Flames STH Meeting: Lunch Session

[united]

Some more from tonight, but much of the same. No Burke tonight.

King
- Same arena propaganda as usual. Urged fans to hound their political representatives about how important the project is.
- It isn't just them building an arena, it's the City of Calgary getting a facility.
- New proposal should be decided upon in the next "couple weeks". Proposal would cost about $500 million and not include the field house/football stadium.
- Beer price is going up either 25 or 50 cents, but most likely 50 cents. Everyone, including Treliving, boos.
- 96% season ticket renewal rate.
- Tells the story about the Filipino lady in the hospice again, hahaha.
- States an arena will get built in the next decade - whether the Flames are involved or not is up to the City. This refers to the City needing an arena for the Olympic bid. Flames would like to be involved and feel they have fielded a fair offer, but reiterate they still maintain the CalgaryNext offer was fair.
- The new Adidas jersey was designed over the last "two or so years", which is the timeline involved in new jersey designs.
- Flames will likely shift back to a retro-style jersey in the next few years. Might not be exactly the same as the retros, but the players love them, coaches love them, management loves them, and fans love them.

Treliving
- First called about Hamonic two years ago; have had occasional discussions over that time.
- Islanders were talking to two other teams he knows of, and they really wanted a top six player in return. Treliving told Snow he couldn't give him a top six player, but what the Flames could offer them was the pieces they could flip for a top six player. Ultimately Snow circled back to the Flames when it became clear negotiations with other teams weren't going to work out. Treliving assumes the Islanders will use some of what the Flames gave them as currency for a forward of some kind.
- Poirier has moved to Calgary this summer, with his girlfriend, to try and get his career on track. Thinks the personal issues are in the clear, but continuing to help him as they can. When Treliving was in Arizona they really liked Poirier that same draft. First two times he saw Poirier live he was far and away the best player on the ice. Is of the belief that as long as Poirier doesn't stop working he will become an NHL player, but he can't let poor habits creep back.
- Toughest calls he made this off season were to vets who the Flames didn't protect, but at the same time they were pros about it.
- Sad to see Engelland go - the Flames were considering trying to have him back - but kind of expected Vegas to go after him. At the same time, happy for Engelland as his wife and two young kids lived in Vegas while he stayed here. Both pregnancies were difficult on his family so as a person it's good that he'll be able to see his kids every week now. Loved by teammates and helped set such a good example for the youngsters off the ice.
- Acknowledged Brouwer had a poor year but immediately defended him by saying what a good leader he is especially when facing marquee teams, where in the past the Flames would go in to the game expecting to lose. Both Treliving and Brouwer are anticipating a big year from Brouwer. Mentioned Brouwer fully admits "things didn't go as expected".
- On Mike Smith, they really wanted a goalie who considered himself to be a number one goaltender. Read into that as you will.
- The Flames studied the 32? goaltenders who started a certain number of games (forgot, sorry), and their in-house analytical team determined that Mike Smith played in the most difficult circumstances of any of the 32, both in terms of volume and quality. He doesn't have the high-end save percentage by the raw number, but facing both less quantity and less quality the Flames think that will improve dramatically. Of all the goalies he's seen, Smith is probably the most dedicated to keeping himself in shape and has a winner's attitude.
- Told a story about the Hamilton trade, where he approached Sweeney at the NHL awards and asked if he was going to look to trade Hamilton and Sweeney said no. After the awards, Sweeney and Treliving happened to be two seats apart on the red eye to Florida...Sweeney got up to go use the washroom right when Treliving was going to so they ended up in line beside each other, where Treliving demanded, jokingly, that Sweeney trade him Hamilton, and Sweeney responded they could talk. So they did that week and finalized things at the draft.
- One of the hardest parts of trading picks is seeing the scouts after, but at the same time they had a ton of picks the past few years so it balances out.
- If he had to choose, the biggest area of need going into July 1st is a skilled winger. That said, it was the least-pressing need two weeks ago. Price and fit has to be right.
- Was approached by an older veteran free agent who told the Flames there was only four teams he wanted to play for or he would retire. The Flames and the other three teams he considers cup contenders in the next couple years, and he has no care about making money anymore - just wants to win. Has never had that phone call before so it's exciting to be considered a contender by outsiders.
- At this point, the Flames biggest organizational need is skilled forwards. Loves what they have in the pipeline for goaltenders and defenceman. In terms of forwards, specifically right-shooting forwards. Addressed that in a big way by winning the Foo sweepstakes.
- Foo told Treliving he picked the Flames because of how much he liked the Flames' staff and the people in the city. The Flames put a customized video they made of/for Foo on the Jumbotron, and watching from a players' bench, Foos parents started to cry.
- Plan was to break the Foo signing live at the season ticket holder session but the word slipped two hours early. Not a big deal.
- Chad Johnson was only included in the Smith trade for expansion purposes. Arizona had no intention of signing him and both teams told Johnson the reason for the trade ahead of time.
- Treliving says he laughs when every single team aside from #1 says about the player they drafted "we can't believe he slipped to us!", but then followed up by chuckling and saying "but, seriously, we can't believe Valimaki slipped to us!". Says they had Valimaki as the top player on the second tier of players in the draft. Did not mention how many players were in tier 1.
- Again credited Gulutzan for sticking with everything when the Flames were 5-10-1 and had just received an ass-kicking. Bullets being fired from all directions yet they knew they were close to having a good understanding of the system, and turns out he was right. Would have been easy to bail and make panic changes.
- Flames were high on Makar and Brannstrom, and used them as an example as to what a great job the scouts do in that it's so difficult to compare players playing in two vastly different leagues. Makar dominating a second-tier junior league against kids vs. Brannstrom being nothing notable but playing in one of the best leagues in the World against men.

