[News] Baertschi assigned to Abbotsford. Backlund activated off IR

[Mike F]

Sven had a few games where he looked physically unready, but all in all, in a vacuum I didn't think he needed to be sent down. However, fact is the Flames have too many top 9 wingers, and Sven can be sent down without clearing waivers.

As I've said before, if the Flames fall out of the race, or if he gets an offer he can't refuse, I'd like to see Feaster package Bouwmeester, Glencross/Stempniak, and a non-first pick to get a really good, young centre and a solid defensive #4 D. Bring Sven back up at that time.

As for Backlund, couldn't come soon enough. He was the team's best centre before he went down. Hopefully he can get up to speed quickly.

[genetic_phreek]

Sven's success will remain to be seen. I don't agree with sending him down and I understand they want him to get adapted to play more minutes at a pro level, I haven't seen any other Flames prospects benefit from our AHL development. Our last highly touted prospect named Iginla didn't get a sniff of the AHL and I think he turned out ok.

[Joborule]

2 Centres down.

2 to go.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by Joborule

2 Centres down.

2 to go.

As much as Comeau gets dumped on, I think he's fine as a 4th line C

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by Sakari

The reason Sven is sent down is because this team is far too deep on the wings for him to fit. It isn't because management lacks confidence in him, not because he sucks, because with Backlund back, this team is as deep as its ever been and if he plays on the 4th line, we see nothing but lack of development. People are acting as if we're not going to see him again. He'll be back as soon as someone is injured. There's just not a place where he'll get the development he needs up here.

If the team is so deep with talented wingers, and we have such a talented top 6, then why are we out of a playoff spot?

I don't disagree with your interpretation of the Flames decision, I just think that Sven is no better / worse than Glencross, Backlund, Stempniak, Cervenka - however these players seem to get more icetime and then they get powerplay opportunities.

Other posters on this forum have acknowledged that Sven was the best Flames forward along with Iginla during the canucks game, yet he was sat in the 3rd Period.

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

If every player who had a disappointing rookie season with the Flames went on to be Art Ross winners, nearly ever first round pick the Flames have had in the last decade except Phaneuf should have the trophy.

St. Louis and Baertschi aren't really comparable. Baertschi had a disappointing start, I suppose, but nearly everyone should still have high hopes for him as a highly touted first round pick and he just needs some more time to develop. St. Louis faltered in his attempt with the Flames and he was already a huge question mark that no other team even bothered with, both before and after he went undrafted. Of course we know how he turned out but really went through a completely different path than Baertschi is taking.

St. Louis didn't live up to his potential on the Flames because Sutter used him as a 4th line checker. He even stated later that he was grateful for his experience with the Flames, as it greatly improved his defensive ability.

As a STH in those years, I watched him closely and believed him to be an outstanding potential, and was extremely disappointed when he was not signed. In fact, towards the end of the season, I phoned Bremner and told him whatever he did he should not get rid of Martin St. Louis. He sent me a clock, and I call it my Martin St. Louis clock.

I recall during the summer, after losing him, telling my brother-in-law, who spends the winters in the Tampa Bay area, to keep and eye out for Martin St. Louis, and he said, "Martin who?" Needless to say, the rest is history.

I don't think St. Louis really started to shine, until someone took a chance on him, and started playing him on the top line.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

St. Louis didn't live up to his potential on the Flames because Sutter used him as a 4th line checker. He even stated later that he was grateful for his experience with the Flames, as it greatly improved his defensive ability.

As a STH in those years, I watched him closely and believed him to be an outstanding potential, and was extremely disappointed when he was not signed. In fact, towards the end of the season, I phoned Bremner and told him whatever he did he should not get rid of Martin St. Louis. He sent me a clock, and I call it my Martin St. Louis clock.

I recall during the summer, after losing him, telling my brother-in-law, who spends the winters in the Tampa Bay area, to keep and eye out for Martin St. Louis, and he said, "Martin who?" Needless to say, the rest is history.

I don't think St. Louis really started to shine, until someone took a chance on him, and started playing him on the top line.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

I don't think it's been a waste, it's shown him where he is at in his development and how much he still has to work to become a star in this league. He knows what i expected from him, and that no one is going to just give him an NHL career, he's going to have to earn it. His time up here was very beneficial, but I think this was the right time to send him down.

I can agree with this. He's going to get a lot of opportunities to play in the A and in the future with the big club. Going through these struggles will only mean that he'll have a good idea of what kind of expectations he has to set on himself to translate his talent into results.
There were a lot of unrealistic hopes set on the kid but as long as he develops nicely, I can't complain.

In other news, YES BACKLUND IS BACK! Hope he stays healthy for the rest of the year and continues to build off of where he was at.

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

St. Louis didn't live up to his potential on the Flames because Sutter used him as a 4th line checker. He even stated later that he was grateful for his experience with the Flames, as it greatly improved his defensive ability.

As a STH in those years, I watched him closely and believed him to be an outstanding potential, and was extremely disappointed when he was not signed. In fact, towards the end of the season, I phoned Bremner and told him whatever he did he should not get rid of Martin St. Louis. He sent me a clock, and I call it my Martin St. Louis clock.

I recall during the summer, after losing him, telling my brother-in-law, who spends the winters in the Tampa Bay area, to keep and eye out for Martin St. Louis, and he said, "Martin who?" Needless to say, the rest is history.

I don't think St. Louis really started to shine, until someone took a chance on him, and started playing him on the top line.

