Jay Feaster update (Stan Fischler interview)

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Interesting. This is the first I have heard of Backlund's knowledge of the situation. Was this ever reported? Do you have a link.

As for what Feaster "should have known", this is yet again just another excuse on your part to deny him any credit for making a great deal in very difficult circumstances. I understand why you are not happy with the job he did here—and I don't for a second think that he did a great job—but it's patently ridiculous to continue to insist that virtually everything that Feaster did while employed by the Flames was a mistake. Just stop it.

As far as I'm concerned it's been amateur hour ever since Feaster took over. Sure a couple of things he did turned out but generally it looked like he didn't know what he was doing.

No I don't have a link anymore and wouldn't know how to find it but when I first reported it, I of course gave a link.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by EricCartman

I'm almost certain it was Bill Daly who went on TSN and told them about ROR being on waivers if the Avs did not match the offer.

Yeah, that's not how I remember things happening at all.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/...?__federated=1

The NHL declined to clarify whether O’Reilly would have had to clear waivers if the Avalanche refused to match Calgary’s offer sheet.

“We agree with the Flames in the sense that the entire issue has become an academic point,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an email to The Canadian Press. “Ryan O’Reilly has signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche and the contract has been registered. We have nothing further to say on the subject.”

Further to the point:

Originally Posted by Puckdaddy

...According to one report, the Flames were saved from losing both O’Reilly and the two draft picks they would have surrendered as compensation to Colorado.

As Chris Johnston of Sportsnet broke the story this morning, O’Reilly’s time in the KHL this season meant he would have had to clear waivers before joining a new team...

However, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told – brace yourselves – Eklund in January that O’Reilly wouldn’t need to pass through waivers:

A late-night email from NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirms that O'Reilly would be the first case under the newly amended rules if and when he returns to the NHL this season. Daly wrote, "No, he would not be subject to waivers. He would have been under last year's rules, but that was changed in collective bargaining."

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

As I recall, the NHL never did actually weigh in on the situation, nor did they offer any clear interpretation of the deal at the time it took place. From what I remember, this was something that was jumped on by Damien Cox, and once he reported it, media outlets, experts and fans all were sort of left to determine for themselves what the language of the CBA meant.

I remember Daly at one point saying that O'Reilly would have gone on waivers. The thing is and it's been pointed out many times, all it would have taken is a phone call to put away any doubts. Feaster didn't do this.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by polak

I will say that I'm faaaar more worried about our drafting with the current regime versus Feaster and Co.

I guarantee the days of taking a chance on a Gaudreau are over. Just look at this draft. Outside of Bennett we picked size over higher ceilings with pretty much every pick.

Which was a complete necessity because of the ridiculous and continual neglect of drafting players with size under Feaster. Once it is balanced out (probably after another draft) you'll see more of what you can expect going forward from the scouting staff.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Husky

So funny to read. Feaster can't get credit for drafting cause he basically listened to scouts. Yet I bet on the ror fiasco he probably relied on CBA specialists who screwed up ...yet feaster gets the blame.

I must be entirely out of the loop. CBA specialists aka: the GM?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I remember Daly at one point saying that O'Reilly would have gone on waivers. The thing is and it's been pointed out many times, all it would have taken is a phone call to put away any doubts. Feaster didn't do this.

I need to see that. Especially since in my review over the past hour, all I can find are statements made by Daly that either say the opposite, or recline to comment.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I must be entirely out of the loop. CBA specialists aka: the GM?

No GM in the NHL can really be classified as a "CBA specialist". Every team employs a legal team of interpreters because the document has become excruciatingly long and complicated.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I need to see that. Especially since in my review over the past hour, all I can find are statements made by Daly that either say the opposite, or recline to comment.

And as NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN on Friday, O'Reilly would have had to clear waivers to join the Flames if he actually played overseas after the start of the NHL season on Jan. 19.

and here's Feaster admitting that his interpretation differed from the NHLs.

"Our interpretation of the Article 13 transition rules governing restricted free agents and the applicability of Article 13.23 under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to such RFA's was, and continues to be, different than the NHL's current interpretation as articulated to us this morning. Moreover, throughout our discussions, the player's representative shared our interpretation and position with respect to the non-applicability of Article 13.23.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=417108

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

No GM in the NHL can really be classified as a "CBA specialist". Every team employs a legal team of interpreters because the document has become excruciatingly long and complicated.

I see the rationale but I don't get how this deflects the GM from criticism as the OP states. We all know Jay has an extensive legal background that likely puts his CBA knowledge far above the average GM.

We can come up with excuses on his behalf all day but the bottom line is that he nearly put this franchise into a comical status because he (or a member of his staff) didn't take the time to clarify the rules.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The object of a draft is not to draft the player who is the best in junior, it is to draft the best NHLer.

