Is The GM Going to Address the Center Situation?

[MyFlamesFirst]

I personally want to keep the team the way it is. The only trades I;m willing to do involves us getting younger and/or picks and prospects coming our way. I would be angry if we traded more assets for our win it now at all costs philosophy even if it was for a center. This year is the last kick at the can. I for one am looking forward to a rebuild in a way. Watching prospects develop and excite you can be pretty fun.

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

Somebody should lose their job over not knowing Cervenka is a winger. Embarrassing.

True. There were several interviews (in Russian) explaining that. It took me 10 minutes to dig two of them:

http://fanzone.khl.ru/news/14402/

Q: You came over (to Russia) as center, but were moved to left wing. Alexey Kaluzny (Omsk's top center) explained that as centers have different roles at czechia and russia.

A: Never (in my career) I was coming back (to defend in my own zone). I was technically playing center, was taking faceoffs, but on defensive zone I was at left wing position. That's pretty much the way I play here (at KHL), except for I'm not taking draws. Initially Summanen (Omsk's coach) made me center, but me and Kaluzny decided it would be better for me to play left wing and Summanen didn't mind it.


http://www.peoples.ru/sport/hockey/roman_cervenka/

Q: Roman, you are versatile forward, aren't you?
A: Well, I used to be center.
Q: Why it didn't work out at KHL?
A: At KHL centers have to play defense. I never did. So wing is better for me.

[devo22]

I would hope they go hard after Filppula IF he chooses to become an UFA in the summer ... which shouldn't be an unrealistic scenario since they have to give Brunner and Howard substancial raises and Filppula may - like Hudler - seek for a team where he'll get a better opportunity in the top six. Has always been between 50 and 56 percent for draws in his NHL career and should have some chemistry with Hudler. Might be worth a shot at a similar (maybe slightly better) contract as Hudler has, maybe pay him 4.5 or even 5.0 for 4 years or something like that. Would immediately upgrade the C position.

Also, maybe you can take advantage of Chicago's cap situation this summer and pry out Bolland ... or not.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Pointman

True. There were several interviews (in Russian) explaining that. It took me 10 minutes to dig two of them:

http://fanzone.khl.ru/news/14402/

Q: You came over (to Russia) as center, but were moved to left wing. Alexey Kaluzny (Omsk's top center) explained that as centers have different roles at czechia and russia.

A: Never (in my career) I was coming back (to defend in my own zone). I was technically playing center, was taking faceoffs, but on defensive zone I was at left wing position. That's pretty much the way I play here (at KHL), except for I'm not taking draws. Initially Summanen (Omsk's coach) made me center, but me and Kaluzny decided it would be better for me to play left wing and Summanen didn't mind it.


http://www.peoples.ru/sport/hockey/roman_cervenka/

Q: Roman, you are versatile forward, aren't you?
A: Well, I used to be center.
Q: Why it didn't work out at KHL?
A: At KHL centers have to play defense. I never did. So wing is better for me.

That just blows my mind.

[Alberta_Beef]

I think the best solution for the time being is just ride this out, let Backlund return and see what happens. Trading assets for mediocre centermen isn't the answer, if the Flames want to continue to "rebuild" through the draft while remaining competitive then they should hold onto their picks and address the issue the best they can via free agency since there are no young centers in the system that are all that close to NHL ready.

Come summertime there are a few centermen available that could be attractive to the Flames and they are centermen of many different types.

Ryan Getzlaf is obviously the big fish everyone wants. He is a big center that can produce offensively, play physical and can play in every situation. I don't know if this year his faceoff percentage is a sign of things to come or not but historically Getlaf has been fairly poor in the faceoff department.

Stephen Weiss is a clear cut #2 option. He can play in every situation, he is basically a younger version of Daymond Langkow that can win faceoffs. The problem of course like Daymond, while he is an excellent #2 center he is not quite good enough to be a #1 and like Daymond he doesn't offer much in the size department.

In a perfect world the Flames find a way to sign both Getzlaf and Weiss, then retain Stajan and Backlund and laugh all the way to the playoffs with their new found center depth..... but reality is a cruel mistress and getting one of those players is unlikely, let alone both.

There are alot of 2nd and 3rd line centermen available on the market this summer though. All of whom bring different things to the table. If I resign myself to the fact that we won't get Getzlaf or Weiss I would actually target 3 lesser centermen (and move Backlund to the wing).

The trio I would go after are Tyler Bozak (young in UFA years, produces offensively and wins faceoffs), Matt Cullen (old but kills penalties, wins draws and provides some offense) and Jerred Smithson (big, physical and wins draws). While it would be far from an elite group of centermen I think a quartet of Stajan, Bozak, Cullen and Smithson with Backlund as a backup of sorts playing on the wing would be a vast improvement on our current situation. Then with Backlund moving to the wing and the cap dropping the question would be who stays and who goes on the wing?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Pointman

True. There were several interviews (in Russian) explaining that. It took me 10 minutes to dig two of them:

http://fanzone.khl.ru/news/14402/

Q: You came over (to Russia) as center, but were moved to left wing. Alexey Kaluzny (Omsk's top center) explained that as centers have different roles at czechia and russia.