Scorers need minutes. You cannot put a scorer or playmaker on the 4th line and expect them to work their magic offensively playing with plugs who have cement hands. You cannot expect them to 'work their way up' by scoring.

What do I know. I only played up to Junior B. Arm-chair fans who have never played ice hockey on a team know alot more about minutes, opportunities and how that translates into points.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

What do I know. I only played up to Junior B.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

If the team is so deep with talented wingers, and we have such a talented top 6, then why are we out of a playoff spot?

I don't disagree with your interpretation of the Flames decision, I just think that Sven is no better / worse than Glencross, Backlund, Stempniak, Cervenka - however these players seem to get more icetime and then they get powerplay opportunities.

Other posters on this forum have acknowledged that Sven was the best Flames forward along with Iginla during the canucks game, yet he was sat in the 3rd Period.

Because we lack credible NHL centers. Stajan has been awesome but after that...
Backlund was starting to show more than just flashes until the injury and still lacking another center outside of that.

You could make the argument that Glencross should be sat for a couple just so he can take a close look at how big/small the net is but Stempniak? Right up there with Stajan with his consistent presence in the offensive zone. He's been pretty consistent with his tenacity on the forecheck. One of our more physical forwards oddly enough.

Sven though, outside from a sneak peek here and there, and nothing but failed one-on-ones (though they were exciting), he hasn't really done anything to show that he deserves the regular playing time. Should he have gotten more? Yeah, definitely.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Anduril

I can agree with this. He's going to get a lot of opportunities to play in the A and in the future with the big club. Going through these struggles will only mean that he'll have a good idea of what kind of expectations he has to set on himself to translate his talent into results.
There were a lot of unrealistic hopes set on the kid but as long as he develops nicely, I can't complain.

In other news, YES BACKLUND IS BACK! Hope he stays healthy for the rest of the year and continues to build off of where he was at.

Not true. What he needed was top line minutes, and he would have been scoring goals, and we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now. Take it from me, a guy who played up til Bantam div 6, so I know a lot more about opportunities and how they translate into points.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

Scorers need minutes. You cannot put a scorer or playmaker on the 4th line and expect them to work their magic offensively playing with plugs who have cement hands. You cannot expect them to 'work their way up' by scoring.

What do I know. I only played up to Junior B. Arm-chair fans who have never played ice hockey on a team know alot more about minutes, opportunities and how that translates into points.

Fantastic! I love the classic if u didn't play u don't know argument!

[Jake]

I love how he apparently thinks junior B is something to brag about...

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

St. Louis didn't live up to his potential on the Flames because Sutter used him as a 4th line checker. He even stated later that he was grateful for his experience with the Flames, as it greatly improved his defensive ability.

As a STH in those years, I watched him closely and believed him to be an outstanding potential, and was extremely disappointed when he was not signed. In fact, towards the end of the season, I phoned Bremner and told him whatever he did he should not get rid of Martin St. Louis. He sent me a clock, and I call it my Martin St. Louis clock.

I recall during the summer, after losing him, telling my brother-in-law, who spends the winters in the Tampa Bay area, to keep and eye out for Martin St. Louis, and he said, "Martin who?" Needless to say, the rest is history.

I don't think St. Louis really started to shine, until someone took a chance on him, and started playing him on the top line.

Be careful of going against the accepted opinion on Calgary Puck. I was called a liar for stating a similar remembered opinion about St. Louis and had my posts deleted along with a few others.

The thing is he was a bit of a favorite of Al Coates, not that Coates did a great job, but he pursued signing him to an NHL contract from an independent team in the International league. If Coates hadn't have been fired St. Louis may still be with us.

[TurnedTheCorner]

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Be careful of going against the accepted opinion on Calgary Puck. I was called a liar for stating a similar remembered opinion about St. Louis and had my posts deleted along with a few others.

Would you guys quit doing this. There's no friggin conspiracy to hold down opinions on CP. Like FFS, some of the mods have just as harsh opinions of the Flames as anyone, and you don't see them banning eachother (although if they were going to, they should start with Ken002.....just kidding man ).

It's the people that can't discuss things in a mature manner that get warnings and infractions, not people who are "too real" and "upset the postivity".

I'm one of the most positive Flames posters here, and I get like 5 warnings and 3 infractions a year, because I post like a jackass sometimes (usually when I'm drunk). If you're getting warnings and infractions it's usually 99.9% of the time how you're posting not what you're posting.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Would you guys quit doing this. There's no friggin conspiracy to hold down opinions on CP. Like FFS, some of the mods have just as harsh opinions of the Flames as anyone, and you don't see them banning eachother (although if they were going to, they should start with Ken002.....just kidding man ).

It's the people that can't discuss things in a mature manner that get warnings and infractions, not people who are "too real" and "upset the postivity".

I'm one of the most positive Flames posters here, and I get like 5 warnings and 3 infractions a year. If you're getting warnings and infractions it's usually 99.9% of the time how you're posting not what you're posting.

I'm not getting warnings and infractions, I just didn't like my post deleted when another poster acted like an idiot.

[jayswin]

If I was the mods, I'd start randomly deleting his posts just to screw with his head..........That's one of the many reasons why i'm not a mod.

[Moderator]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'm not getting warnings and infractions, I just didn't like my post deleted when another poster acted like an idiot.

Stick to the topic, if you have concerns about your posts being deleted bring it up with us.