Friedman: Flames have begun extension talks with Gaudreau & Eichel speculation

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I think they are rolling with Vladar. They didn't trade a third to get him for him not to be the back-up.

I believe Brad himself said this in his post FA day roundup on FlamesTV.
Vladar is going to be the backup.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

This is going to be a really long season folks. Our only saving grace is we play in a really ####ty division with a lot of the league's weak sisters. We may make the post season with the currently configured roster, but it will be another quick and painful first round blowout. On the bright side, we are one injury to a skilled player from being one of the worst teams in the league. That, or another season of sulking from Tkachuk. We're still two players away from having a competitive team and Treliving doesn't appear to have the mojo to get any deal done that makes us better. A long and cold winter is soon to be upon us.

They have cap space.
The roster isn't set.
The team played well under Sutter.

Might be a tough season for sure, could also be one where they play an in your face defense first system that is hard to play against, they do well with it, and hit the playoffs actually playing playoff hockey and ready for it.

But your way is fun too!

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

FYP.

I've been giving Treliving all the rope in the world to get his ####ing job done, and all he's done with it is make a noose for himself and this team. His one job was to get this team built to play Sutter hockey, eliminate all distractions possible, and get this team out of the gate quickly. Wins in October are worth as much as ones in April, arguably more, seeing as you're still in the playoff hunt in October and possibly completely out of it come April. Treliving has not got the job done in any way. We still have no contract for Gaudreau. No resolution to the Tkachuk situation. Still "in the mix for Eichel." Still trying to "improve the team." The whole thing is in a state of flux. Yup, that's right, the Flames are all fluxed up under Treliving! I went into this post season with some hope that he would solve the obvious problems by using some basic strategies. So far he's done nothing but stick to his status quo management style that has paralyzed this organization and left them with a mediocre, highly unlikeable lineup. This should have all been done a while ago, but I figured give him until the middle of August. Deadline has passed. So has Treliving's "best before" date.

Im not a big Treliving fan either, however, you cant dance without a partner and if that partner happens to be the devil, well you know the rest.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Why does it have to be an organizational failing? The player wasn't that good.

He played four games on Long Island last year and had zero points ... could have been hurt, I haven't looked, but it certainly suggests the Islanders mishandled him too then?

He was a good gamble, and was well sought after. Didn't work out.

Not sure why it has to be on the Flames when a player isn't good enough, especially when they don't give up any assets to get the player.

Well, again, the organizational challenge is really not about one player. It’s about the list of all of the roster filler that underachieve individually and collectively.

The attention started when Jiri listed 4 guys as examples of “exciting” off season acquisitions, right? I dared to question him on Ryan, who was given a huge pay hike (and I really ended up liking), and Czarnik, because was that really actually particularly exciting? It was what it was. Maybe there is something there, probably not

Again, I pointed to a couple of example signings. Veteran guys who can’t play like they used to but still have smarts and skills and contribute (Spezza, Perry turned out to be effective gambles)

I could not care much less about Czarnik. We agree, he was a gamble that didn’t pay off.

I didn’t consider it exciting. And in hindsight, when you sign a lot of guys and there is a long list that don’t work out, that’s not a great thing. Winning teams usually can roll four lines

I look forward to seeing if the roster filler that arrives this year works with Sutter.
It would be interesting to know how much say Sutter had in the additions. I can only imagine the response some posters have if one speculates on his degree of input there

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

This is going to be a really long season folks. Our only saving grace is we play in a really ####ty division with a lot of the league's weak sisters. We may make the post season with the currently configured roster, but it will be another quick and painful first round blowout. On the bright side, we are one injury to a skilled player from being one of the worst teams in the league. That, or another season of sulking from Tkachuk. We're still two players away from having a competitive team and Treliving doesn't appear to have the mojo to get any deal done that makes us better. A long and cold winter is soon to be upon us.

Maybe.

There is just a huge difference this year though and that is a full training camp under Darryl Sutter who got a read on his roster in his 28 game stint last year.

