Now that Colorado has matched...

[browna]

Now that many have gotten to digest the offer sheet situation, and although this is clearly a "What if" thread, you never know how quickly the Avs may act on the offer sheet. If the trade deadline 2014 factor comes into play within the next few days, COL won't have too long to think about it, so it may be worth some thoughts on where the Flames are at if Colorado blinks at ROR's demands and matches the Flames sheet.


Besides the pat on the back that fans and media will give to Feaster for being bold and giving it a good try (similar to the credit he took when almost wooing Richards away from the Rangers at the 11th hour) where will things be when the accolades are done and there isn't the prize at the end?

Does Feaster's creativeness/desperation (however you look at it) to bring in a player via the seldom-used offer sheet process, mean he's more or less able to make moves with the GM's in the league going forward?

Will the NHL GM's sink him further down the "don't want to deal with list, a position it can be argued Feaster is already in a firm grasp of, or does this maneuver send the green light to other teams how desperate/creative Feaster may be in potential trades for centres, or, anyone on the Flames roster, and open up the communication lines?

His run at Richards would've changed the complexion of this team this year and last year, and would've had that number one center...a position that he has yet to fill, and has fallen further, as we all know, behind the eight ball on since the offseason since Jokinen was cast off and the start of this season with an injury and a demotion leaving the team with one center. Same could be argued with O'Reilly..if he succeeds, the team will look a lot different than if COL matches. But if Colorado matches, are we back to Ari's thread about addressing the "C" again, yet with Feaster now having the added stigma of breaking the unwritten rule of offersheets and/or being blamed for inflating RFA prices from fellow GM's?

[killer_carlson]

I don't think so.

I think if other teams think our first rounder is in play, they will be calling.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by browna

Now that many have gotten to digest the offer sheet situation, and although this is clearly a "What if" thread, you never know how quickly the Avs may act on the offer sheet. If the trade deadline 2014 factor comes into play within the next few days, COL won't have too long to think about it, so it may be worth some thoughts on where the Flames are at if Colorado blinks at ROR's demands and matches the Flames sheet.

Besides the pat on the back that fans and media will give to Feaster for being bold and giving it a good try (similar to the credit he took when almost wooing Richards away from the Rangers at the 11th hour) where will things be when the accolades are done and there isn't the prize at the end?

Does Feaster's creativeness/desperation (however you look at it) to bring in a player via the seldom-used offer sheet process, mean he's more or less able to make moves with the GM's in the league going forward?

Will the NHL GM's sink him further down the "don't want to deal with list, a position it can be argued Feaster is already in a firm grasp of, or does this maneuver send the green light to other teams how desperate/creative Feaster may be in potential trades for centres, or, anyone on the Flames roster, and open up the communication lines?

His run at Richards would've changed the complexion of this team this year and last year, and would've had that number one center...a position that he has yet to fill, and has fallen further, as we all know, behind the eight ball on since the offseason since Jokinen was cast off and the start of this season with an injury and a demotion leaving the team with one center. Same could be argued with O'Reilly..if he succeeds, the team will look a lot different than if COL matches. But if Colorado matches, are we back to Ari's thread about addressing the "C" again, yet with Feaster now having the added stigma of breaking the unwritten rule of offersheets and/or being blamed for inflating RFA prices from fellow GM's?

based on how Richards has played so far in NY, Feaster dodged a bullet there

[calgARI]

All really important points that makes this feel even more important than what is happening on the surface.

I do happen to think GM's may have favorites to deal with but ultimately want who they want and the reason he can't make a lot of deals is because the Flames simply don't have many appealing assets. The Flyers have not been blacklisted over the last few years as a result of the Kesler or Weber offersheets largely because they have consistently had a lot of very attractive assets.

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

based on how Richards has played so far in NY, Feaster dodged a bullet there

Sort of. Richards was pretty good last year and really good in the playoffs. Rangers were close to making the Finals and he played a huge role so I don't think they were regretting the contract at the end of 2011-2012.

[sureLoss]

It's not like Feaster backed Colorado into a corner because of cap space issues or an RFA signing deadline/trade deadline issue. They had plenty of cap space to sign O'Reilly. They also had plenty of time to sign him or trade him.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

based on how Richards has played so far in NY, Feaster dodged a bullet there

To be fair, Evey big name UFA the Rangers have signed outside of Messier has sucked hot air there.

