[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by saXon

So, keeping Cammy would be a poor choice, but the Flames need to retain a guy like Hudler? Double standard much? Cammy has lead as much if not more than Hudler in the last 2 seasons. I get your love affair with Hudler, it was made known not only in this thread, but also in the "Who will mentor JG" thread too. You may not like Cammy, but "stench of losers past".....ok. Whatever that means.

No double standard at all. Cammalleri is no leader, at least not a good one. Montreal couldn't wait to get rid of him and didn't want him around their team. They traded him mid game and didn't even give him a chance to bid adeau to his team mates. They pulled him from the lineup and had him pack his bags and gtfo of town asap. He's one of those guys that gets hot and scores a bunch of points that makes the fans get all gooey, but when he's not scoring he's pretty useless and a detriment. When he doesn't get the ice time he thinks he deserves he shows his displeasure. That wasn't appreciated in Montreal and it isn't appreciated here. His performance this season, and the contract off floated by the club, tells you all you need to know.

You place Ferland above Baerstchi in the LW depth, although he's lost almost a full season of development to injury. Instead, you base Ferland's position on the depth chart based on what could have happened.

You can talk to PMM about what the Flames thought about Ferland and his potential this season. Ward spoke extremely highly of him and stated how important he was to the Flames future and how it was just going to take Ferland believing in himself and how good he really is.

You'd be wise to remember that Ferland was put back into Jr. due to his poor fitness. Baertschi was placed in the A due to playing a full 200ft game, nothing more. His offense hasn't been the subject of scrutiny here. All prospects meet adversity some time or another. I don't follow Hockey's Future, sorry, but your empty accusations hold no value. I do know that Baertschi's stock isn't going to plummet based on a half year's play. Like it or not.

Ferland came to camp in great shape this season and was impressing prior to his injury. Again, talk with PMM to get some insight as to what the club thought of Ferland. Baertschi was placed in the AHL for a lot of reasons, not just on ice related matters. He's got a lot of maturing to do both on and off the ice. His 200 foot game needs work and his offense needs work. A player that is supposed to be a big time talent should rip up the AHL and post strong numbers. See Tyler Toffoli for an example of top prospect producing at a clip expected. As I stated, more than once, Baertschi is still a good prospect, which is why he could be used in a deal to strengthen the club. Never said he wasn't a good prospect, just that he has fallen on the Flames depth chart which could make him expendable.

Also, sorry, there must be another poster over at hockeysfuture that uses saXon as a handle and has the same signature. Honest mistake.

I do know that Baertschi has statistically shown he's the 2nd best LW'er in the Flames' system. The stats of his production are solid proof, and so far you've failed to show me irrefutable proof otherwise.

Statistics are half the story on any player. Statistically the Oilers wunderkinds are really something special. To those who watch and understand hockey, those statistics don't amount to a hill of beans. Scoring points doesn't mean much if you can't contribute to a winner. Baertschi and all of the Flames prospects are learning this lesson so they will be good NHL players.

I do know that the Flames are rebuilding, and moving a single vet isn't going to set them back, however moving an asset of Baertschi's caliber absolutely could. The history is there with moving guys out too early. Prime examples are Hull and St. Louis. The brass at the time would have laughed in the face of anyone suggesting they were top 10-20 talent. No one's laughing now. The history is also there for moving vets too late.

Moving one asset, where we have substantial depth and strength, for another, where we have little depth or NHL ready talent, is called good asset management. Losing a player of Baertschi's talent is a significant hit, if we only had two or three players at that position. When we have half a dozen players at that position, and a number of centers that could also switch to that same wing, we are leveraging a strength to address a weakness. If we can move a quality player like Baertschi and recoup a player of similar quality at another position, we strengthen our team, not weaken it. There are only so many slots available at certain positions and when you have an over-abundance of one and are sorely lacking in others it is wise to use that over-abundance to your advantage.

I do have wonder about if you have a clue about the history of the Flames. Hull was traded in a move that provided the Flames with the depth required to win our only Stanley Cup. Without the trade that brought Ramage and Wamsley to Calgary we likely never would have won the cup.

I completely agree the Marty St. Louis decision was a bad one, but that was made by arguably the worst GM the team has had.

Your crystal ball shows Granlund playing wing permanently. You should start a psychic business. You'd make some mega $$.

No psychic powers required. You just have to listen to management and the coaching staff to get an idea where the team wants certain players to shake out. I would recommend you try the same.

I'm done arguing. I don't debate with people who have double standards, play favorites to build your roster, or use assumptions or predictions on "what could have happened if" to order the prospect depth. It's not worth my time and is very much a cue for me to walk away from the conversation.

Yes, take that cue and walk away. Your understanding of the overall situation of the hockey club is obviously very limited and you have no desire to consider another perspective. You talk about having a dislike of playing favorites, but it is obvious that Baertschi is your favorite and you do not want to hear that anyone has challenged the prospect in any shape or form. Even when someone states the player is still a quality asset you try to marginalize the opinion because it does not match how you see things. Your problem, not mine. We can continue this at any time in the future though. I don't have a problem with discussing players and their development and how the team can get better by making specific moves.