Brayden Point is 5'9" 160. Even if - on the highly improbable odds - he turns out as good as Gaudreau, how many tiny playmakers can a team dress?

Suggesting Point is more talented than Smith today and therefore would have been a better draft pick is, frankly, grossly naïve.

How many 6 foot 7 forwards make the NHL? To suggest that such a forward would have been a better draft pick is grossly naïve at best.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

...the bottom line is that he nearly put this franchise into a comical status because he (or a member of his staff) didn't take the time to clarify the rules.

You're right. And we should add that this would have been all the more important in light of the fact that this all happened while the very new CBA was still in the process of being written up. There were clearly a number of teams who were confused on this issue, since O'Reilly signed one of a couple of offers, and he, the Avalanche, and the NHL were apparently fielding inquiries from several teams.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Even if neither the NHL nor Feaster were 100% confident of the rules at that point due to a new CBA, the fact that Feaster was basically going off his own interpretation was enough to sour me on his reign. He should have been fired the next day, imo. I know that may not be a popular opinion, but I want a GM that absolutely knows the rules and what he's doing, not act now and figure it out later. The Flames couldn't/can't afford to gamble like that.

[FireGilbert]

The problem with the O'Reilly offer sheet was not the CBA waiver issue, it was the that Feaster was prepared to give up the Flames 1st and 3rd round picks when the team should have been rebuilding. Normally this would be good value for a young centre however teams should only sign players to an offer sheet if they are a playoff team that will not be hurt losing late 1st round picks. Thankfully the Lanche matched and this was the final straw that stopped Feaster from trying to win now and turned him 180 degrees towards a rebuild.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Even if neither the NHL nor Feaster were 100% confident of the rules at that point due to a new CBA, the fact that Feaster was basically going off his own interpretation was enough to sour me on his reign. He should have been fired the next day, imo. I know that may not be a popular opinion, but I want a GM that absolutely knows the rules and what he's doing, not act now and figure it out later. The Flames couldn't/can't afford to gamble like that.

I totally agree.

My problem in all of this is that people are so sour on Feaster for this fireable offence that they feel the need to rewrite Feaster's entire history with the Flames into a comprehensive narrative of utter incompetence. It wasn't. Feaster had good days in Calgary. He made good decisions while he was here. While those in no way rectify the damage done by this egregious error and the balance of his less than satisfactory full tenure, it's ridiculous to pretend that he did virtually everything wrong.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by EricCartman

I'm almost certain it was Bill Daly who went on TSN and told them about ROR being on waivers if the Avs did not match the offer.

Based on a search of the TSN archives, no he did not. The only thing Daly commented on was the requirement for ROR to clear waivers should he play a number of games overseas. The CBA issue was not covered by Daly.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=417108

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by Rhubarb

He was let go because he did what he was supposed to do, take out the garbage. The new G.M can now walk in without the stink of having to do the dirty work, like clean out all of the no trade clauses, trade the face of the franchise who had essentially taken over the team whether he intended it or not, try to restock an almost nonexistent prospect base with a ton of contract issues, to a crowd that has little patience.

This sums it all up very nicely.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by New Era

Based on a search of the TSN archives, no he did not. The only thing Daly commented on was the requirement for ROR to clear waivers should he play a number of games overseas. The CBA issue was not covered by Daly.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=417108

Quote:
And as NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN on Friday, O'Reilly would have had to clear waivers to join the Flames if he actually played overseas after the start of the NHL season on Jan. 19.

Since he did play after Jan. 19 the result is obvious.
The links a few posts up if you bothered to read.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Since he did play after Jan. 19 the result is obvious.
The links a few posts up if you bothered to read.

Its not even a quote from Daly, it was an off the cuff interwiew, there was never any follow up quotes from daily so it looks like the NHL shut down commenting what was a potentially sticky issue, all you have is one reporters interpretation of what Daly said without the leading question. At this time he final CBA wasnt even written.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

How many 6 foot 7 forwards make the NHL? To suggest that such a forward would have been a better draft pick is grossly naïve at best.

You tried to bring up this inane argument in the Smith thread and you were jumped on for it. I am not going to get into it again. The league is getting bigger and we are seeing more and more guys that are of similar height.

A guy who is 5'9" has a height disadvantage. A guy who is 6'7" has a height advantage.

Some taller guys have trouble skating. He doesn't. Also, there is much better skating coaching today, which probably contributes to why there are more and more guys over 6'4" entering the league.

[Thor]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Feaster mentioning CP and StalkerSteve is fricken hilarious and awesome.

For us that missed this thread, can anyone link to that infamous thread?