Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Why? He will likely be better in the 2nd year of the deal. If it was a 4 year deal then maybe you could look at it as a mistake but I feel confident he will be a better player next year for this team as I subscribe to the adage that it sometimes takes a player a year to feel comfortable on a new team. Guys like Hudler and Russell have got better every season for the Flames as they have become more comfortable.
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Raymond had a career year in year #1 Toronto.... Carlye that much of a better coach than Hartley??
True he peaked in year 3 in Vancouver but then had 3 progressively worse season to the point that the Canucks didn't want him on a tryout contract.
He has has 2 good years out of 8 .... but next year he will be good?
The Russell myth also wears on me... He was the best D-man in junior hockey and a regular in the NHL as a 20 year old. He played a grand total of 14 games in the AHL.
He got lost in St.L with them getting Leopold and then Bouwmeester.
In Calgary he just took the same progression he was on in Columbus.
And Hudler.... Maybe he is a bet better than year #1 in Calgary when he played on a the smallest wimpiest team in the league and had Roman Cervenka as his linemate.
If he was forced to play all 3 years with Cervenka as his linemate he would be retiring to the KHL next year.