I like Jay Feaster

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Keeping Stempniak looks like it may have been a very good call.

I was one of the people upset with his re-signing. But both Lee and Jay have proved me wrong. It was a good idea keeping Stempniak, especially given how Hartley's system caters to his skillset.

To me the Regehr/Butler trade doens't look that bad anymore now that Hartley has Butler playing in a proper role and not forcing him to play #2 minutes.

Hudler, Wideman and Cervenka all look like fantastic deals. All 3 players have IMO been the main reason for the increased in skill we get to see every night.

Hiring Hartley has been a godsend. It's still too early to say, but I have a very good feeling we might have finally found the right coach for this team.

Going back to last season, Feaster kept his word on giving young players a chance. Horak, Brodie, Aliu and various other callups that have really fit in well with the team. We rarely got to see that happen under Darryl's rule unless it was an emergency.

His drafting IMO will really be his legacy when all is said and done. If you look at Tampa's picks when he was in charge, I was a little worried about how it might go here. However hiring more scouts and having more experts inputs will really turn the Flames draft record around. We might be a smaller team now and in the future, but skill will be plentiful.

I think Feaster has done a solid job and deserves a 7.5 on my scale. If we make the playoffs, 8+.

[St. Pats]

Like? Nah. Dislike? Nah. Just whatever for now. I don't think he has really done much and may have been prevented from doing what he really wanted to accomplish. I'm in wait and see mode.

[North East Goon]

He really hasnt done anything monumental good or bad to judge as of yet. He has got to stop giving away 2nd rounders like his predeccessor.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It's all about what a player is worth to that particular team. Wideman might not be worth $5.5 million average to the Canucks, but he sure is for the Flames. Offense from the defense was an issue for this team.

Out of curiousity, if you think Wideman is worth a million less, what do you think Garrison is worth? Maybe $3 million average or so?

I think a legit top 4 guy is worth about $4 mil base on last UFA period's reckoning. If you bring something extra, like a big shot, or a good breakout pass, or the ability to QB a first-rate power play unit, those are amounts to tack on. If you're suspect in an area (i.e. skating or positioning) you might take a value hit. For me, Wideman is a guy with a pretty solid first pass and makes a PP better - though he's not what you'd call "elite" in either department in the mold of a Kris Letang, say. He is suspect defensively - occasionally makes bad decisions and high-risk plays. That's the kind of player he is, not unlike Ehrhoff; with a high risk high reward defenseman you take the bad with the good. But all told, I pin him as a 2nd pairing guy who's better than average but not outstanding. So. 4.5 or so is fine.

Garrison is a solid top 4 D, so the base is $4Mil, who has a huge shot. He's also very solid positionally and a good skater - basically everyone looked at last year and said he was signed for 16 goals, but the year before he was actually one of the better shutdown guys in the league notwithstanding that Florida was terrible that year. He's a defensive defenseman with a big shot, not a scorer, and if you were expecting the same level of goal scoring from him as last season you were bound to be disappointed. On the defensive side of the puck he's generally been good. On the PP, the Canucks PP is screwed right now because Kesler is the straw that stirs the drink, and they haven't been able to get Garrison any open looks. I think that's a matter of getting comfortable in the system as much as anything. He won't score like he did last season but he should replace Salo's production, which would be about 8-10 goals, pro-rated to a 48 game season. All in all I think he's worth about 4.5M too, but was probably a bit overvalued in the offseason because of last year's goal total.

The difference between the two players is that one hit the ground running in terms of getting acclimatized to a new system. Wideman started playing at the top of his game right away. It also helps that his high-risk high-reward play has seen relatively few of the risks actually materialize to date. Garrison has been solid but doesn't look fully comfortable in some situations yet, the PP being the major one.

