AlbertaBoy12

Im sure fans have tried to work their way into sports, thats why you see guys like jay feaster who start off in lesser roles work their way into the hockey market. I dont think it would be doable for a fan to just step in as GM and I dont think theres a way for anyone to try.

I would agree completely. I dont think elliott is going to get term on the open market and he seems to want to be here so I would give him the chance to come back. I dont think this team would be making a good choice to bring in bishop or fleury, the flames have made a habit of turning over goaltenders, elliott didnt have the playoffs he wanted but his second half was very good. I dont see any reason other then the playoffs to not bring him back unless hes asking for long term security. I dont think this team would be making the right call by adding bishop( who has a history of injuries) long term or fleury long term, we need a stop gap ie elliott. I dont think these 4 games are a good example of elliotts playoff ability and I would look to him to bounce back.

I think id lose my mind if the flames didnt bring him back. Only JJ would find problem with BT.

I would not be suprised to see the flames trade the first if we can pick up a young #4 dman that would fit with finishing up our D corp or a young winger to solidify our top 9, otherwise I would assume we make the pick.

If I was better at photoshop or something I would like to see what a modern day tendy looks like super imposed on that photo, that would be the real kicker. A player like bishop has to be twice the size of vernon plus the increase in gear size.

Crosby has not foundational wingers for years and hes been just fine. You dont need 3 all starts to make a line anymore, look around the league almost every big name scorer is either paired or solo, theres very few threesomes. Alot of big name players will play together on the powerplay but their 5 on 5 time is usual seperate. All the johnny/mony line needs is a guy who can crash and bang consistently, has enough skill to not be a liabiliy, and let them go about their business. I could go team by team and list off all the lines to prove this point, but I dont think thats necessary. The pittsburgh penguins do it right spreading out malkin, kessel, and crosby on 3 lines, bringing them together for the pp and finding the right players to compliment them 5 on 5.

We have rooms? I knew I liked this site for a reason.

Yes he can, the possiblity is there. That doesnt mean the opportunity is there for him to go wherever. I think I agree there is probably very few teams looking for his services, and ever fewer who will be looking to give him an extension.

I would be ok with BT signing elliot or johnson to a 2 year deal, that would be perfect length. I wonder if we could get mrazek for our 1st in this years draft, im not 100% sold we need to acquire a #1 goalie, I feel like we may be playing the wait and see game with this one.

He came out of the KHL, so he had plenty of experience to draw upon. Yes I agree the situation best for them, some guys look for oppurtunity, some want to win thats the real problem. While one guy might have looked at calgary the past couple years and said I get to play if I go there, other guys might have said they wont win anything, where as chicago there is a good shot at winning. You could definatly say the same things about bowman if thats who we are going to judge against. His bickell contract wasent exactly the best idea, for one example. https://committedindians.com/stan-bowman-history-as-chicago-blackhawks-gm/ Gives a pretty good list of all his activity, and I wouldnt say he won on every deal, he definatly lost some. The comments by blackhawks fans on some of his deals are funny though.

True. But with a player like panarin or vesey in new york even, the flames can be in on those players trying to sign them they still have to want to come to your team, I remember the flames being in on panarin. Yes bowman is good at making trades of the right players but the blackhawks of built up their prospect base over years and are really good at drafting, I think their scouts deserve just as much credit. To be honest even with a guy like panik thats their pro scouts doing good work recognizing a guy with good top end skill that can ride shot gun with toews. I dont think the flames are that far away, but I agree lazar could end up busting out into a top 6 player but if he ends up like frolik I wont be that upset.

Yeah I dont know why people are still upset over the macdonald over demko thing, both havent exactly lit the world on fire in their first years pro. Although demko is playing in the AHL, its pretty hard to make a call at this point, just once again shows how much voodoo goalies can be. The hunter smith pick, I dont really have a problem with. I know people think its the worst pick for BT, but 11 points in 34 games with a +8 isent great but its not terrible. Hes still only 21 and has been a bit of a late bloomer even in junior. Dont get me wrong, I dont think he will ever be a brandon saad or something, but he could be a very good bottom 6 player for us in a couple years. Its not about just finding a panarin for free, its that panarin wanting to come play for your hockey club. I dont necessarily agree that a great GM needs to be like stan bowman, and finding panarin. Bowman hasent really had to do all that much in Chicago, other then maintain what was built by dale tallon. Yes hes won a couple cups, but hes also had his bad moments.

