Matt Freakin Stajan!

[blankall]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Its sad because I personally like Brent Sutter, but it really looks like he miss handled a lot of players on this team, Bouw and Stajan would be a starting point.

Its amazing what confidence and a proper game plan for a player can do for their confidence.

Sutter is better at coaching kids than adults. You can't tell a #1 d-man with 8-9 years of NHL experience that he's never allowed to pinch or move up with the offensive play and expect positive results. A good coach knows when to let players play. The Flames are a team centred largely around vets with a ton of experience. They need a coach that motivates them to play their best. Sutter was obssessed with his system and forcing every player to be a cog.

[FlamesAddiction]

It's good to see. I liked Stajan when he was on the Leafs, and although I didn't like the trade to get him to Calgary, I wanted to root for him.

He looks like his conditioning and strength improved this season too though. I'm not sure how much of that is just playing with more confidence/gusto vs. actually dedicating himself more.

[Sylvanfan]

The other night when Scott Oake asked him what the key to him earning Bob Hartley's confidence was, I was hoping he'd say....Well I'm the only real center we have on the roster right now. He's been much better this year though for sure, definitely a lot more confident.

[Weiser Wonder]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Really, more then Langkow?

Langkow hasn't been playing center for the Flames for 2 and a half years now.

[mikeecho]

Stajan did a very candid interview on the Big Show on Monday during the poker tournament. He gave a detailed account of how last year transpired and the struggles he had under Brent's coaching. He was very complimentary towards Brent, but when you listen to how he was treated I suspect I know why Brent will likely remain a WHL coach for a long time. Also helps me understand why the team needed a psychologist under his tenure.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by mikeecho

Stajan did a very candid interview on the Big Show on Monday during the poker tournament. He gave a detailed account of how last year transpired and the struggles he had under Brent's coaching. He was very complimentary towards Brent, but when you listen to how he was treated I suspect I know why Brent will likely remain a WHL coach for a long time. Also helps me understand why the team needed a psychologist under his tenure.

Dang.

I would love to read the full transcription or hear the audio.

[Zulu29]

I think I'd like him re-signed but at a lower cap hit. He can be a solid 3rd line centre.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

I think I'd like him re-signed but at a lower cap hit. He can be a solid 3rd line centre.

Disagree.

He is awful as a 3rd or 4th line centre. He's a solid 2nd line centre. If his play continues like this, he'll be re-signed for a similar salary. He still has another season to prove himself.

If the Flames go after a FA, he has made himself tradeable. I'm very happy with that. If the Flames don't get a big FA, Stajan stays for another year and is good value as a #2 centre.

[no_joke]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Dang.

I would love to read the full transcription or hear the audio.

I just scanned through the podcast from yesterday's Big Show on the Fan website and I don't think the Stajan interview is included. There are interviews with Coach Hartley, Jamie Macoun, and Clint Malarchuk though. Isn't there an archives section of the Fan website for past broadcasts?

[wingmaker]

They just replayed the Stajan interview. Really great stuff! Stajan deserves a lot more credit than he gets.

A few highlights:

Stajan and Brent had a good, honest relationship as people but that Brent didn't trust Stajan's game, and told him so flat out. He was told at the beginning of last year that he would not be a top 4 centre for the team. He only got more of an opportunity due to injuries. He feels that Brent's attitude changed after he fought Lapierre last year which is why he got more ice time late in the year. He personally feels he plays better with more responsibility but Brent didn't think he had enough passion and didn't trust him with more ice time. He feels that he always has played with passion and did everything he could to show Brent, but it didn't work the first three years, partly due to injuries. He really respects Brent for being honest with him and thinks he is a good person. He also says that although it was hard, he looks back on the last two years as a positive and as a learning experience and that he is a better player for it. He really took Hartley up on his offer of a clean slate and felt that he wanted to show that he can be a big part of the team this year.

Also says that they team really has a chip on its shoulder.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by wingmaker

They just replayed the Stajan interview. Really great stuff! Stajan deserves a lot more credit than he gets.

A few highlights:

Stajan and Brent had a good, honest relationship as people but that Brent didn't trust Stajan's game, and told him so flat out. He was told at the beginning of last year that he would not be a top 4 centre for the team. He only got more of an opportunity due to injuries. He feels that Brent's attitude changed after he fought Lapierre last year which is why he got more ice time late in the year. He personally feels he plays better with more responsibility but Brent didn't think he had enough passion and didn't trust him with more ice time. He feels that he always has played with passion and did everything he could to show Brent, but it didn't work the first three years, partly due to injuries. He really respects Brent for being honest with him and thinks he is a good person. He also says that although it was hard, he looks back on the last two years as a positive and as a learning experience and that he is a better player for it. He really took Hartley up on his offer of a clean slate and felt that he wanted to show that he can be a big part of the team this year.

Also says that they team really has a chip on its shoulder.

I'm not saying that Brent Sutter's opinion of Stajan is wrong, but Darryl obviously disagreed given the contract that Stajan received. It's surprising how Darryl and Brent were not on the same page about a lot of things it seems.

[Huntingwhale]

Damn, that's pretty insightful into Stajan's so called fall from grace. I'm glad to see that Stajan has rejuvenated himself under Hartley.

[Trailer Fire]

I always had a soft spot for Stajan. I think its his name. Its just cool.

[HELPNEEDED]

What does stajan mean by "chip on shoulders"

[Weiser Wonder]

Passion is a mystical quality that only seems to be an attribute of people you like and lacking in those you dont. It's there when a team is winning but gone when they aren't. Hmmmm...

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

What does stajan mean by "chip on shoulders"

Just that they feel they are a better team than they have shown and than they get credit for. They think no one respects them, in Calgary and out of Calgary. They all feel they want to prove that they can step up and fill any weaknesses on the team, including being weak up the middle.

[indes]

Stajan has gone way over and above what was expected of him this year. It's really a feel good scenario this year with him, to see him bounce back

[HELPNEEDED]

Stajan has truly engaged beast mode.

[Alberta_Beef]

I thought tonight was a good time to bump this.

Stajan had 3 assists tonight, he is now up to 14 assists and 17 points in 26 games. Over a full season that is a 50+ point (45+ assist) pace. The 14 assists has him 1st on the team.

Stajan also leads the Flames in +/- with a +11. I discount +/- quite often, but the fact Stajan is a +11 and only 1 other Flame player (his regular linemate Stempniak is +8) is a plus rating says a ton about how great the Stajan/Stempniak line has been this year in both ends.

[jg13]

Stajan has been great defensively all year and now he's putting up some solid numbers. What more can you ask?

He's finally earning that 3.5 mill cheque