Now that Colorado has matched...

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by Igottago

But the team doesn't need more Stajans. They need some high end talent at centre, and they've needed it for years upon years. That's why he's going for it.

Actually, the team does need more Stajan's because they only have one center. Sure, would love a more high end player, but they need actual centers on this team.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by calgARI

The problem is that this seems to be Feater's mentality. I applaud his efforts to get Richards and O'Reilly but those are not the only options that would improve the center ice position of this hockey club. There are plenty of centers he can be going after that are not as glitzy or as good as those guys, but the team has one center on the team. The only way to address the position is not just by swinging for homeruns and it continues to be an embarrassment that there is one center on the ice night in and night out for this team.

We aren't lacking in lower line centers who can play a few minutes a game. We lack a top line center who can not only play 18-20 mins. a night, but can play against the other team's top lines and still produce. Just because they aren't playing the centers in the organization doesn't mean that there are no centers, it just means they believe that those centers won't help this team win at this very moment.

The only guy playing out of position tonight is Cammalleri and maybe Stajan. Everyone else on the team is where they should be. ROR would have fixed the one glaring hole and made a pretty complete team, especially when Backlund returned. Can't be too upset at Feaster, especially when he's not willing to trade the future unless it's a bonafide top talent.

[moon]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Cervenka costed no assets, Richards would have cost none, and O'reilly would have got a 22 year old for a draft pick. None of these moves cost or would have sacrificed long term success for short term success. I imagine that is the mode Feaster is in right now, and I'd be surprised if there was a lot out there that he hasn't pursued.

Signing Richards and O'Reilly would have cost long term success due to the fact we would have been stuck longer in mediocrity and been stuck with two bad contracts (more harmful in Richards case) that would have hampered team moves in the future.

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

Cervenka costed no assets, Richards would have cost none, and O'reilly would have got a 22 year old for a draft pick. None of these moves cost or would have sacrificed long term success for short term success. I imagine that is the mode Feaster is in right now, and I'd be surprised if there was a lot out there that he hasn't pursued.

Good players under team control for more than a year or two don't come cheap if they are available at all. It makes no sense for us to trade anything of long term value for a short term fix. So, that leaves signing free agents, signing khl guys, and offer sheets as about the only option out there to provide immediate help without hurting our future.

Yes, I like the fact that these attempted moves wouldn't/didn't cost anything off the current roster. In that way, very well thought out especially when the organization doesn't have many good assets.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by calgARI

The problem is that this seems to be Feater's mentality. I applaud his efforts to get Richards and O'Reilly but those are not the only options that would improve the center ice position of this hockey club. There are plenty of centers he can be going after that are not as glitzy or as good as those guys, but the team has one center on the team. The only way to address the position is not just by swinging for homeruns and it continues to be an embarrassment that there is one center on the ice night in and night out for this team.

Dude, we are not that far from the cap. If we try to get another C before we offer sheet O'Reilly, we may not have cap room for him. Management made the call that he was the best C out there so after trade talks fell through, they tendered in an offer sheet. Avs matched, off to plan B.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by moon

Or take him to arbitration or trade him before it gets to that point.

They might have trouble finding takers with that price tag though.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by moon

He has made such an effort that we have a grand total of 1 natural center playing for us tonight.

But hey he gets to talk about how close he came to severely overpaying for two guys. I guess that is better than actually improving the team.

I am so sick of comments like this. It's just bitchin' for bitchin's sake. It's not an easy situation to fix, but apparently you think there is a magic button somewhere to get another team's first line center without overpaying. Come on man...

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by moon

Signing Richards and O'Reilly would have cost long term success due to the fact we would have been stuck longer in mediocrity and been stuck with two bad contracts (more harmful in Richards case) that would have hampered team moves in the future.

You could say the exact same thing about signing Iginla and Kiprusoff way back when....not sure you thought this point through, especially when O'Reilly is only 22 and it was a 2 year deal. Would neither player have improved the Flames over what we have now???

[moon]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I am so sick of comments like this. It's just bitchin' for bitchin's sake. It's not an easy situation to fix, but apparently you think there is a magic button somewhere to get another team's first line center without overpaying. Come on man...

How is pointing out a major problem with this team (FO's) bitching for bitching sake?

And if it is so hard how come every other team seems to be able to find four competent centers?

Who said anything about getting another teams first line center? I don't expect Toews, Getzlaf and Crosby to be brought in but we should be able to do better than Stajan and 3 wingers. Getting better than that is not hard to do.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

You could say the exact same thing about signing Iginla and Kiprusoff way back when....not sure you thought this point through, especially when O'Reilly is only 22 and it was a 2 year deal. Would neither player have improved the Flames over what we have now???

