What If a Flame Pulled a LeBron? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Monahan23 · 07-07-2014, 08:41 AM

Let's say our best player and franchise player when we're winning left in FA. Like LeBron did. The 1h special and didn't tell anyone. He wins a couple cups and his contract expires. He was considering coming back. WOuld you want him back?

Wastedyouth · 07-07-2014, 08:45 AM

What?

CsInMyBlood · 07-07-2014, 08:46 AM

Whats a LeBron? Left in FA? 1h special?

All of this is over my head, I assume because I don't watch lacross or basketball or football or soccer or whatever you are talking about.

Textcritic · 07-07-2014, 08:47 AM

These sorts of hypotheticals are almost impossible to answer honestly and cogently. There are just way to many variables to guess how any of us would respond. Besides, such scenarios are so rare to begin with, that it probably doesn't matter anyways.

Resolute 14 · 07-07-2014, 08:49 AM

Bandwagon In Flames · 07-07-2014, 08:54 AM

Can't really compare the two for a several reasons. I don't think an NHL player can just opt out of a contract for more money unless he plans on leaving for the KHL/retiring. There's nobody in the league who could get away with something like that, so they wouldn't even try.

If it were to happen, we wouldn't be talking about the Flames top player, but the leagues top player (safe to say LeBron is #1). Any GM, no matter how butt hurt would make a deal to sign the best player in the world.

FlameZilla · 07-07-2014, 08:59 AM

What if a Flames prospect pulls a Jordan and leads us to 6 championship titles? I think that's about as likely as the pipe dream/nightmare you're suggesting.

Read Only · 07-07-2014, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Can't really compare the two for a several reasons. I don't think an NHL player can just opt out of a contract for more money unless he plans on leaving for the KHL/retiring. There's nobody in the league who could get away with something like that, so they wouldn't even try.

I think he is talking about when Lebron left Cleveland as a UFA so that could easily happen in the NHL.

The closest situation I can think of would be Fleury, but he wasn't close to the best player in the game. But in that case fans could see the Flames weren't giving Fleury a chance to win so him going somewhere else was inevitable.

With Lebron the moron Cavs fans blamed him instead of the incompetent organization that couldn't get one decent player to play with him, let alone a whole team. I would hope that if we had a superduper star and management was so awful that they drove that guy away we would focus our anger at the management but my guess is we as fans would be like most and hate the player.

If said player wanted to come back and it looked like it would help us win a cup my guess is most fans would take said player back with open arms and a vocal minority would piss and moan about it.

PeteMoss · 07-07-2014, 09:05 AM

Every fanbase would have the same reaction as Clevelands. They would be furious when it happens but if he came back they'd be happy (although I'm sure some would yell and scream about not wanting him until he signed back with the Flames).

Stanathan · 07-07-2014, 09:09 AM

That was a bazillion years ago in Cleveland. If you're talking about the new LeBron where he optioned out of his contract while in the middle of a dynasty, then I guess that is at least relevant to recent history.

If the Flames had a franchise player take off in the middle of a dynasty, I wouldn't care, I'd be too busy caressing my two replica Flames Stanley Cups!

With that said, we should cut out the NBA talk now. I hope that one day no one talks about the NBA anymore and it disappears.

Chill Cosby · 07-07-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Whats a LeBron? Left in FA? 1h special?

All of this is over my head, I assume because I don't watch lacross or basketball or football or soccer or whatever you are talking about.

This is basically the sporting equivalent of a modern Southern Christian woman saying "Well I don't follow Buddhism so I'm not sure who this 'Albert Einstein' is that you're referring to hun'."

Barbecue · 07-07-2014, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Whats a LeBron? Left in FA? 1h special?

All of this is over my head, I assume because I don't watch lacross or basketball or football or soccer or whatever you are talking about.

its understandable for most hockey fans to not know the things going on in the NBA, but c'mon... "What's a Lebron?" ? Have you been living under a rock for the past 8 years?
anyways, here goes the summary...

LeBron James, a generational talent and considered the best basketball player in the NBA today.

He was drafted by his hometown team, the cleveland Cavaliers. They made the playoffs, but had little success. On Lebron's last year of his contract with the Cavs, Lebron held out on contract extension talks and waited for Free Agency. Instead of informing anyone what his intent was, he decided to take it to ESPN where they did a 1 hour TV special for his signing announcment. He announced his intent to join with the Miami Heat with two other superstars, Wade and Bosh. This prompted much anger with his old Cavs owner and fanbase.

Lebron and the Heat went on to 4 NBA final appearances 2 of which he won NBA championship titles. This went with much criticism that Lebron couldn't "make it on his own" and needed help from other superstars

Now Lebron has opted out of his contract with the Heat and is going to free agency again. Ironically, the Cavaliers is one of the teams he is considering.

The OP is asking what if this happened to the Flames.
Would you welcome back our "Lebron" to the Flames?

RyZ · 07-07-2014, 09:19 AM

If NHL players acted like NBA players I wouldnt watch the sport. I take some pride in the fact that hockey players seem to be the "good guys" of the 4 major NA sports leagues.

RyZ · 07-07-2014, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

This is basically the sporting equivalent of a modern Southern Christian woman saying "Well I don't follow Buddhism so I'm not sure who this 'Albert Einstein' is that you're referring to hun'."

Lol. What? No, its not the equivalent of that at all. What are you talking about?

Chill Cosby · 07-07-2014, 09:32 AM

I assume CsintheBlood has also never heard of "Eye Phones"

CsInMyBlood · 07-07-2014, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

This is basically the sporting equivalent of a modern Southern Christian woman saying "Well I don't follow Buddhism so I'm not sure who this 'Albert Einstein' is that you're referring to hun'."

Yeah? I don't follow sports that I don't like and to me basketball is one of the lamest. I have no idea who these players are or what they do, nor do I care in the slightest.

I'm a hockey fan, that's my interest, that's what I know about and that's the reason I read and post on this forum which covers the game of hockey.

Hockeyguy15 · 07-07-2014, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

This is basically the sporting equivalent of a modern Southern Christian woman saying "Well I don't follow Buddhism so I'm not sure who this 'Albert Einstein' is that you're referring to hun'."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chill Cosby

I assume CsintheBlood has also never heard of "Eye Phones"

You're trying too hard.

Chill Cosby · 07-07-2014, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Yeah? I don't follow sports that I don't like and to me basketball is one of the lamest. I have no idea who these players are or what they do, nor do I care in the slightest.

I'm a hockey fan, that's my interest, that's what I know about and that's the reason I read and post on this forum which covers the game of hockey.

That's cool. I just don't see how it's realistically possible to listen to sports radio, or watch a sports station, and never ONCE see Lebron James. One of the biggest athletes in the whole world. I honestly thought you had to be joking, so I was just throwing a playful jab. But hey, if you can manage to just like hockey, and have no idea who Lebron is, or Tiger, or Brady, then forget it.

Serious respect.

herashak · 07-07-2014, 09:50 AM

Lebron had a pretty weak team that he carried. it would be like prime iggy with the 04-07 flames without kipper. i wouldnt be surprised if he left. im hoping taylor hall pulls a "lebron". And yes i would accept the player back.

the2bears · 07-07-2014, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herashak

Lebron had a pretty weak team that he carried. it would be like prime iggy with the 04-07 flames without kipper. i wouldnt be surprised if he left. im hoping taylor hall pulls a "lebron". And yes i would accept the player back.

Hall is no where near a "LeBron".