I believe that this club vastly underachieved last year. From top to bottom.
Now that does not mean they will be world beaters because of Sutter but I have zero doubt that he instills a defense first and work your ass of mentality into the vast majority of them. That alone will show up in the standings in a significant way. People will whine and complain about it, but this team is going to see a lot of 3-2, 2-1 type games and hopefully on the right side of most of them

Also going to believe in the trend that DS has never missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons as a head coach nor a player at the NHL level. I dont think that is a coincidence.

There are holes on this club, no question but they also have a lot of really nice pieces. Sutter tends to be able to get the most out of his guys for a few years and this club isn't completely a finished product at this point. The season might start with the existing roster but it won't stay as it is all year.

One prediction i will make is if Lindholm stays healthy and at C on that top line, Sutter turns him into a legit Selke candidate.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Well, again, the organizational challenge is really not about one player. It’s about the list of all of the roster filler that underachieve individually and collectively.

The attention started when Jiri listed 4 guys as examples of “exciting” off season acquisitions, right? I dared to question him on Ryan, who was given a huge pay hike (and I really ended up liking), and Czarnik, because was that really actually particularly exciting? It was what it was. Maybe there is something there, probably not

Again, I pointed to a couple of example signings. Veteran guys who can’t play like they used to but still have smarts and skills and contribute (Spezza, Perry turned out to be effective gambles)

I could not care much less about Czarnik. We agree, he was a gamble that didn’t pay off.

I didn’t consider it exciting. And in hindsight, when you sign a lot of guys and there is a long list that don’t work out, that’s not a great thing. Winning teams usually can roll four lines

I look forward to seeing if the roster filler that arrives this year works with Sutter.
It would be interesting to know how much say Sutter had in the additions. I can only imagine the response some posters have if one speculates on his degree of input there

I just can't believe how you turned a simple "sometimes exciting off seasons don't turn out to be that good" comment into three pages in this fashion.

I stayed out of that.

All teams add filler, some work out, some don't.

Some teams attract better filler, some markets don't.

My issue was the mishandling comment, which I think is kind of baseless when a player doesn't produce before or after in two other markets.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I just can't believe how you turned a simple "sometimes exciting off seasons don't turn out to be that good" comment into three pages in this fashion.

I stayed out of that.

All teams add filler, some work out, some don't.

Some teams attract better filler, some markets don't.

My issue was the mishandling comment, which I think is kind of baseless when a player doesn't produce before or after in two other markets.

Well, it was odd the lengths they went to in order to get him and how little he was used. Maybe he wasn’t mishandled, he was overestimated.



Plus, the guy you may want to look at for the three pages of dialogue is the instigator. I was just questioning what was exciting. I didn’t find this constructive

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Criticizing a minor but rationale move like signing Czarnik seems trivial but totally on brand.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Well, it was odd the lengths they went to in order to get him and how little he was used. Maybe he wasn’t mishandled, he was overestimated.



Plus, the guy you may want to look at for the three pages of dialogue is the instigator. I was just questioning what was exciting. I didn’t find this constructive

He is right, though. Totally on brand.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Well, it was odd the lengths they went to in order to get him and how little he was used. Maybe he wasn’t mishandled, he was overestimated.



Plus, the guy you may want to look at for the three pages of dialogue is the instigator. I was just questioning what was exciting. I didn’t find this constructive

I'd guess that the list of guys that teams think will pop has a pretty high failure rate.

I guess I'm just not one to look for what the team did wrong in every instance.

Must be fun though!

The difference with you and Jiri, ... I understood what he was trying to say.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I'd guess that the list of guys that teams think will pop has a pretty high failure rate.

I guess I'm just not one to look for what the team did wrong in every instance.

Must be fun though!

The difference with you and Jiri, ... I understood what he was trying to say.

I see you painting a lot of posters with that same brush.

Part of my post is that I wasn’t excited about Ryan but ended up really liking the player! That was fun.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I see you painting a lot of posters with that same brush.

Part of my post is that I wasn’t excited about Ryan but ended up really liking the player! That was fun.

Just the extreme pessimists for sure. Getting tired of it. Don't need foolish optimism but to literally give up the season in August, or on prospects based on goalies that weren't developed ten years ago gets to be a little much.

