Quote:
Originally Posted by gvitaly
In general the Flames seem like an organization that treats its players better than most.
That said players don't usually throw teams under the bus. I always thought Gio had some hard feelings about the Flames not protecting him in the expansion draft. D. Hamilton didn't seem like he was a fit. I'm pretty sure Neal, and M. Smith were a bit bitter with their time in CGY. Rittich seemed heart broken when he was traded.
The mass exodus after Sutter got here probably had some players being unhappy here. Z in particular saw himself as a top 4 D and wanted out. The Markstrom trade falling apart seemed like another bridge burned. Bennett was unhappy and asked for a trade under Ward. Guys like Valimaki and Phillips were pretty happy to move on.
Again I'm not sure how much of this is due to how the Flames treated a player, how a coach interacted with him, or a lack of an opportunity. I guess I'm just acknowledging the fact that any team/workplace has several players/employees unhappy at any point in time.
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To the bolded: I can't imagine why Neal would be bitter - he got paid to do nothing. And continued to do nothing after he was traded. Smith - well Smith seems like he's bitter all the time. Rittich was heartbroken because he loved it here -so i think that's more of an argument that it's a good org. to play for. Bennett is fair - we mishandled him - or he just wasn't a fit. Z has an overinflated sense of his skillset IMO - so I think that was a mutual parting, and I wouldn't say the Flames mistreated him. Markstrom I think was being a bit sensitive - maybe the Flames could've handled it better, but you're a pro hockey player, being traded is part of the gig. Valimaki and Phillips are tweeners at best, and were looking for opportunities elsewhere - but ultimately nothing really changed for them.