You mean back when the Flames were making the play-offs and looked like they could be a contending team? Way back then?

Those two could improve the team but wouldn't make them contenders or even top 4 in the conference.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Actually, the team does need more Stajan's because they only have one center. Sure, would love a more high end player, but they need actual centers on this team.

No they don't. We don't need stop gaps, we need a change to become an elite team that can eventually contend. That won't happen by simply going out and getting middle of the road centres for the sake of it. We need to hit the jackpot, especially given our dismal drafting record.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by moon

How is pointing out a major problem with this team (FO's) bitching for bitching sake?

And if it is so hard how come every other team seems to be able to find four competent centers?

Who said anything about getting another teams first line center? I don't expect Toews, Getzlaf and Crosby to be brought in but we should be able to do better than Stajan and 3 wingers. Getting better than that is not hard to do.

You complain about them being mediocre.

Your solution: find any center that can take a face-off, whether or not they improve the team long term or short term.

You complain about attempted overpaying.

Your solution: ??? Not sure what else you can do when the top line center you drafted to fill the gap is 3-4 years away from the NHL.

Would you like Feaster to panic and make a trade just to make a trade? Odds are he ends up giving away a key asset to get a mediocre center that is probably worse than Stajan just because we're struggling to win face-offs.

Are you upset that he swung and missed? Isn't it good that he's trying to address the problem?

What is it that you actually think could be different at this very point in time that another GM could do better?

[bluloc]

I hope Feaster doesnt do anything stupid and try to trade our picks away. Just stay the course and start unloading this god awful team and try to draft properly.

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by Igottago

No they don't. We don't need stop gaps, we need a change to become an elite team that can eventually contend. That won't happen by simply going out and getting middle of the road centres for the sake of it. We need to hit the jackpot, especially given our dismal drafting record.

I strongly disagree. First of all, you can do both - make small moves and try to make big moves as well. Second of all, it isn't the big homeruns that usually end up making a difference. And no matter what, no team has one center on it so I don't quite see how the current situation works.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

You complain about them being mediocre.

Your solution: find any center that can take a face-off, whether or not they improve the team long term or short term.

I think in the offseason that you can find centers that can play as well as take face-offs. It isn't like this is the 76 Canadiens, it isn't that hard to make this team.

You complain about attempted overpaying.

Your solution: ??? Not sure what else you can do when the top line center you drafted to fill the gap is 3-4 years away from the NHL.

Rebuild and draft/trade for high end talent.

Would you like Feaster to panic and make a trade just to make a trade? Odds are he ends up giving away a key asset to get a mediocre center that is probably worse than Stajan just because we're struggling to win face-offs.

Are you upset that he swung and missed? Isn't it good that he's trying to address the problem?

Nope don't want a panic trade want a realization that a top line center isn't fixing what is wrong with this team and that overpaying guys aren't going to help the team contend for a Cup.

[kermitology]

Now they need to turn,their attention towards not trading away draft picks but collecting them. I was not a fan of this move, so I'm happy that this failed. This is yet another attempt by this team to paint over the writing on the wall.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Feaster just said what I hoped. Looks like they are willing to make moves and soon

You can put me in the group that is very scared after Feasters comments.

Have no problem with trying to get O'Reilly, but like Feaster said the rest of the soluions seemed like a huge overpayment.

I have no idea what the overpayment is but a 1st and Gaudreau seem about right.

Hope he does nothing silly.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by moon

He has made such an effort that we have a grand total of 1 natural center playing for us tonight.

But hey he gets to talk about how close he came to severely overpaying for two guys. I guess that is better than actually improving the team.

A first and a third and what amounts to 14 months at 9.5M for RoR is not 'overpaying', and unless you've not been paying attention, without drafting your own centres, acquiring them from outside the organization takes a MASSIVE overpayment.

He's drafted at least one guy with the potential to be a big time #1C. He had a chance to solidify the top two spots for the next twelve years with RoR, and Colorado matched. He's aware of what the problem is.

Not much to do now except wait for the draft; that's when you solve this mess.

[Yoho]

I think this was the hockey god's telling us something..

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by moon

Nope don't want a panic trade want a realization that a top line center isn't fixing what is wrong with this team and that overpaying guys aren't going to help the team contend for a Cup.

Of course, but you don't make this move to make you a contender this year. You sign O'Reilly because he's 22 and fills an organizational hole that's existed since 1995.