2013-2014 Season

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by moon

What has the current ownership done to indicate they don't care about winning?

They have spent to the cap, they have fired two GM's that weren't working, they have brought in a former Cup winning manager who has a record of success at likely a fairly decent salary to manage the whole operation. They have increased spending in non-on ice areas such as scouting, stats, video etc.

Also, which fans are fed up? The fans that have bought all the season tickets that are available? The Fans that are on a waiting list for season tickets? The fans that repeatedly buy my tickets I have for sale? The fans that post 100's, if not 1000's of messages on this board about the team?

Keep in mind we're in Calgary, Canada here where hockey is a huge part of the people's lifestyle.

Going out to games is just what people do to see NHL hockey. Doesn't mean they're satisfied with their favorite team.

Also, Jay Feaster should have never been made GM. They said at the time that he wasn't here to replace Darryl.

Also, spending to the cap means little. David Jones and Dennis Wideman
at a combined $9M plus Cammalleri at $7M for a total of $16M is a lot for those three players.

[moon]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Keep in mind we're in Calgary, Canada here where hockey is a huge part of the people's lifestyle.

Going out to games is just what people do to see NHL hockey. Doesn't mean they're satisfied with their favorite team.

Also, Jay Feaster should have never been made GM. They said at the time that he wasn't here to replace Darryl.

Also, spending to the cap means little. David Jones and Dennis Wideman
at a combined $9M plus Cammalleri at $7M for a total of $16M is a lot for those three players.

Most of what you just posted has nothing to do with what you said earlier.

I agree Feaster should not have been hired but that doesn't show the owner doesn't want to win. If he didn't care he would just keep Sutter on, not pay two guys a salary and then hire the cheapest guy when Sutter's deal was done.

Satisfied and fed up are two completely different things. I think it is very clear I have not been satisfied with what has been going on with the team since Feaster's hiring but I am far from fed up. It is very easy to be both.

Spending to the cap means that the owner is willing to put money into the team to win. If he didn't care about winning then why would he spend big bucks on players?

Not sure what David Jones has to do with anything as he wasn't here when the team spent to the cap. It was on top level guys like Jarome Iginla, Mikka Kiprusoff and Jay Bouwmeester that were taking up the majority of our cap space.

You have done nothing to indicate that the owner doesn't care about winning and nothing to indicate that the fans are fed up. In fact pointing out that Calgary loves hockey shows that they aren't fed up.

Feel free to address those points anytime perhaps this time without bringing up stuff that has nothing to do with the topic.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Keep in mind we're in Calgary, Canada here where hockey is a huge part of the people's lifestyle.

Going out to games is just what people do to see NHL hockey. Doesn't mean they're satisfied with their favorite team.

Also, Jay Feaster should have never been made GM. They said at the time that he wasn't here to replace Darryl.

Also, spending to the cap means little. David Jones and Dennis Wideman
at a combined $9M plus Cammalleri at $7M for a total of $16M is a lot for those three players.

Not all owners are willing or able to spend to the cap is the point. The Flames ownership can and has in the past and that shows that they want the team to succeed on the ice.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by moon

Most of what you just posted has nothing to do with what you said earlier.

I agree Feaster should not have been hired but that doesn't show the owner doesn't want to win. If he didn't care he would just keep Sutter on, not pay two guys a salary and then hire the cheapest guy when Sutter's deal was done.

Satisfied and fed up are two completely different things. I think it is very clear I have not been satisfied with what has been going on with the team since Feaster's hiring but I am far from fed up. It is very easy to be both.

Spending to the cap means that the owner is willing to put money into the team to win. If he didn't care about winning then why would he spend big bucks on players?

Not sure what David Jones has to do with anything as he wasn't here when the team spent to the cap. It was on top level guys like Jarome Iginla, Mikka Kiprusoff and Jay Bouwmeester that were taking up the majority of our cap space.

You have done nothing to indicate that the owner doesn't care about winning and nothing to indicate that the fans are fed up. In fact pointing out that Calgary loves hockey shows that they aren't fed up.

Feel free to address those points anytime perhaps this time without bringing up stuff that has nothing to do with the topic.

Actually those points are just a few that pretty much all fans will agree with and even add more of their own.

Let's not even start with the whole going to the game experience, you know the bad food, the bad service, the bad music, all these little things just snowball and add up.

We can agree to disagree, I'm sticking to what I'm saying though.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by Flacker

Your lack of patience is disturbing.

This is exactly it and is why I brought up this subject, we need to have patience, lots and lots of patience. We have a full cupboard of mediocre 3rd and 4th liners on the farm with some that could be moved to second if needed in a pinch. Johnny Hockey may end up being a high end winger but #1 centre will be needed......Money, is he it? I don't think so, he will go on to have a decent career but I do not have him pegged as our #1 high end centre, very good #2 yes but not #1. If we are able to get Ekblad this year and McDavid or Eichel next year. Then if we still suck for another year we have some more very highly thought of draft prospects in Sean Day, Tyler Benson, Mitchell Balmas, Sam Steel as well as a few others. 2016 is looking like a strong draft, although it is early. The more I think about it I see us drafting top 5 the next three years and then we will make our moves up from there but it will take time.

