Season Kick-off pressers Sept 30. Burke @ 11:45 AM. Feaster @ 1 PM

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by timbit

Sven may have to adjust his priorities. Not easy after what he has seen his first 2 seasons.

Complete competitor and 3 zone player AND an offensive dynamo?

Is it possible?

Yes, Pavel Datsyuk is one.

Can't expect Sven to become like Datsyuk but he has to be responsible and not be a liability defensively every time he is on the ice.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

Exactly, Kadri didn't sort out his defensive game in its entirety and become a defensive specialist. Burke and the leafs didn't make that an exit criteria to make it to the big show, but did preach it as an important facet of his game that needed to improve. It also gave him the time to mature even his offense (he was miles ahead last season, than he was the year before).

Kadri is still not much of a defensive player. He just produced points at a level where they had to play him. You'll note once his point production slowed down slightly late in the year and playoffs they cut his ice time way down and put him back with a bunch of scrubs. If you put Kadri in Bozak's spot with Kessel he'd put up tons of points.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Nothing wrong with the Flames Organization wanting players to be full 200ft performers.

That is part of what Feaster talked about even 2 years ago - being a team that is harder to play against. Sure, it would be great if everyone on the team was 6'5", fast, skilled and hit everything right through the boards, but that just isn't going to happen.

Being a team (like Detroit) that places an emphasis on team, and develops systems where they can be effective in all zones is important. Asking Baertschi to skate back hard and do a little bit of back-checking does force turnovers is wrong suddenly?

This is how the Flames want to be - a 200ft team that competes hard. People are criticizing this and insinuating that it is 'wrong' to ask Baertschi to do this? That his offensive flair is going to dry up because of this? No, they just want him to come back, put pressure on the opposing teams and help force turn-overs that will lead to more offensive opportunities.

Iginla was ARGUABLY the best player in the league for a few seasons because he did it all. We aren't asking Baertschi to fight like Iginla, or hit like Iginla, and we don't expect Baertschi to dig the puck out of the corners like Iginla used to - but we want him to play as hard as Iginla did and backcheck like Iginla used to.

So many posters here were frustrated with Iginla's last couple of seasons especially. Would be funny if any of them are now criticizing Burke for these comments.

Flames (imo) are modelling themselves a bit more like Detroit in trying to be a very good puck-possession team, but one with a bit more size and physicality. That is the message I am at least (mis)understanding.

[Dr. Doom]

Being subject to a plethora of Leafs coverage, the Sven comments sound eerily similar to how the old boys club handled Kadri in Toronto...

And despite the constant backlash on how he was bashed publicly, look how he's turned out.

Bottom line Sven's a kid that needs these hard knocks if he stands a chance of making it in the NHL. It's the type of player we got, time for the buttercup to suck it up.

[Vinny01]

Burke is the guy calling the shots but Feaster and co will have their say

Sven will be fine but looking at the organization now and moving forward LW is a position of strength. I don't see any way he is traded this year. I think Sven has a big year

[Reign of Fire]

Harsh words by Burke for Sven, hopefully it lights a fire under him

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Dr. Doom

Being subject to a plethora of Leafs coverage, the Sven comments sound eerily similar to how the old boys club handled Kadri in Toronto...

And despite the constant backlash on how he was bashed publicly, look how he's turned out.

Bottom line Sven's a kid that needs these hard knocks if he stands a chance of making it in the NHL. It's the type of player we got, time for the buttercup to suck it up.

Yeah. Look how he turned out....after Burke left. We can say these guys need to toughen up and whatever, but a young 20 year old kid who moved away from his country alone at 16/17 is still a 20 year old kid regardless of employment. People seem to easily forget that. Playing hockey or making money doesn't remove humanity in any sense. Maturity and confidence will toughen you up, but let's not pretend that he isn't still a 20 year old human being like most of us were at some point who just got very publicly lambasted and called lazy by his boss

[SHOGUN]

Calling out players to the public is so unprofessional. If you want to honest to a player, tell them behind closed doors or set up a meeting to talk about certain player issues.

[EYE_Overstand]

someone mentioned it was probably a way to temper fans expectations... which might not be the most effective way... but it certainly isn't "harsh" as many people keep saying. he had a poor camp... the first game is on thursday.... time to step up sven

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

Calling out players to the public is so unprofessional. If you want to honest to a player, tell them behind closed doors or set up a meeting to talk about certain player issues.

They did. For posters that think Burke and Feaster were saying harsh things, might want to check out the audio of the press conference. When you listen to it, it does not sound harsh at all.

[dammage79]

Agreed. Painfully obvious was the message today in regards to Sven. There's too much pressure on the kid and they took it upon themselves to attempt to temper those lofty expectations. Burke was right though. Can't float outside of the offensive zone or you won't get very far in the nhl.

Have I mentioned how happy I am we have Burke? Well I am.

