Season Kick-off pressers Sept 30. Burke @ 11:45 AM. Feaster @ 1 PM

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Who's kidding who,

Burke = GM
Feaster = AGM

No kidding, I hope they don't pack up the cameras when it' Jay's turn speak.

[Hells Bells]

If Sven's ego can't handle criticism, not sure he'd turn into much of a player anywhere. Why is everyone so afraid of his feelings?

I'd have no problem seeing him traded if he was to ever want out based on having to earn his icetime or some criticism.

Having said that, I don't think Sven is that type of person and the criticism will only fuel him.

[PeteLFan]

Simply put Brian is right on with his comments. If Sven is going to be a top player, he's going to have to be better offensively and compete on the defensive end. I don't think he's saying he has to be a selke candidate, but top players need to a two way game and that's how we will win.

I find it hilarious people think he shouldn't have to defend. Jarome was being run out of Calgary for being a "soft" defensive player.

Sean monahan at 18 is better right now then Sven.

[FBI]

Meh, not a fan of the Sven comments...
I have this feeling we will be trading him for nuts and bolts and he's going to bite us in the ass for years to come...
Please be wrong please be wrong

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by browna

Though, hasn't Feaster been more critical of Sven ever since (not coincidentally) Burke got hired? Certainly the reviews and future outlook hasn't been quite as rosy as Feaster talked previously before bringing in his new boss (recall the "untouchables" comment at the end of last season)?

Has Sven suddenly turned into a bad seed over the summer? Maybe hasn't progressed to the blueprint some would want (and that's all behind the scenes anyways, which is a black hole on info and pure speculation for most fans) but I don't doubt that there is some re-aligning in words and expectations when your new boss comes in and sees things differently than you, especially Feaster.

I don't think Sven has suddenly turned into a bust. The skills are there and IMO the issue seems to be his head. He's not the first young player to have mental issues with the transition to the pros so at 20 years old you just have to give him time. I feel he's a guy that needs confidence and playing sporadically on the big club or being benched isn't going to help him which is why I really feel it's important that he be sent down to Abbotsford if the team doesn't think he's ready.

The hardest part about this rebuild is going to be team and fan patience in the young players. It takes time and you just have to accept the growing pains.

[Hammertime]

I'm liking this Burke hiring even more. With him and Jay making the decisions, we have a great Good Cop/Bad Cop tandem. Hope this puts our young prospects on alert.

[MissTeeks]

Darren Haynes‏@DarrenHaynes_CP1m
More Burke - We're prepared to stay patient. It's not fun but as long as you have a blueprint. (Queue farming analogy. "Plant and wait"...)

Scott Cruickshank‏@CruickshankCH2m
#Flames Brian Burke: "We've been authorized by ownership to spend to the cap, so that's not an issue." #nhlpn

Scott Cruickshank‏@CruickshankCH46s
#Flames boss Brian Burke: "Predictions about the season? I don't make those." #nhlpn

[Henry Fool]

"Compete" is the key word in the Bärtschi quotes. He didn't have a good camp in that regard. Fans noticed so of course Burke noticed too and that could be the first time he's watched Sven closely. Didn't make a good impression.

It doesn't mean that he should be a defensive forward. It means that it looks bad when a 20-year-old doesn't give 100% during preseason. Comments like these are given when the management doesn't want the player feeling too comfortable.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by 868904

When your best players and leaders don't compete in all 3 zones, we get what we've had here the last 5 years.

exactly...I am happy he is calling guys out. The Calgary Iginla's country club days are over

[Puppet Guy]

Burke is teaching Sven truculence

[Skaloper]

I think Sven is the least of our problems when players like Cammy last season were -15... and Sven's +/- was 0

But I guess pre-season means everything.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

I think Sven is the least of our problems when players like Cammy last season were -15... and Sven's +/- was 0

But I guess pre-season means everything.

Sven is supposed to be part of the future, and a key cog in the core. Cammaleri is not, and is the least of our concerns.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by 868904

When your best players and leaders don't compete in all 3 zones, we get what we've had here the last 5 years.

100% agree. Now is the time to get him to learn to play in all 3 zones, not years later when he is already happy just doing what he wants to do.

Also from the original post you were commenting on:

I love Sven as much as the next guy, but to compare him to Stamkos and Kane breaking into the league is not right. Also Girouix made the Flyers out of camp at a young age because he showed he could play in all 3 zones.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

I think Sven is the least of our problems when players like Cammy last season were -15... and Sven's +/- was 0

I think Sven is the least of our problems when people are still talking about +/- as if it were a meaningful stat.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

I think Sven is the least of our problems when players like Cammy last season were -15... and Sven's +/- was 0

But I guess pre-season means everything.

well look at games played, ice time, match ups, ect.

Sven was pretty sheltered

[sureLoss]

Calgary Flames ‏@NHLFlames 16s The audio issue from earlier is now resolved and we will be streaming the Jay Feaster press conference at 1PM MST. ~ http://cflam.es/18GwphL

[browna]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't think Sven has suddenly turned into a bust. The skills are there and IMO the issue seems to be his head. He's not the first young player to have mental issues with the transition to the pros so at 20 years old you just have to give him time. I feel he's a guy that needs confidence and playing sporadically on the big club or being benched isn't going to help him which is why I really feel it's important that he be sent down to Abbotsford if the team doesn't think he's ready.

The hardest part about this rebuild is going to be team and fan patience in the young players. It takes time and you just have to accept the growing pains.

Fully agree with that all...I just don't agree with your thought that Feaster in the GM seat means he's not going anywhere. Feaster's opinion has suddenly started to change since Burke got there, with only really less than 2 weeks of training camp to base those "changes of thoughts" since April. We'll see what his comments are on Sven in the next half hour or so.

[Stanley]

Love it or hate it, Burke's comments are bang on. Sven should be a stand out in camp and he clearly wasn't. He's gotta bust his arse and earn it...and toughen up a little...

[renny]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

I think Sven is the least of our problems when players like Cammy last season were -15... and Sven's +/- was 0

But I guess pre-season means everything.

Sven is supposed to be part of the future of this Franchise, if he can't even show up for preseason then it's a problem. Nobody is asking for him to be a Selke winner, he just needs to show compete in all three zones.

And yes, preseason does matter because he's supposed to be fighting for a spot on the team and since this isn't his first camp, he should be out there leading and making a difference.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by fotze

I wish all people got motivated the same way but I know they don't. Interesting how they handle this. I hope they fire this shot over the bow but keep him up and see how he responds. I think they need to let him play at least a game or two to really decide. Maybe he doesn't want to get hurt by a U of A scrub. If he puts 5 poor games, send him down.

Some players like Rob Neidermayer are just awesome in practice and exhibition games and then just go through the coach's motions during the game. Some players cannot find motivation until the game starts.

I am all for tough love, and I don't know what is going on behind the scenes or even on the ice that I am missing. But does every player have to fit the same Steve Yzerman mold. It is old school thinking where you concentrate on your weaknesses, I am more of the work on your weaknesses but focus on your strengths.

Also there is always a risk of a move like this publicly. You are now reducing the players value a bit and are also risking him tanking to get traded. Sven wouldn't care at that point about what the return is. Just saying that's a potential risk. The Savard effect.

Also shudder to think what will become of Gaudreau when they try to make him into Scotty Nichol.

That said, if he is blatantly not doing things and being a bitch then go for it Burke.

With Gaudreau, they'll want him to be Marty St. Louis. Not a plug - but an elite level player that busts ass in all 3 zones.