I like Jay Feaster

[JiriHrdina]

I think people are so anxious to see youth injected that even when kids are getting their shots - people still want more.

I have no problem with how Hartley has managed the younger players so far. Yeah Brodie started as a healthy scratch - there were no pre-season games to show he was ready. His playing time has ramped up appropriately. And I think Backlund's performance shows he was being managed well.

I didn't watch last night's game so I won't comment on Horak.

I also think you have to remember that although you feel that missing the playoffs is a forgone conclusion - that's not what the organization thinks and that's not how the team is being managed.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by dammage79

So you are disagreeing that Hudler, Cervenka and Wideman are not upgrades over Moss, Jokinen and whatever else we jettisoned?

Standings wise they look like latteral moves but on an idividual skill set basis they are massive upgrades.

But what's the point of saying Feaster made the roster more skilled when the team hasn't exactly improved relative to other teams in the conference? You can say that Hudler is more skilled than Iginla and I would agree with you but so what? It's not about icing the most skilled lineup. It's about putting together a team that can win.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by FAN

But what's the point of saying Feaster made the roster more skilled when the team hasn't exactly improved relative to other teams in the conference? You can say that Hudler is more skilled than Iginla and I would agree with you but so what? It's not about icing the most skilled lineup. It's about putting together a team that can win.

Yeah, I'm all for skill, but you still have to build it into a team. You can't just bring in a bunch of players and think you can, say, do without centers because now you have more skill.

It reeks of wishful thinking. In their dreams they have an idea of a certain kind of team and they just hoped it would all fall together.

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by FAN

But what's the point of saying Feaster made the roster more skilled when the team hasn't exactly improved relative to other teams in the conference? You can say that Hudler is more skilled than Iginla and I would agree with you but so what? It's not about icing the most skilled lineup. It's about putting together a team that can win.

A contending team needs to find it's own formula combining skill, grit, goaltending, heart and desire, etc. So saying this team is "more skilled", while true, doesn't automatically mean more points in the standings. So we win games 7-4 instead of 2-1, and lose them by the same margins.

I'd say the pendulum has swung too far to the skilled side and we don't have enough of the heart and desire grit guys to balance this team out. If we had a couple of guys in the mold of Brouwer or Prust on the third or fourth line I think we'd be better off. Jackman circa 2010-11 would be good. A healthy Bouma, too.

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

A lot of posters seem to expect quick fixes, but realistically I think it's a series of small goals and baby steps over many years that will get this team contending again. So long as I believe it's trending the right way I'll have patience with Feaster.

Originally Posted by FAN

I think there are a lot more posters who expect there to be no quick fixes than posters who expect quick fixes.

Fair enough. I worded that poorly, and should have said unrealistic fixes. I was referring to the posters who say things like "Feaster should get a #1 centre".

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by FAN

But what's the point of saying Feaster made the roster more skilled when the team hasn't exactly improved relative to other teams in the conference? You can say that Hudler is more skilled than Iginla and I would agree with you but so what? It's not about icing the most skilled lineup. It's about putting together a team that can win.

I agree with your whole argument, maybe read the last line of my post. And Who here would rather have Jokinen over Hudler? Anyone? Come on don't be shy!

How about Moss over Cervenka? No one? Come on! Moss was awesome for the eighteen games a season he wasn't injured or returning from injury.

All I see right now is a coaching staff and management group not being able to effectively address any of the issues that are going on right now and making them worse. Adding Comeau to the center group now? terrible idea.

The Skill was desperately needed on a stagnant, stale line up that the flames were icing year after year. And I for one welcome it. It hasn't affected the standings at all but I like watching the games now.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Feaster should get a number 1 centre. But if he can't, and I agree its hard, he make the appropriate moves, like move Iggy and Kipper and accelerate the trending in the right direction you speak of. The expectations so fans have with him hitting the home runs that as you say are next to impossible to do, are actually set by Feaster and the org when they talk about re-tooling and when they don't make certain moves. Many fans aren't idiots, we are aware what it would take to make this team good, and they are big moves like get a centre. When Feaster and crew say things like making roster tweaks, and re-tool, and don't do things like make major roster changes (like trade Iggy) they are telling the fan base that they believe they can address the teams needs (like find a centre) or else why would they preach a re-tool. Therefore the fan base expects it and gets upset when it doesn't happen, and rightfully so.

