Is The GM Going to Address the Center Situation?

[Psytic]

Blair Jones at 59% in the dot. What did he do to get demoted.

[Mister Yamoto]

I find this situation very odd. I have been to two Season ticket holder meeting scince Feaster was named GM. Feaster/King/Wiesbrod talk about the team like they are a Stanley cup dynasty. It almost seems like they are feeding us a load of BS.

I want the next GM to be a hockey man that knows how to hire a lawyer, not a lawyer that knows how to hire a hockey man.

Somebody should lose their job over not knowing Cervenka is a winger. Embarrassing.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I think this can be done without giving up prospects or our first round pick. There are more than a few centers that could be had.

5.Tim Connolly for one, before people get all huffy and puffy about it. They guy has talent, isnt panning out in a defensive system and has nothing left on his deal after this season. Zero risk and very little acquisition cost. Likely something Feaster is looking at.

4. Daniel Briere. Aging, two years left, Uber clutch playoff guy and wicked playmaker. Acquisition cost could be manageable due to Phillies cap issues but would have to give up a D like Gio I think. Wouldnt mind him at all. More akin to Svens style and would make a great mentor if the team wanted to move on from Iginla.

3. Stephen Weiss. UFA after this season. Could be dealt soon and with the Panthers sucking hard these days I could see a move similar to a Briere deal. Good playmaker but even better in the faceoff circle. Pretty much the best fit for Calgary IMO.

2. Valteri Fillpula.UFA after this season. Young, good playmaker and has a good shot. Cost is going to be high but Gio or Bouwmeester could get it done.

1. Patrick Berglund. My top wishlist Center for this team. I have no Idea what it would take or if he is even on the trading block. I would think he isnt and overpayment would have to be made. maybe the one player a prospect would have to be involved.

Theres been talk about Weiss for sure this year and the rest is ultimately up to the respective teams to address their own needs (namely D for most) so there can be deals.

5. True. In retrospect it would be nice to swap a contract with Toronto if we hadn't taken him waivers.

4. Small, getting quite old, high cap hit. He would be amazing on any team that regularly makes the playoffs but moving Gio for him? Just a crazy thought.

3. Would be nice certainly but they would be bound to get a better package than what we could offer since we're thin everywhere except top 9 wingers.

2. See the combination of 3 and 4.

1. We can all dream.


Trading from our strengths is the only way this team can improve through trades without causing another or bigger hole. At the same time, between who we have in Tanguay, Glencross, Iginla, Stempniak, Hudler, Cervenka as 'top 9' wingers, there isn't really anybody who we could/would/should trade. Stempniak might be a good one, but he's still not going to get you much other than another Stajan type player.

For defenseman, Babchuk/Sarich/Butler aren't going to get anything other than picks which we would be better off with since we're lacking some this year.

[krispykream]

ken king runs the whole show from behind and i bet he will be the one to tell feaster not to trade iginla or anyone

[neo45]

Originally Posted by krispykream

so you rather watch them get swept 4-0 in the first round and also have no future and re sign iggy next year to 4-5 million and be in the same boat next year

Ya that's exactly what I said. Really good job!

[killer_carlson]

I think the original poster is bang on with this question. For a team that sees the coach and GM preach accountability, as a fan it is entirely appropriate to ask why we continue to have such weak depth up the middle, and why nothing is being done about it.

Hell, id take Zenon Konopka at this point - and it isnt going to cost much to get him for the fourth line.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

A question i have is why Feaster isnt grilled more on this issue at the fan forums.

Because they are just big love in sessions. And Feaster, King and Wiesbrod talk an amazing game.

[krispykream]

Originally Posted by neo45

Ya that's exactly what I said. Really good job!

thats basically what you are saying that you want them to sneak in the 8th place and if they do manage they will get swept

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Trading from our strengths is the only way this team can improve through trades without causing another or bigger hole. At the same time, between who we have in Tanguay, Glencross, Iginla, Stempniak, Hudler, Cervenka as 'top 9' wingers, there isn't really anybody who we could/would/should trade. Stempniak might be a good one, but he's still not going to get you much other than another Stajan type player.

That's the Stinker about it all isn't it. None of the top nine are really moveable. This is why I chose players on teams that are really hurting for D (outside of St.Louis). If a better than average center were to be acquired through trade it would almost certainly cost the Flames one of Giordano or Bouwmeester. Which I could not complain about because Brodie is coming along nicely.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by krispykream

ken king runs the whole show from behind and i bet he will be the one to tell feaster not to trade iginla or anyone

Right. That's EXACTLY how it is run.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

What is a 4th line center playing 6 minutes going to do for the resst of the team?

I would LOVE a fourth line center. It is debatable whether or not Stajan, Backlund, Jones and Horak are even NHL calibre players.

[krispykream]

Originally Posted by iamnotkenking

right. That's exactly how it is run.

yup.....

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

I would LOVE a fourth line center. It is debatable whether or not Stajan, Backlund, Jones and Horak are even NHL calibre players.

For starters i do think Stajan, Backlund and Horak are NHL calibre players.


Don't get me wrong i would love a 4th line center, but do you really think the flames will go on a 5 game winning streak if they got one? Does it make them a playoff team?

This team has many holes to fill to become a legit playoff team, a 4th line center is near the bottom of the list of the things that will make it happen.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Blair Jones at 59% in the dot. What did he do to get demoted.

Roman Horak played 61 games at Centre for the Calgary Flames last year, and apparently isn't good enough to play centre this year.

[browna]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

A question i have is why Feaster isnt grilled more on this issue at the fan forums.

With the number of press in this city lingering under the guise of "all Flames All the time" you'd think that some or just one of them would ask the tough questions. I think they're worried Feaster will shut them out like Sutter did to everyone.

Instead of them scratching heads at the line combos that Hartley throws out in practice with Comeau like fans do, and wonder why centerman Jones was sent down without ever a solid reason, seek out Feaster and press him past his standard clichéd lawyer speak.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Sven for ROR?

I would do that trade right away.

Sven is fragile and this team needs a top centre more than a winger.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Blair Jones at 59% in the dot. What did he do to get demoted.

This team is nuts. What did horak and jones do wrong? Why is babs not dressed for pp?

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

They haven't addressed it in nearly 20 years, why start now?

[mister__big]

"Centres? We don't need no stinkin' centres." - Jay Feaster

[Pacem]

Have not read this thread, barely read past the thread title.


Darryl Sutter did a poor job of getting a number one centre for this team. Jokinen did not work out, but Sutter tried. Even tho Sutter did a poor job with our centre position, its incredibly frustrating see'ing a new GM come in and do significantly worse when it comes to a huge weakness.

Feaster has witnessed at least a year and a half of us sucking in the face off dot prior to this season, and he did the worst possible job ever in trying to improve our team in such an area of weakness. He didn't have to go out and get a number one centre. He just had to go out and get any centre that knows the basics of a face off. Its absolutely pathetic our team has set plays designed around the fact we are going to lose the draw. Good on Hartley for dealing with the players he has. Its acceptable for teams to have plays based around a face off lose to surprise an opposing team. That rarely happens, because teams try and win the draw. It is really sad that we have to do it out of necessity.