Flames STH meeting

[Caged Great]

Treliving, Conroy, King and Burke were all there.

The Building will take 3 years to build once the shovel is in the ground, and about 1 year of prep and probably 8 months of getting all the details ironed out with the city. Basically we're looking at 2020 give or take.

The new rink will have other parts to it, not just the arena.

The Flames are going to be patient through the rebuild and all the players will be given a chance to make it on the team. It's basically up to them whether or not they are playing in Calgary. They are not going to rush guys just because they are hyped. Can't hurt to spend time in the minors.

Regarding #4, they said that there is a consensus top 5 but that how they are ranked around the league varies enormously. This draft is weird where you are more apt to draft for need rather than BPA, because it is very even talent wise, no huge drop offs at certain points. Also is very odd because only 1 D-man in the top 10.

Burke managed to get his truck in his garage upon moving here (the garage was too short, had to be fixed). Burke hopes this is his last job in hockey. He hopes/expects to be here for the next 10 years

Treliving liked Ward and thinks he'll be getting a job elsewhere soon, but didn't feel that he was a fit for what was needed moving forward and that's why he was let go. Communication between Calgary and Abby seemed to be the problem but Treliving didn't quite come out and say it.

They have touched base with all the UFA/RFA's. They have made an offer to Cammalleri, just depends on if the #'s/term work for both sides.

Want to be bigger/more physical. Having Hudler/Cammy/Gaudreau/Byron/Baertschi is a problem, but can compensate by having several big guys in the lineup.

Praised Westgarth heavily and keyed in that getting him was important as the Flames stopped getting hit because of having both him and Grats. Need 2 guys like that to deter other teams from taking advantage.

Need to be able to physically dictate the play.

I'll edit this as I remember details

[Lil Pedro]

Nice to see that they have made progress on the new arena

[Gaskal]

90% sure Johnny starts in the AHL.

[Caged Great]

paperless tickets here to stay

[bizaro86]

Burke was asked about the third jersey, says he thought the superstition was ridiculous, it didn't matter what players wear, they should just play. Mentioned nuns habits would be fine, didn't matter.

He also said he wanted everyone's number to be below 35, that it was important, and was good enough for the great teams in the 50s, etc.

He was not asked about the inconsistency in these positions.

Ken king was asked about e-tickets, and he said that fan support is getting better for them, won't be going back to paper tickets. He suggested there may be some sort of souvenir available.

The Troy Ward non-renewal was Brad Treliving's decision.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by fotze

I assume that's what Burke said in this meeting? If so, interesting.

If that was not mentioned by Burke, mindboggling why that is in this thread.

There was a lot of discussion about "building things right" and how the Detroit/LA model was spend a few years in the minors, how it never hurt anyone, etc.

[Vinny01]

I am pretty excited. Going to the 6pm session tonight and will try and post what I remember

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by fotze

I assume that's what Burke said in this meeting? If so, interesting.

If that was not mentioned by Burke, mindboggling why that is in this thread.

Burke mentioned that he's tiny and how he'll have to learn to adjust to the NHL because can get creamed up here like he did a couple times in the world championships

[Erick Estrada]

The Westgarth praise scares me a bit.

[Caged Great]

Ditched SOB because he was detrimental to team and wasn't buying in.

[psicodude]

I was there as well and only have a couple of things to add:

- They want to bring the plan to the mayor "within weeks". King called the new arena "the most transformative project in Calgary's history", and that there were several more components than just the arena.

- It will take a miracle training camp for Johnny hockey to make this team on opening day. Burke called him "tiny, not just small, tiny". Went on and on about how important it is for player to play in the AHL.

- Called Monahan "the exception" for young players. Just like teenagers go through high school and university before landing a good job, hockey players need that time to develop in the minors.

- Treliving said that they are going to pick the best player available at the draft, as opposed to picking to fill a need. He also said that trading up or down is an option at the right price.

[united]

My take...some repetition. Don't shoot the messengers.

