Cervenka signs 3-year deal with SKA (KHL)

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

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.

The same Ducks that finished 13th in their conference last year?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

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!

Nope just because a team has more severe needs doesn't mean they shouldn't explore this type of player acquisition

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

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.

Both brunner and fasth made immediate impacts. You may think its coaching but i think they are simply better

[Commandant]

Originally Posted by liamenator

Aside from Damien Brunner, who had a nice year this year and looks like he'll be a good NHL player, who was the last undrafted European position player to come over a la Cervenka and actually become an impact player? I honestly can't think of one, certainly from the last 10 years, maybe even longer. Every year teams are scrambling to get these guys, and they almost never pan out.

Jiri Dopita, Fabien Brunnstrom, Mats Zuccarello, Roman Cervenka...

Rafael Diaz has been pretty good for Montreal. 4th/5th defenceman quality anyway.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Nice! This opens up #10 for Sean Monahan.

Or the return of Blake Comeau.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

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.

If Hartely had used him for his strengths only, then Cervenka would have only been played on the PP.

Cervenka had the option to explore other teams July 5th. If he really thought another team would give him a better chance, he would probably waited to test free agency. More than likely he realised how he would have to play to stay in the NHL, and probably did not feel his style was suited for the NHL or did not want to change it.

I have no inside info, but its not hard to believe that Feaster probably tried to trade Cervenka at the deadline, with no other teams wanting him. By the time the deadline came around it was pretty apparent that he was not going to be in Calgary beyond the season.

[Tinordi]

Today's NHL needs complete NHL players. There's no such thing as a PP specialist anymore. Sure some players are soft or weak defensively but not to the extent that Cervenka was who certainly didn't make up for it with mediocre offensive abilities.

Nothing against him at all. Wish him the best, was put in a very difficult decision, but simply not an NHL player by any measure.

Which is why he wouldn't have been offered a contract by any other team, and if so it would have been 2-way injury fodder. Just look through the top 6 of any team in the league and ask if he legitimately bumps anyone down. The answer is no.

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

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

How is he pressed for any actual facts?

[cowtown75]

Let's face it, his paycheck was a lot smaller due to him not getting any bonuses. Bad timing bringing him over on a lockout year. He would not have made as much money here as he would have back in the KHL now and in the future. I think he is a very skilled sniper, but is not a complete player as most NHL'ers have to be in these times. It's too bad that both sides didn't get a plan together to help shape him into that. He was still young with lots of talent that could have possibly been moulded. Sorry to see him go and he didn't get a full year in.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Actually Patrick Sieloff wears #10.

I stand corrected Monahan wears #20.

[Pointman]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

He was still young with lots of talent that could have possibly been moulded.

Dunno, people say, that he wasn't in NHL shape, but it could be that he just doesn't have NHL body. He simply couldn't handle intensity and physicality of NHL. I know about blood problems and all, but him not even trying free agency with off-season training and full camp, and that 48 games in 99 days comments hint that maybe he knows he doesn't have natural fitness for NHL. I'm no expert, but maybe if Flames conducted extensive physical/natural fitness tests on Cervenka before offering contract, they could avoid this sigining.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Pointman

Dunno, people say, that he wasn't in NHL shape, but it could be that he just doesn't have NHL body. He simply couldn't handle intensity and physicality of NHL. I know about blood problems and all, but him not even trying free agency with off-season training and full camp, and that 48 games in 99 days comments hint that maybe he knows he doesn't have natural fitness for NHL. I'm no expert, but maybe if Flames conducted extensive physical/natural fitness tests on Cervenka before offering contract, they could avoid this sigining.

Too many Snickers bars?

At the end of the day, Cervenka was an older rookie that wasn't able to adapt to the NHL game. Certainly not the first and won't be the last. He will still make a very good living in the KHL and play very high level hockey.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with this Omsk Cervenka jersey...

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Both brunner and fasth made immediate impacts. You may think its coaching but i think they are simply better

The only coaching that caused Cervenka's problems happened before he ever got to Calgary.

Probably didn't recognize his goalies in their equipment.

[Stay Golden]

Cervenka signing a 3 year deal backing away from the NHL should tell everyone he himself came to the realization he was not an NHL type player.
He didn't even wait to be a UFA in July to see what the offers would be or his agent realized the level of interest would be so low, lets get back you back to the KHL for more money and a more relaxed game.
Probably mixed into to all that is he gets to back with his wife. Maybe she had no interest to move to North America so Cervenka already knew he wasn't going to pursuit any NHL career longer than this.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Both brunner and fasth made immediate impacts. You may think its coaching but i think they are simply better

yup they are better.

Cervenka was just too slow. Being slow isn't necessarily a problem if the player has a quick release and/or a nose for the net.

But Cervenka is a slow skater. plays on the perimeter and has a slow release. We've all yelled 'shoot!' when the puck was on his stick and if we can get the word "shoot!" out of our mouths in time, that's too slow.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Pointman

How is he pressed for any actual facts?

He guaranteed Cervenka didn't have any interest from any other NHL teams. He presented it as fact by then asking for if that told anyone if Cervenka is a fringe NHL'er. Tinordi is presenting things as fact, and when pushed for facts he backs away, like usual.

Still waiting how he knows Cervenka had no interest from other NHL teams, how u can guarantee it.

[FAN]

Let's face it, Cervenka lost his prospect label after the season he just had and had he not made the decision to go back to the KHL he would be considered a fringe NHL player. I do believe some team will take a chance on him, but he would be lucky to get a one-way contract and he'll be lucky if he makes anything more than the league minimum. It also goes to show that looking at KHL stats is almost pointless. Cervenka is no where near the player a 41 year old Jagr is.

[Tinordi]

I've stated my reasons for why Cervenka would have had no interests from other teams. Feel free to disagree.

[bubbsy]

Cervenka falls into the category as so many others. Good enough skill to play in the NHL, however, not good enough to be a consistent top 6 player, and not enough other elements in his game to play him in the bottom 6.

i'm ok with letting him walk. There were times his defensive lapses were inexcusable. Offensively i think he can play in the NHL, but not much of an impact player.

that being said, i respect him for taking his shot in the NHL at his age. I respect him more for not chasing the $ and recognizing what may be best for him as a player and best for his family in going back.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by St. Pats

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!

False dichotomy. Agree or disagree with his effort (I disagree personally), but Feaster did try address the centre problem, particularly by going after Richards. Signing Cervenka was not the entire plan, simply one piece. It is disingenuous to try and argue that acquiring Cervenka was done in place of attempting to address the problems.


Personally, I find it hilarious that people are trashing the effort so much. Every team is constantly searching for hidden gems or the guy the other teams missed. Sometimes you get a Cervenka. But sometimes you get a Glencross.