Flames STH meeting

[TnT~55]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Has everyone received their confirmation for tomorrow night's session? I have not yet received anything.

I didn't get a confirmation email from the Flames when I attended the night session on the 9th. I ended up just giving them a call to check that I was on their list, and I was.

Didn't really matter though, they didn't have anyone checking at the Saddledome. I get the feeling any random person could have walked into the dome and attended the session.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Has everyone received their confirmation for tomorrow night's session? I have not yet received anything.

I received mine last week. Check your junk folder?

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Has everyone received their confirmation for tomorrow night's session? I have not yet received anything.

I emailed them last week as I hadn't heard anything, and they replied and confirmed. Then I received an "official" confirmation on Friday afternoon at about 3:00.

[Robbob]

I received mine on Friday afternoon @ 3pm for the Tuesday evening session. I was going to call them on Friday but didn't get around to it and then the email came in.

[MissTeeks]

I bugged them and I just recevied my confirmation.

[Phaneufenstein]

Is Dutton's lounge open?
I want to watch the World Cup game before the STH

[nik-]

Can someone straight out ask them if the delay on the arena is because they want government money?

[Massonite]

I got my confirmation on Friday as well for tomorrow night's session.

Anybody wanna have a quick meet up before they get started? Would be cool to put faces to screen names.

Although then people might remember me from my little episode with Jay Feaster a couple years ago... haha

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Massonite

I got my confirmation on Friday as well for tomorrow night's session.

Anybody wanna have a quick meet up before they get started? Would be cool to put faces to screen names.

Although then people might remember me from my little episode with Jay Feaster a couple years ago... haha

Oh man, were you the guy who cornered him in the bathroom?

[Massonite]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Oh man, were you the guy who cornered him in the bathroom?

Haha no that wasn't me. I misworded a question about trade rumours at the STH meeting a couple years ago and he went on a rant about how qualified he, Weisbrod and his scouting staff are and he doesn't need to listen to Boomer and Rhett.

[Savvy27]

Any updates from the latest meetings?

[SilverGS]

Just some really quick notes I guess from what I remember.

- Same opening statement about the top 5 that was already mentioned
- Asked about why not renovate Saddledome instead of new arena. King mentioned price tag for renovation was 275m and you would just end up with a newer version of the greatest 1983 building currently in the league. They looked at renovating but King decided for new.
- There was mention that the plan might include plans to have the new arena and football stadium for the stampeders in the same area.
- Similar type of mention that they would only do trades is it made sense. Have had talks about trading up and trading down but only if the price is right. They see the top 5 being so close that they wouldn't want to pay a lot to move up.
- Someone asked what about trading Gio and Baertschi and the 4th to move up to no 1 to pick Eckblad and was told he probably has had too many beers. Treliving said Gio was going nowhere unless the trade made sense.
- Sieloff had a couple of unfortunate years but is on the road to recovery and is skating again. They will take things slow with him to make sure he is ok. Burke thinks he is a bit small for the type of game he plays but that they will work with him to figure out what will work best. Burke said when they interviewed everyone on the junior team everyone said Sieloff was hands down one of the top guys to play with and a character guy.
- Treliving has had a couple of talks with Cammy but they have yet to come to agreement on salary and term.
- Ownership has given blessing to be a cap team but Burke just hasn't spent it because he has yet to see value to spend the money on. Made a big blurb about how he doesn't want to waste our money on contracts that would put a noose around the team.
- Someone asked about how the process would go if Treliving and Burke disagreed on a course of action. They don't expect any issues but if they are on different sides it will come down to Trelivings decision. Burke he may strongly mention his reservations to Treliving but ultimately it is his decision.
- They reiterated on their focus to build through the draft and player development and that free agency would only be used to supplement the team. Mentioned that in this day and age there are very few top players that become UFA's in their prime. They are generally locked up to long term deals right after their entry level deals. Burke mentioned that the bridge contract is virtually gone and that most UFA available maybe an upgrade but that you will be overpaying for it most likely.
- Adirondack move will make it so the team won't have to stay in hotels nearly as much and have more time for practices. They did the same things with the Coyotes affiliate when he was there.
- Treliving would not be here if not for Burke and Burke would not be here if not for Ken King
- Burke watches soccer when he wants to nap.

All I can recall quickly at the moment. I'll add if I remember more.

[tvp2003]

^^ Nice summary! My two cents (in red)

Originally Posted by SilverGS

Just some really quick notes I guess from what I remember.

