hits coming with some nice picks.

There is always an opportunity. I am starting to feel less and less happy with Feaster though, and I really can't stand who the guy seems personally in the media. I always thought he was a low-down snake in the grass, willing to throw anyone and everyone under the bus in order to make himself look good.

You start by saying how it's fair to criticize Feaster for the Bouwmeester deal and then reference the Iggy deal. Toss the Iggy deal aside and criticize the Bouw deal, the Iggy deal is irrelevant. You then go on to say how much you hate how much of a blowhard he is and make judgements about the character. And referencing pundits on how we were fleeced is just opinions. You're not coming from an objective point of view. You need to let off steam, fair enough. But going off of pundits' observations (most of whom wanted Feaster to do this a couple years back and now are beating him up because he is doing it) is not the best gauge in measuring what we got back.