[News] Friedman: Feaster/Flames are not going to blow it up

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by timbit

Never underestimate stupid.

Fixed (even though what you wrote was accurate too)

[MacFlame]

Originally Posted by timbit

Never underestimate stubborn.

This.

The the thing is, as much as the owners believe keeping Iginla will ensure fan support, the total opposite is true.

It's unfair to Iginla, it really is, but the end won't be good unless ownership makes the decision to shift the organizational mentality from the status quo to that of a new direction, face and identity.

I have no poll to prove it, but my gut feeling is that fans are ready for the organizational shift. The longer this plays out, the more incensed fans will get.

...of course, to deflect the anger, ownership could point the finger at the GM, which, if history is any indication, will appease most.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by bax

How can this team not be huge time sellers at the deadline? They are at the very bottom of the standings. Sheesh.

They've got an arena to build and they need the back of Iginla to carry the fan base across the bridge.

Or so they think.

Dumb looking plan at the moment.

Cowperson

[Walter Reed]

Originally Posted by timbit

Never underestimate stubborn.

The "Big Show" had Elliotte Friedman on this afternoon and that exact term was used by him in describing Flame management and ownership in the context of a club rebuild.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

They've got an arena to build and they need the back of Iginla to carry the fan base across the bridge.

Or so they think.

Dumb looking plan at the moment.

Cowperson

The Oilers are selling an arena on the hope of a youthful lineup. The Flames are doing it on the back of a guy that, due to his age, will probably not play a single game in said arena.

I have little respect for what has been going on up north, but their strategy is the better one in this case.

(of course, neither strategy is necessary as both barns will be full regardless)

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Walter Reed

The "Big Show" had Elliotte Friedman on this afternoon and that exact term was used by him in describing Flame management and ownership in the context of a club rebuild.

Today Hockey Central used the word " denial" describing the flames ownership and management.

[mrdonkey]

I just don't get how Feaster can spout off about intellectual honesty at the same time as identifying "some contractual issues" as the heart of this team's problems. It is both aggravating and disheartening watching the Flames being managed into the ground.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Couple of points here:

1) Do NOT trade Gaudreau until you know what you have at the pro level (Abbotsford/Utica). The Flames made a huge mistake by mis-evaluating St Louis and let him go for nothing. Size isn't necessarily better when you have players with dynamic skill sets.

2) Is it a must for the Flames to draft their center ice men? This was the O'Reilly situation for me. They didn't want to wait to draft and develop a guy for 2 years to get him to the point O'Reilly is at now. There are deals to be done for current prospects that are closer to the NHL than a guy that would be drafted this year. To me, this is why Feaster must trade some of our veterans for another team's center men. They won't come cheap or easy, but a deal can be made.

3) If we end up being in the top 5 for drafting, we must pick the best available player. Ideally a center man would be best, but if it's Jones we have to take him. It would allow for us to trade J-Bo or Gio or another player that could net a good return on investment. The franchise is slowly acquiring assets and at some point in about 3 years everything will start coming together.

4) We will have to be patient and watch what happens this trade deadline, draft, and free agent season. As long as they make a move that improves the team with the long term in mind, then it's a good move. I think we've seen the end of band aids to try and make this team a playoff team. That's not to say that they honestly believed Cervenka, Hudler, and Wideman were band aids. Hudler and Wideman were long term investments in secondary talent. Cervenka was a wild card that could have paid off big, and still could IMO. The only oddity so far with Feaster's moves was the weird technicality in the O'Reilly deal. I'm still confident they will make decent, if not good moves for this franchise. I'm not happy with the current team, and I doubt they are too. Franchises go through down years and can bounce right back the next year. Parity is very high in the league, and the difference between last and 8th is sometimes down to luck and injuries (not making that excuse for us BTW). The difference between 7th/8th and 3rd/4th is also razor thin. My point is that if Feaster and Co. make 2-3 shrewd moves this franchise could be competitive and respectable again. I only ask that all the fans be patient to see how they respond to the current failure of the team before lynching them. We are all too quick to want to fire people for a lack of success. I mean, what exactly did Brian Burke do but make the Leafs a playoff team again after a disaster situation he walked into? Let them do their jobs.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Didn't recall exactly that... not disputing it, just didn't recall

Feaster in his interview on tsn stated they had two potential deals as the deadline passed to get players and king clarified in the season ticket holder meeting or whatever it is following that the flames attempted 4 deals to acquire players that eventually fell through.

I don't have the quotes in front of me, but they were saying they were buyers.

