Article: No Half Measures

[Caged Great]

Patience in the face of adversity can be the difference between success and failure. I was told that once when I was having difficulty finding a solution to a problem I was working on. Keeping the advice in mind, it helped me to not focus on why my solutions were not working, but rather to place emphasis on how exactly to fix it properly. Being patient helped remove some of the pressure from the situation, and a successful outcome soon followed.

The Flames are currently in one of those adverse situations. There are many different ways to move this team forward from where they are now. Some of those paths will lead to varying degrees of success, and others will lead to years of frustration. One thing that we all must do though is be patient.

The rest of the article is here

http://www.firesidechat.ca/2013/04/18/no-half-measures/

Let me know what you think?

[FlameZilla]

Excellent Breaking Bad reference.

Not sure about this:

The only players that they should attempt to acquire should be character types that can help teach the young players how to play to win. The number one player on my list would be Eric Nystrom.

For what he would cost he doesn't bring us anything we don't already have (3rd line LW). We have loads of left-wingers, and I'm not sure about him having any insight into 'how to play to win'. 4 points in 13 playoff games over an 8 year career. Our prospect pool is full of bottom-6 wingers, and moves like bringing in UFA bottom-6 wingers are what is killing this franchise.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Excellent Breaking Bad reference.

Not sure about this:



For what he would cost he doesn't bring us anything we don't already have (3rd line LW). We have loads of left-wingers, and I'm not sure about him having any insight into 'how to play to win'. 4 points in 13 playoff games over an 8 year career. Our prospect pool is full of bottom-6 wingers, and moves like bringing in UFA bottom-6 wingers are what is killing this franchise.

Then what are you suggesting? going out a bringing in a Phil Kessel? It's Nystroms character, his compete that the author is referring to. Hard work is contagious.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

Then what are you suggesting? going out a bringing in a Phil Kessel? It's Nystroms character, his compete that the author is referring to. Hard work is contagious.

What have you seen in the last 3 or 4 games from the Flames other than character & 'compete'? Where do you think the bulk of the character & competitive edge have come from?

Young players, hungry to prove themselves in the NHL, play as hard as they can every shift. I would argue that signing a UFA like Nystrom takes away opportunities for players like Horak, Reinhart, Bouma, Jones & Hanowski.

I wouldn't go near Phil Kessel either. Overhyped Maple Leaf that has played a total of 15 playoff games. We do need a top 6 RW, however. Well-spotted

If we're targeting UFAs (which I don't think we'll do) I'd go hard for Nathan Horton. Stanley Cup Champion, skill, grit & size. But we'd never get him without way overpaying.

No, the solution is to go with the young guys. Develop from the draft and within the organisation. No Half Measures.

[Caged Great]

I didn't mention skill guys because it is too soon to determine exactly who is going to be available. Someone like Clarkson could also fit in the skilled leader type as well, but the Devils are likely to keep him. However, a guy like Nystrom is someone that everyone is very familiar with both as a person and as a player. He did play all three positions at various points in time with Calgary, so it's not like he'd be pigeon holed as a LWer. He wears his heart on his sleeve and gives 100% all the time.

I know that the kids have been playing like that, but getting another guy that fits that mold helps to reinforce that kind of attitude, and if there is ever something that you want to reinforce is effort and determination.

[gargamel]

Good article. I'd be on board with getting Nystom or guys like him. It doesn't make sense for us to be going after skilled free agents right now, so I'm hoping anyone that we acquire is a hard worker or an a-hole, and Nystom is both.

[EldrickOnIce]

Or Lucic?
Watched a bit - midway through the third last night and Lucic had recorded no hits in the game.
I'd like Nystrom or similar.
As has been said by others, the Oilers lacked any organization depth in character and work hard guys. So the addition of mega talent up front has not translated into any success and never will unless that is addresses somehow.
Flames seem to have a stable of those types, and would greatly benefit from a veteran presence like a Nystrom type, imo.
Now inject that top end talent through good drafting, and you have the makings of a team that competes not just for a playoff spot, but for the cup. You need those guys to get you through the grind of 82 games and put you in a position to win when it counts.
Nice article - no half mesaures

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The rest of the article is here

http://www.firesidechat.ca/2013/04/18/no-half-measures/

Let me know what you think?

Great article. Much better than the last one imo (not that the last one was bad).

Agree on everything too

[GGG]

I disagree with your draft philosophy and your free agent philosophy. At the draft I believe the top 5 are significantly better than the rest so if you arent in the top 5 and have the opportunity to move up you do it or if Nishkinan drops to 10 you do what you have to to get him with the St Louis pick.

On free agents I agree you need to keep spots open in the top 9 to give our young pkayers time to develop but to me that is coaching decisions rather than player aquisition decisions. I dont think we should turn down free agents just because we want to give younger pkayers more ice time. If the value and term a re good and it fills a need you sign them

[toquester]

Yes, patience can pay off in spades. The performance of the youngsters shows their promise. No need to panic. It is what it is. I would also add that trashing the players that do remain during this period, does absolutely nothing to help. Confidence is so important for this group right now.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I wouldn't go near Phil Kessel either. Overhyped Maple Leaf that has played a total of 15 playoff games. We do need a top 6 RW, however. Well-spotted

Someone hasn't kept up with the East this year. The guy is a top 3 winger in the league right now.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by GGG

I disagree with your draft philosophy and your free agent philosophy. At the draft I believe the top 5 are significantly better than the rest so if you arent in the top 5 and have the opportunity to move up you do it or if Nishkinan drops to 10 you do what you have to to get him with the St Louis pick.

On free agents I agree you need to keep spots open in the top 9 to give our young pkayers time to develop but to me that is coaching decisions rather than player aquisition decisions. I dont think we should turn down free agents just because we want to give younger pkayers more ice time. If the value and term a re good and it fills a need you sign them

The top 8 (Jones, McKinnon, Drouin, Nichushkin, Nurse, Monahan, Lindholm and Barkov) are all well above average for a normal top 8 and we will get one of them. It's a bit of an odd draft year, as all of these guys would have been top 3 picks in the past three years. I could understand if you were wanting to trade up from the stl and pit picks into the top 8 or 9 to try and get another one of these guys, but moving up slightly with our best pick won't really make a difference.


The problem that we have on the roster is that we have no top 9 spots available.

Right now you have

Tanguay-Backlund-Cammalleri
Glencross-1st round pick-Baertschi
Hudler-Stajan-Stempniak

Add in that we need a veteran or two on the 4th line and 4 young players ready to step in to those roles and you quickly run into a bad numbers game. We need to continue to clear out some of our veterans if we want to add anyone new. Add in that we might struggle to hit the cap floor if Kipper retires and it quickly becomes big headache.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by saillias

Someone hasn't kept up with the East this year. The guy is a top 3 winger in the league right now.

If Kessel shows up in the playoffs I'll eat my hat. One great season does not a superstar make (unless he plays for Toronto).

[really?]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Right now you have

Tanguay-Backlund-Cammalleri
Glencross-1st round pick-Baertschi
Hudler-Stajan-Stempniak

It would be wise to make room for Horak and Reinhart in that top nine mix. There is no place for the likes of Tanguay on this squad, and one of the bottom three should be afforded the opportunity to play elsewhere. Both Horak and Reinhart appear to be part of the future and need to be given the opportunity to develop, and that will not happen on a fourth line.

[Caged Great]

One thing we may need to do is a reverse Langkow for Stempniak trade where we send a low Salary for a higher value guy to hit the cap floor.

Either that or we dump one or two of the above and sign Clarkson and Horton each to a 3/18 contract