[PGT] Flames fall to Nashville 4-3

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Cervenka, Glencross and Tanguay are our most lethal shooters I'd say.

Cervenka has been wildly inconsistent. A total nonfactor some nights. Be interesting to see if he and the team are interested in giving it another try next season.

I don't think his skill has ever been questioned. Skill can get you some occasional good nights when all goes your way. Heck, even guys like Wellwood and Lundmark looked effective from time to time.

The thing that'll factor most into his NHL career will be how well he can learn to adapt the game to an NHL surface. There's no doubt that Cervenka is an effective player for European leagues, but he needs to continually try to translate some of the finer points of his game since it's so much harder to be in good position in the NHL.

He's improved on the conditioning front. He no longer looks dead at the end of a shift. Learning the differences between how to play in the NHL under certain conditions (tight checking, high pressure situations offensively and players willing to use their physical size when he's playing in his own end) seems to be the biggest stumbling block so far. To see if that improves I think could be worth another low salary, single year contract. Worst case scenario, he's eating popcorn most nights. But at a low salary, that's not a huge issue.

Of course, that is if he wants to continue an NHL career. It's pretty tempting for him I think to go home, play the style he's comfortable with, and dominate to a higher degree.

[killer_carlson]

I resign Cervenka to an incentive based contract for one year. We have the cap room and can afford to take a risk on a skilled player. I like the fact that there seems to be chemistry amongst the three Czechs out there as well.

street made a great play on Brodie's goal tonight by getting to the front of the net and maintaining his position. Great play by all 4 skaters on the night, but Street has been overlooked for it.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Not to make too big a deal of this, but i think about 4 or 5 games ago Wideman had a similar play were he was wide open for a shot and finessed a pass right into a sprawling defender. I think a few people noticed it in the GT and PGT at the time.

Ha if true, awesome.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I resign Cervenka to an incentive based contract for one year. We have the cap room and can afford to take a risk on a skilled player.

Very much agreed, incentives should be the way to go. Fair deal for both sides.

[old-fart]

Was a fairly entertaining game.

Both teams showed far more heart and passion than the sad sack Oilers do, and both will likely continue to be better teams and organizations longer term.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I resign Cervenka to an incentive based contract for one year. We have the cap room and can afford to take a risk on a skilled player. I like the fact that there seems to be chemistry amongst the three Czechs out there as well.

street made a great play on Brodie's goal tonight by getting to the front of the net and maintaining his position. Great play by all 4 skaters on the night, but Street has been overlooked for it.

I like that. He now knows what it takes in the NHL and can prepare himself physically and mentally for it. Absolutely worth another shot.

On the other hand, there's nothing stopping him turning UFA and shopping around for a different team (why do I assume it's the Red Wings?)

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Cervenka, Glencross and Tanguay are our most lethal shooters I'd say.

Cervenka has been wildly inconsistent. A total nonfactor some nights. Be interesting to see if he and the team are interested in giving it another try next season.

He really steps up his game when he gets placed with better players like Hudler, Iginla, Tanguay, etc...

I would love to have him back on a one year deal and place him on a line with Hudler and Glencoss or Hudler and Backlund next year.

He is worth keeping for the SO alone.

[868904]

If the Flames can somehow move Tanguay, I'm all for bringing Cervenka back, but if they can't move Tanguay, that's way too many soft small forwards up front.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I resign Cervenka to an incentive based contract for one year. We have the cap room and can afford to take a risk on a skilled player. I like the fact that there seems to be chemistry amongst the three Czechs out there as well.

.

From the Flames point of view I am sure that would be the best case type of deal.

From the players point of view, since he is a pending UFA I believe. I can not imagine why he would be interesting in a 1 year deal.

I would think his agent would look for a multi year deal.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by flambers

From the Flames point of view I am sure that would be the best case type of deal.

From the players point of view, since he is a pending UFA I believe. I can not imagine why he would be interesting in a 1 year deal.

I would think his agent would look for a multi year deal.

Sure they would look for a multi-year deal but with what kind of leverage? If for whatever reason Feaster decided to give a 2 year deal, that in itself isn't too bad for us but still a brain scratcher considering how little he's proven thus far in this anomaly of a season.

[red sky]

What a dirty fake pass on Brodie's goal. Wow! The guy has progressed tremendously since J-Bo was traded.

[sun]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

Wideman at the end there sure didn't look like he had an urgency to get the puck to the net... he looked Gio off for a good 2 seconds (despite Gio feverishly slapping the ice with his stick) and then fluttered it gently at the net. Gio kinda had a wtf look on his face at the end too...

I noticed this as well. Also saw that on one of the goals against, Wideman was directing Gio - pointing and telling him where to go/who to cover. Seems like those two are having communication issues.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Cervenka should tell Calgary to go suck eggs.

"Yeah, so Roman, you should sign this deal for one year. But I'm sure you'll meet loads of bonuses when Hartley plays you as the set-up man for Brian McGrattan... that is, when you're not being scratched in favor of Steve 'fewer-goals-since-2009-than-you-have-since February' Begin."

