Should Flames sign Thornton to tryout?

[jayswin]

nm

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Jagr averaged 56 points a year the prior two years before signing with the Flames, so that was a bit different.

Yeah, Jagr's undoing was that Brad wanted to wait until the last minute to see what he had before making an offer. A player in his 40's, even a legend, can't sit out of a teams training camp and come in cold for the regular season like that. Hell, young star players even struggle for the first bit when they hold out on contracts.

If we wanted him, we needed to make that signing in late august, early september and have him go through the whole september deal to have any hope of being game ready.

[Rejean31]

Nope, lets get some young blood in the lineup.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

He was a complete non factor in Florida last year. An absolute waste of a roster spot, and was barely played in the 2nd half of the season. Hard pass.

Completely even forgot he was with Florida last year, my mind skipped a year. Thought that was his Toronto stint.

[Titan2]

For the press after the games, yes, please! Hopefully, someone scores four.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yeah, Jagr's undoing was that Brad wanted to wait until the last minute to see what he had before making an offer. A player in his 40's, even a legend, can't sit out of a teams training camp and come in cold for the regular season like that. Hell, young star players even struggle for the first bit when they hold out on contracts.

If we wanted him, we needed to make that signing in late august, early september and have him go through the whole september deal to have any hope of being game ready.

Agreed, but he came for the money. Calgary gave him that. To think it was going to work out was wishful.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Agreed, but he came for the money. Calgary gave him that. To think it was going to work out was wishful.

For sure, but I do think Brad should have heavily factored that in when thinking of signing him. "This is a 40+ player, I can't wait until after training camp and just pop him into the line-up, there's zero chance he'll catch up".

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by jayswin

For sure, but I do think Brad should have heavily factored that in when thinking of signing him. "This is a 40+ player, I can't wait until after training camp and just pop him into the line-up, there's zero chance he'll catch up".

I was there the day the decidedly non-HOF (why is this guy a head) coach bag skated the team and he appeared to have hurt himself. It was at Winsport. Got a picture and he signed my jersey

Probably saw the last healthy strides he took

I disliked how the Flames handled the whole Jagr situation

[UKflames]

No thank you, onto the next thread.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by UKflames

No thank you, onto the next thread.

Resign Brad Richardson?

[Higginson03]

Maybe he’d be a decent pick up as 13th forward, might be able to help guide Ruz and show him how to use that big body to his advantage

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Resign Brad Richardson?

I wouldn't be opposed to him resigning.

[dammage79]

Nah. Thorntons time is over. If anything, he should go back SJ and hang em up there.

There's far more interesting PTOs to sign IMO.

[Calgary4LIfe]

PTO? That's fine with me. He gets an opportunity to show the league that he still has enough left in the tank for a contract somewhere. Flames get another vet to help fulfill their vet quotas.



However, that's where it stops for me. He is a first ballot HHOF'er in my opinion, but he didn't exactly seem to move the needle in his last 2 stops with guys trying to win him a cup. I don't think he fits in Calgary either. Jagr fit - and I will say Jagr wasn't as bad as people made him out to be, plus the whole 'not having a full training camp' definitely impacted Jagr's season. However, Jagr was still very much a productive NHL player at that point. Heck, I would feel more confident in bringing back Jagr than Thornton if given the choice. I just don't see how Thornton can come in and help this team.

[browna]

Jagr was approached by the Flames earlier in that offseason. The tentative offer was there and Jagr did start training (he trains his own way anyways), and signing dependant on if the Flames could bolster scoring or if under performers (Bennett) the previous year, regain scoring touch in preseason and timing was dependant on camp being done and Jagrs schedule.

In hindsight, yes even a week of camp may have helped that to get some more game reps and timing etc.

When Jagr did get hurt he wanted to push through it and the Flames allowed it initially. Come December when it wasn’t getting better, Jagr then wanted to do treatment with his doctor, not the Flames one and that was basically that. Treliving told Jagr he’s resting until the Flames doctors can treat him properly and Jagr refused. (Treliving also told Hamilton that Freddie was no longer riding side saddle and he tried to take back the room that GG had already lost). Then a week later the orchestrated stick toss by GG.

Back on topic. Sutter does not need to bring guys into the room for character, who won’t contribute all season. He’s much more likely to sign Richardson or some other vet who Sutter has been to war with like Lewis, then a former top line forward there to hopefully contribute. With Lucic and Tanev, they’ve got enough vet presence in the room.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by browna

Jagr was approached by the Flames earlier in that offseason. The tentative offer was there and Jagr did start training (he trains his own way anyways), and signing dependant on if the Flames could bolster scoring or if under performers (Bennett) the previous year, regain scoring touch in preseason and timing was dependant on camp being done and Jagrs schedule.

In hindsight, yes even a week of camp may have helped that to get some more game reps and timing etc.

When Jagr did get hurt he wanted to push through it and the Flames allowed it initially. Come December when it wasn’t getting better, Jagr then wanted to do treatment with his doctor, not the Flames one and that was basically that. Treliving told Jagr he’s resting until the Flames doctors can treat him properly and Jagr refused. (Treliving also told Hamilton that Freddie was no longer riding side saddle and he tried to take back the room that GG had already lost). Then a week later the orchestrated stick toss by GG.

Back on topic. Sutter does not need to bring guys into the room for character, who won’t contribute all season. He’s much more likely to sign Richardson or some other vet who Sutter has been to war with like Lewis, then a former top line forward there to hopefully contribute. With Lucic and Tanev, they’ve got enough vet presence in the room.

This is closer to what I remember as well. That said, I always thought the main contributing factor was that Gully kept bag skating the team. He was losing the room and that was his way of trying to get it back I guess... too bad Jagr's groin would flare up after each bag skate, which I found rather stupid on the coach's part.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

No thank you. The last old HOF’er we signed didn’t exactly work out very well

If you’re referring to Jagr, many nights he was easily one of their most effective players.

The mistake with Jagr was signing him on the Eve of the season. You sign a 45 year old, you need to give him a training camp.

[Enoch Root]

There is room on the roster, and with the cap, for one more forward. But that player has to bring speed. Thornton isn't what this team needs.

[Steve Macfarlane]

Enjoying these comments. I think the Flames really botched the Jagr situation and he could have been a really big piece later in the season when hockey was most important but they let the injury stuff impact the future. And he was much better on the ice than most give him credit for even with one leg under him.

With Thornton, I really think on a PTO, if he would take one, he would bring in some really good energy and experience and help this team come together in a good way. And if he performs well enough on the ice to earn a small contract as a 13th forward, bonus.

[Shazam]

Let's sign everyone left to a PTO.