- Someone asked what about trading Gio and Baertschi and the 4th to move up to no 1 to pick Eckblad and was told he probably has had too many beers. Treliving said Gio was going nowhere unless the trade made sense. Not that it matters, but I think the "offer" was Gio and Baertschi for the 1st (to pick Ekblad) and another player from Florida (can't remember). We would keep the 4th. When Treliving said Gio wasn't going anywhere, the crowd applauded.
- Sieloff had a couple of unfortunate years but is on the road to recovery and is skating again. They will take things slow with him to make sure he is ok. Burke thinks he is a bit small for the type of game he plays but that they will work with him to figure out what will work best. On that note, I think Burke suggested they might give him some time at forward? Burke said when they interviewed everyone on the junior team everyone said Sieloff was hands down one of the top guys to play with and a character guy.
- Ownership has given blessing to be a cap team but Burke just hasn't spent it because he has yet to see value to spend the money on. Made a big blurb about how he doesn't want to waste our money on contracts that would put a noose around the team. Burke also mentioend they've looked at ways to "monetize" cap space (i.e. by taking on bad contracts for assets), as recently as yesterday (likely the compliance buyouts).
- They reiterated on their focus to build through the draft and player development and that free agency would only be used to supplement the team. Mentioned that in this day and age there are very few top players that become UFA's in their prime. They are generally locked up to long term deals right after their entry level deals. Burke mentioned that the bridge contract is virtually gone and that most UFA available maybe an upgrade but that you will be overpaying for it most likely. Burke described how some teams (including when he was with the Leafs) would sign guys as a marketing ploy for season tickets. Isn't going to make that mistake here.

Additional thoughts:

- Regarding the new arena -- King says it is very innovative and that fans will be impressed
- Treliving wants to emphasize development in the AHL like Detroit does -- makes players work hard and appreciate the NHL lifestyle more (i.e. riding the bus versus chartering planes)
- First time seeing Burke in person -- he did not seem as gruff or onery as others have suggested...

[Coach]

Originally Posted by SilverGS

- Someone asked what about trading Gio and Baertschi and the 4th to move up to no 1 to pick Eckblad and was told he probably has had too many beers. Treliving said Gio was going nowhere unless the trade made sense.

If anyone who frequents here asked this question, they should make themselves known for public ridicule and/or ban. Just awful.

[mikephoen]

Here is an early update from the evening session. The couple behind me really hate the food!

I had a late lunch so I didn't have any, but I highly doubt it's as bad as they say.

[MissTeeks]

The drinks are flowing at this session.

[ComixZone]

From tonight - they're currently working on getting Rafikov a visa so he can come for camp.

[Rhettzky]

Talked a bit about drafting Russian players and Treliving said that it is definitely a factor when ranking players and deciding who to draft but that they wouldn't shy away if something made sense. Talked a bit about how Filatov told Treliving in his combine meeting how he was never going to Russia and very adamant and pointing his finger at Trelivings chest.

And another big development from tonight was me winning a jersey and it wasn't a 3rd! Yay!

[Robbob]

The line got cut off so I had to ask my question after the session. Talked to Brad about the young stars tourney in Penticton. Said it definitely is a go this year. Its in the Canucks backyard so they will be issuing the press release.

He mentioned it during the QA but it also came up in the scrum after, but he has nothing but love and respect for McGrattan. Was the second call, after Gio, when he got hired. He mentioned that Gratts definitely plays a huge role with intimidation. Brad mentioned that watching film you can see people ease up or fly by McGrattan instead of finishing checks.

Burke and Treliving both mentioned that Sieloff was one of the best interviews at the combine his year. Some of the questions they asked in other interviews was who would you choose as a captain or if you could have two players at your side who would they be, Sieloff's name kept coming up.

[Browndog71]

I specifically asked Treliving (after the session) about their perceived top 5 that included Ritchie, noting that all of the consensus "pundits", as he referred to them, typically have Dal Colle rather than Ritchie. His response was that, "I didn't say my top 5".

I asked him his thoughts on the differences that he sees between Ritchie and Dal Colle and he described Dal Colle as a "Jeff Carter comparable", although he did stress that he doesn't like to give direct comparables, but that he is similar in that he is a "long player" that has a good reach and "can get to oucks that others can't, due to his reach".

He summed him up by saying that he "likes Dal Colle alot".

Another person asked him if they had concerns over Ritchies perceived fitness issued, to which he answered "yes" and he also mentioned that they were concerned over some consistency issues. He did however note that he is only 18 and that he could work on fitness levels.

He also mentioned the same top 4 as the consensus but that they have a top 4-5 and wouldn't trade down lower than 5.

So take that for what it is worth for those that don't want Ritchie.

But on the other hand, Burke mentioned how you would never get "A Lucic in a trade" and you would need to draft one.....