You do realize I said I would bring one of elliot or johnson back, just not both. I agree with your assessment that that you dont wait for a vezina caliber goalie and then sign him long term, but it also doesnt mean you necessarily lock up elliot/johnson who have been average. Elliot for 2 years is much different then elliot for 3 years, id be ok with elliot for 2 years, but if thats the case im not bringing johnson back.

I agree completely. I wasent trying to understate how important this game will be or what a threat LA is going to be. I just agree with you, they arent as dangerous as past years and look to be on the backside of winning a cup now.

I dont think we want to lock up elliot long term, but thats just my opinion. Elliot is not the answer in net, and locking him up at that price for 3 years is probably not the best idea. Has he been solid recently, yes he has but hes not a long term answer. Id be ok with bringing him or johnson back for another year but thats about it.

Are you agreeing with me? or what? We are going back to game on nov 3, and we are going to talk about us vs LA tommorrow like thats the comparison? Should we go over some of the highlight reel plays by grossman in that game?

Well while the goalie cost wouldnt be too bad, I think cernak would have been like trading a hickey, and then a 7th rounder. Im assuming the 2017 conditional pick is for the playoffs, and whether bishop will play. If that conditional pick ends up being a 2nd, did we really want to pay a 2nd + hickey for bishop? I dont.

You mean top teams like tampa and florida or nashville? While I agree the game against LA tuesday will be interesting, I dont know if I consider them a top team anymore, they are struggling to produce offence this year, it should be a good game though.

why was devin setoguchi a mistake? Did I miss something on a one year tryout that didnt work out? crazy big mistake there. Mason raymond was coming off a pretty good comeback season in toronto, no one could have predicted he would have fallen off, oh well buyouts happen. Brandon bollig, was the mistake trading a 3rd for him, I can forgive this it happened a month after he was the GM, not the end of the world, not a huge mistake.

I dont know if jokkipakka is back next year, he just has not been good this year at all.

I think the big question with GMs always is if they arent doing anything stupid what exactly does a guy like lombardi do that is such a huge upgrade? A gm isent like a coach where you are going to get some huge upgrade. A GMs job is to manage the cap, make sound trades and help the team get better players for the coach to do his job. I think the arguement would be has BT done a good job with those things. BT was an upgrade on feaster because he wasnt the greatest hockey mind, but is someone like lombardi going to be a huge upgrade, I dont see why. BT has made some good trades, the hamilton one comes to mind first and foremost obviously, but even the russell trade was a good one. Has he made some mistakes ie the signing of engelland or brouwer sure, but these arent big mistakes and really they arent costing the team anything at this point. A GM is someone you can keep around for years if he has a plan and isent doing anything dumb, bowman in chicago has made some dumb choices, but he just keeps trucking along because hes winning cups. But some of his choices havent been very smart ie giving Bickell big money.

He looked really bad with engelland to start the game, but playing with stone in the third I actually thought they looked good as a pairing in limited minutes in the third.

You are being a bit dramatic I've also played D my whole life. Brodie has played left D in his career, it's not a new thing for him. While I agree the reads are different on opposite sides of the ice and it can be different, a high level NHL player shouldn't have a rough time. Brodie hasent struggled as much as everyone is making it out to be as cross pointed out, I personally don't think he has played that badly, he's struggled at times it happens.

I read that as well, I've asked people I know who aren't flames fans about penalties and they have literally said whys that a penalty. I don't think their is a conspiracy theory by refs, but I do think the refs need to do a better job, there is way too many poor calls across the league, and the refs lack consistency.

i think this is the important part, everything that BT has done has set this team up for the future and the current team has not taken a back seat but hes not going to mortgage the future for a shot in the dark.