Like Enoch Root says, the value difference really doesn't matter unless it's blatant, i.e. when you've got a 6 million guy playing like a 4 million guy. A half a million in AAV to the good or bad doesn't make a signing into a steal or a bust. So to that extent it's kind of a moot argument.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

He really hasnt done anything monumental good or bad to judge as of yet. He has got to stop giving away 2nd rounders like his predeccessor.

The giving away of a 2nd rounder for Byron was a mistake in my opinion but using a 2nd rounder to get Cammy was the right call. The Flames added a game breaking forward AND a potential future starting goalie for an under achieving 2nd/3rd liner on a long term deal, a mid-tier prospect and a 2nd.

I do that trade 10x out of 10

[saillias]

Still don't like keeping Stempniak. He's a temporary space filler taking a roster spot from Horak or another prospect who belongs in the NHL to put up a mediocre amount of points. I am not swayed because he's put up some points early.

[Enoch Root]

He added Weisbrod and Conroy upstairs.

And he put in what looks to be a pretty good coaching staff downstairs. I like Ward as well.

They have also upgraded the scouting staff under his regime.

I wish they had brought in Davidson as well, but that's not on Feaster

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

The giving away of a 2nd rounder for Byron was a mistake in my opinion but using a 2nd rounder to get Cammy was the right call. The Flames added a game breaking forward AND a potential future starting goalie for an under achieving 2nd/3rd liner on a long term deal, a mid-tier prospect and a 2nd.

I do that trade 10x out of 10

Bourque has played well for Montreal this season and Ramo may be signing long term in the KHL if the rumours are accurate.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by saillias

Still don't like keeping Stempniak. He's a temporary space filler taking a roster spot from Horak or another prospect who belongs in the NHL to put up a mediocre amount of points. I am not swayed because he's put up some points early.

Roman Horak has not demonstrated that he can produce offensively at the NHL level anywhere near the level Stempniak has. And outside of Horak - who else is there that is even a candidate? Who is Lee taking a spot from?

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

He's made more good moves than bad. And not just on player personnel - he's not afraid to surround himself with smart hockey people and give them leeway over their areas of hockey operations.

He's certainly a big improvement over Sutter.

Jay is batting .000 as far as getting this team into the playoffs during his reign. How can you say he's a big improvement over Sutter? I can see liking his style or the way he does business but he certainly has been far less successful so far.

Like him or not, at least Sutter had this team in the playoffs more often then naught. Feaster does things "the right way" in many people's eyes but if that's not getting the team into the playoffs does it really matter?

[Itse]

Originally Posted by saillias

Still don't like keeping Stempniak. He's a temporary space filler taking a roster spot from Horak or another prospect who belongs in the NHL to put up a mediocre amount of points. I am not swayed because he's put up some points early.

Out of curiousity, what would be your number for starting to eat crow, if we put it simply in points he needs to score? (For the whole season, I get that 11 games is not a lot in the big picture.)

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Bourque has played well for Montreal this season and Ramo may be signing long term in the KHL if the rumours are accurate.

Meh Bourque has 8pts in 13 games Cammy has 9pts in 8 games. Please show me any news or rumors that say Ramo is signing long term in the KHL. Feaster said he was coming over next year and is excited to come to Calgary.

[North East Goon]

One thing that irks me about Feaster is he was babbling on about building a tough team and making the Saddledome tough to play in again. He has Brian Burke'd himself with those comments.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by saillias

Still don't like keeping Stempniak. He's a temporary space filler taking a roster spot from Horak or another prospect who belongs in the NHL to put up a mediocre amount of points. I am not swayed because he's put up some points early.

Stempniak has 9pts in 11 games and is if anything going to allow the Flames to recoup a 2nd rounder at the deadline this season or next.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

One thing that irks me about Feaster is he was babbling on about building a tough team and making the Saddledome tough to play in again. He has Brian Burke'd himself with those comments.

