[Game Takes] Flames 3 Avs 1

[St. Pats]

I'm mystified why they would even consider bringing Cervenka back. He simply has no compete level and is entirely one dimensional. The roster needs to be remade in a number of ways. It will obviously get younger so that's taken care of but also needs balance. Not some stupid wingers playing center or a team of tiny mites. Cervenka, Tanguay and Cammy should be moved for starters. Add some beef everywhere especially at center.

At least have them functionally set up correctly whether or not the long term pieces are in place. Let's not have the youngsters development suffer because they can't win a faceoff, get knocked off the puck on a regular basis, can't defend their position and on an on and on.

Put a team on the ice that can compete no matter what team they are up against. It won't be a team that can dominate or win but ice an actual team instead of a collection of parts.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Dion

If Feaster does decide to bring him back I hope it's for only 1 year like they've been doing with Backlund. Let him prove himself before we give him any kind of long term deal.

The Flames will not have a choice when it comes to Cervenka.

It has to be 100% obvious to Cervenka, his agent, his friends and at least 29 NHL GMs and hockey scouts that he is a better fit on a real NHL team. One that has 3-5 softer skilled players rather than 3-5 hard to play against guys.

If I were Cervenka's brother and his agent came back and told him to re-sign with the Flames I would fire the agent.

Cervenka would fit on the Flames if they traded away or got rid of at least 6 or 7 of these guys: Cammalleri, Tanguay, Hudler, Baertschi, Stajan, Stempniak, Horak, Grandlund, Byron, Brodie, Butler, Smith and Gaudreau.

[Tinordi]

Why all the fuss about a player who sucks?

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

For posters that want Cervenka back, where do you see him fitting in?

Next year's roster is by no means set in stone. With us going into rebuild mode I would assume that now is not a time to make assumptions about what the roster will look like next spring.

Cervenka may be soft right now but players can change and adapt and at 27 he is certainly still able to adjust to NHL hockey if he really wants to. If he makes it an offseason priority to bulk up a bit and work on his percieved weaknesses then I would see him as a much better asset next year. Definitely worth a 1-year deal as a no-risk gamble.

Originally Posted by kyuss275

The time to trade players for picks is at the deadline. Tangs, Stajan and Stempniak would all have contracts coming back in summer trades. For Cammi to be traded the flames would have to eat at least $2 million.

The deadline may be the time to "sell" but that is not the only time that teams trade assets for prospects/picks. We could see veteran players moved out at the draft or at the start of UFA season as teams reshuffle their salary caps.

There are a lot of ways for a spot to open up for Cervenka.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Next year's roster is by no means set in stone. With us going into rebuild mode I would assume that now is not a time to make assumptions about what the roster will look like next spring.

Cervenka may be soft right now but players can change and adapt and at 27 he is certainly still able to adjust to NHL hockey if he really wants to. If he makes it an offseason priority to bulk up a bit and work on his percieved weaknesses then I would see him as a much better asset next year. Definitely worth a 1-year deal as a no-risk gamble.



The deadline may be the time to "sell" but that is not the only time that teams trade assets for prospects/picks. We could see veteran players moved out at the draft or at the start of UFA season as teams reshuffle their salary caps.

There are a lot of ways for a spot to open up for Cervenka.

Cervenka apparently did not make the effort to learn English and acclimatize himself to the North American culture when he signed with the Flames a year ago. Sounds like he showed up at training Camp in January and it was up to the Flames to fit him in.... get him a translator.

You think that he will re-work his game and physique that has made him millions of $ and a star in Russia ???

Compare that with Horak who got drafted playing for his home town team in the Czech Extraliga and after he was drafted by the Rangers, came over to play junior in Chilliwack speaking no English as an 18 year old.

Now I would believe that if the Flames told Horak that they wanted him at camp at 195 lbs of muscle that there would be a good chance of that happening.

Cervenka ? He has NHL talent, he is a UFA.... He would fit in with Boston as a Jagr replacement or would look great in Philly playing with Hartnell, Schenn, Simmonds, Giroux.

The Flames are the worst fitting team for his talent and skills.

[Tinordi]

Cervenka does not have NHL talent, he had an NHL shot, that's about it.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Cervenka does not have NHL talent, he had an NHL shot, that's about it.

He has NHL caliber passing, NHL caliber shot, and NHL caliber vision in the offensive zone. His speed is a concern, and not something I think an off-season can fix. Obviously needs a ton of work in the defensive zone as well, and ha to get better at puck battles.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

He has NHL caliber passing, NHL caliber shot, and NHL caliber vision in the offensive zone. His speed is a concern, and not something I think an off-season can fix. Obviously needs a ton of work in the defensive zone as well, and ha to get better at puck battles.

So what you're saying is that he's a half NHL player, or, in other words, not an NHL player.

[timbit]

It might be helpful if Cervenka was evaluated on how he fits in on a contending team, as opposed to the Flames.

At his age he does not look like a player who will mature into a top 2 line player on a contending team.

Probably not a third liner either.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by timbit

It might be helpful if Cervenka was evaluated on how he fits in on a contending team, as opposed to the Flames.

At his age he does not look like a player who will mature into a top 2 line player on a contending team.

Probably not a third liner either.

Cervenka is no where near the top six of a good team and no where near the bottom six of ANY team.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

So what you're saying is that he's a half NHL player, or, in other words, not an NHL player.

More or less. NHL level talent, but too many holes in his game to be an impact player in the NHL. I've been saying for a while I don't think he would re-sign with us even if we offered him a deal, so it's all moot anyways.

[Tinordi]

And I'm saying that we better not resign him. Dude is just not cut out for it and I can't see any other team being interested either. Back to being the "best player not in the NHL."

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Next year's roster is by no means set in stone. With us going into rebuild mode I would assume that now is not a time to make assumptions about what the roster will look like next spring.

Cervenka may be soft right now but players can change and adapt and at 27 he is certainly still able to adjust to NHL hockey if he really wants to. If he makes it an offseason priority to bulk up a bit and work on his percieved weaknesses then I would see him as a much better asset next year. Definitely worth a 1-year deal as a no-risk gamble.



The deadline may be the time to "sell" but that is not the only time that teams trade assets for prospects/picks. We could see veteran players moved out at the draft or at the start of UFA season as teams reshuffle their salary caps.

There are a lot of ways for a spot to open up for Cervenka.

Not saying the bolded part does not happen, but how often do teams trade picks or prospects for "meh" players at the draft?

The last couple of years the flames have had a pretty full lineup and posters seem to think they could just trade a Stajan, Hagman ect out for a pick. It never happens because teams don't want to give up anything of value for players they could get on the Ufa market.

If Glencross, Brodie and Gio are not up for grabs, i don't see teams wanting much off the flames other than maybe Cammi and the flames need to eat major money on that contract.

I do find it funny that we have the softest team in the NHL and some posters want to keep the softest player in the NHL.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I do find it funny that we have the softest team in the NHL and some posters want to keep the softest player in the NHL.

I'm not going to get upset one way or the other if we have Cervenka on the roster next year. I just figure that the guy is a bit of a project, he isn't that old, and since the Flames are rebuilding anyway it doesn't really hurt us to have a boom or bust project such as Cervenka on the roster.

I am happy that Hartley has been willing to scratch Cervenka and is not giving him priority over the guys we have recently called up to the team. Now its really just on Cervenka himself to apply himself to earning a spot.