If winning a cup was important to him as winning gold for his country he would have done a lot better in the playoffs. He was a totally different player wearing a Czech jersey.
I remember when he held out in Europe that one season, near the end of that season I saw a Reichel jersey (red pedestal) for $20 and I knew he'd be back so I bought it.
Of course, he got traded later that year but then Nylander took 26 so I got the name bar replaced. Then Nylander was traded a month later so that jersey is cursed (I still have it).
The worst part about the Reichel trade was that Marty McInnis was a clear downgrade. I feel like we did that a lot at that time, trade players for clear downgrades (Nylander for Nazarov another example).
I remember when he held out in Europe that one season, near the end of that season I saw a Reichel jersey (red pedestal) for $20 and I knew he'd be back so I bought it.
Of course, he got traded later that year but then Nylander took 26 so I got the name bar replaced. Then Nylander was traded a month later so that jersey is cursed (I still have it).
The worst part about the Reichel trade was that Marty McInnis was a clear downgrade. I feel like we did that a lot at that time, trade players for clear downgrades (Nylander for Nazarov another example).
Yeah the team was trying to address character issues - as they had gone through a period of time with a lot of lazy but skilled players. So then they swung the other way and traded for hard working but unskilled players.
I remember Reichel as the most frustrating player in Flames history. Being born in Czechoslovakia, I was always pulling for the guy, and he always showed flashes of brilliance... but the guy would always choke when it really mattered. The mopey attitude didn't help. After constantly being let down, I was kind of glad to see him go.
Yeah the team was trying to address character issues - as they had gone through a period of time with a lot of lazy but skilled players. So then they swung the other way and traded for hard working but unskilled players.
That's being kind, I think Al Coates was just a bad GM.
Look at his overall piece of work.
Nieuwendyk for Iginla & Millen: Worked out great because Iggy turned out but a prospect and a journeyman center really isn't that great a return for a guy who was a top center in the league. Very lucky it was Iggy and not Todd Harvey who was the other name rumoured.
Housley & Keczmer for Albelin, Hulse, Lemieux: Barf
Reichel for McInnis & Garner: Yuck
Kidd and Roberts for Cassels and Giguere: Would have been better if the next GM kept Giguere, but still not good.
Nylander for Nazarov
Fleury & Dingman for Belak, Corbet, 2nd Rounder, Regehr: Luckily Regehr turned out but still not a great return for a guy who was a top 20 player in the league at the time.
A lot of skilled pieces were sent out with Coates as GM, and in the end we had very little to show for it.
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The guy put up some great numbers in regular season play but never rose to the occasion in the playoffs. He always left you feeling like he could have done more - was a frustrating player for me to watch in that regard. You could see he had all kinds of talent but for whatever reason he just couldn't turn it up and show some intensity or compete once it mattered most.
Every year I'd think this is the year he brings it, but every year it never happened.
That trade for sure summed up Al Coates trade negotiating for me. An article afterwards said, well we were shopping Reichel around and not sure what to do but when Marty McInnis' name came up we jumped and knew we had to get the deal done. I liked McInnis, no issues with his effort or time as a flames, but this was a guy who had just put up 40 points in prime icetime for the Isles and while leverage was poor and Reichel was coming off a career worst year where he got 43pts in 70 games, he was a young two time 40 goal man. A layperson could have told you the upside was not in the same ballpark or even league.
His ability to assess pro talent on other teams (or maybe his pro scouts) was probably the worst I've ever seen in a flames regime.
The history of the Flames in the playoffs is full of tragedies. However, Reichel being robbed by McLean with an apparent open net on a three-on-one rush in overtime of Game 7 against the Canucks (1994?), only to have Bure score an all-time classic goal in double overtime, is one of the most tragic of all. I was 16 at the time but I recall weeping like a baby that night.
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"Life of Russian hockey veterans is very hard," said Soviet hockey star Sergei Makarov. "Most of them don't have enough to eat these days. These old players are Russian legends."