I think his closest comparable is Kristian Huselius. Extremely poised and creative, coming to the NHL after several successful professional seasons in Europe. Need to be carefully deployed because of relatively poor defence, but if used properly will score 20-25 goals and be an offensive catalyst.

However, I think Cervenka is much more consistent than Huselius. When Cervenka disappears, it's usually because he's only been given 5 minutes of ice time.

[devo22]

I'll be seriously pissed if we don't re-sign Cervenka. I don't know what Hartley has against him ... I mean, I get that he isn't good defensively and that this is something that probably bugs Hartley and his "hard work" mantra, but at the same time, he seems to have no problem if his guy Tanguay takes a night off (or Glencross). Looking at the Flames' TOI stats on NHL.com, it's almost comical that Cervenka is #10 (!) among Flames forwards. If used correctly, Cervenka can be a very effective player. He has proven chemistry with Hudler and seems to rack up points when he's with talented players, not with fourth-liners. Give him the summer and a full training camp to work on his weaknesses, and I'm sure he'll be a valuable guy for us.

But sadly, my guess is that Cervenka will walk after how he's been benched by Hartley at times this season, unless we give him a 2-year-contract at 2.0/yr or something like that. Watch him score 50-55 points with Detroit next year.

[moon]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

However, I think Cervenka is much more consistent than Huselius. When Cervenka disappears, it's usually because he's only been given 5 minutes of ice time.

Or because it takes him about 20 minutes to skate from one end of the ice to the other.

Cerevenka seems to have some offensive talent but not nearly enough to make up for the glaring holes in the other areas of his game, especially his lack of foot speed.

I think he is a good player to have for a rebuild because he can make some nice offensive plays and his poor over all play doesn't really matter as the team is going to lose anyways but on a team that is looking to compete I can't see any interest in having him on the team.

I am 50/50 on him coming back if he isn't re-signed well no big loss at all but if he is re-signed to a short-ish term deal (2-3 years) then who cares about his crap play and he gives fans something to oh and ah about every 5 games or so.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by moon

Or because it takes him about 20 minutes to skate from one end of the ice to the other.

Cerevenka seems to have some offensive talent but not nearly enough to make up for the glaring holes in the other areas of his game, especially his lack of foot speed.

That's some serious hyperbole. His speed has improved as his conditioning has improved. His first couple steps aren't the best but his top speed is just fine.

Pretty funny statement after he scores a breakaway goal last night.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by devo22

I'll be seriously pissed if we don't re-sign Cervenka. I don't know what Hartley has against him ... I mean, I get that he isn't good defensively and that this is something that probably bugs Hartley and his "hard work" mantra, but at the same time, he seems to have no problem if his guy Tanguay takes a night off (or Glencross). Looking at the Flames' TOI stats on NHL.com, it's almost comical that Cervenka is #10 (!) among Flames forwards. If used correctly, Cervenka can be a very effective player. He has proven chemistry with Hudler and seems to rack up points when he's with talented players, not with fourth-liners. Give him the summer and a full training camp to work on his weaknesses, and I'm sure he'll be a valuable guy for us.

But sadly, my guess is that Cervenka will walk after how he's been benched by Hartley at times this season, unless we give him a 2-year-contract at 2.0/yr or something like that. Watch him score 50-55 points with Detroit next year.

I agree that Tanguay and Glencross take nights off and float in games, but compared to Cervenka in own zone play, they are all world. Not to mention that Cervenka is the softest forward in the NHL.

Flames should not be adding or keeping soft floaters to this team, they need to get rid of them.

Also why do posters think he would be a good fit in Detroit? In Detroit the euro players play well in their own zone. Cervenka would be benched just as much as he is in Calgary. If Detroit wanted young Euro players from the flames it would be Backlund and Horak. Hell they did not even want Hudler back and he is far greater in his own zone compared to Cervenka.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

That's some serious hyperbole. His speed has improved as his conditioning has improved. His first couple steps aren't the best but his top speed is just fine.

Pretty funny statement after he scores a breakaway goal last night.

Considering the puck was deep in the flames zone when the play started, did Cervenka even get back to the blue line to help?

[ComixZone]

Regarding Cervenka, I just don't see where he fits. We already have some soft and or undersized, talented wingers under contract next season (too many that aren't good enough, IMO).

Hudler
Tanguay
Cammalleri
Stempniak
Baertschi

are all talented, but none are physically imposing. Retaining Cervenka and all of these players makes very little sense in my opinion, especially when taking into consideration that the team wants to improve next year, and Cervenka isn't better than any of the players we already have under contract and need to improve upon.

[DeluxeMoustache]

I can see that Cervenka did have some chemistry with Hudler, they were dangerous early, but then again that was also when he was new to the league and probably relatively unscouted by the opposition.

How many of Cervenka's goals have been a result of being the last guy back, way behind the other team's D? At least 3. He has the finish but didn't really create anything there, was a beneficiary of his own poor play. May potentially be a good guy in the shootout I suppose. I range from ambivalent to indifferent about his return.

Huselius by the way is an odd comparison. He was pretty slippery and could slow the game down a fair bit with his stickhandling and was a decent passer with the threat of a good shot. I haven't seen much of that from Cervenka on a game in, game out basis.