Monahan getting lofty praise from Burkie has made me stop and re-assess my opinion of him for a bit. Always thought he was going to be a doan type player, maybe he's better than that.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Iginla was ARGUABLY the best player in the league for a few seasons because he did it all. We aren't asking Baertschi to fight like Iginla, or hit like Iginla, and we don't expect Baertschi to dig the puck out of the corners like Iginla used to - but we want him to play as hard as Iginla did and backcheck like Iginla used to.

So many posters here were frustrated with Iginla's last couple of seasons especially. Would be funny if any of them are now criticizing Burke for these comments.

There's nothing inconsistent about criticizing Iginla's poor efforts the last few seasons and wondering if this treatment of Baertschi is really the best thing for the kid and for the team. As you pointed out, Iginla had done it all in the past, so it's not as if he didn't know how. Not only that, but he was a 15-year veteran of the league and had seen it all.

Expecting what we expected out of Iginla, our captain and role model, and asking for Baertschi to be cut a little slack as a 20 year old learning the game is not hypocritical in the least.

[shogged]

at the beginning of burkes conference he says he is surprised so many people showed up to hear how little he has to say, then goes on to talk for 21 minutes. lol

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

People calling out Burke/Feaster on their stance and statements regarding Baertchi -> Please see Nazim Kadri's time as a leaf, and please pay special attention to how well Kadri's has developed. Kid looks like a legit player, with star potential.

Burke's Management style was honestly harsh with the kid, and that didn't stop him from becoming what he is. Add that to the fact that he did that in a place like Toronto where the media, etc, is much worse than Calgary.

Baertchi does have too much optimism/pressure on him. He needs to work thru this. But i have no issue in taking a tough stance with these kids rather than coddling them.

Um did you forget that Kadri's breakout season happened after the "hard" GM and coach were canned?

Sounds like he got more opportunity after Burke and Wilson left because they for some reason had a grudge against Kadri and even Don Cherry continually pointed that out.


Randy Carlyle isn't being given enough credit. I believe Kadri was on the verge of a bust until Burke and Wilson were canned.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

That's a lie from Walter.

Feaster simply said that, trying to understand Burke a little better, that he mentioned a player that the organization liked (he didn't even say it was a Flames player, it could have been an undrafted prospect for all we know) and Burke said he didn't like him.

I'm not even sure if it was real conversation or Feaster just being Feaster.

yeah Walter is intentionally "misremembering".

I heard that convo as well and to me it sounded like a player from another team the Flames were interested in. It did not sound like a player from the Flames at all.

Weird thing to not remember and then fabricate "cornerstone".

[Reign of Fire]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

That's a lie from Walter.

Feaster simply said that, trying to understand Burke a little better, that he mentioned a player that the organization liked (he didn't even say it was a Flames player, it could have been an undrafted prospect for all we know) and Burke said he didn't like him.

I'm not even sure if it was real conversation or Feaster just being Feaster.

I was thinking about this today when I heard Burke's comments, and the more you think about it, the more it seems that Feaster was talking about Sven...why would they talk about undrafted prospect or some other player. Burke asked Feaster if he liked this player and Feaster told him we like him a lot and Burke said I don't...its pretty obvious they talking about a player on the Flames.

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by Reign of Fire

I was thinking about this today when I heard Burke's comments, and the more you think about it, the more it seems that Feaster was talking about Sven...why would they talk about undrafted prospect or some other player. Burke asked Feaster if he liked this player and Feaster told him we like him a lot and Burke said I don't...its pretty obvious they talking about a player on the Flames.

If they were talking about someone within the Flames system I would hazard a guess and say they were talking about Gaudreau, but I'm not entirely sold that they were talking about anyone in the Flames organization.

[FlameZilla]

I have a lot more faith in Burke than I do in Feaster. I like what Jay has done in restocking the prospects cupboard, but I've always felt antsy with him (and Ken King) as the Top Dog(s).

Now that Burke is in the frame I feel more confident in the direction of the franchise, even if his role is limited.

[UKflames]

Hated the Burke hiring from the start and hate it even more now. Call it over reaction to his comments but I think Sven is gone at some point this season and some of our other prospects won't be far behind. Burke doesn't like skilled Euros and prefers his big tough North Americans, Johnny hockey you're on the clock.

[davidbjordan]

Originally Posted by UKflames

Hated the Burke hiring from the start and hate it even more now. Call it over reaction to his comments but I think Sven is gone at some point this season and some of our other prospects won't be far behind. Burke doesn't like skilled Euros and prefers his Americans, Johnny hockey you're on the clock.

Fixed your post... Johnny Hockey might stand a chance since burke's bias is to college playing americans (seems like weisbrod may lean that way too)

On the Sven issue this is classic burke putting his foot down as always that everyone needs to season themselves in the ahl... when he was with toronto he continually pointed to how he made corey perry the star he is today by letting him play in the ahl.

This is no different.