[News] Blair Jones discussion

[calgARI]

It's almost like Jones is getting some blame for how the team is doing.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If these are the worst moves Feaster has made, then we're in pretty good shape.

But really, woe is us for not trading Jackman for a 6th.

It's not so much that Jackman being on the roster is a problem. It's the timing and length of deal that actually has you questioning the though process. Jackman doesn't need to be locked up days before the trade deadline, and he doesn't need to be locked up for 2 years. You can re-sign the Jackmans of the world a day before UFA free agency and you don't need to lock him up for more than a year. He's an interchangeable asset that can be found in numerous spots for league minimum.

And given the biggest issue with this management team has failed to accomplish is actually more reflected in what they haven't done to date (lack of impact moves addressing the teams key need or any change of results) its fair to look at some of the tweaks they are making and wonder what the hells going on. I agree its probably fair to suggest it might take time for the entire plan to reveal itself, but for now it looks like mindless tinkering with no real end goal half the time.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I love how one single waiver movement can cause the entire management group to be so hated and despised.

Forget all of the good things Feaster and co. have done since he got here. Forget the fact that we may not have Sven or Gaudreau if it weren't for them. Forget the fact that we may not have Hudler, Wideman and Cervenka keeping us somewhat entertained during this miserable season. Forget the fact that he got that bum Bourque out of town for a heart and soul leader in Cammalleri (plus perhaps the best KHL goalie). I could go on about good things they've done.

But I guess people have a short memory.

Here's the thing. Fans are past tired of the owners "win now" approach and the Feaster and Co. are going to feel heat because of their bosses mandate. I have been happy with some of the organizational changes and while bringing in Hulder, Wideman, and Cervenka look good on the surface the team is arguably playing worse than they did last year. Sven and Gaudreau look nice but they are both small players and it's debatable just how much future impact they will add. IMO neither player are replacements for Iginla as franchise players. Bottom line is that I'm not going to give major credit until those two do anything of merit in the NHL. Throw in a farm team that seems to be more interested in winning hockey games with career AHLers than developing players and there simply isn't a lot to be happy about for Flames fans. We can't look at the farm and say oh well our NHL team sucks but our prospects are coming along because most of them aren't playing much and maybe it's because they aren't good enough but maybe it's because the situation on the farm is not optimum for developing confidence and bringing along players slowly.

Frustration is boiling over and these Mickey Mouse moves aren't exactly enduring management to the fans. Doesn't mean we want Feaster or Hartley fired but it means we expect better. A lot of talk and hoopla about a fourth line player being put on waivers but at the end of the day it's simply another head scratcher to add to the accumulating pile of puzzling moves this franchise is making. Maybe a team trades for him and they sign Arnott which will make some sense of things but on the flip side adding Jason Arnott has more of the same old stopgap, win now, failure written all over it.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Here's the thing. Fans are past tired of the owners "win now" approach and the Feaster and Co. are going to feel heat because of their bosses mandate. I have been happy with some of the organizational changes and while bringing in Hulder, Wideman, and Cervenka look good on the surface the team is arguably playing worse than they did last year. Sven and Gaudreau look nice but they are both small players and it's debatable just how much future impact they will add. IMO neither player are replacements for Iginla as franchise players. Bottom line is that I'm not going to give major credit until those two do anything of merit in the NHL. Throw in a farm team that seems to be more interested in winning hockey games with career AHLers than developing players and there simply isn't a lot to be happy about for Flames fans. We can't look at the farm and say oh well our NHL team sucks but our prospects are coming along because most of them aren't playing much and maybe it's because they aren't good enough but maybe it's because the situation on the farm is not optimum for developing confidence and bringing along players slowly.

Frustration is boiling over and these Mickey Mouse moves aren't exactly enduring management to the fans. Doesn't mean we want Feaster or Hartley fired but it means we expect better. A lot of talk and hoopla about a fourth line player being put on waivers but at the end of the day it's simply another head scratcher to add to the accumulating pile of puzzling moves this franchise is making. Maybe a team trades for him and they sign Arnott which will make some sense of things but on the flip side adding Jason Arnott has more of the same old stopgap, win now, failure written all over it.

The mandate isn't exactly a 'win-now' approach, however. Well, I guess it is open to interpretation.

To me, a 'win-now' approach means you are trying to to load your team up at the expense of the future. I don't think the Flames are doing this (and I should hope they continue not to). Flames have poured a lot of money into drafting and development, and they aren't trading picks away any longer.

Flames are a 'rebuild on the fly' type of team that is trying to stay competitive while doing so. It is somewhat admirable, rather than the tanking that goes on. I haven't been exactly thrilled with the 'standing pat' thing the last couple of years at the deadline either - felt the Flames could have made a few moves to get a couple more picks. However, this year I do think if they are out of it something will happen. Iginla is not signing. That (to me) speaks volumes of what might just happen.

As for the Heat - Darryl got criticized for only having young legitimate prospects on the team. The team floundered, the city was upset (the nice little arrangement they have with Abbotsford where they city pays for all losses)... Prospects weren't improving any better. Based on how the prospects came up and filled very well last year during the injury run, I think they are coming along fine. Always room for improvement, but the Heat and the Flames' development program are hardly to be faulted.

It is usually a good thing to bring young players along with good vets that can help them to become good pros. I hear this mantra quite a lot. I do think there is a ring of truth to it.

