Feaster gets another offseason from me before I start to get into a critical evaluation mode. I liked the moves this offseason, and I think Hartley deserves some time even though the start has been poor. Kipper's injury combined with the shortened camp and season makes it pretty tough for me to give him the benefit of the doubt a while longer. To each their own, though.
You know exactly what your getting into as a GM, especially as the assistant to the previous GM. He knew the game plan, the team has gotten worse statistically each year behind him. The status of the team when D sutter, left, and you can't improve on that, instead it's been worse. I have to question the hockey knowledge here when he sacrifices grit and goaltending just to gain as much skill as he can, regardless of how on the edge these skill players play with. That's poor management IMO. It's even more intriguing with Burke available. Maybe you pull the trigger sooner than normal to get a guy like that.
You know exactly what your getting into as a GM, especially as the assistant to the previous GM. He knew the game plan, the team has gotten worse statistically each year behind him. The status of the team when D sutter, left, and you can't improve on that, instead it's been worse. I have to question the hockey knowledge here when he sacrifices grit and goaltending just to gain as much skill as he can, regardless of how on the edge these skill players play with. That's poor management IMO. It's even more intriguing with Burke available. Maybe you pull the trigger sooner than normal to get a guy like that.
Feaster tried to get grit this summer. He offered Prust the same as Montreal did. Not hard to fathom that he lost out on his 2nd and 3rd options also. The mandate that the owners had was very flawed going in to this season. Make playoffs and don't trade Iggy. If they can't trade Iggy, then they can't trade Kipper or Tangs. They need grit so they can't trade Glencross or Gio. After those players there was nothing left on the roster that other teams would want.
This summer could be different. Even though the flames as a team look horrible, players like Bouw, Stajan and Stempniak now have trade value.
I can see both sides of the arguement on whether Feaster stays or goes. I think he needs more time and the mandate changed. On the other hand he accepted the challenge, spent a boat load of money , and looks to have failed on both mandates.
I have thought about Burke also. If the flames ownership did change the mandate, Burke could probably get more for some of the flames players at the deadline than Feaster could. Say what you will about Burke, but other than the Kessel debacle, the man wins trades. Kessel debacle will never happen again to him, he has learned through that mistake. That said i don't see Burke getting along with Ken King, nor do i believe the ownership would change their mandate.
You know exactly what your getting into as a GM, especially as the assistant to the previous GM. He knew the game plan, the team has gotten worse statistically each year behind him. The status of the team when D sutter, left, and you can't improve on that, instead it's been worse. I have to question the hockey knowledge here when he sacrifices grit and goaltending just to gain as much skill as he can, regardless of how on the edge these skill players play with. That's poor management IMO. It's even more intriguing with Burke available. Maybe you pull the trigger sooner than normal to get a guy like that.
Feaster tried to get grit this summer. He offered Prust the same as Montreal did. Not hard to phathom that he lost out on his 2nd and 3rd options also. The mandate that the owners had was very flawed going into this season. Make playoffs and don't trade Iggy. If they can't trade Iggy, then they can't trade Kipper or Tangs. They need grit so they can't trade Glencross or Gio. After those players there was nothing left on the roster that other teams would want.
This summer could be different. Even though the flames as a team look horrible, players like Bouw, Stajan and Stempniak now have trade value.
I can see both sides of the arguement on whether Feaster stays or goes. I think he needs more time and the mandate changed. On the other hand he accepted the challenge, spent a boat load of money , and looks to have failed on both mandates.
I have thought about Burke also. If the flames ownership did change the mandate, Burke could probably get more for some of the flames players at the deadline than Feaster could. Say what you will about Burke, but other than the Kessel debacle, the man wins trades. Kessel debacle will never happen again to him, he has learned through that mistake. That said i don't see Burke getting along with Ken King, nor do i believe the ownership would change their mandate.
A month away from the trade deadline no less. Are you watching, Edwards?
He knows, don't kid yourself.
The issue is that Joe Public doesn't know. He looks at the standings and sees we're only a handful of points away and has been conditioned under the old point system to think making up that ground is no big deal.
Those in the pro-rebuild camp (like myself) should aggressively publicize this. Tell everyone. Send them the link to the website. Explain to those people who reply with "anything can happen" that yes, that's true, it's just that what they're hoping to happen (playoffs) will happen 16 times out of 100.
Edwards knows this, and therefore continues to sell a playoff push. Don't buy it, and don't let others buy it either.
Sounds cynical, but at least it's objective. I'm still a fan, and I still watch all the games, but I'm withholding my dollars for tickets/merch until the guys running things show me they have a clue.
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I'm withholding my dollars for tickets/merch until the guys running things show me they have a clue.
I see the problem as nobody really competent is going to want to come here. Elite coaches, desired UFA's, proven and consistent GM's. I don't see any of it coming here because why would they want to? I think we are going to have to hit rock bottom, start losing money before the ownership cleans house.