The Flames skating hard and playing uptempo does make them harder to play against than last year's boring dump and chase team. He really wanted Prust to add some toughness to the bottom 6 and has said multiple times that he is still seeking that type of player in the trade market.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

The Flames skating hard and playing uptempo does make them harder to play against than last year's boring dump and chase team. He really wanted Prust to add some toughness to the bottom 6 and has said multiple times that he is still seeking that type of player in the trade market.

Then do it.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Stempniak has 9pts in 11 games and is if anything going to allow the Flames to recoup a 2nd rounder at the deadline this season or next.

I already said that I am not impressed that he's put up points early. He's streaky. That's what Stempniak does. Did you guys that were unhappy when we signed him, but have changed your mind now, think that he was just going to Stajan-out and stop producing? No, this is what he does. This is what we knew he was, when we kept him.

Originally Posted by Itse

Out of curiousity, what would be your number for starting to eat crow, if we put it simply in points he needs to score? (For the whole season, I get that 11 games is not a lot in the big picture.)

30 games seems a good benchmark I think.

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Roman Horak has not demonstrated that he can produce offensively at the NHL level anywhere near the level Stempniak has. And outside of Horak - who else is there that is even a candidate? Who is Lee taking a spot from?

Also thinking about what happens to Baertschi when he gets back. He should be in a top 9 role, right? So who gets benched. Or is he getting sent down to Abby.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

One thing that irks me about Feaster is he was babbling on about building a tough team and making the Saddledome tough to play in again. He has Brian Burke'd himself with those comments.

I think the biggest legitimate complaint about Feaster is that he has said some things that he shouldn't have, and said some things that he didn't follow up on.

1) less is more when it comes to talking -especially publicly

2) if you say, DO it.

But mostly, I think he has done well so far.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

I was one of the people upset with his re-signing. But both Lee and Jay have proved me wrong. It was a good idea keeping Stempniak, especially given how Hartley's system caters to his skillset.

To me the Regehr/Butler trade doens't look that bad anymore now that Hartley has Butler playing in a proper role and not forcing him to play #2 minutes.

Hudler, Wideman and Cervenka all look like fantastic deals. All 3 players have IMO been the main reason for the increased in skill we get to see every night.

Hiring Hartley has been a godsend. It's still too early to say, but I have a very good feeling we might have finally found the right coach for this team.

Going back to last season, Feaster kept his word on giving young players a chance. Horak, Brodie, Aliu and various other callups that have really fit in well with the team. We rarely got to see that happen under Darryl's rule unless it was an emergency.

His drafting IMO will really be his legacy when all is said and done. If you look at Tampa's picks when he was in charge, I was a little worried about how it might go here. However hiring more scouts and having more experts inputs will really turn the Flames draft record around. We might be a smaller team now and in the future, but skill will be plentiful.

I think Feaster has done a solid job and deserves a 7.5 on my scale. If we make the playoffs, 8+.

Agree with pretty much everything said here.
Stempniak has made a fool out of me so far this season which is good. I was very much opposed to Stempniak and Comeau being resigned.
Still think the the Regehr trade was terrible. Basically we traded one of our top 4 and most physical D men for a #6 Dman that could easily be off the starting roster with Smith and a AHL forward.
I don't believe Byron will ever become a full time NHL player.
If Feaster put him on waivers every year i doubt if he ever gets picked up.
Babchuk was aanother bad signing, a waste of cap really.
Comeau I don't know what Jay was thinking about this tool. Ok we get it Jay he is 26 yadda yadda. He is garbage.
Everything else Feaster has been pretty decent on.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by flamesaresmokin

Jay is batting .000 as far as getting this team into the playoffs during his reign. How can you say he's a big improvement over Sutter? I can see liking his style or the way he does business but he certainly has been far less successful so far.

Like him or not, at least Sutter had this team in the playoffs more often then naught. Feaster does things "the right way" in many people's eyes but if that's not getting the team into the playoffs does it really matter?

Look at the age of the core. Sutter inherited a young team. Feaster inherited a team with few players in their prime and many who were on the downside of their careers. Age means everything when evaluating a roster.