[News] Flames waive Derek Smith - cleared

[Burner]

Originally Posted by moon

There are not many choices that would be as bad as staying with Hartley but this would seem to be right up there. Maybe if he stops with the stupid G. middle initial in he would be a slight upgrade.

Hopefully the team does a thorough search and hires the best candidate and doesn;t just promote the guy a little lower on the totem pole or the GM's best buddy. It would be nice to have a quality coach in here not someone who is there because of connections.

easy to be negative - any suggestions on possible improvements?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Burner

easy to be negative - any suggestions on possible improvements?

You mean like the improvements I suggested of doing a full search and not just hiring the next guy on the totem pole or the GM's best buddy?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by moon

You mean like the improvements I suggested of doing a full search and not just hiring the next guy on the totem pole or the GM's best buddy?

He meant coaching candidates. As in names.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

He meant coaching candidates. As in names.

Tough to say without knowing who will be fired during/at the end of the season. I think most of the top guys available this past off-season were employed at this time last year.

I do think that you keep Hartley for now and next year to eat the losses and then can him when the team should start to the turn the corner unless a top coach like a Tippet (or Ruff/Vignault last year) becomes available.

Of the guys not coaching now that would be available can't think of any off the top of my head that I would love but Boucher might be intriguing.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by moon

Tough to say without knowing who will be fired during/at the end of the season. I think most of the top guys available this past off-season were employed at this time last year.

I do think that you keep Hartley for now and next year to eat the losses and then can him when the team should start to the turn the corner unless a top coach like a Tippet (or Ruff/Vignault last year) becomes available.

Of the guys not coaching now that would be available can't think of any off the top of my head that I would love but Boucher might be intriguing.

I would rather cheer for the Canucks than watch 1-3-1 Guy Boucher hockey. Tough call, however, since it'd be nice to see an actual defensive system.

[Wastedyouth]

When is Fartley's contract up?

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

When is Fartley's contract up?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by moon

Of the guys not coaching now that would be available can't think of any off the top of my head that I would love but Boucher might be intriguing.

Laviolette's the only one available that I'd like to see over Hartley. But I like Bob, I think he's done well so far

[Wastedyouth]

Boucher's system in Tampa was an embarrassment to hockey. No thanks.

[Freeway]

I believe that Hartley has one year left after this one (he signed a three year deal) and Ward is in the option year of his deal (I believe he had a three-year deal when he came on as an assistant coach initially).

[Buck Murdock]

Hartley is a good coach. Easy to hate the coach, but in this case Bobby's been just fine. Year 1 of the great rebuild, patience.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[moon]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Boucher's system in Tampa was an embarrassment to hockey. No thanks.

I am sure when the Lightning were playing in the ECF the fans were really pissed about the system.

But by all means let's continue with our current system it is working wonderfully. Bottom 6 finishes are embarrassing at all.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by moon

I am sure when the Lightning were playing in the ECF the fans were really pissed about the system.

But by all means let's continue with our current system it is working wonderfully. Bottom 6 finishes are embarrassing at all.

It was still awful hockey to watch. Pass on Boucher forever.

[Old Yeller]

Originally Posted by moon

But by all means let's continue with our current system it is working wonderfully. Bottom 6 finishes are embarrassing at all.

Right, it's entirely the systems fault.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by strombad

It was still awful hockey to watch. Pass on Boucher forever.

Not to mention the league adjusted to it pretty quick. They followed up their ECF appearance by missing the playoffs two years in a row.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

There isn't a coach in history that could take the Flames as currently assembled and make them a playoff team. From all accounts, the players are playing hard and as a team.

This is not easy medicine to take, but I think year 1 is actually going pretty well. There are improvements within the team (Monahan,Brodie, Russell, Gio and hopefully the goalies), but they are likely to bottom out in the standings. High draft picks and an infusion of talent is what they need, not necessarily a new coach.

[Calgary4LIfe]

There is actually a significant risk of Smith getting claimed. Some teams out there are looking for defencemen due to injuries, and Smith is a nice fill-in as a 6th D who has a modest expiring cap hit. He probably does clear, but wouldn't be surprised if a team puts in a claim due to short-term need.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

There is actually a significant risk of Smith getting claimed. Some teams out there are looking for defencemen due to injuries, and Smith is a nice fill-in as a 6th D who has a modest expiring cap hit. He probably does clear, but wouldn't be surprised if a team puts in a claim due to short-term need.

I'm not sure "risk" is the right word. I have to think the flames would like to get rid of a contract, that will probably not see another game in Flames silk, if he does clear waivers.

I don't think anybody will claim him.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I'm not sure "risk" is the right word. I have to think the flames would like to get rid of a contract, that will probably not see another game in Flames silk, if he does clear waivers.

I don't think anybody will claim him.

Yes, risk probably was not the right word there, though I would bet the Flames would prefer to keep him than lose him (would be a different story if they were pressed for contracts). Smith does bring depth to the Flames (though negligibly unlike his great stretch pre-injury), but he is a great asset to have for the Heat. Wouldn't be a big loss organizationally of course, but I hope he doesn't get claimed just to help the Heat more the rest of the season.

You are right, however. Barring additional injuries, this was probably Smith's last go-round in Flames' silks.

[bubbsy]

Pat Steinberg ‏@Fan960Steinberg 18s Derek Smith assigned to Abbotsford after clearing waivers this weekend. #Flames

cleared