Ryan felt expensive, luckily the term wasn't that long, and then he lived up to it and provided more value than most expected.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

This is going to be a really long season folks. Our only saving grace is we play in a really ####ty division with a lot of the league's weak sisters. We may make the post season with the currently configured roster, but it will be another quick and painful first round blowout. On the bright side, we are one injury to a skilled player from being one of the worst teams in the league. That, or another season of sulking from Tkachuk. We're still two players away from having a competitive team and Treliving doesn't appear to have the mojo to get any deal done that makes us better. A long and cold winter is soon to be upon us.

Don't listen to Lanny_McDonald. He is a false prophet!

This is going to be a really fun season, folks. The Flames will be good, and they will make the playoffs thanks in part to playing in a really ####ty division with a lot of the league's weak sisters. We will definitely make the post season with the currently configured roster and with a healthy Markstrom in goal and Sutter behind the bench the Flames will go deep into the Spring. The down side is always the potential for injuries or unexpected poor performances from players, but where is the fun in expecting any of that to happen when it is still August? The roster is not yet complete, and there is still a very good chance that Treliving pulls off a big trade or two before the season starts, which will make things even more exciting. The winter may be long and cold, but the winning Flames will make you all immune to it.

GFG.

[Roof-Daddy]

I'm hopeful that Sutter will be able to get this team to be greater than the sum of its parts.

That's the only way this works with the current make up of the roster, as they have no proven elite #1C or proven elite #1D and their #1G is often injured with an unproven rookie as the back up.

Here's to hoping for the best though.

[Skyceman]

Is it possible that Darryl convinced Brad to give him one full season with most of this roster to turn it around?

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I'm hopeful that Sutter will be able to get this team to be greater than the sum of its parts.

That's the only way this works with the current make up of the roster, as they have no proven elite #1C or proven elite #1D and their #1G is often injured with an unproven rookie as the back up.

Here's to hoping for the best though.

I believe there is a relevant Gimli quote from LOTR.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Skyceman

Is it possible that Darryl convinced Brad to give him one full season with most of this roster to turn it around?

I wouldn’t be entirely opposed to this, as for years many have wanted to see the roster with a real quality coach

The loss of Gio and Brodie changes the back end mobility which is of concern, but the pieces up front are still largely the same and if there is structure which makes it easier for the D, hopefully that can be largely overcome by committee

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

I believe there is a relevant Gimli quote from LOTR.

Which one?

"Certainty Of Death? Small Chance Of Success? What Are We Waitin' For?"

or

"Nobody Tosses A Dwarf!"

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Which one?

"Certainty Of Death? Small Chance Of Success? What Are We Waitin' For?"

or

"Nobody Tosses A Dwarf!"

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Bingo

They have cap space.

Cap space only counts if you use it. If you don't spend it, or spend it poorly, it doesn't matter.

The roster isn't set.

We are getting closer and closer to the opening of training camps. 25 days left. I would hope the Flames go into camp with a solid roster and uses this time to team build and get out of the gate quickly. I would think this is the smart thing to do, but who knows anymore. All we have to do is squeak into the playoffs and then its a whole new ball game!

The exact same problems that have been holding this team back since Treliving arrived have continued to be problems. We need at least one top six player, preferably a #1 right shooting RW. We need center depth. We now need at least one top four defenseman, thanks to letting two walk for nothing in back-to-back years. We do get to hold out hope that he addressed two areas where he's been a disaster. We get to hope that he solved the coaching position (still not convinced). We get to hope he solved the starting goaltender position (wasn't great last season). He's trying, but the team is still very much in the exact same place it was before he arrived. After seven years, shouldn't he have more to show for his work than the same gaps existing and a team sliding in the standings? Shouldn't he be under a microscope by this point?

The team played well under Sutter.

Did it? Outside of finishing against a hapless Canucks squad and gaining some easy points the team didn't play much different than under any of the previous coaches. They tightened up their defensive play, but then couldn't score with regularity. It became Sutter hockey, but can this team play that type of hockey for a full season? We're going to find out if the last four games of the season was more indicative of a change, or just playing against a really ####ty hockey team.

[Enoch Root]

Every year things go quiet in August. And every year, some fans freak out that this or that hasn't happened, and we here complaints like 'is this it for the team?' etc.

And every year, activity picks up again, as we approach September and training camps. And every year, this seems to surprise some people.

But every August, the whining returns.