[TheScorpion]

- Flames will likely shift back to a retro-style jersey in the next few years. Might not be exactly the same as the retros, but the players love them, coaches love them, management loves them, and fans love them.

!!!

[Bunk]

Neat story about the Hamilton trade. Planted the idea, cultivated it, took what was his, everyone one else shut out.

[Southside]

I also thought it interesting that a free agent player called Brad directly expressing an interest in coming to Calgary as he views us as a winner. My mind started racing. Who? Who the hell could it be?

[StrykerSteve]

[

Treliving bugged Sweeney to trade him Hamilton while in line to go to the bathroom.

Best. GM. Ever.

[FlamesNation23]

Originally Posted by Southside

I also thought it interesting that a free agent player called Brad directly expressing an interest in coming to Calgary as he views us as a winner. My mind started racing. Who? Who the hell could it be?

I would assume its one of iginla or doan. Maybe Marleau? Who else is on the verge of retirement?

[2ArmBands]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Treliving bugged Sweeney to trade him Hamilton while in line to go to the bathroom.

Best. BM. Ever.

Fyp

[Toonage]

Given what Treliving said about the player wanting to play for only a few teams or retire, the events of the past week and Treliving's past association with Arizona how could it be anyone other than Doan?

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by FlamesNation23

I would assume its one of iginla or doan. Maybe Marleau? Who else is on the verge of retirement?

I'd say Jagr, but he'll probably play until 55

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Southside

I also thought it interesting that a free agent player called Brad directly expressing an interest in coming to Calgary as he views us as a winner. My mind started racing. Who? Who the hell could it be?

Hmmm..

-Older and close to retiring.
-Hasn't won a Cup yet.
-Doesn't care about money, made plenty in the past.

... yeah, come home Iggy.

[StrykerSteve]

I absolutely love the idea of bringing in an experienced vet on a league minimum contract to help the team win it all. Especially a former all-star. Iginla or Doan, come on down.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Southside

I also thought it interesting that a free agent player called Brad directly expressing an interest in coming to Calgary as he views us as a winner. My mind started racing. Who? Who the hell could it be?

Iginla, Doan, Marleau, Thornton, Jagr, Campbell, Vrbata, Oduya, Sharp? These seem like the guys close to retiring but still be able to somewhat call their own shots....

I'm going to guess Doan, seeing how they, Treiliving and him, have history.

[devo22]

yeah Doan is a good call, I could see that especially given his familiarity with Treliving and Maloney.

[Southside]

Originally Posted by FlamesNation23

I would assume its one of iginla or doan. Maybe Marleau? Who else is on the verge of retirement?

The other poster mentioned retirement, I may have missed that. Dont recall it being mentioned, it may have been but I didn't recall that as part of the story.

[FlamesNation23]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Given what Treliving said about the player wanting to play for only a few teams or retire, the events of the past week and Treliving's past association with Arizona how could it be anyone other than Doan?

I would put my money on Doan. If so, do not want.

[nik-]

Two years of work on designing the new jersey to pretty much end up with the exact same jersey?

You can't make this #### up.

[IrishSpring2013]

Originally Posted by FlamesNation23

I would assume its one of iginla or doan. Maybe Marleau? Who else is on the verge of retirement?

Old guys with no cups...
Iginla, Marleau, Thornton, Doan.

[Mass_nerder]

Curious to see who the vetran player is, and if he could help us.
I'm hoping it's Patrick Marleau (but I seriously doubt it).

[TheScorpion]

God, I hope it's Marleau. Or Thornton, but he's a centre.

[OmegaV4]

Originally Posted by Southside

I also thought it interesting that a free agent player called Brad directly expressing an interest in coming to Calgary as he views us as a winner. My mind started racing. Who? Who the hell could it be?

I guess that would be considered...FOOd...for thought.