Mathew Tkachuk and other key RFA signing watch thread

[Finger Cookin]

I've read that today is the deadline, but I've no idea of the specific time.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I've read that today is the deadline, but I've no idea of the specific time.

3:00 PM MDT

Tkachuk
Mangiapane
Kyllington
Phillips

All eligible to file.

EDIT: And technically Tuulola, though not likely.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Sorry to kill the mood, but I was there watching Fleury play during that comeback, and there was no way he was making the team. His head and his hands were still there, but the rest was not. I know that he did extremely well in the fitness testing, but his feet had become slow, and he was only playing short shifts because he was gassed after 15 seconds on the ice. He would have been sent down to the AHL, where he would have taken ice-time away from some of our prospects. I think the notion that Fleury was cheated is romanticism.

Yeah, I remember this pretty clearly as well. I was at that Islanders game where he scored the SO winner and he couldn't keep up on most shifts. Hands and head were willing, the body was not.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Sorry to kill the mood, but I was there watching Fleury play during that comeback, and there was no way he was making the team. His head and his hands were still there, but the rest was not. I know that he did extremely well in the fitness testing, but his feet had become slow, and he was only playing short shifts because he was gassed after 15 seconds on the ice. He would have been sent down to the AHL, where he would have taken ice-time away from some of our prospects. I think the notion that Fleury was cheated is romanticism.

If that was the reason than the organization made a stupid choice. First off, the team had no chance to win a Cup or do anything that year. Second, you flush away millions of dollars in merchandise and ticket sales, even if you had used him in a bottom 6 role you have a marketing cash cow for that year. I think there has to be more to it than he was not in skating conditioning yet. Hell, Thornton has been slower than dog crap for a few years now and found spots, Jagr was here and was super slow too.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

If that was the reason than the organization made a stupid choice. First off, the team had no chance to win a Cup or do anything that year. Second, you flush away millions of dollars in merchandise and ticket sales, even if you had used him in a bottom 6 role you have a marketing cash cow for that year. I think there has to be more to it than he was not in skating conditioning yet. Hell, Thornton has been slower than dog crap for a few years now and found spots, Jagr was here and was super slow too.

Well, the fact Fleury would be a disruptive A-hole may have also played into it. I loved him as a player, and thought he was maybe the most talented guy in the league. But at that point the Flames had bent over backward, and Bettman had finally been convinced to allow him back. I imagine Sutter, being Sutter, had a very good handle on what Fleury would bring.

I don’t think the Jagr example helps you out here.

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

If that was the reason than the organization made a stupid choice. First off, the team had no chance to win a Cup or do anything that year. Second, you flush away millions of dollars in merchandise and ticket sales, even if you had used him in a bottom 6 role you have a marketing cash cow for that year. I think there has to be more to it than he was not in skating conditioning yet. Hell, Thornton has been slower than dog crap for a few years now and found spots, Jagr was here and was super slow too.

I don't disagree with the business aspect. But your job is to ice the best team possible, regardless of what the pundits say. Icing him, would have taken away a young prospect's spot. It's easy to look back now and say, yea, that prospect or signing didn't pan out. But in the moment and making as best of a forward decision as you can with the pieces you have available, I feel they made the best decision for not keeping him.

The way Fleury handled himself after too, probably was for the best. I do think having that strong of a personality on a younger team, would have not been good for the dressing room

Sent from my SM-N975W using Tapatalk

[Goriders]

If Fleury was that good why didn’t any other teams pick him up when he was released?

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Goriders

If Fleury was that good why didn’t any other teams pick him up when he was released?

He made it quite clear he was only interested in Calgary. It doesn't matter now, he didn't make it, lost his mind, and is insufferable now.

[Reggie Dunlop]

NSFW!

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

NSFW!

There are several zombie topics. This is one.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

There are several zombie topics. This is one.

[Calgary4LIfe]

The organization did him a solid by allowing him to tryout, getting him reinstated to the NHL so he could collect a pension (I vaguely remember this point - not sure if I have it exactly right) and allowed him to retire gracefully. He was NOT at an NHL level. If he was, Calgary would have signed him, or another team.



Flames did him a favour.. and he thanked them by criticizing them in public and criticizing some of the players on the team. F Fleury.

[dissentowner]

Ok, let's move on from Fleury talk, last time I checked he is not a RFA of ours.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

The organization did him a solid by allowing him to tryout, getting him reinstated to the NHL so he could collect a pension (I vaguely remember this point - not sure if I have it exactly right) and allowed him to retire gracefully. He was NOT at an NHL level. If he was, Calgary would have signed him, or another team.



Flames did him a favour.. and he thanked them by criticizing them in public and criticizing some of the players on the team. F Fleury.

“Historic pre-season shoot out goal”

Get bent, Theo.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Cole436

“Historic pre-season shoot out goal”

Get bent, Theo.

This is not necessary.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

This is not necessary.

Not even taking into account how he's used his platform for harm and misinformation the past few years, he threw Darryl, Brent, the players, and the organization under the bus when he was cut from the team.

He was given an opportunity by the Flames that no other team was willing to offer him and he spit in their face when he wasn't good enough. I have no qualms about telling him to get bent.

[GordonBlue]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

This is not necessary.

Normally it's not needed, but this time it's appropriate.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

Normally it's not needed, but this time it's appropriate.

Sigh, all he did was mouthing off. Still that's not necessary.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Cole436

Yeah, I remember this pretty clearly as well. I was at that Islanders game where he scored the SO winner and he couldn't keep up on most shifts. Hands and head were willing, the body was not.

I was at what ended up being his last ever game; an exhibition game in Edmonton, and he was so noticeable in that first period. Lots of chances around the net, clearly still had the hands/head for the game. Then after the 1st, I didn't see him the rest of the game. Thought maybe his legs and lungs gave out and he was drained, it seemed that part of the game has already passed him by.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

I was at what ended up being his last ever game; an exhibition game in Edmonton, and he was so noticeable in that first period. Lots of chances around the net, clearly still had the hands/head for the game. Then after the 1st, I didn't see him the rest of the game. Thought maybe his legs and lungs gave out and he was drained, it seemed that part of the game has already passed him by.

It's unfortunate that he didn't take better care of his body.

I don't hold too much against him when he dissed the Flames after releasing him though. I am sure the trauma that he dealt with has complex effects on personality and the ability to cope with rejection. Unfortunately, it also probably led to the substance abuse and self-loathing that wrecked him physically and potentially robbed him of his swan song.

Anyway, this is getting way off topic and I am far from qualified to psycho-analyze someone. Nothing should take away from the fact Fleury was a great player and a great Flame before his life crashed.