• Burke opened with a shot about needing a new arena and continued throughout the session. Seems he really wants one, as many of us do.
• For years now, Ken King has said an arena announcement would be coming in 3-4 months, however today he suggested an announcement was likely 8 or more months away. Maybe he’s pulling a joke on us all and it will be announced tomorrow? The mystery continues.
• The arena complex will have 2 other big features that aren’t part of the arena. Football? Entertainment district? I took it to mean things like that.
• Question from the crowd regarding what will occur first: the Flames having a new arena or the Flames being a contender. (Burke throws a quick arena jab) King says 8 months to announcement, a year in permit getting, 3 years to build, so likely around the same time.
• Flames think that all 30 teams likely have the same top 5 in mind, but all 5 will be in different orders. Regardless of picking 1st to 5th, all teams will get a great player. Treliving says he has had discussions with Florida about 1st overall, but no other details. Flames are very unlikely to move down, but anything is possible for the right price.
• Treliving has met with Cammalleri twice, and met with his agent last week at the combine. There is mutual interest; however term and price will dictate whether the mutual interest results in a contact being agreed upon. Burke did indeed give Cammalleri an offer prior to Brad’s hiring.
• Burke used a top 6-bottom 6 model for forwards in Anaheim, but believes the game has evolved and teams now require a top 8-bottom 4 or even top 9-bottom 3 for elite teams. Believes in having at minimum 2 “tough guys”.
• Burke thinks the turning point in the season was the brawl game against Vancouver. Further, believes the addition of Westgarth had a huge mental impact on the roster, and claimed the Flames collectively got hit way less immediately after his addition and for the remainder of the season. He really really likes Westgarth…not sure many including myself agree, but that’s what it is.
• Burke stated again his belief the Flames nailed the 1st round last year – the best draft of any team – and says they must nail the 4th overall and 2nd-round picks this year.
• At this point there is no rush to sign any of the UFAs or RFAs, though the UFAs will be looked at after the draft.
• On Sven Baertschi: they don’t hate him as seems have become the norm, they simply want him to learn the full game. His two biggest flaws are he loses interest when things aren’t going good and quits – I took that to mean he doesn’t play a “full 60” in losses – and he doesn’t concentrate on playing defence. Compared him to Nazem Kadri and Bobby Ryan, who spent time in the minors to work on a full game despite having tremendous skill. Also mentions that Detroit and Los Angeles do the same with all prospects regardless of anything else.
• The usual stuff about how the Flames have to get bigger. Mentioned the Kings and his Cup winning Ducks as teams who have a psychological advantage over opponents because of size, hitting and resulting intimidation.
• Shane O’Brien was sent down because he wasn’t buying into the Flames’ culture of hard work every shift and in practice. Had to convince ownership to eat his contract. So basically what everyone knew about O’Brien before the Flames acquired him.
• Gaudreau is immensely skilled and received unanimous praise from NHL-level team mates at the World’s, but he is smaller than small. He’ll be fine if he can avoid contact, but he gets hit hard too often. May need to adjust (in the minors). If he’s good enough to make the NHL, he’ll be here, but they aren’t going to rush him or anyone else.
• Paperless tickets are here to stay, but fans can get paper or some souvenir if they want, likely for a small price.
• Burke liked Ward but Treliving chose not to retain him. Treliving would not elaborate why, out of respect for Ward. Burke fully supported Brad’s decision.
• Burke praised Bob Hartley as per many interviews.
• Treliving mentioned how fans get way too excited about prospects, way too fast. Cited an example of when Baertschi scored against Phoenix in his 1st game, 1st shift, and Brad tuned into the Fan960 postgame show and couldn’t believe fans were already declaring him an all-star, etc. Nature of the business, but it’s tough to keep fans realistic.
• Burke was furious when he found out the players boycotted the 3rd jersey for a game. Says players shouldn’t give a damn what the jersey looks like, they should play the same regardless. Also doesn’t understand players’ superstitions and wishes they didn’t have any. Joked that he would love a player who played the same in a hockey jersey as he would in a nun’s habit.

[Robbob]

For those that are going to the one on the 17th, have you got your email yet? I sent the email back in may but haven't heard anything yet. just curious because i have a question i wanted to ask.

[JBR]

Originally Posted by psicodude

I was there as well and only have a couple of things to add:

- They want to bring the plan to the mayor "within weeks". King called the new arena "the most transformative project in Calgary's history", and that there were several more components than just the arena.

"Weeks". Love it. Sounds close, but is more likely 52 or 122 weeks rather than a few".


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Robbob

For those that are going to the one on the 17th, have you got your email yet? I sent the email back in may but haven't heard anything yet. just curious because i have a question i wanted to ask.

I didn't get the confirmation for today's event until last Friday...

Also, it was on the floor of the rink this year instead of in the Avison Young club like past years. Seemed like they were able to fit more people that way.

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by JBR

"Weeks". Love it. Sounds close, but is more likely 52 or 122 weeks rather than a few".


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am going to be cautiously optimistic here. This was the first time I had personally heard King use a timeline (5 years until completion) which lead me to believe that they are actually getting close.

Then again, he was standing in front of 600 fed-up customers and an openly hostile president of hockey operations.

[Caged Great]

All in all, it was less informative than last year, but there also is a lot less turmoil around the team now than last year.

[nik-]

The arena grandstanding is pretty annoying. Build it, no one is stopping you. You can't just stomp your feet about it because you want us to pay for it.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by nik-

The arena grandstanding is pretty annoying. Build it, no one is stopping you. You can't just stomp your feet about it because you want us to pay for it.

Burke is pretty annoying.

I started out pleased with the hire but the guy is just grating

[Igster]

Could someone ask Burke if he thinks Johnny is small?