It's a 30 team league (maybe soon to be 32), Championships will be few and far between, if we have an average performance. Maybe twice in our life time, all things being equal. There will be lots of nothing in between.
I really highly doubt that Burke is sitting behind his desk with his feet up playing angry birds on his iphone while singing "la la la I need some milk la la la"
I'm pretty sure that the evaluation continues I believe that the scout meetings are happening for the second half of the season leading up to the draft.
I'm sure that Hartley and his staff are facing a lot of scrutiny and the management group is evaluating players on the ice both here and in abbotsford and the other prospects.
On top of that there's this weird logic that trades happen in the same day that they're consummated, I'm willing to be that GM's have been reaching out to each other all year about making deals, but its about grinding to the last minute and its about things like dealing with the cap which most teams are tight on.
Making trades to keep the fans amused is a stupid concept, as is bringing a guy up from the farm because the fans want to see the next big thing.
I don't know what people were expecting, I know most of you guys have been in dressing rooms as parts of teams. But have you ever coached or played on a lousy team in the dog days of the season when you've gotten by that initial adrenaline surge at the start of the season when your all positive and every little good thing that happens leads to more energy? The Flames are at that point where they know they're not going to the playoffs, doubts really crept in to their game to the lack of results even when they put in the effort. Every bump and bruise and muscle strain feels 10000 x worse, you feel like no matter what you do nothing is going to work out no matter how hard you go at it. I liked a some of the push back in the third last night, you could see the team wilt after starting off well, having nothing go their way and then having Winnipeg score.
The next couple of months is going to be really interesting from a change perspective, from a us evaluating the team perspective you hope to see some kind of energy bounce back.
We talk about the dog days of summer, we're not even in the dog days of this rebuild, frankly if your using your mind this year, next year my friends . . . next year is going to be far worse as we dump our veterans from draft picks, and because of the cap floor we probably sign even worse veterans and we bring players up from Abby that might not or will never be ready for NHL hockey.
For the Sven thing as much as people complain, the kid plainly wasn't ready to play this year. By all the reports he's a really nice kid that started thinking of himself like the savior of the team heard the press clippings about how talented he is. Didn't put the work in at the rookie camp and it snowballed from there and he lost his confidence. That's not the coaches fault, that's the mental aspect of the game that's like the runners wall, either you break through it or the wall rips your pants down and rapes you.
Bottom line, bringing Sven back up or bringing guys like Granlund or Ortio, what's the point? So the fans can evaluate them? I'm pretty sure that the Flames have people watching their games down in Abby and know where they're at, and why not leave them with a team that's going to make a playoff push and maybe a run?
We're losing out head at least 2 years before we should here people.
Oh and have you looked at Burke's resume? I mean seriously, the guy is totally moving the Flames in the right direction, the Westguard trade proves that the Flames are on the up and up.
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I do not like Biran Burke, he is right that big wins, but I don't like his idea of big. It's not goons that win it for you, it's big hard to move forwards with skill. It's big d-men that can also make a good first pass (or more offensively). It's a big goalie that is also athletic. It's guys like Bouma who crash and bang on your 4th line and maybe one McGratten.
I'm sure if it were that easy he'd just go trade for Lucic, but that's just not realistic. Hopefully he'll get big players through the draft, but it's not like he can fix the size thing overnight.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
Before you call me a pessimist or a downer, the Flames made me this way. Blame them.
I really highly doubt that Burke is sitting behind his desk with his feet up playing angry birds on his iphone while singing "la la la I need some milk la la la"....
.
Actually, have you tried Angry Birds Racer? That's the one Burke is playing right now. Angry Birds is sooo 2012!
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It's going to get worse before it gets better. Before the end of January we have the Sharks (2X) the Blackhawks, the Canucks & Nashville to play. We'll be lucky to get 2 points in there.