[Vox]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Here's the thing. Fans are past tired of the owners "win now" approach and the Feaster and Co. are going to feel heat because of their bosses mandate. I have been happy with some of the organizational changes and while bringing in Hulder, Wideman, and Cervenka look good on the surface the team is arguably playing worse than they did last year. Sven and Gaudreau look nice but they are both small players and it's debatable just how much future impact they will add. IMO neither player are replacements for Iginla as franchise players. Bottom line is that I'm not going to give major credit until those two do anything of merit in the NHL. Throw in a farm team that seems to be more interested in winning hockey games with career AHLers than developing players and there simply isn't a lot to be happy about for Flames fans. We can't look at the farm and say oh well our NHL team sucks but our prospects are coming along because most of them aren't playing much and maybe it's because they aren't good enough but maybe it's because the situation on the farm is not optimum for developing confidence and bringing along players slowly.

Frustration is boiling over and these Mickey Mouse moves aren't exactly enduring management to the fans. Doesn't mean we want Feaster or Hartley fired but it means we expect better. A lot of talk and hoopla about a fourth line player being put on waivers but at the end of the day it's simply another head scratcher to add to the accumulating pile of puzzling moves this franchise is making. Maybe a team trades for him and they sign Arnott which will make some sense of things but on the flip side adding Jason Arnott has more of the same old stopgap, win now, failure written all over it.

Conversely there is a definate re-engineering of the team underway. The Flames have become younger, more skilled, and far more entertaining to watch. Drafting seems improved. There are more resources in scouting and player developement. There seem to be more moves made for the long term. Hudler and Wideman are on multiyear deals and will contribute for quite sometime. They aren't aging vets with one year left in the tank. They aren't home-run swings trying to push the team to the top on a miricle and a prayer. And it seems to me that the mindset is not win-now, but compete-now. My perspective of win-now was giving up future assets to try and push deep into the playoffs or win a cup. Compete-now seems to be an attempt to make the playoffs, entertain the fans, provide a good product, but not sell the future.

The lockout left me with a sense of apathy this year, but, despite that, I find myself watching more hockey and having more interest than last year. Because the team is becoming more entertaining and interesting to watch. Maybe it's easy for me to say this because I had modest expectations - expectations that are being met. But as a fan it's a lot more fun looking forward this year than it has been in the past. Sure, I'd love to see better results immediately. But looking at the poll that was done on CP a few weeks back I also know I'm in the majority that pretty much expected this.

[Roof-Daddy]

So if this waiving of Jones was a result of him not being happy about his role with the team, I guess a big piece of humble pie has now been served?

If that's the case, best get back in line and do what's asked of you Mr. Jones or you'll find yourself back in the AHL now.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by calgARI

It's almost like Jones is getting some blame for how the team is doing.

Well somebody needs too be held accountable. And it certainly will not be the management team.

[djsFlames]

At least Jones is living up to his history, and has been pretty steady in his role.

Comeau on the other hand scored 24 goals a couple seasons ago with the Islanders. And has since crapped the bed in every way shape or form imaginable. We can say this because he was actually capable once, as hard as it is to believe. If there's anyone who needs a good long stint in the minors to be retaught how to pass and shoot a puck into, or at least AT a half-empty net, it's Comeau.

Instead, we've come to see the day when after his most brutally impotent offensive performance, he is promoted to the first line.

I hope it works, but I seriously, oh so seriously, doubt it.

[Robo]

Why do people keep saying comeau is being promoted to first line it seems that iggy and glenncross have been demoted to third line roles

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

See my previous post, Steps are going in the right direction. 12 games in and the season is disastrous?

Complaining all the time must be incredibly tiring.

It's tiring reading posts on this board about us fickle fans and our desire to whine. Upturned noses telling us, "well look what they've done lately."

If being near dead-last in the whole league after a quarter of the season isn't disasterous to you, obviously you're a Calgary Flames fan because this is now the norm.

This team, in the standings, is exactly where they were a quarter of the way through the season last year. 13th in a 15 team conference. Even worse? The Oilers aren't below us anymore.

The Islanders are better. The Islanders.

[Mister Yamoto]

When Iginla got bumped down on Wednesday night against Dallas I thought the Glencross/Jones/Iginla line played well. A goal and two assists and lots of good shifts. I hope Jones somehow sticks around. Not surprised he cleared though.

[BloodFetish]

Originally Posted by Robo

Why do people keep saying comeau is being promoted to first line it seems that iggy and glenncross have been demoted to third line roles

Couldn't agree more. The days of whichever line Iginla is on being the defacto first line are gone, IMO.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Robo

Why do people keep saying comeau is being promoted to first line it seems that iggy and glenncross have been demoted to third line roles

I think it's both. Iginla and Glencross have moved down to the 2nd line and Comeau up to the 2nd line. People really seem to ignore that Comeau had a fantastic game on Friday

[nik-]

If Iginla is up at the top when the ice time is tallied at the end of the night, it's the first line. It's been that way all season, why would anyone expect it to change tonight?

[Stay Golden]

Jones hasn't beeen great but rewarding Comeau is insane.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Robo

Why do people keep saying comeau is being promoted to first line it seems that iggy and glenncross have been demoted to third line roles

Well, we'll see about ice time. Especially on the powerplay.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Why Aliu? From everything i have read he has not played well this year.

Just throwing some names out there, not specifying the need to bring him up, just put him in that category of younger players.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Jones won't get claimed either.

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

Jones will not get claimed.

What a shocking turn of events!

[WessThompson]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

People really seem to ignore that Comeau had a fantastic game on Friday

If by fantastic you mean skates really quickly and was in position to score often ok. Lets not ignore a complete lack of finish and an amazing ability to kill every play. The guy is useless...and has been since he arrived here. He has no place on this team. You must think Fata was fantastic as well?

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by TurnedTheCorner

What a shocking turn of events!

Way to go!