Roman Cervenka wants to return to the NHL

[ForeverFlameFan]

Wish him the best on whatever team signs him. I don't want Calgary trying him out again when we have prospects who would be better off in the roster spot that Cervenka would be taking.

[Iceman90]

Bring him back to camp and let him compete.

[CSharp]

Got the skills of Gaudreau, but I was a bit disappointed he didn't play to his potential after all those video hypes. I guess Gaudreau showed everyone how it's done and nothing compares to that. Cervenka is truely too small for this league the way he plays. Better luck on another team.

[Tinordi]

He should buy some tickets then.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Got the skills of Gaudreau, but I was a bit disappointed he didn't play to his potential after all those video hypes. I guess Gaudreau showed everyone how it's done and nothing compares to that. Cervenka is truely too small for this league the way he plays. Better luck on another team.

No need to insult Gaudreau.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

He was one of the worst Flames ever on one of the worst Flames teams ever. Small Slow and Timid.

His 4 pts on the PP playing 1:37/ pp time suggests that he did not have the skill as many have suggested.

He made Hudler look like a bad UFA signing. He made Stempniak into a top 6 forward by default.

He didn't come over to Calgary right after signing his contract to learn English and adapt to his environment. I think he might have motivated Hartley to his "everything earned, nothing given" stance.

If Cervenka wanted to play in the NHL he should have played in teh AHL for a year.

On his KHL team last year Patrick Sorenson had 17 goals to Cervenka's 13.

With the KHL missing payrolls there will be a salary roll back across Europe as the KHL players look for someplace to play and get paid and the AHL will become a viable option for these sort of players.

Do you know anything about Cervenka's time here, or did you just look up his stats and start hammering away on your keyboard?

[jayswin]

Oh nevermind, I can see by your thanking of Tinordi's awesome zinger that he's just one of your guys.

Once a player is on the Ricardodw list, that player could save a person from a burning building and Ricardodw would post stats that prove it was a weak effort and unrepeatable.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Do you know anything about Cervenka's time here, or did you just look up his stats and start hammering away on your keyboard?

Well then put me in the group that doesn't know anything about Cervenka's time here. As well as not understanding the value of draft picks.

Ricardodw is right. Cervenka is not/was not an NHL caliber player. The end.

It's great how when somebody doesn't see things your way it is because they don't understand, or just don't know anything. Not to sound dickish or anything.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I thought he was pretty decent all things considered, and was hoping another year - and a healthy off-seaosn - would have been worth the risk.

I bet NJ signs him.

[GioforPM]

Cervenka point totals were not bad for a first year NHLer with an injury problem. Sure he wasn't a physical guy, but was he supposed to be?

I think he suffered from heightened expectations, injuries, not enouigh time to adjust, and the overall effects of the lockout shortened season.

[CroFlames]

I think Cervenka's main problem was timing. He certainly had skill, but it takes a long time to learn the NHL game. He came in as a 26 year old, expected to contribute right off the bat on a team in a transition period. The cards just didn't line up for him. Not to mention the clots.

If he was two years younger when he first came, and perhaps on a team like today's Flames, he would have a shot since they'd be patient enough to develop him.

I think he's too old for an NHL comeback now, but best of luck to him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I think Cervenka's main problem was timing. He certainly had skill, but it takes a long time to learn the NHL game. He came in as a 26 year old, expected to contribute right off the bat on a team in a transition period. The cards just didn't line up for him. Not to mention the clots.

If he was two years younger when he first came, and perhaps on a team like today's Flames, he would have a shot since they'd be patient enough to develop him.

I think he's too old for an NHL comeback now, but best of luck to him.

Agreed. Unless someone really thin at forward like Vancouver or Arizona gives him a PTO shot.

[doctajones428]

I was just thinking "Why is everyone buying the lockout/no preseason/blood clots excuse now but not when we had him on the team?"

Then I read ricardodw's post

[Sylvanfan]

I don't know if the NHL as it currently sits has too many teams that can bring in a 29 year old guy who has limited experience in the league.

Cervenka had some eye popping moves, but he's also going to be 3 years older from when he first signed. Even for a team like Arizona or Buffalo...I think there are other options like the Mason Raymonds of the world who they can play in that type of role, and be a bit better mentor for any young players they want to bring into the fold.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Well then put me in the group that doesn't know anything about Cervenka's time here. As well as not understanding the value of draft picks.

Ricardodw is right. Cervenka is not/was not an NHL caliber player. The end.

It's great how when somebody doesn't see things your way it is because they don't understand, or just don't know anything. Not to sound dickish or anything.

Second that too... probably kind of like a Sergei Varlamov quality player.

[Magnum PEI]

I felt he was really trying hard at the defensive game but just kept struggling and Hartley gave up. It's too bad, I was really hoping it would work out.

[browna]

Unrealistic (again) expectations from the GM who huffed and puffed that he was the center that maybe was going to be the one for Iggy...and then the chap lands here for training camps and tells the press he's not really a centerman.

Then the bloodclot.

Doomed from the start...Hartley wasn't a fan either/as part of that, and as Sarich, Blair Jones, Sven, and others, once Hartley gets his (poor) opinion set of you, its pretty hard to get back in the good books.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The CBA dispute and blood clot issue really hurt his cause the first time around. I would like to see him get another shot somewhere.

This is basically it.

You look at all of the mitigating circumstances and Cervenka wasn't all that bad. Feaster just went all McLOWE on him, half of the season was lost, he got hurt and couldn't possibly meet expectations.

I'm actually happy with all of the work Feaster did hear. But that guy mouth belonged in Edmonton.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by #-3

This is basically it.

You look at all of the mitigating circumstances and Cervenka wasn't all that bad. Feaster just went all McLOWE on him, half of the season was lost, he got hurt and couldn't possibly meet expectations.

I'm actually happy with all of the work Feaster did hear. But that guy mouth belonged in Edmonton.

Yeah, that whole "best player not in the NHL" fad was really detrimental to expectations. I mean it wasn't always incorrect, but it gave fans and likely the players themselves to a certain extent, an unrealistic expectation.

Best centre outside the NHL makes fans go "Oh wow, sounds like we're getting an amazing player here, can't wait to see if he can take over the second line centre spot".

When realistically, best centre outside the NHL translates to maybe a 3rd line centre if he completely works out.

[Mr.Coffee]

To say he was on par with Gaudreau for skill is totally asinine.

Biggest issue was foot speed, and in today's NHL, that's precisely the wrong problem to have. His NHL days are done I suspect. Also in general, his awareness for where to be at this level just wasn't really there.