[Article] Rebuild architects pleased to get first year of retooling off the ground

[Ring of Fire]

Weisbrod was in charge of the River Rats from 1993-97, a term which included the 1995 Calder Cup championship. The Devils, meanwhile, had been building their way to Stanley Cup crowns in 1995, 2000, 2003 (with a runner-up appearance in 2001).

Only afterward did he appreciate the value of the apprenticeship.

“Lou, particularly back then, had such a disciplined, tight-lipped, team-first mentality, with no regard for how other teams did things,” says Weisbrod. “You always felt like you were in a little bit of a cult in New Jersey — and I mean that in a good way. I parallel it now to the New England Patriots (of the National Football League). The organization always came first and Lou always did everything on principles, never based on who you were and where you fit. In my mind, it’s tough to find anyone better in the business.”

Really, I consider this Year 1 of fielding a new team,” says Weisbrod. “You start doing things the way you believe are the right way — and evaluating players on the right criteria, signing the right guys, acquiring the right guys — and even when you’ve gotten to the top of the mountain, you continue doing it the same way. When they won the Stanley Cup in Boston after climbing that mountain, they continued with the same process . . . instead of being one of these teams that catches lightning in a bottle for a year and then falls off the map.”

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...766/story.html

[EYE_Overstand]

I hope he stays in charge of the scouting department for years to come. Feaster and Wesbroid are in the last year of their contracts and I hope they are both extended. With Burke bring their bosses in such a critical time of the rebuild (after 3 solid drafts), I think this team is headed in a great direction.

With that said we a few more years and a few more prospects to really take it on their own and step up

[c.t.ner]

In my mind, Weisbrod is far more important to the Flames turning this around than Burke or Feaster. So far i've really enjoyed everything they've brought to the table and although people can point to some of the "off-the-board" picks, the whole picture for where the flames are now as opposed to where they were in June 2012 is pretty impressive.

I really think the team is in good hands with Weisbrod leading the charge at the draft table.

[Enoch Root]

I like the different things that Burke, Feaster and Weisbrod bring to the table - I also like their commitment to an ongoing process.

Now just keep building the scouting staff and upgrading the development side.

[polak]

I wasnt a big feaster fan but I really like his moves from the draft on.

[FlameZilla]

I'd be in favour of letting Feaster go & promoting Weisbrod when their contracts expire. My fear is that Weisbrod would be in line for a GM position elsewhere if he was not promoted in Calgary, and to me he is the most valuable part of the management staff. Feaster could be promoted to V.P. of Rhetoric or something b.s. like that.