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The history of the Flames in the playoffs is full of tragedies. However, Reichel being robbed by McLean with an apparent open net on a three-on-one rush in overtime of Game 7 against the Canucks (1994?), only to have Bure score an all-time classic goal in double overtime, is one of the most tragic of all. I was 16 at the time but I recall weeping like a baby that night.
EDIT: Sorry, didn't see that browna beat me to both referencing that game and providing a link to video. Whoops.
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"Life of Russian hockey veterans is very hard," said Soviet hockey star Sergei Makarov. "Most of them don't have enough to eat these days. These old players are Russian legends."
9:49 mark for it in real time. 10:05 for the Peplinski comment "look at all the net Reichel has".
When that didn't go in, like Nieuwendyk in 1990 vs LA, Nilson in game 6 2004 OT and Leopold with 4 mins to go Game 7 vs Tampa, you knew the Flames weren't going to win.
Would have been the ultimate capper to that playoff run, coming back from two goals down in the 3rd and Gelinas wins it in OT. Sigh...
That trade for sure summed up Al Coates trade negotiating for me. An article afterwards said, well we were shopping Reichel around and not sure what to do but when Marty McInnis' name came up we jumped and knew we had to get the deal done. I liked McInnis, no issues with his effort or time as a flames, but this was a guy who had just put up 40 points in prime icetime for the Isles and while leverage was poor and Reichel was coming off a career worst year where he got 43pts in 70 games, he was a young two time 40 goal man. A layperson could have told you the upside was not in the same ballpark or even league.
His ability to assess pro talent on other teams (or maybe his pro scouts) was probably the worst I've ever seen in a flames regime.
Seems like this has been an issue with every Flames GM since Fletcher. Other than Sutter's first year as GM, where he had a golden touch, we have a dark history of poor trades and UFA signings.
Yeah the team was trying to address character issues - as they had gone through a period of time with a lot of lazy but skilled players. So then they swung the other way and traded for hard working but unskilled players.
And cheaper players. It’s easy to forget how disadvantaged most Canadian teams were before the salary cap came in (and the Canadian dollar took off). Small market Canadian teams weren’t operating in the same league as American and big-market teams. I expect Coates was under instructions to shed salary in most of his deals.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
The history of the Flames in the playoffs is full of tragedies. However, Reichel being robbed by McLean with an apparent open net on a three-on-one rush in overtime of Game 7 against the Canucks (1994?), only to have Bure score an all-time classic goal in double overtime, is one of the most tragic of all. I was 16 at the time but I recall weeping like a baby that night.
EDIT: Sorry, didn't see that browna beat me to both referencing that game and providing a link to video. Whoops.
Gah. That is still such a tough clip to watch. IMO, the '94 squad was tied with the '90 squad as the most talented team of the '90 to '96 era. I think if we win the Vancouver series we would have had a really good chance at the cup.
Titov - Reichel - Fleury
Roberts - Niuewy - Stern
Walz - Otto - Nylander/Sullivan
Kruse - Kisio - McCarthy
It was a strange acquisition. I was in Valemount BC and some random guy had a kiosk set up on the side of the road where he was selling junk. I saw an autographed Flames puck there and bought it. It was the kind you would find in a souvenir shop (in a plastic case), so it wasn't signed directly to a fan.
He didn't know what name was on it and I couldn't tell at the time, but after comparing it to other autographs, it looks like a Reichel puck. I think I paid $5 for it, but it has to be worth at least half that by now...lol.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
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It was a strange acquisition. I was in Valemount BC and some random guy had a kiosk set up on the side of the road where he was selling junk. I saw an autographed Flames puck there and bought it. It was the kind you would find in a souvenir shop (in a plastic case), so it wasn't signed directly to a fan.
He didn't know what name was on it and I couldn't tell at the time, but after comparing it to other autographs, it looks like a Reichel puck. I think I paid $5 for it, but it has to be worth at least half that by now...lol.
I would have traded you my Brian Elliott puck for it but I threw that into a river after the Anaheim game.
