Thanks Matt Stajan..... you are a beauty!

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

The flames paid this guy 26.5m over eight seasons, during which he put up 175 points. That is terrible value. Not once did he hit the 20 goal plateau during his time with Calgary. His best season was 31 points.

It's not your money, and part of that time Calgary was trying to reach the cap floor.

He may never have reached his ceiling as a second line center, but for periods he was a good 3 line, and elite 4th line center. And he never once complained, and gave back heavily to the community.

You realize hockey is still just a game right?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

The flames paid this guy 26.5m over eight seasons, during which he put up 175 points. That is terrible value. Not once did he hit the 20 goal plateau during his time with Calgary. His best season was 31 points.

My favourite part of Matt Stajan is the guy played 1000 games, but only 17 post season games. He made the post-season three times in fifteen seasons and got out of the first round once!

He perhaps has one or two moments worth remembering over those eight seasons with the flames. Perhaps people like his nice guy persona, or his post-game interviews or that people say hes a good teammate. Forgive me, but I'm not going to celebrate the guy and his incredibly mediocre on-ice accomplishments over 1000 games.

Wow, clearly Matt Stajan kept sneaking over to your house and pissing on your lawn late at night. That "Nice Guy Persona" that you accuse him of having, that was real, just look at what he gave to the community, and the fact that his team mates were overwhelmingly positive for him.

You're basing everything on points, he wasn't going to be a 20 goal 50 point guy, we saw that in the first year and good for Matt for changing his game so he could be a fairly effective 3rd line and very good 4th line center.

Not everything is about goals and assists, and Stajan isn't even close to the main reason why the Flames missed the playoffs and didn't have the playoff results that we wanted.

Look, there's probably no doubt that this was Matt's last game as a Flame, its more then likely that its his last NHL game.

I never doubted Stajan's heart and desire and work ethic at all, period EOL.

Thanks for everything Matt, hopefully if you stick around the Flames find you a role that you would find interesting, at the very lest hopefully the Flames alumni encourages you to continue the work that you did in the community.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

The flames paid this guy 26.5m over eight seasons, during which he put up 175 points. That is terrible value. Not once did he hit the 20 goal plateau during his time with Calgary. His best season was 31 points.

My favourite part of Matt Stajan is the guy played 1000 games, but only 17 post season games. He made the post-season three times in fifteen seasons and got out of the first round once!

He perhaps has one or two moments worth remembering over those eight seasons with the flames. Perhaps people like his nice guy persona, or his post-game interviews or that people say hes a good teammate. Forgive me, but I'm not going to celebrate the guy and his incredibly mediocre on-ice accomplishments over 1000 games.

He fits with the Flames tradition:

Gio 755 games 8 playoff games
Backlund 545 games 15 playoff games
Brodie 491 games 15 playoff games
even the veterans brought in

Frolik 728 games 42 playoff games 5.4 % of his total games
Hamonic 518 games 17 playoff games
Stone 425 games 6 playoff games


the flipping coind odds say that the average NHL player should play 6 playoff games a year or around 7% of his total games

Brouwer has had a better than average NHL career as far as playoff games: 763 games 102 playoff games 11.8%

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

The flames paid this guy 26.5m over eight seasons, during which he put up 175 points. That is terrible value. Not once did he hit the 20 goal plateau during his time with Calgary. His best season was 31 points.

My favourite part of Matt Stajan is the guy played 1000 games, but only 17 post season games. He made the post-season three times in fifteen seasons and got out of the first round once!

He perhaps has one or two moments worth remembering over those eight seasons with the flames. Perhaps people like his nice guy persona, or his post-game interviews or that people say hes a good teammate. Forgive me, but I'm not going to celebrate the guy and his incredibly mediocre on-ice accomplishments over 1000 games.

This is the problem, the flames seem to put a premium on what a great guy it is we are acquiring. all i hear is how hamonic is a great guy, that is likely true, but he is an average d man who we overpaid greatly, being a swell guy doesnt help to win games. It was nice stajan got to play his 1000 game though.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Just because Matt Stajan wasn’t great, or was even downright awful during much of his time here, doesn’t mean we can’t wish him the best and congratulate him on his career.

Jesus, let it go for a second and stop thinking just in terms of wins and losses or stats. Give the guy some deserved respect for a long career and his accomplishments on and off the ice.

Matty went thru some tough times off the ice and Flames are like a second family. As fans we are a part of that too. Let’s not take any classless parting shots.

[flambers]

I would think Stajan will retire, he is the type of player who the Flames will hire and offer a position within the organization

[Stay Golden]

Stajan is a good guy I can see him continuing charity foundation work.

[btimbit]

Stajans biggest mistake was being involved in a controversial trade, and that's not even something he had control over himself. Yet that's enough for some people to bash the guy now that its likely time to say goodbye.

Come on guys. Lets not go all Oiler on the guy. He's always come in and done his job, and never complained iqf that job was on the 2nd line or the 4th, center or the wing, or to sit in the press box. He did what he was asked every time. I'm sorry he wasnt the #1 center some of you seem to wish he was but that's no reason to trash him.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by chockfullofgoodness

I'm curious as to why you think that.

