NHL Off Season

[Flubber]

They need to trade Iggy and Kippersoft while they can still get something for them.

Feaster has done far less to change the team than I would have wanted. I can suppport the regehr trade just on the dumping Kotalik premise (Kotalik will of course score 30 goals this year LOL) but even trading Regehr was ok in my books. While a very solid d-man, he had no offensive upside and I don't know that the flames could really afford him in a number of senses. His salary would prevent or make harder other offensive signings like a Tanguay and with a team that is still not offensively gifted, I don't know that the Flames can afford major minutes to a player that is essentially an offensive nullity (particularly if you still have Sarich)

The few things that Jay Feaster has actually done so far have been all ok in my books-- I like the steps he has taken . .. but the reality is that he has done nothing earthshaking or at all controversial and the team for 2011-2012 still looks much like last years model-- Perhaps he looks at their overall record after he took over as GM and thinks that THAT is the level of this team. Or perhaps the fact that everyone down to the assistant puck boy has a no movement clause means he is limited in what is available to do. The trade, no-trade, yes its a trade for regeher showed how difficult those contracts can make things. But in trading Regehr he has touched the 'core" of the team. I expect that with Regehr gone, we may see Giordano step up into a bigger leadership role.

Bottom line is that I see a team that has failed to make the playoffs the last two years and which is largely unchanged. So my feelings are pretty much the same as they were last year-- its a team that with Kipper playing very well could sneak into the playoffs but since it is an aging team, its more likely to decline that surge. Perhaps I am wrong in this. Last year after GM Sutter was fired they had such a great surge that it would be nice to believe that the surge is the true team . . . but frankly I have seen too many surges by too many teams to be fooled by that.

It appears Feaster is unwilling to blow it all up and wants to see if the surge team of last year second half or the crappy first half team is the real Calgary Flames. If the team is in the playoff hunt near deadline day, there are often good deals at that time for a rental guy and if they are not, you can often reload with prospects and picks from teams that are in the NOW.

But I still don't see the vision. It appears to be much the same "believe in this team" that GM Sutter did. I just don't know how subtracting Regehr and adding a few margin players fundamentally changes the team but who knows? perhaps some of the acquisitions are burgeoning stars. It would be really nice to have someone join the team and really OVERPERFORM for a change. That was my biggest thing with GM sutter-- almost everyone he added seemed to look ok on paper and then underperform as against expectations

[Ben Kenobi]

Flubber, the core is a year older, and hasn't won a series since 04. Same problems last year as this year.

[Flubber]

Flubber, the core is a year older, and hasn't won a series since 04. Same problems last year as this year.

This is pretty much exactly what I said except in far greater detail

[Asher]

Flubber -- I don't know what you're talking about. The Flames' core is a year older and has yet to win another series since 2004. They haven't resolved their problems this year.

[Flubber]

Flubber -- I don't know what you're talking about. The Flames' core is a year older and has yet to win another series since 2004. They haven't resolved their problems this year.

Stop acting Ben-like!!!!

Next thing he will be saying that I assert they are not another year older

[Flubber]

Ben , Mocking you aside . . .

Both asher and I have for the past couple of years indicated displeasure with the Flames team and not great hope for much change. You agree with our sentiments yet you always seem to act as if you are disagreeing. We are both fans of the team and therefore HOPE they will be better but that doesn't color our assessment that much.

In the flames case, unless they get a couple of real psoitive suprises with some overachievers, they will be a marginal team yet again, with sneaking into a playoff spot being as much as can be hoped and realistically finished 8-10 points out of the playoffs being more likely

[Ben Kenobi]

Flubber, I am glad to see you agree with me here. Never said I was dissenting, more like I was concurring.

[Asher]

Pro tip: Then say "I agree."

[notyoueither]

Winnipeg's new jet.




Hmmm. Maybe it will grow on people.

[Asher]

I saw the newspaper coverage where everyone seemed in love with it. I think it's cliche and the CF-18 is already obsolete...

[Kontiki]

I'm not a big fan of the one on the left with the F-18. It looks too much like an air force insignia and not enough like a sports logo. The other ones are ok, but not fantastic. To be fair, I guess it's a hard name to logo-fy. Something like the Wolves would have been much easier.

[Guynemer]

Eh.

Not particularly interesting, but not offensive, either.

So their colors are going to be dark blue and silver/gray, with red accents? Can't argue with that.

[Flubber]

Eh.

Not particularly interesting, but not offensive, either.

So their colors are going to be dark blue and silver/gray, with red accents? Can't argue with that.

Colors are fine/good-- the logo/styling is meh

[Flubber]

I admit that I will be QUITE curious to see what Edmonton is this year. I had actually expected them to be better last year than they were-- I expected a bit more competitiveness more often. In retrospect though, they probably didn't have enough healthy veterans to help with the kids.

But it is an awesome array of top picks they have assembled due to their years of suck. One has to think they turn the corner soon and move quickly into being a very good team.

[Sparrowhawk]

I admit that I will be QUITE curious to see what Edmonton is this year. I had actually expected them to be better last year than they were-- I expected a bit more competitiveness more often. In retrospect though, they probably didn't have enough healthy veterans to help with the kids.

But it is an awesome array of top picks they have assembled due to their years of suck. One has to think they turn the corner soon and move quickly into being a very good team.

I agree in that I thought they would do better last year as well and was disappointed that they weren't more competitive. Every team has injuries, and I hate to make excuses, but I think one of their key injuries last year was Ryan Whitney. He had 2 Goals and 25 Assists in 35 Games last year, and I think when he went down (just after Christmas?) the Oilers were lacking a puck moving defensemen to get the puck to their forwards.

With Whitney in the first 35 games:
35-12-17-06-30 Winning % .428

Final Record of the Season:
82-25-45-12-62 Winning % .378

Record Without Whitney in the last 47 games:
47-13-28-06-32 Winning % .340

While a lot more happened last year then just Whitney getting hurt, I think any team obviously needs defencemen capable of getting the puck out of their own end, and getting the puck to the forwards, hopefully he is back to 100% this year.

I'm excited about this season...but then again, I was excited about last year too. I am now much closer to Edmonton then I used to be, hopefully I can get to see at least a game live this year (if not in Edmonton, then in Calgary maybe....which I am closer to).

/me