Is The GM Going to Address the Center Situation?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Not this season. But I will say he's looking much much better than he did at the start of the season.

Anyone else down on the farm that can be a callup that might resemble a NHL center?

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I think you've got a bit backwards NEG. I'm pretty sure it's a top-down thing, not a bottom-top thing.

You have to sell your vision to the top, before anything gets done.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I agree that its Iginla's call, but if he does decide that he wants to leave he has no say on what the return will be. He might have say on which team he wants to go to , but that's it. After that its up to ownership and management to decide what the best course of action and return would be for Iggy. My belief is that ownership would rather get a player back now that helps short term rather than going with the picks and prospect route.

Whereas I don't think the options are mutually exclusive. When we traded Joe Nieuwendyk, we acquired a player designed to help immediately (Millen) and a prospect expected to help in the future (Iginla). Ownership would certainly want something to help now. But I don't think that implies they would do so at the exclusion of planning for the future.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Whereas I don't think the options are mutually exclusive. When we traded Joe Nieuwendyk, we acquired a player designed to help immediately (Millen) and a prospect expected to help in the future (Iginla). Ownership would certainly want something to help now. But I don't think that implies they would do so at the exclusion of planning for the future.

Yup the Al Coates "Something now/something later" deal. He pulled it off again when he dealt Fleury

[Flash Walken]

The GM had the entire offseason to address the centre position when it was as obvious a point of concern as it is now.

Why do we think he'd do it now?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yup the Al Coates "Something now/something later" deal. He pulled it off again when he dealt Fleury

Interesting that the franchise has never seemed to prioritize draft picks. Always looking for prospects and players that can 'help out' now.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Whereas I don't think the options are mutually exclusive. When we traded Joe Nieuwendyk, we acquired a player designed to help immediately (Millen) and a prospect expected to help in the future (Iginla). Ownership would certainly want something to help now. But I don't think that implies they would do so at the exclusion of planning for the future.

I hope you are right. I am not convinced that Iggy has as much trade value as a 30 year old Nieuwedyk had back then. I don't see a team giving up a top 6 center and a blue chip prospect for him. If they get a youngish top 6 center i would think that it would be a mid prospect added or a 2nd or 3rd.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

The GM had the entire offseason to address the centre position when it was as obvious a point of concern as it is now.

Why do we think he'd do it now?

Because Cervenka is not the center the organization thought?
Because there is a new CBA in place and most teams have had 20 games to look at their current team?
He might have a trade partner now that the season is 40% over?

[Beatle17]

Everybody that watches hockey knows the Flames need centers. As much as I hate to say it I do think this year is a transition year for the Flames. They signed players in the 25-30 year old age range to assist in the transition from where they are/were to where they want to be, but part of the issue right now is the players they were counting on to help at the center position are injured or not yet capable of playing center at the NHL level (Backlund and Cervenka).

With the Flames situation that Feaster inherited from D. Sutter in regards to contracts and players I think the new management team has sold the ownership group on a structured rebuild by bringing in a certain type of player and using the assets available to hold the team in a competitive position until some of the newer draft picks are ready to play, with a lot of them being centers (Reinhart/Janko/Gadreau) and the wingers the Flames signed being good people who these players can learn from. If you look at the contracts signed in the last 18 months, since Feaster has been GM, players like Comeau/Stempniak etc., are on short term deals until some of these younger guys are ready to play. I don't believe that you bring young guys in to lead the team but you bring them in and let them adapt until they are ready to lead the team.

Guys like Iginla/Kipper/Cammy will be gone in the near future with the playing leadership being passed onto players such as Hudler/Cervenka/Sven/Brodie and transitioning in the new guys. If you have to trade the older players I think they should target a decent draft pick and a player who is capable of playing a role in the 25-30 year age range, like Krejci. I hope the team doesn't trade players just to get a competent NHL center to hide their current deficiencies THIS year. If they are committed to a structured rebuild, not a burn it down rebuild, then I would prefer that they give guys like Reinhart a chance in a limited role. The Flames are not going to be competing for the cup over the next couple of years and can afford to slowly transition.

Hopefully late in the year or next year guys like Reinhart/Arnold/Bouma are ready to make the jump and the team can get away from the Comeau/Jackman/Begin experiments.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Interesting that the franchise has never seemed to prioritize draft picks. Always looking for prospects and players that can 'help out' now.

Probably a coincidence of management philosophies.

Fletcher didn't believe that our draft picks were high enough to get the obvious top talents, so he went unconventional - US college free agents.

Coates definitely had a thing for prospects who were a little later into their development than an unknown draft pick.

Button's tenure was too short to make a call either way.

Sutter's beliefs are well known and well worn.

Feaster is only in year two, so his long-term strategy is not yet crystalized.

[moon]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I hope you are right. I am not convinced that Iggy has as much trade value as a 30 year old Nieuwedyk had back then. I don't see a team giving up a top 6 center and a blue chip prospect for him. If they get a youngish top 6 center i would think that it would be a mid prospect added or a 2nd or 3rd.