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Feaster should get a number 1 centre. But if he can't, and I agree its hard, he make the appropriate moves, like move Iggy and Kipper and accelerate the trending in the right direction you speak of. The expectations so fans have with him hitting the home runs that as you say are next to impossible to do, are actually set by Feaster and the org when they talk about re-tooling and when they don't make certain moves. Many fans aren't idiots, we are aware what it would take to make this team good, and they are big moves like get a centre. When Feaster and crew say things like making roster tweaks, and re-tool, and don't do things like make major roster changes (like trade Iggy) they are telling the fan base that they believe they can address the teams needs (like find a centre) or else why would they preach a re-tool. Therefore the fan base expects it and gets upset when it doesn't happen, and rightfully so.

I don't support trading for a #1C as the cost would involve picks and prospects which are far more valuable to this franchise at the moment. Sacrificing the future for the now tells me the team is in "win now" mode (God, do I hate that catchphrase), and I don't think this is still true. I do support getting the #1C in free agency - ironically we probably can't afford both a #1C as well as Iginla.

Honestly I'm having trouble following the chain of logic in your post, no offense intended. You say Feaster promises re-tooling, but then to indicate that making home-run swings is part of that. Signing Wideman, Hudler and Cervenka is re-tooling. Trading Iginla and Kiprusof is something else, IMO.

I think you're reading some things into what Feaster and co. have said in the past and have built expectations into that. Nobody can say you're wrong, but I don't agree with your conclusions.

[North East Goon]

At what point do we start speculating on Feaster's job? Ownership is not going to stomach a bottom of the west club - are they?

[Poe969]

ownership might very well be the reason for this bottom feeding team.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

At what point do we start speculating on Feaster's job? Ownership is not going to stomach a bottom of the west club - are they?

Probably a tad longer than two seasons, especially when one of them is shortened by a lockout.

This off season, and the next full season are going to be huge for Feaster though to try and turn things around.

[North East Goon]

Yeah, they probably can get away with the injury excuse this off-season, but the pressure will really amp up next season.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

At what point do we start speculating on Feaster's job? Ownership is not going to stomach a bottom of the west club - are they?

I was thinking about that last night. I like most of the moves that Feaster has done, and i like the supporting cast that he has put around him. That said he accepted ownerships mandate of " trying to make playofs" and spent a lot of their money in doing so. I would add that the mandate probably included re-signing Iggy. If things go really south in the next couple of weeks, he would have probably failed on both fronts.

I do believe that ownership has to change the mandate but i am not sure they will because of the new arena. They might be fine with letting Iggy go but i am not sure the other mandate would change. If they don't like the return they got on Feasters investment and get another GM with the same mandate, what happens to the supporting staff?

They could offer the job to Weisbrod, but he strikes me as a guy that would be up front with them and tell them their mandate is not the way to go. If they get another GM would they keep Weisbrod on knowing that they don't see the team the same way? A new GM would more than likely want to have a supporting cast of his own. Losing Weisbrod would be huge blow to this organization.

It's still early but something to consider.

[1stLand]

Well, I am happy that no one on Calgary Puck is suggesting Feaster needs to go out and Find a #1 Center to Play with Iginla.

Because I think people realize that building a team around Iginla is not the direction to go in anymore.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

Well, I am happy that no one on Calgary Puck is suggesting Feaster needs to go out and Find a #1 Center to Play with Iginla.

Because I think people realize that building a team around Iginla is not the direction to go in anymore.

Feaster needs to go out and find a number one centre to build around......period.

Obviously easier said than done though.

He should also go out and find a number two centre, as well.

[Buff]

The Flames need to go out and get a #1 center to play with Baertschi.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

At what point do we start speculating on Feaster's job? Ownership is not going to stomach a bottom of the west club - are they?

IMHO this team will be a bottom of the west club anyway, regardless of who the GM is. I just wish they would embrace the idea for a couple years so that the Flames may possibly be good in 2017.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Buff

The Flames need to go out and get a #1 center to play with Baertschi.

And the cycle continues!

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by Poe969

ownership might very well be the reason for this bottom feeding team.

This is becoming more and more obvious every year.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Buff

The Flames need to go out and get a #1 center to play with Baertschi.

#1 centers under the age of 28 don't grow on trees. They'll need to draft one. In fact, outside of Baertschi, the Flames pretty much need to draft a new core. That's the reality ownership and management need to recognize. You can't build a winner through free agency.

Look at the Blues. They have a payroll $13 million lower than the Flames. Take Hudler, Wideman, Cervenka, Stajan out of the picture and replace them with entry-level contracts. That will give you an idea of the resources they have to work with. So what was their strategy under Davidson? Stockpile picks and prospects. Eschew free agents. Draft and develop their own core of young players. Forego the quick fix.

But that takes discipline and patience - two qualities Flames ownership and management have not demonstrated.