I was a few drinks in and shouldn't have worded it that way.
But I don't see the benefit of him in a hockey related role with the club. Community related work would be fine.

[Barnet Flame]

Stajan seems to bring positivity to all he does. On and off the ice.

There are no numbers for that, so we as outsiders will never know what his total contribution was through the years.

One thing is certain, the organisation sure valued it.

[midniteowl]

Congratulation Matt, and thank you!!!

[Bill Bumface]

After talking with friends of the Gulutzan's and hearing how the hardest part of the season was his kids, who would read various comments about their dad on the internet, and get told he was going to get fired and they'd have to move without their own parents having a chance to explain it to them first.

If you feel the need to trash Stajan, remember he's a real human with real family and friends.

You're allowed to believe the flames are better off with him off the roster, but save the hyperbole and remember we are talking about someone that by all evidence worked hard for our team and community to the best of his ability.

[Manhattanboy]

All the best to Matt and his family. Thank you for being a Flame and making Calgary a better place.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

After talking with friends of the Gulutzan's and hearing how the hardest part of the season was his kids, who would read various comments about their dad on the internet, and get told he was going to get fired and they'd have to move without their own parents having a chance to explain it to them first.

If you feel the need to trash Stajan, remember he's a real human with real family and friends.

You're allowed to believe the flames are better off with him off the roster, but save the hyperbole and remember we are talking about someone that by all evidence worked hard for our team and community to the best of his ability.

Yikes.

I've been pretty hard on Ol' Gul but thats hard to hear.

I still genuinely believe hes not the coach for this team, but its tough to think that his kids read my comments. I dont mean to trash their dad, I'm just highly critical of his actions as the head coach of my favourite team.

Some of that is fair game and just part of the job and some of it isnt.

I dont hate Glen Gulutzan but I also dont think he should be the coach of the Calgary Flames anymore.

Anyways, this thread is about Stajan, the man, the myth, the legend!

[Bill Bumface]

I think with any of these guys, we are on a hockey message board and negative opinions are ok. To say stuff like "I hope he's got nothing to do with this organization ever again" is just going further than necessary for a guy who left very little controversy in his wake.

There were some players I was not proud to wear our jersey in the past, Stajan wasn't one of those guys. I wish him the best, and agree I just wish we had him younger.

[Badgers Nose]

His bald helmetless peanut head running around like a maniac was pretty great last night. For bald old farts like me it was some serious nostalgia.

That was beautiful. And, like a 3 minute shift. Lol

Maybe GG isn’t so bad after all.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

After talking with friends of the Gulutzan's and hearing how the hardest part of the season was his kids, who would read various comments about their dad on the internet, and get told he was going to get fired and they'd have to move without their own parents having a chance to explain it to them first.

If you feel the need to trash Stajan, remember he's a real human with real family and friends.

You're allowed to believe the flames are better off with him off the roster, but save the hyperbole and remember we are talking about someone that by all evidence worked hard for our team and community to the best of his ability.

I have always figured that even if players don't lurk here (and I think they do) their relatives do. Especially locals like Colborne, Raymond, Setoguchi, Stone (sort of) etc. That's why I always cringe when I read the comments Andrew names that go past critique into attacks.

Plus, why would anyone feel the need to post anything negative about Stajan in this thread? Do it elsewhere or maybe even not at all.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

His bald helmetless peanut head running around like a maniac was pretty great last night. For bald old farts like me it was some serious nostalgia.

That was beautiful. And, like a 3 minute shift. Lol

Maybe GG isn’t so bad after all.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

The flames paid this guy 26.5m over eight seasons, during which he put up 175 points. That is terrible value. Not once did he hit the 20 goal plateau during his time with Calgary. His best season was 31 points.

My favourite part of Matt Stajan is the guy played 1000 games, but only 17 post season games. He made the post-season three times in fifteen seasons and got out of the first round once!

He perhaps has one or two moments worth remembering over those eight seasons with the flames. Perhaps people like his nice guy persona, or his post-game interviews or that people say hes a good teammate. Forgive me, but I'm not going to celebrate the guy and his incredibly mediocre on-ice accomplishments over 1000 games.

Who gives a flying ####? Stajan was a consummate professional for his entire time in Calgary and an incredible member of the community off the ice. It's evident how well-liked he was by everyone who came into contact with him. Not every important member of this organization or person worth celebrating needs to be a perennial all-star. I for one am happy he was a Flame and I respect the effort he gave every single night, even as his skill declined. I have no doubt he will be missed in the dressing room next season.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I was a few drinks in and shouldn't have worded it that way.
But I don't see the benefit of him in a hockey related role with the club. Community related work would be fine.

Anyone that plays 1000 games knows a thing or two about being a pro athlete. Especially a guy who wasn’t especially gifted. He can teach things about playing a role, life balance, learning and adapting to different expectations, PK, face offs, fitness, etc.