[codynw]

The only people that are "fed up" are casual fans. I'd be more annoyed if they were still a cap team finshing in 9th place in the conference (again) than I am with them being a rebuilding team in 13th.

[djsFlames]

There is one thing that could change our fortunes sooner than later;
Johnny Hockey. I just think that he's truly an elite type (I see a Patty Kane type in his prime) if he can make it work against the big players on the big stage. I think he makes others around him better, too. I think he's helped to make Arnold a stronger offensive player.

And to a lesser degree, Poirier, Baertschi, Gillies. Although I think it'll take each of them a good amount of time yet to come into their primes as impact players.

I see Monahan starting to impact games more consistently and in more ways next season. He's figuring a little more out each day it looks like. What also excites me is how well him and Gaudreau looked together this past summer.

You can't say anything is for sure. We've got so much in the bank for this off season that we can throw at UFAs. Columbus has managed to sign some decent big fish in recent off seasons (Horton, Wisniewski), why can't we? I'd say we're much more attractive.

It all depends on how fast our 1st rounders move along, as well as how high guys like Knight, Granlund, Hanowski, Ferland, Sieloff, Wotherspoon can elevate themselves a players. For example if Sieloff (like Wotherspoon) can become a 2nd pairing guy instead of a 3rd pairing d-man, it'll help further us a little more.

So much depends on development within the organization and how well players progress individually (and how quickly).

But I think year 3 will look much different and a lot more hopeful than year 1. All it takes is for a few things to go really right over the next two seasons and we could be beginning to make noise that year.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Actually those points are just a few that pretty much all fans will agree with and even add more of their own.

Let's not even start with the whole going to the game experience, you know the bad food, the bad service, the bad music, all these little things just snowball and add up.

We can agree to disagree, I'm sticking to what I'm saying though.

Bad Food: I have attended sporting events at the Bell Center, Madison Square Garden, ScotiaBank Place, Rexall Place, Rogers Place, Air Canada Center, BMO Field, and MetLife Stadium (among others) in the last 24 months. The stadium food in all of these places is on par with the Saddledome. Stadium food no matter where you attend the game is not that great. I would say that the bigger issue is the lack of restarants in the area around the Saddledome, but that has nothing to do with the Flames organization.

Poor game experience and music.....not according to those in the industry., http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=638483

Also please name the bad service the Flames provide since they are known for being a first class organization when it comes to providing service for their fans. I have seen first hand how accommodating they can be from how they treated a season ticket holder who was diagnosed with ALS and how they have acted to make sure the game is still a great experience for him.

You can keep making up B.S. all you want you aren't convincing anybody.

The one failure from the ownership group (I don't blame them for on-ice failures) IMO would be their failure to proceed with the new stadium that they have been talking about for at least 5 years now.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by codynw

The only people that are "fed up" are casual fans. I'd be more annoyed if they were still a cap team finshing in 9th place in the conference (again) than I am with them being a rebuilding team in 13th.

I agree casual fans can be part of the problem but it's not their fault.

It's fans like me that are going to turn this thing around because we care enough to speak out when it's not popular.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Bad Food: I have attended sporting events at the Bell Center, Madison Square Garden, ScotiaBank Place, Rexall Place, Rogers Place, Air Canada Center, BMO Field, and MetLife Stadium (among others) in the last 24 months. The stadium food in all of these places is on par with the Saddledome. Stadium food no matter where you attend the game is not that great. I would say that the bigger issue is the lack of restarants in the area around the Saddledome, but that has nothing to do with the Flames organization.

Poor game experience and music.....not according to those in the industry., http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=638483

Also please name the bad service the Flames provide since they are known for being a first class organization when it comes to providing service for their fans. I have seen first hand how accommodating they can be from how they treated a season ticket holder who was diagnosed with ALS and how they have acted to make sure the game is still a great experience for him.

You can keep making up B.S. all you want you aren't convincing anybody.

The one failure from the ownership group (I don't blame them for on-ice failures) IMO would be their failure to proceed with the new stadium that they have been talking about for at least 5 years now.

Gouging people for parking on game days.

Letting their sponsor Scotiabank harass people for credit cards on the main concourse.

A lot of their servers don't even know how to pour a beer without getting their hands all over the rim or sticking it in there.

So no it's not BS.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Gouging people for parking on game days.

Letting their sponsor Scotiabank harass people for credit cards on the main concourse.

A lot of their servers don't even know how to pour a beer without getting their hands all over the rim or sticking it in there.

So no it's not BS.

Have you ever went to a sporting event in any other city?

These things happen at every venue I have ever been to.

The Phoenix Coyotes charge $25 for game day parking, $10 more then those terrible Calgary Flames owners are charging you.

Every professional sporting event I have went to had some type of table where you can get a team credit card. Even at a Toronto FC game there was credit card sign ups at every corner, this was by far the worst at the New York Giants game where they harassed you for credit cards, the New York Post, and even had a Verizon store on site in case you wanted to upgrade your phone at the game.