They certainly weren't sellers.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Couple of points here:

1) Do NOT trade Gaudreau until you know what you have at the pro level (Abbotsford/Utica). The Flames made a huge mistake by mis-evaluating St Louis and let him go for nothing. Size isn't necessarily better when you have players with dynamic skill sets.

2) Is it a must for the Flames to draft their center ice men? This was the O'Reilly situation for me. They didn't want to wait to draft and develop a guy for 2 years to get him to the point O'Reilly is at now. There are deals to be done for current prospects that are closer to the NHL than a guy that would be drafted this year. To me, this is why Feaster must trade some of our veterans for another team's center men. They won't come cheap or easy, but a deal can be made.

3) If we end up being in the top 5 for drafting, we must pick the best available player. Ideally a center man would be best, but if it's Jones we have to take him. It would allow for us to trade J-Bo or Gio or another player that could net a good return on investment. The franchise is slowly acquiring assets and at some point in about 3 years everything will start coming together.

4) We will have to be patient and watch what happens this trade deadline, draft, and free agent season. As long as they make a move that improves the team with the long term in mind, then it's a good move. I think we've seen the end of band aids to try and make this team a playoff team. That's not to say that they honestly believed Cervenka, Hudler, and Wideman were band aids. Hudler and Wideman were long term investments in secondary talent. Cervenka was a wild card that could have paid off big, and still could IMO. The only oddity so far with Feaster's moves was the weird technicality in the O'Reilly deal. I'm still confident they will make decent, if not good moves for this franchise. I'm not happy with the current team, and I doubt they are too. Franchises go through down years and can bounce right back the next year. Parity is very high in the league, and the difference between last and 8th is sometimes down to luck and injuries (not making that excuse for us BTW). The difference between 7th/8th and 3rd/4th is also razor thin. My point is that if Feaster and Co. make 2-3 shrewd moves this franchise could be competitive and respectable again. I only ask that all the fans be patient to see how they respond to the current failure of the team before lynching them.We are all too quick to want to fire people for a lack of success. I mean, what exactly did Brian Burke do but make the Leafs a playoff team again after a disaster situation he walked into? Let them do their jobs.

Mr. Edwards? Is that you?

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Couple of points here:

1) Do NOT trade Gaudreau until you know what you have at the pro level (Abbotsford/Utica). The Flames made a huge mistake by mis-evaluating St Louis and let him go for nothing. Size isn't necessarily better when you have players with dynamic skill sets.

2) Is it a must for the Flames to draft their center ice men? This was the O'Reilly situation for me. They didn't want to wait to draft and develop a guy for 2 years to get him to the point O'Reilly is at now. There are deals to be done for current prospects that are closer to the NHL than a guy that would be drafted this year. To me, this is why Feaster must trade some of our veterans for another team's center men. They won't come cheap or easy, but a deal can be made.

3) If we end up being in the top 5 for drafting, we must pick the best available player. Ideally a center man would be best, but if it's Jones we have to take him. It would allow for us to trade J-Bo or Gio or another player that could net a good return on investment. The franchise is slowly acquiring assets and at some point in about 3 years everything will start coming together.

4) We will have to be patient and watch what happens this trade deadline, draft, and free agent season. As long as they make a move that improves the team with the long term in mind, then it's a good move. I think we've seen the end of band aids to try and make this team a playoff team. That's not to say that they honestly believed Cervenka, Hudler, and Wideman were band aids. Hudler and Wideman were long term investments in secondary talent. Cervenka was a wild card that could have paid off big, and still could IMO. The only oddity so far with Feaster's moves was the weird technicality in the O'Reilly deal. I'm still confident they will make decent, if not good moves for this franchise. I'm not happy with the current team, and I doubt they are too. Franchises go through down years and can bounce right back the next year. Parity is very high in the league, and the difference between last and 8th is sometimes down to luck and injuries (not making that excuse for us BTW). The difference between 7th/8th and 3rd/4th is also razor thin. My point is that if Feaster and Co. make 2-3 shrewd moves this franchise could be competitive and respectable again. I only ask that all the fans be patient to see how they respond to the current failure of the team before lynching them. We are all too quick to want to fire people for a lack of success. I mean, what exactly did Brian Burke do but make the Leafs a playoff team again after a disaster situation he walked into? Let them do their jobs.

On point 2, yes I think the Flames have to draft their nos 1 center, when good young talented centers come up on the market it is because they have a fatal flaw, no GM in his right mind is giving them away, which is why Burke matched to keep Kessler as did the Avs.
If you do manage too, at huge expense, steal one away it is only then you find out about his dodgy psyche or inability to play nice on the team.