A: Never (in my career) I was coming back (to defend in my own zone). I was technically playing center, was taking faceoffs, but on defensive zone I was at left wing position. That's pretty much the way I play here (at KHL), except for I'm not taking draws. Initially Summanen (Omsk's coach) made me center, but me and Kaluzny decided it would be better for me to play left wing and Summanen didn't mind it.


http://www.peoples.ru/sport/hockey/roman_cervenka/

Q: Roman, you are versatile forward, aren't you?
A: Well, I used to be center.
Q: Why it didn't work out at KHL?
A: At KHL centers have to play defense. I never did. So wing is better for me.

When we signed Cervenka and subsequently let Jokinen walk I argued until I was blue in the face telling everyone that Cervenka was a winger, even showed numbers that in his entire KHL career Cervenka took less draws than an average 4th line center does in 1 year in the NHL, but because he was introduced to the media as a centermen no one would listen to me and somehow thought as a 27 year old rookie that he would actually replace Jokinen.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Blair Jones at 59% in the dot. What did he do to get demoted.

He did something wrong if Hartley doesn't trust him on the team and says something can't be talked about when asked about it. This would lead me to believe there is 1) off ice issues. 2) attitude issues. 3) insubordination.

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

When we signed Cervenka and subsequently let Jokinen walk I argued until I was blue in the face telling everyone that Cervenka was a winger, even showed numbers that in his entire KHL career Cervenka took less draws than an average 4th line center does in 1 year in the NHL, but because he was introduced to the media as a centermen no one would listen to me and somehow thought as a 27 year old rookie that he would actually replace Jokinen.

Seems like scouts failed to do their job:

"Our scouts in Europe very early on in the season had identified Roman Cervenka as someone who they felt very strongly could come and play within in our top-six forwards, felt he was a player who could be a top-two line centre in the National Hockey League."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=394876

[Caged Great]

If that doesn't scream brilliance, I don't know what does.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Pointman

Seems like scouts failed to do their job:

"Our scouts in Europe very early on in the season had identified Roman Cervenka as someone who they felt very strongly could come and play within in our top-six forwards, felt he was a player who could be a top-two line centre in the National Hockey League."

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=394876

What's more likely, the scouts didn't do their job, or Feaster lawyer'd the fans?

I go with the latter.

Cervenka COULD be a top two line center in the NHL.......... in a few years. People need to pay attention to how Feaster words things, he is very calculated and will choose his words carefully so he can mislead without lying.

[timbit]

Correct if mistaken but didn't Weisbrod. go over to Russia late for 10 days last season and give final endorsent on Cervenka? How does he not know what everyone else know and should know? (SEE pointman translaion).
Embarrassing.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by timbit

Correct if mistaken but didn't Weisbrod. go over to Russia late for 10 days last season and give final endorsent on Cervenka? How does he not know what everyone else know and should know? (SEE pointman translaion).
Embarrassing.

the only things that's embarrassing is the fans that believed the spin the Flames put on the Cervenka signing. They made him sound like he would be a top 6 centerman because they were letting Jokinen walk and wanted to keep the uproar to a minimum.

I really doubt the team had any intention of trying him on the wing immediately, they simply spun his potential because the fans were clamoring for a centerman.

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

the only things that's embarrassing is the fans that believed the spin the Flames put on the Cervenka signing. They made him sound like he would be a top 6 centerman because they were letting Jokinen walk and wanted to keep the uproar to a minimum.

I really doubt the team had any intention of trying him on the wing immediately, they simply spun his potential because the fans were clamoring for a centerman.

It may be true, but the fact that they did not address actual need for center indicates that they might as well really hoped for Cervenka to play C.

[timbit]

is that what it has come down to?Fooling the fans?

Heck, I thought it was about constructing a championship team.

[FlameZilla]

We could have signed Jokinen to a hometown discount. Say what you will about his hockey IQ, but he is a natural centre & can play many roles. When Feaster signed Cervenka it was assumed he was Jokinen's replacement, since he was listed as a centre. The fact that he turns out to be a left-winger makes the decision to let Olli walk a complete shambles. Feaster obviously felt it was time to cut ties with him, but why?

[devo22]

Jay and Silent Bob strike again.

[Poe969]

This team doesn't need a center! We have one of the best goalies in the world and one of the best wingers in the world and one of the best defensmen in the world. Sure, we may finish out of the playoffs more often than we finish in them but it's exciting to watch and we all get the spring to do whatever we want.

If this team wants to get a center, look no further than the Damnond Langkow thread!

(until this team moves on, this is going to be the mentality they take. Keep shooting for that almost attainable 8th spot and one day you might actually get it!)

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Psytic

Blair Jones at 59% in the dot. What did he do to get demoted.

He did nothing else. And when you get down to it, the difference between Jones and anyone else in the dot is one faceoff win.

Remember Nigel Dawes? He was good at one thing, and useless or a liability at everything else. He's no longer an NHLer as a result.

[indes]

I don't understand why we don't take a flyer on Connolly, I get he's not the best but you can't say he wouldn't be as good as comeau

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

We could have signed Jokinen to a hometown discount. Say what you will about his hockey IQ, but he is a natural centre & can play many roles. When Feaster signed Cervenka it was assumed he was Jokinen's replacement, since he was listed as a centre. The fact that he turns out to be a left-winger makes the decision to let Olli walk a complete shambles. Feaster obviously felt it was time to cut ties with him, but why?

Two goals, four points in his first 16 games. CP would have ripped Jokinen to shreds for that. He is starting to pick it up though. Two goals last night, three in his last three. He's still ranked 223rd in league scoring.