Lee Stempniak

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Psytic

so that proves my point they needed someone to fill the 3rd line left wing. Seeing as how no one was signed. Then they ended up getting Hudler after the fact because he is obviously better. They probably didn't have Hudler even on the radar at the time.

Obviously there is no certainty on the likelihood of acquisition, but if you don't think they have folks like Hudler on the radar, I suspect you may be underestimating GMs and their work process.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Obviously there is no certainty on the likelihood of acquisition, but if you don't think they have folks like Hudler on the radar, I suspect you may be underestimating GMs and their work process.

Feels more like a , "oh he is available lets try sending an offer". A fortuitous event that probably wasn't planned months or even weeks in advance I bet.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Feels more like a , "oh he is available lets try sending an offer". A fortuitous event that probably wasn't planned months or even weeks in advance I bet.

No, not at all - this is what they DO for a living.

You think they wake up on July 1st and say "hey, I wonder who's out there that we can pick up"?

They would have a full list of players that are primary targets, secondary targets, guys that might interest them if the price were right, etc.

They would have fully assessed the current roster and determined where they need the most improvement and then made a list of the guys they most want to target in order to address those needs.

However, there is also no telling how things will play out and how successful they will be. They would have already had plans for other players when they signed Stempniak, but they would still want to sign him a) just in case, and b) for depth regardless

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Feels more like a , "oh he is available lets try sending an offer". A fortuitous event that probably wasn't planned months or even weeks in advance I bet.

how can anyone possibly think that these people got where they are in the hockey industry by winging it on one of the 3 days of the year that can make or break their career.

[ricardodw]

Backlund - Baertschi - Stempniak..... Not as big or gritty as Eberle, Hall and RNH and they did okay...... well if missing 20 and 21 games to injury is okay.

That would be a great way to keep Baertschi's numbers down and possibly keep him from Big money when he becomes a RFA.

It is just so sad that the other boys won't play fair and instead of skating and stickhandling with Baertschi-Backlund and Stempniak would resort to knocking them down and making them cry.... such bullies.

This sort of line makes sense of the Flames having too many forwards..... a line like this would not plan to make it through without injuries.

I sure as heck don't want Baertschi to pattern himself after Stempniak:

hide along the edges and every once in a long while a defenseman won't take you seriously and you can score a spectacular goal off of the rush.

A goal against an easy team in a meaningless game looks the same in the year end stat as a smash-mouth goal against a tough team in an important game.

You don't get paid much in the playoffs and crazy little for the effort they want you to put in.

Yes Sven .... you go in the corners and dig out the puck for me because I am a natural goal scorer.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Feels more like a , "oh he is available lets try sending an offer". A fortuitous event that probably wasn't planned months or even weeks in advance I bet.

Well you can't really plan too far ahead since guys get re-signed before July 1st all the time, but you can make a list of guys that you want to target come July 1st and given the weak UFA crop, it shouldn't be too hard for most teams this year. You pretty much know whether a guy is going to test the market and whether a team has any plan of re-signing the player before July 1st. But even without that information, it doesn't take much effort to create contingency plans where you have different scenarios.

As far as the Stempniak signing goes, I tend to believe that Feaster & co. feel that Stempniak is a player they want to keep in the fold and a player who can play multiple roles. I think the Stempniak signing was going to happen regardless of whether the Flames landed Hudler, but it is possible that Feaster didn't want to take the risk of playing the UFA lottery and decided to re-sign Stempniak just to be safe.

[ricardodw]

It sounds like Feaster had also offered a serious contract to Moss.

If Moss jumped on the deal like Stempniak and Comeau and Sarich and Jackman and Smith then what?

Flames had 9 pending 2012 UFAs this time last year.... They picked up Comeau and made him a UFA by not quallifying him making 10

They won the "bidding war" for 5 of them lost Jokinen and Moss , Paid to get rid of Hagman and Hannan and Kostopolus are waiting for the Flames to make their offer.

Of the Flames non-star UFA's only Moss was picked up by someone else.... Hannan and Kostopolus are still looking....... Maybe there is a case for the Feaster Brain thrust over-valuing the guys that got them to 9th spot.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

If I was drawing up the lines, that is exactly how my forward group would look like to start the season.

Ditto.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Of the Flames non-star UFA's only Moss was picked up by someone else.... Hannan and Kostopolus are still looking....... Maybe there is a case for the Feaster Brain thrustover-valuing the guys that got them to 9th spot.

That gave me an awful mental picture. Damn you!

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Backlund - Baertschi - Stempniak..... Not as big or gritty as Eberle, Hall and RNH and they did okay...... well if missing 20 and 21 games to injury is okay.

That would be a great way to keep Baertschi's numbers down and possibly keep him from Big money when he becomes a RFA.

It is just so sad that the other boys won't play fair and instead of skating and stickhandling with Baertschi-Backlund and Stempniak would resort to knocking them down and making them cry.... such bullies.

This sort of line makes sense of the Flames having too many forwards..... a line like this would not plan to make it through without injuries.

I sure as heck don't want Baertschi to pattern himself after Stempniak:

hide along the edges and every once in a long while a defenseman won't take you seriously and you can score a spectacular goal off of the rush.