If these things bother you so much and actually take away from the experience I would recommend you don't go to any sporting event ever because these are minor issues.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Lots of extremes in this thread. I don't think it is as black and white as suck for 5 years or you are not rebuilding.

The flames aren't rebuilding right now. They are living in a van down by the river, chasing the oiler dream of winning by losing. It's the easiest and most pathetic path in the world, but pretty unavoidable in the first 12 months.

Rebuilding starts when they actually try to get better, with actual nhl players not just draft picks. No draft pick will meaningfully help them in the next 5 years unless it comes with a whole lot of other pieces throughout the same time period. If you doubt it look north.

But we aren't 5 years in. It's year one. Hell maybe month 1 if Burke is hitting reset once again. It's frustrating because no one knows wtf Burke is up to, and Ken king owes STH a LOT of free beer for milking everyone this year, but my pitchfork is still comfortable in my shed for now.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Gouging people for parking on game days.

Letting their sponsor Scotiabank harass people for credit cards on the main concourse.

A lot of their servers don't even know how to pour a beer without getting their hands all over the rim or sticking it in there.

So no it's not BS.

What does any of this have to do with your original point? You were complaining that the owners don't care about winning, and now suddenly the issue is bad food and getting harassed by sponsors?

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

The Flames are not really interested in Sam Gagner. But for the right /reasonable asking price it may be something the Flames could look at.

Originally Posted by JobHopper

I think I would be okay with Ron Wilson for the simple reason that he has plenty of NHL experience.

It has to be an experienced NHL coach though for me.

Originally Posted by JobHopper

Would Burke do a 1st and Hudler for Hall?

Maybe include Baertschi as well?

The Flames definitely have some players now that can bring some good returns.

I believe both the Oilers and Canucks are on the Flames list of teams to trade with.

Originally Posted by JobHopper

With Brian Burke's connection to Vancouver there could be a trade in the works here.

Possibly Hudler and Backlund to the Canucks for Kevin Bieksa and Jannik Hansen. Probably get a draft pick from the Canucks as well.

Originally Posted by JobHopper

I agree casual fans can be part of the problem but it's not their fault.

It's fans like me that are going to turn this thing around because we care enough to speak out when it's not popular.

So in summary, once we get rid of these deadbeat owners who obviously don't care about winning, hire Ron Wilson to coach, ship off Hudler, Baertschi, Backlund, our 1st rd pick this year (and whatever it would take to get Gagner), bring in Hall, Gagner, Bieksa and Jannik Hansen the ship will be turned around!

[moon]

Originally Posted by JobHopper

I agree casual fans can be part of the problem but it's not their fault.

It's fans like me that are going to turn this thing around because we care enough to speak out when it's not popular.

Lol

I am sure the Flames are going to start making better trades and drafting because of your whining.

And isn't popular? I thought fans were fed up?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

So in summary, once we get rid of these deadbeat owners who obviously don't care about winning, hire Ron Wilson to coach, ship off Hudler, Baertschi, Backlund, our 1st rd pick this year (and whatever it would take to get Gagner), bring in Hall, Gagner, Bieksa and Jannik Hansen the ship will be turned around!

Burke should just hire this genius as the new GM. Turn it around and win the cup this year!

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by codynw

What does any of this have to do with your original point? You were complaining that the owners don't care about winning, and now suddenly the issue is bad food and getting harassed by sponsors?

Like I said, it's a lot of things that show that the current ownership group could do a lot better and not just in the hockey side and on ice product.

I've been thinking for a while already that it may be time to consider a single owner.

Was just a good thread to post it in.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Lots of extremes in this thread. I don't think it is as black and white as suck for 5 years or you are not rebuilding.

The flames aren't rebuilding right now. They are living in a van down by the river, chasing the oiler dream of winning by losing. It's the easiest and most pathetic path in the world, but pretty unavoidable in the first 12 months.

Rebuilding starts when they actually try to get better, with actual nhl players not just draft picks. No draft pick will meaningfully help them in the next 5 years unless it comes with a whole lot of other pieces throughout the same time period. If you doubt it look north.

But we aren't 5 years in. It's year one. Hell maybe month 1 if Burke is hitting reset once again. It's frustrating because no one knows wtf Burke is up to, and Ken king owes STH a LOT of free beer for milking everyone this year, but my pitchfork is still comfortable in my shed for now.

Not every team is the Oilers. They didn't set the default for all rebuilds. They were completely and utterly incompetent in their approach and methods and that's why it's taken (and is still taking) them this long.

[JobHopper]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

So in summary, once we get rid of these deadbeat owners who obviously don't care about winning, hire Ron Wilson to coach, ship off Hudler, Baertschi, Backlund, our 1st rd pick this year (and whatever it would take to get Gagner), bring in Hall, Gagner, Bieksa and Jannik Hansen the ship will be turned around!

Would be a better team, that's for sure.

[mikephoen]

Holy crap,you guys got trolled bad!