On point 4, well we have no choice to be patiant as it isn't our team none the less the plan this far has been asinine and there is no reason to believe that Feaster is about to turn into a decent GM or stop being little more than a gophor for King and the owners any time soon.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Mr. Edwards? Is that you?

Heck no, just wanting some patience among the fan base. We knew this was going to be a transition year, yet everyone is treating it like it's a black and white "playoffs or blow it up" situation. Progress never comes quickly, and even less so when you're dealing with a franchise in decline like the Flames have been for 2-3 years.

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Heck no, just wanting some patience among the fan base. We knew this was going to be a transition year, yet everyone is treating it like it's a black and white "playoffs or blow it up" situation. Progress never comes quickly, and even less so when you're dealing with a franchise in decline like the Flames have been for 2-3 years.

I was just being a smart ass. I agree the fan base needs patience and I think we as fans would have more patience if we saw the transition taking place. It should have started at least two seasons ago and it hasn't. Statements from Feaster saying they are essentially going to continue on the path that they are on is infuriating. Almost on the verge of insulting the intelligence of this fan base.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I'll take a shot in the dark and say that rumour is bogus. Burke is a pro scout for the Ducks. Of course he'll be seen in town. It's his job to scout the Flames.

If he were scouting the Flames, wouldn't he have ben in LA?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Heck no, just wanting some patience among the fan base. We knew this was going to be a transition year, yet everyone is treating it like it's a black and white "playoffs or blow it up" situation. Progress never comes quickly, and even less so when you're dealing with a franchise in decline like the Flames have been for 2-3 years.

I agree that fans have to have patience but it does not seem like ownership thinks the fans can. Kind of a slap to the face if you ask me.

I'm not so sure you can label this year as a "transition year". They were pretty sure that they were going for a playoff spot. They don't seem to be close. It's not like they took a step back and will be taking 2 steps forward with this team. This team took 3-4 steps back and have a long way to go just to be considered relevant.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Progress never comes quickly, and even less so when you're dealing with a franchise in decline like the Flames have been for 2-3 years.

Isn't that the issue? The team has been in decline for the last 3-5 years and have resorted to patchwork solutions to address a serious structural problem.

I believe many fans recognize the problem and understand that progress will not come quickly.

They are waiting and have been waiting awhile for management to shift gears and be proactive in moving declining assets and replacing them with multiple draft choices and young assets. This trade deadline will be very telling, as they will be telling their fanbase a lot by their willingness to sell, or lack thereof.

Will say it again, the worst constructed team in the entire NHL and without a serious change in direction it will not only get worse...the mid term and long term future will be awful for a very long time.

[bubbsy]

I can't believe how little we have heard from feaster over the past critical week.

Need to give an anxious fan base something to chew on with regards to what to expect here.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Heck no, just wanting some patience among the fan base. We knew this was going to be a transition year, yet everyone is treating it like it's a black and white "playoffs or blow it up" situation. Progress never comes quickly, and even less so when you're dealing with a franchise in decline like the Flames have been for 2-3 years.

A couple points - some fans might have known and acknowledged that, but ownership, King and Feaster certainly did not.

There are some (myself included) that wanted this team blown up two trade deadlines ago when it was pretty clear that these guys were not going to get any better or were simply "one or two" pieces away. We're heading right into #3 and management has given the fans no indication they will make the correct decisions.

You may ask for patience, but I ask for trust. Until we hear a different tune from management than "we aren't selling" or tossing out offer sheets, it is really hard to trust them and be patient. They need to start by coming clean.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I agree that fans have to have patience but it does not seem like ownership thinks the fans can. Kind of a slap to the face if you ask me.

I'm not so sure you can label this year as a "transition year". They were pretty sure that they were going for a playoff spot. They don't seem to be close. It's not like they took a step back and will be taking 2 steps forward with this team. This team took 3-4 steps back and have a long way to go just to be considered relevant.

Maybe we need to start an email campaign to Ken King telling him that we'd rather support a rebuild than watch the Flames continue to try to sneak into the playoffs and fail with an aging Iginla.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Oilers are selling an arena on the hope of a youthful lineup. The Flames are doing it on the back of a guy that, due to his age, will probably not play a single game in said arena.

I have little respect for what has been going on up north, but their strategy is the better one in this case.

(of course, neither strategy is necessary as both barns will be full regardless)

The oilers are getting an arena on 500m+ of taxpayer money.

I don't think Calgary will support a team that has no interest in winning. Though why Edmonton does I don't understand.