A goal against an easy team in a meaningless game looks the same in the year end stat as a smash-mouth goal against a tough team in an important game.

You don't get paid much in the playoffs and crazy little for the effort they want you to put in.

Yes Sven .... you go in the corners and dig out the puck for me because I am a natural goal scorer.

Yeah, it would be good if Baertschi had someone with a little bit of skill and physical gumption on his line. I like to see a rookie get some protection. The only players who fit would be Iginla and Glencross or even Comeau if the other guy has skill.

[StrykerSteve]

I'm still thinking that the success Baertschi had with Nemisz last season was no fluke... wouldn't mind seeing them together again at start the year and see how they do.

[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

how can anyone possibly think that these people got where they are in the hockey industry by winging it on one of the 3 days of the year that can make or break their career.

Often times they look to make a splash with a player they feel can make the roster better but he wasn't necessarily their first choice or their first choice is gone or they are unable to make the trade for them so they look at other options. To say that every single trade done by GM's is always calculated way way in advance I think is doubtful. I don't consider this winging it either. Its just trying to find the best option available at the time.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

I'm still thinking that the success Baertschi had with Nemisz last season was no fluke... wouldn't mind seeing them together again at start the year and see how they do.

I agree.

While Baertschi is very good at finding open space, Nemisz helped make space for him as well.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

I agree.

While Baertschi is very good at finding open space, Nemisz helped make space for him as well.

I would really love to see some future lines looking like this, not that everyone will turn out as hoped

Baertschi - Jankowski - Nemisz
Gaudreau - Reinhart - Granlund
Ferland - Backlund - Aliu
Bouma - DeBlouw - Arnold

[Poe969]

I'd love it if MacKinnon was our #1 guy.....

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

I would really love to see some future lines looking like this, not that everyone will turn out as hoped

Baertschi - Jankowski - Nemisz
Gaudreau - Reinhart - Granlund
Ferland - Backlund - Aliu
Bouma - DeBlouw - Arnold

Poor Backlund, forever a third liner.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I'd love it if MacKinnon was our #1 guy.....

The only way for that to happen is if Kipper and Iggy are traded.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Backlund - Baertschi - Stempniak..... Not as big or gritty as Eberle, Hall and RNH and they did okay...... well if missing 20 and 21 games to injury is okay.

That would be a great way to keep Baertschi's numbers down and possibly keep him from Big money when he becomes a RFA.

It is just so sad that the other boys won't play fair and instead of skating and stickhandling with Baertschi-Backlund and Stempniak would resort to knocking them down and making them cry.... such bullies.

This sort of line makes sense of the Flames having too many forwards..... a line like this would not plan to make it through without injuries.

I sure as heck don't want Baertschi to pattern himself after Stempniak:

hide along the edges and every once in a long while a defenseman won't take you seriously and you can score a spectacular goal off of the rush.

A goal against an easy team in a meaningless game looks the same in the year end stat as a smash-mouth goal against a tough team in an important game.

You don't get paid much in the playoffs and crazy little for the effort they want you to put in.

Yes Sven .... you go in the corners and dig out the puck for me because I am a natural goal scorer.

Well then what do you suggest? I agree that Baertchi shouldn't be with Stempniak, but the Flames don't have nearly enough "bangers" to put one on every line. I like Baertchi-----Cervenka------Hudler. I like it because that could be a good "chemistry" line and I think even as a rookie, Sven needs to play in a top 6 role. I know, other coaches will say "go after Baertchi physically" but what else are you going to do? You can't put him with Jones and give him top 6 minutes. I dunno, Glencross maybe?

[Captain_Obvious]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Well then what do you suggest? I agree that Baertchi shouldn't be with Stempniak, but the Flames don't have nearly enough "bangers" to put one on every line. I like Baertchi-----Cervenka------Hudler. I like it because that could be a good "chemistry" line and I think even as a rookie, Sven needs to play in a top 6 role. I know, other coaches will say "go after Baertchi physically" but what else are you going to do? You can't put him with Jones and give him top 6 minutes. I dunno, Glencross maybe?

He doesn't suggest anything. He just lives his life to come here and bash Stempniak and Bouwmeester every day without exception.

The mere suggestion that putting Sven on a line with Stempniak (a 20 goal scorer) is somehow going to weaken him is ridiclous. But that's ricardodw for you.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Captain_Obvious

He doesn't suggest anything. He just lives his life to come here and bash Stempniak and Bouwmeester every day without exception.

The mere suggestion that putting Sven on a line with Stempniak (a 20 goal scorer) is somehow going to weaken him is ridiclous. But that's ricardodw for you.

I agree, in fact I think someone with a good shot like Stempniak could be an excellent player for Baertschi to play with.

I am more unsure of Backlund centering that line than Stempniak and Baertschi being the wingers to be honest. I think those 2 could will generate 30-40 points each and IMO if they have a centerman that can produce at least 35 points I think both have a shot at surpassing 40 points.

I also don't think Sempniak is as soft as he is made out to be either, he was 6th in hits amongst Flames forwards last year despite playing only 61 games, in his final year in Phoenix he put up 124 hits and the season before that he was just over a hit per game.