Cervenka signs 3-year deal with SKA (KHL)

[doctajones428]

First time playing in North America, no preseason, coming off of blood thinners...

I think he played pretty good for us considering

Thanks for the year of service Cervenka

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Some things are getting to be regular around here. As soon as a player leaves the Flames numerous people pile on saying they were crap.

You must not read game threads, he was crap during the season.

[kermitology]

Not a bad player, but not cut out to play center in the NHL. Best for him to go back to the leisurely pace of the KHL. Oh and sooo soft.

[sun]

My reaction to this news is pretty much "meh". But I would have been interested to see how he would have fared next season.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Weird post
Is it your position that he played well?

It was his first season, where he missed the training camp and part of the beginning from having a blood clot. The odds were already stacked against him coming over without the injury.

I'm not saying he played well, at all, but He has talent, another year wouldn't have hurt just to see what he had.

I guess I just don't like the constant belittling of ex-flames on here sometimes, I find myself sticking up for players because of it. Even though its not always warranted.

[indes]

Not surprised but a little bit disappointed. He had a lot of skill and I think if he would have put the effort forth he could've been a solid scoring threat. With that said it wouldn't have been worth the pay he would've received to work on his game here vs going back to the khl and being one of the best. For him I mean.

[H2SO4(aq)]

i mean, where we are right now he fits. but lets make no mistake, you arent winning any cups with the kinda compete level he brought. good riddance, not cause of lack of skill or anything, but the guy just isnt ever going to be a champion in the NHL, why keep him around?

[FAN]

I went back and dug up my comments in the Cervenka signing thread here is what I wrote:

At first I thought this signing was crazy. On second thought and reading some of the comments I say this could turn out to be a good signing or a horrible move by Feaster.

The question is which direction Feaster plans to go? If Feaster is going to institute a youth movement then this is a great signing. Low risk high reward is right. But if Feaster is thinking of making the playoffs next season and is relying on Cervenka to fill the all important top 6 scoring role, then this could turn out into a huge mistake.

Teams pencil in players all the time, but it's a gamble that can be disastrous if you pencil in a guy to play a significant role. This is what happened here. The results were disasastrous. This is no different from gambling on Butler being able to play a top 4 role. For a team looking at competing for the playoffs and where the margin is slim, you can't just look at salary and call it a low risk high reward move when you are relying on the player to play a significant role. I think that like most of us here, I think Feaster pencilled in Cervenka to be the team's 2nd line center but it turns out Cervenka isn't a centerman. That's a huge mistake and likely cost the team a lot of wins.

So ya this Cervenka signing was a complete waste of time. His production could have easily been replaced and the team could have used the roster spot to develop a young player who wouldn't scamper back to Europe after one season or become a UFA the next season. Cervenka clearly doesn't have the interest or the heart to carve out an NHL player so good riddance.

[Henry Fool]

I think skating was his main issue. In a normal season he might have been able to get up to speed better. Not dissimilar to Ville Leino in some ways and he might have done better if he had been fortunate enough to play for a team that is an exact fit for him, much like Leino did in Philadelphia.

Calgary's lineup was a mess this season. I think everyone was confused including the coaches and the management, so there was not enough structure for him to rely on as a total newcomer.

Understandable that he'd want to go back. I don't think Flames were necessarily sure about whether or not they should give him another contract. They might have offered another year, or maybe not.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by FAN

I went back and dug up my comments in the Cervenka signing thread here is what I wrote:




Teams pencil in players all the time, but it's a gamble that can be disastrous if you pencil in a guy to play a significant role. This is what happened here. The results were disasastrous. This is no different from gambling on Butler being able to play a top 4 role. For a team looking at competing for the playoffs and where the margin is slim, you can't just look at salary and call it a low risk high reward move when you are relying on the player to play a significant role. I think that like most of us here, I think Feaster pencilled in Cervenka to be the team's 2nd line center but it turns out Cervenka isn't a centerman. That's a huge mistake and likely cost the team a lot of wins.

So ya this Cervenka signing was a complete waste of time. His production could have easily been replaced and the team could have used the roster spot to develop a young player who wouldn't scamper back to Europe after one season or become a UFA the next season. Cervenka clearly doesn't have the interest or the heart to carve out an NHL player so good riddance.

Do you really think that Cervenka cost the Flames a lot of wins. Putting that into context, that is the equivalent of stating that the difference between the Flames being in playoff contention and the Flames ending as they did was Roman Cervenka... if he cost the team even four wins, they end up with 50 points - and that includes the tank at the end of the year, which they likely wouldn't do because they would still be in the hunt.

To say that Cervenka was a good player would be wrong, to say that he is responsible for the Flames losing games is laughable.

[Pointman]

It's reported to be around $1.7M per year.

[FlameZilla]

I can imagine him returning to the NHL in a few years. His health issues would have derailed any hope at all of him being able to adapt to the North American game. A couple seasons back in his comfort zone in the KHL & I'm sure he'll build enough momentum to push for a consistent NHL job (if he wants it).