[Calgary4LIfe]

If Colorado matches, then Feaster will just continue to look to upgrade the team elsewhere.

At least he is trying to upgrade the team with youth. Though I may have reservations about RoR's worth (in terms of dollars signed for, and draft picks), he may indeed have lots of upside and is YOUNG.

Feaster's moves have generally been geared towards getting the team younger - with the exception of the Cammy trade. As long as he continues to try and get younger players, I am ok.

If he doesn't succeed, and the Flames are out of it, I think he ends up trading Iginla and entering a rebuild. He must have some moves upcoming - need to make room for McGrattan after all I think. More stuff is coming I am guessing.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by browna

Will the NHL GM's sink him further down the "don't want to deal with list, a position it can be argued Feaster is already in a firm grasp of, or does this maneuver send the green light to other teams how desperate/creative Feaster may be in potential trades for centres, or, anyone on the Flames roster, and open up the communication lines?

where is this notion coming from? Honest question. Since Feaster became GM in Calgary, he has made trades with 11 different organizations - that doesn't scream GM purgatory to me.

[browna]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I don't think so.

I think if other teams think our first rounder is in play, they will be calling.

Good call. This does signify around the league that the first rounder in a decent draft is now in play, no matter if the Flames claim afterwards it was "only for this unique situation".

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

I really think Feaster's hands are tied in so many ways, by the powers above. I think it may have been conveyed (by now) that if the flames are a bottom 5 team, Molly Maid will be around to clean out a lot of offices at year end.

Ownership seems absolutely scared to death of a bottom 5 team, but seemingly happy with a team that will run for 7-12th yearly.

Feaster may indeed be launching 3's to get his team back into the playoff picture and at this point it may be his last chance to shoot.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by devo22

where is this notion coming from? Honest question. Since Feaster became GM in Calgary, he has made trades with 11 different organizations.

Bluntly, it is an invention by people who weren't willing to give him a chance from day one.

[JD]

Yeah, the "don't want to deal with" notion is positively ridiculous. If the other GM's are letting personal grudges get in the way of improving their teams, they aren't doing their jobs. As touched on, if Calgary has assets other teams are interested in, GMs will call.

Besides, the notion is based on a perceived lack of trust. I'm not sure how signing a guy to an offer sheet is any kind of breach of trust. It's within the rules, part of the CBA, everyone knows that threat exists. Colorado took that risk by playing hardball with their talented young RFA.

Is Gillis also not trusted because he apparently also put in an offer sheet?

[Erick Estrada]

I much prefer trying to hit a home run with a young center like ROR than a 30 year old guy like Richards. If the Avs match the Flames will likely be looking at riding out the season and looking at trades in the offseason and maybe a massive UFA offer if Getzlaff or Perry become available.

[Joborule]

What is this "Don't want to deal with list"? If Flames have something that a team would be interested in, they'll listen.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Joborule

What is this "Don't want to deal with list"? If Flames have something that a team would be interested in, they'll listen.

The Flyers have made more RFA offers than any other team and they make as many trades as any team. I don't believe it affects business at all unless you are a big clown about it like Lowe and make $7 million RFA offers to players that at the time weren't remotely close to deserving that kind of money and getting into public fights with other GM's.

[nik-]

I think it affects him with the Avalanche, but no other teams. It's not like the Flames came in at noon of July 1st and offer sheeted him. The Avs had from July 1 to September 15 and then from January 20 til now to make some progress and they didn't.

[Northendzone]

Matches and flames, seems like a bad combo???!!!???

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Flyers have made more RFA offers than any other team and they make as many trades as any team. I don't believe it affects business at all unless you are a big clown about it like Lowe and make $7 million RFA offers to players that at the time weren't remotely close to deserving that kind of money and getting into public fights with other GM's.

Exactly. Feaster isn't on a bad list with GMs because he hasn't done anything extremely stupid that will screw everyone.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Bluntly, it is an invention by people who weren't willing to give him a chance from day one.

the number of deals that he's done tells me that people that think that he's on some sort of black list among NHL GM's are ######ed.