I like Jay Feaster

[BigRed]

Picture this team minus Hudler and Wideman.

That is all.

[MrMastodonFarm]

No one can deny how good Hudler and Wideman have been but I've got a long way to go before I think Feaster has done a good job with this team.

Seems like a nice guy though, meet him once. So if that's what you meant, I like him too!

[Miniac]

I'll like him more when we win another Cup.

[Poe969]

He signed Hudler and Wideman, at the time people thought they were bad signings but they turned out pretty good.

It's too bad the rest of the team isn't anywhere as good. I think the Flames are mismanaging their assets and have been for a few years. I don't know if its Feaster's fault or ownerships but like Feaster or not, this team hasn't made the playoffs in too long and the team just doesn't seem to try most nights.

I honestly think these "I like...." threads are a sign of what's wrong with this team. We don't ever want to trade a player because "we like them!" and we should be doing what's best for the team. I like "player X" but if we can make the team better by trading him we should because "I like the Flames" more than any player on the Flames and I want what's best for them.

Sure, Feaster seems nice and he made 2 good signings but do you like where the Flames are right now, what they've done in the past few years and where they're headed?

[CaramonLS]

He has a very, very long way to go before I can even mention a word approaches 'like'. I don't have a very high opinion of him or his abilities.

[CliffFletcher]

He's made more good moves than bad. And not just on player personnel - he's not afraid to surround himself with smart hockey people and give them leeway over their areas of hockey operations.

He's certainly a big improvement over Sutter.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

No one can deny how good Hudler and Wideman have been but I've got a long way to go before I think Feaster has done a good job with this team.

Seems like a nice guy though, meet him once. So if that's what you meant, I like him too!

I agree. He has some small victories, but it is too early to see the big picture.

I also think Feaster manages by committee. Feaster gets things done, but Weisbrod and Conroy have their ideas in the mix too.

[Husky]

Originally Posted by Poe969

He signed Hudler and Wideman, at the time people thought they were bad signings but they turned out pretty good.

Correction not everyone said they were bad signings at the time, just those that listeneed to media bias or maybe seen them play a few times only.

[neo45]

Most of his "bad" moves have been really minor. Things like giving away a couple picks too easily that annoy you but these moves aren't going to damage the team as much as some people think they will. These picks can be picked back up at a later date like we've seen.

The drafting since he has been GM appears to be really good. The Flames have been one of the best drafting teams in the last two years (early judgement)

[Bingo]

I like the Wideman and Hudler signings, Cervenka was a good move.

I like meritocracy and I hope it keeps moving forward

I like the drafting record so far.

Little concerned to see how much he changed his mind from that one night near the deadline in the 2011-12 season when he snapped, and then the next day went back to the company line.

To me that says ownership involvement, and that "I like" topics for any GM may be a waste until they let these guys do their job. Feaster was getting ready to sell and was blocked in my opinion.

[Erick Estrada]

I think he's a decent man and I believe the good has outweighed the bad. I can't help but feel that he's operating within the tight constraints of Edwards and the owners doing what he's allowed to not necessarily what he would do if he had full autonomy.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Bingo

To me that says ownership involvement, and that "I like" topics for any GM may be a waste until they let these guys do their job. Feaster was getting ready to sell and was blocked in my opinion.

I think Jay actually did want to make changes and I agree that ownership probably didn't let him. I just think he should have tried harder to change their minds and I hope he does so this year. I'll openly like him more if he changes this team more drastically

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Little concerned to see how much he changed his mind from that one night near the deadline in the 2011-12 season when he snapped, and then the next day went back to the company line.

To me that says ownership involvement, and that "I like" topics for any GM may be a waste until they let these guys do their job. Feaster was getting ready to sell and was blocked in my opinion.

I can see why you think that and it makes sense.

But I recall when Sutter was asked to step aside and Feaster was asked to provide his plan and vision for the team to the owners. The owners ended up hiring him, so I am guessing that their visions were compatable.

It's hard to say if Feaster changed his mind, or if maybe his plan just didn't play out as he wanted it to so he steered with the current.

I also will put more weight on his actions now that he has all the coaching and support staff he wanted. Last season was a transition period.

[BigRed]

I think he's done an admirable job given his constraints, as Bingo suggested, and the mess of a prospect pool he was given to work with. He's an intelligent guy who has surrounded himself with other intelligent people who think outside the box. He's trying to innovate, which in my opinion is the right approach given the team's also-ran status -- nothing to lose,why not freshen up? Minus the Comeau signing, this is why I like Jay Feaster.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Husky

Correction not everyone said they were bad signings at the time, just those that listeneed to media bias or maybe seen them play a few times only.

LOL - what media bias are we talking about here?

Either way, I think the problem most people had with the Wideman signing was the term. He'll be productive the next couple seasons. But after how bad he blew up defensively last year for Washington (especially in the playoffs) it's pretty easy to see him being a limited Babchuk-type player in the final years of the deal if he loses a step defensively.

It's pretty hard to judge a 5-year deal after 10 games of very good play.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

He has a very, very long way to go before I can even mention a word approaches 'like'. I don't have a very high opinion of him or his abilities.

I think he has done a great job considering how tied his hands are by Murray and Co.

[Wronskian]

I like that Feaster is able to understand his shortcomings as a GM (not a true "hockey guy" when it comes to drafting and scouting) and has surrounded himself with guys like John Weisbrod who can fill that void. Just shows he is not egotistical and is willing to accept help. I think thats why we have seen some better drafting as of late.

I always got the vibe that Darryl thought he was smarter than everyone else and think it's refreshing to have a new different style GM around.

[Parallex]

I think he's done a good (not great) job. Wideman was an excellent pick-up (thought so at the time), Hudler been great (was less sold on that), after initially being disappointed in the Hartley hire (thought it was a nepotism hire of his kid's godfather) I'm now only disappointed that he didn't find some way to hire him sooner, Cervenka looks like a canny pick-up, it's to early to talk about his drafting but at least he's drafting guys with high upside now which is a marked improvement on whatever Sutter was doing.

He'd get a great rating except that he's been unable to address the teams now terrible Center situation and he continues to make some smaller mistakes (Modin Trade, PLLL Trade, Sarich resigning).

[Locke]

Unfortunately, right now I think this organization is a complete mess and Feaster is just doing the best he can.

[Bertuzzied]

Still he has some mind bottling moments like offering Comeau Arigato a 2 year deal and the Jackman re-signing DURING the season when he was playing like crap.

But he did get rid of Bork! On a scale of 1-10 I'm at a 7 with Feaster right now.