Shame we couldn't combine Cervenka's hockey sense & hands with Olli Jokinen's physical tools, skating & occasional compete level. That would be one helluva hockey player.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Do you really think that Cervenka cost the Flames a lot of wins. Putting that into context, that is the equivalent of stating that the difference between the Flames being in playoff contention and the Flames ending as they did was Roman Cervenka... if he cost the team even four wins, they end up with 50 points - and that includes the tank at the end of the year, which they likely wouldn't do because they would still be in the hunt.

To say that Cervenka was a good player would be wrong, to say that he is responsible for the Flames losing games is laughable.

Cervenka did finish tied for 2nd worst +/- on the team despite playing limited minutes so I would argue that Cervenka cost the team some games. But main point isn't that Cervenka alone that cost the team wins, but Feaster pencilling in Cervenka as a top 6 center that cost the team wins. Lack of center depth was a huge problem for the Flames this season and to say that it wasn't responsible for the Flames losing games is laughable.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Kaine

Some of the hostility for a player that was brought on in a NO RISK move, some of the hostility for the "scouting staff" that again attempted to make the team better with a NO RISK move is simply astounding

Perhaps because people of tired of this management team's obsession with no risk moves? All the homers said the exact same thing about Blake Comeau and we all know how that turned out. No risk moves aren't something to be defended when there's no potential reward at the end of the tunnel - it's just treading water.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by JayP

Perhaps because people of tired of this management team's obsession with no risk moves? All the homers said the exact same thing about Blake Comeau and we all know how that turned out. No risk moves aren't something to be defended when there's no potential reward at the end of the tunnel - it's just treading water.

That's easy to say when the "low risk" moves didn't pan out. (Like Cervenka and Comeau)

In the end it didn't depreciate the Flames of any valuable assets, and the potential reward if either had worked out was worth taking a shot at it because it was "low risk".

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by JayP

Perhaps because people of tired of this management team's obsession with no risk moves? All the homers said the exact same thing about Blake Comeau and we all know how that turned out. No risk moves aren't something to be defended when there's no potential reward at the end of the tunnel - it's just treading water.

Yeah we do know how that turned out.

We claimed Comeau off of waivers, which cost us no assets.

He didn't return to 20 goal form, but was good enough to get another contract and then was flipped for a 5th round pick in the upcoming draft.

What Feaster did there was manufacture a 5th round pick out of nothing.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Somebody has to score goals on a crap team.

Cervenka was not a top 6 forward on any semblance of a decent NHL team and was no where near a bottom 6 forward. In essence, he was not an NHL player.

I can guarantee you no other NHL team was interested in his services. So... does that tell you he's a fringe NHLer?

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Go on.

Still waiting, or are you going to do your usual disappearing act when pressed for actual facts?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by JayP

Perhaps because people of tired of this management team's obsession with no risk moves? All the homers said the exact same thing about Blake Comeau and we all know how that turned out. No risk moves aren't something to be defended when there's no potential reward at the end of the tunnel - it's just treading water.

How can we say there was no potential reward. There was potential reward - that wasn't realized. That's what makes it potential.

Wings signed a similar guy in Damian Brunner and he looks like a top 6 guy going forward.

Ducks signed Viktor Fasth who could be their next starter.

These moves DO pay off sometimes, and a lot of times they don't.

Doesn't mean you stop doing them. Though I also think if you are trying to turn your organization around on the back of these types of moves - you are a fool.

[t0rrent98]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

How can we say there was no potential reward. There was potential reward - that wasn't realized. That's what makes it potential.

Wings signed a similar guy in Damian Brunner and he looks like a top 6 guy going forward.

Ducks signed Viktor Fasth who could be their next starter.

These moves DO pay off sometimes, and a lot of times they don't.

Doesn't mean you stop doing them. Though I also think if you are trying to turn your organization around on the back of these types of moves - you are a fool.

Lets say Fasth and Brunner signed with the Flames before their respective teams right now. I can almost guarantee you that if both played under Hartley's system or perhaps B.Sutter's system they wouldn't be were they are.

I think it all depends on the development from the coaching staff and how teams would use them to their abilities. Feaster made the right move trying out Cervenka, I just think if Hartley used him to his strengths, maybe he wouldn't have gone back after testing the NHL for 1 year.

Let's be honest here, any player who signs and plays for the Ducks or Wings will have a better chance of succeeding than players here in Calgary. Better winning environment/coaching staff.

[St. Pats]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

How can we say there was no potential reward. There was potential reward - that wasn't realized. That's what makes it potential.

Wings signed a similar guy in Damian Brunner and he looks like a top 6 guy going forward.

Ducks signed Viktor Fasth who could be their next starter.

These moves DO pay off sometimes, and a lot of times they don't.

Doesn't mean you stop doing them. Though I also think if you are trying to turn your organization around on the back of these types of moves - you are a fool.

So you basically just made his argument. A team like the Flames uses these signings instead of actually addressing problems. And thus look foolish. A team with no depth/talent at center moves players from other positions to fill the gap. Then gambles on maybe's. Pretty stupid alright!