Can't help but feel like the roster has been weakened slightly & intentionally by keeping offense-minded players like Sven, Granlund & Knight in Abby while the team struggles offensively.
Wait, you're forgetting that the team's top point getter, Ben Street, was called up. He's the most experienced and has filled in before, so is the right choice IMO. The farm is for development, and those guys still need to fill in the holes in their game before coming up to the big club. A full season in the AHL would be great for Granlund and Knight, and Sven really needs to learn to love contact.
We have no offense because Cammalleri and Glencross, our two most natural goal scorers are on the shelf, not to mention the play making ability of Russell. Both Jones' are hurt and they add a lot of physical play and net presence. We are simply missing key pieces to our offense and we don't have the depth ready at the NHL level to make up for it.
As for the OP, this is a rebuild, and this is what it looks like. We've made a lot of moves this season compared to other teams, and while most aren't earth shattering (outside of firing the GM and AGM) they are all small steps to change the direction of the team. The problem is you won't see those changes for a few years because the moves were made with that timeline in mind. These are the dog days of the season and the team is struggling. It makes everyone fed up and want sweeping changes, but it's not going to get better overnight. Patience. Wait for the trade deadline. Wait for the draft. Look forward to the next training camp where veterans will likely be replaced by some younger players. It all takes time and long term vision. Without that you're going to be permanently frustrated.
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
I have patience for a rebuild, and I can take the losing, but when it seems like the players are giving no effort, it's tough.
Earlier in the year, the Flames were at least fun to watch, even when losing. Now, they are boring and losing.
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I think the effort is there - the spirit is willing the skill just isn't there. Teams have ramped up - far more difficult to surprise teams now then when the year starts.
It may look like a lack of effort but that's because the other, better team is simply controlling the game.
And not having the puck is tiring. Sucking is tiring.
Effort isn't a problem. Talent is.
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I really can't complain about the effort in any of these games. It might look like lack of effort because better teams are making us chase the puck . . a lot.
Even last night the push in the third period was decent, but like any fragile team they took a bad penalty had had trouble gaining back the initiatve.
As this team brings more skill and truculence in the lineup the equation will change.
But I don't think the guys aren't working.
I almost punched Francis in his face on his rant about Hudler last night btw. Is there anyone more clueless then Francis?
I really can't complain about the effort in any of these games. It might look like lack of effort because better teams are making us chase the puck . . a lot.
Even last night the push in the third period was decent, but like any fragile team they took a bad penalty had had trouble gaining back the initiatve.
As this team brings more skill and truculence in the lineup the equation will change.
But I don't think the guys aren't working.
I almost punched Francis in his face on his rant about Hudler last night btw. Is there anyone more clueless then Francis?
I think at the end of the second period when Hudler blew a tire and left the ice and went to the dressing room after throwing his stick. Francis basically accused him of quiting on the team and not being a team guy.
It was actually pretty disgusting stuff.
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I agree that it's not a lack of effort (more often than not), and it would be tough to play the game knowing you have no chance.
But the reality for the Flames org. is, that it is ####ing boring as hell. Yesterday, and for the past 2 months, the Flames have been just awful, extraordinarily boring to watch. There is no action, no chances, no nothing. Just people listlessly skating around without purpose or grit or determination. And I don't think that's an effort problem, but it is a boring problem. And frankly if they want to sell tickets and have a committed fanbase, maybe defensive systems aren't a good idea. You know you're going to lose, let's at least do it with flare for the fans so they don't have to tear their eyes out. I don't blame anyone for leaving early one bit. That game was Phoenix level bad. And I'm glad they're getting bigger because at least if you're going to suck, smack the other team around a bit, that is at least something to watch. Right now there is absolutely zero to watch.
They are going to have to VERY seriously consider their ticket prices over the next couple years would be my guess. Can't imagine that long long list of people waiting to buy season's are going to want to pony up for this paint drying exercise. Bottom line is that the entertainment value is horrendous at $100-$200 a pop.