Not a top 6 center but a deal like Spooner, 1st and Campbell from Bruins gets you something for future while addressing the something now aspect Resolute and Jiri are talking about.

Not sure if that is an exciting package because I don't know much about Spooner and Campbell isn't much more than grit and center for 3rd/4th line but I think that is the type of deal for future/now that could work.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by moon

Not a top 6 center but a deal like Spooner, 1st and Campbell from Bruins gets you something for future while addressing the something now aspect Resolute and Jiri are talking about.

Not sure if that is an exciting package because I don't know much about Spooner and Campbell isn't much more than grit and center for 3rd/4th line but I think that is the type of deal for future/now that could work.

I brought up the Spooner with a 1st trade 2 days ago. Like you i know nothing about Spooner, but someone that is a bruins fan did say he was close to making the NHL. I would like the deal, but i think it adresses the future more than the present. I am not convinced that ownerhsip would want a trade that is more focussed on the future over present. Like i said , i hope i am wrong.

[EddyBeers]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Because Cervenka is not the center the organization thought?
Because there is a new CBA in place and most teams have had 20 games to look at their current team?
He might have a trade partner now that the season is 40% over?

I am not sure how the organization could have thought Cervenka was a center. Does anyone even know if he played center in the KHL?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by EddyBeers

I am not sure how the organization could have thought Cervenka was a center. Does anyone even know if he played center in the KHL?

This was pointed out a couple of pages back:

"Originally Posted by Pointman
True. There were several interviews (in Russian) explaining that. It took me 10 minutes to dig two of them:

http://fanzone.khl.ru/news/14402/

Q: You came over (to Russia) as center, but were moved to left wing. Alexey Kaluzny (Omsk's top center) explained that as centers have different roles at czechia and russia.

A: Never (in my career) I was coming back (to defend in my own zone). I was technically playing center, was taking faceoffs, but on defensive zone I was at left wing position. That's pretty much the way I play here (at KHL), except for I'm not taking draws. Initially Summanen (Omsk's coach) made me center, but me and Kaluzny decided it would be better for me to play left wing and Summanen didn't mind it.


http://www.peoples.ru/sport/hockey/roman_cervenka/

Q: Roman, you are versatile forward, aren't you?
A: Well, I used to be center.
Q: Why it didn't work out at KHL?
A: At KHL centers have to play defense. I never did. So wing is better for me."


As far as i am concerned it was an epic fail by Weisbrod and the scouting crew.

[Britflamesfan]

The management of this team is truly awful. Any GM of a top sports team who tried to start a season without addressing the lack of centres/midfield that this GM has done would not make it to the 10 game mark, especially after the results this team had. Total lack of integrity as to where this team is in reality, stated aim is to go for it (i dont agree) yet they stand pat looking like a rabbit in the headlights.

Signing Sarich (2 years with a NTC) and Comou should be enough to get you fired especially as you watched them the previous season. Before you jump in about Wideman and Hudler if Feaster can pull off that trade any half decent GM could to. Just really poor management all around.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

As far as i am concerned it was an epic fail by Weisbrod and the scouting crew.

How about Feaster? Wouldn't the GM also be responsible for at least knowing a little bit about the guy who they are banking on to play a big role on the team?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Anyone else down on the farm that can be a callup that might resemble a NHL center?

Ben Street.

[Britflamesfan]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

This was pointed out a couple of pages back:

"Originally Posted by Pointman
True. There were several interviews (in Russian) explaining that. It took me 10 minutes to dig two of them:

http://fanzone.khl.ru/news/14402/

Q: You came over (to Russia) as center, but were moved to left wing. Alexey Kaluzny (Omsk's top center) explained that as centers have different roles at czechia and russia.

A: Never (in my career) I was coming back (to defend in my own zone). I was technically playing center, was taking faceoffs, but on defensive zone I was at left wing position. That's pretty much the way I play here (at KHL), except for I'm not taking draws. Initially Summanen (Omsk's coach) made me center, but me and Kaluzny decided it would be better for me to play left wing and Summanen didn't mind it.


http://www.peoples.ru/sport/hockey/roman_cervenka/

Q: Roman, you are versatile forward, aren't you?
A: Well, I used to be center.
Q: Why it didn't work out at KHL?
A: At KHL centers have to play defense. I never did. So wing is better for me."


As far as i am concerned it was an epic fail by Weisbrod and the scouting crew.

So true totally inept piece of work by the whole org.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

How about Feaster? Wouldn't the GM also be responsible for at least knowing a little bit about the guy who they are banking on to play a big role on the team?

Yup Feaster should be included. But the main people in my mind are Weisbrod and the scouting crew. They are the ones that went over there and looked at him and gave Feaster their recomandations. Feaster should probably have done a little more home work on his own, but he trusted his crew and they let him down on this instance.

[Britflamesfan]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

How about Feaster? Wouldn't the GM also be responsible for at least knowing a little bit about the guy who they are banking on to play a big role on the team?

Totally responsible for the end decision, do your homework!!!!!