interesting that you linked that, because if you look at all forwards, Iginla is also up there, even higher than Staal. so he'd be picking up some of those.

If the Flames don't figure on being a cap team, Cervenka's cap hit is totally immaterial. It's exactly the kind of thing a team wanting to tear it down would do. Note that I don't think the Flames are going to tear it down.

yeah exactly

i just wonder if they're accounting for ~$2m of bonuses that are 99.9% not to hit (if that's the case) in their internal budget, or if they're going to try to use that as an excuse to save some money. i would assume the latter, especially if what Geddy says about ownership is true. actually, if what he says about ownership is true, why not just spend to the cap and run the team at a small loss if that's how it is? like who really gives a [censored] when you're making trillions in oil or w/e? live a little.

my guess is they're accounting for them not to hit, though at the same time they'd probably be thrilled if they end up owing him the full 3.7m, as that would mean he conn smythe'd.

From Boston.com:

Boys,

Going now to meet Jay Feaster and some former Flames scouts for a little group we both do work for. If anyone (Geddy) has any questions they want me to ask him post em here.

ask him if he's gonna guarantee the Flames make the playoffs again.
or if he's going to deal Iginla, Kipper, or JBo.
or if he'd make a deal based around Jordan Staal for Iggy

/not srs

Sidney Crosby is pretty much a lock to sign with the Habs in 2 years.

Can't wait.

ask him if he believes the pittsburgh model is what's needed to win the cup. i.e. winning the lottery to draft the best player in the world?

i would phrase this as, "have you picked out a name for the Beartschi-JStaal-Tanguay line yet?"

news briefs:

- SCF ratings at a 5-year low?
- Radulov won't be back with Nashville, might go back to the KHL
- Semin might go to the KHL
- Dominic Moore missed the last 2 Sharks playoff games this year bc his wife was diagnosed with cancer
- Erik Christensen leaves the Wild for the KHL
- Giroux on Bryzgalov: “He’s gonna be the best goalie in the league next year” lulz
- apparently the honeymoon is already over for Habs GM Marc Bergevin as far as the media are concerned after the Therrien hiring
- Avs re-sign Cody McLeod, haven't seen any terms
- Shane Doan likes Skittles



very nice!

Ask him if there's a job available in the front office for a kid who loves the Flames more than life itself and is hoping to complete his MBA over the next 2 years.

He'll face very similar competition in Calgary as he did in Pittsburgh, and I don't even know why you're bringing up linemates. Who do you think he's played with over the last few years?

Also, his PP time has generally consisted of being thrown out at the tail end of the powerplay with a couple grinders. I guarantee his PP production increases in Calgary - perhaps substantially so.

That's hardly a given. Staal's value continues to rise if he continues to improve. If he regresses a bit from last year production wise, which is likely with a healthy Crosby in the picture, I could see his price tag going down before the end of the year. In other words, it's quite possible that his value now is the highest it's going to be before July 1, 2013.

Might is the keyword on that last sentence. Any time you entertain trading two similarly effective players there's always the possibility each team improves as a result. Except in this scenario, any improvement would undoubtedly be short term, as in one year.

I'm still waiting for Geddy to chime in on the discussion, but I just can't imagine Flames fans would rather have picks and prospects for Iggy than a player like Staal who they could build their team around for the next decade.

Any trade for Iginla has to yield some sort of new established face to build around, both from a marketing perspective and a hockey standpoint. If you're going to rip out the heart of the city for a 1st round pick and a generic "upper tier" prospect, no ****ing thanks. I've seen too many Rico Fatas and Daniel Tkaczuks and Brent Krahns in my time to entertain that thought.

In b4 "but Geddy, they moved Nieuwendyk for Iginla in '95!" Flames had no choice, Nieuwendyk was holding out and forced Calgary's hand.

At this point, I don't see why you wouldn't just let him play out the deal and re-evaluate in the summer. The value you're going to get back probably isn't worthwhile and we're ****ed anyways. So if he wants to leave, so be it but don't shove him out the door.

And for all of the ridiculous media garbage he's had to put up with over the last few years, he has never once indicated that he wants to leave, and I can't blame him. So he won't get a ring in Calgary, whatever. He's literally done everything else you can in the sport. He's got a young family with 3 kids under the age of 7 and he's the most beloved sports figure in the city's history. And he's earned the right to decide his fate.

I just want all of this talk to go away. Jarome's like the last sliver of childhood fandom innocence I have left.

btw, I'm fine with the path Feaster's on right now. This 2011 draft class is stellar - Baertschi, Granlund, Gaudreau and Brossoit might be the best draft we've ever had. They turned the Erixon cluster**** into a real positive with the Horak addition and the pick that landed Granlund. Feaster and Weisbrod went hard after the top NCAA FA's and just missed out on both Spencer Abbott and J.T. Brown. The addition of Ramo in the Cammalleri trade was a nice little scoop to address a very thin position in the organization, even if it doesn't pan out. The Cervenka signing represents the type of unconventional player market the Sutter regime never would've dared to touch. They'll most certainly be making an aggressive pitch to Justin Schultz in a few weeks. And for the first time in like forever, they've retained their 1st round pick for consecutive seasons. Brendan Gaunce at 14th overall? Yes please.

They're stocking the shelves a lot better than anyone wants to give them credit for, which really irritates me but whatever. Just focus on drafting better with the picks you're given at the start of every season and don't let any player market go untapped; investigate them all. They're on the right track from the young player development side of things, which is really encouraging.

We're talking tiny, tiny differences here. People don't realize what Staal does for the Penguins. This isn't to say they wouldn't be okay without him, but he frees up those guys to do what they do starting closer to pay dirt.

Even if his wingers sucked, he no doubt got to play with better defense partners which would be quite different if he went to Calgary.

Sure, but I don't think it's even worth discussing. Staal does a lot of terrific things on his own accord. Who cares if he plays with slightly better players some portion of the time? Unless we're suggesting his worth is inflated, which I hope nobody is.

That must really **** with a guy to have your wife get cancer during the most important time in your career.

How much input do you think Bergevin had in hiring the new coach?

Less than 25% is a safe bet I would think.

Real GM Serge Savard and Jacques Lemaire with the biggest input. Dudley, Molson, the hosts of Antichambre make up the rest.

RIP Krutov.

watching him on l’antichambre he didnt give me the impression of being a hockey genius, moreso so of being an honest and goodhearted moron that was at the right place at the right time.

a lot of people in the hockey world give me that impression.

not true =.=

btw, if i was herping and derping on another stupid site that shall remain nameless, i'd probably post something like this: (and something similar has probably already been posted a thousand times)



all it'd take is dumping Luongo and either Booth or Raymond's RFA rights, and Ballard with the other, and burying AHLberts somewhere. oh, and convincing all those free agents to sign. but SHIP DA...



well that was fun and pointless...

For all the Toronto fans, si_vault on twitter has made today Toronto day, and is just posting a bunch of awesome old Toronto sports pictures from old Sports Illustrated mags. Some are pretty awesome.

https://twitter.com/#!/si_vault

My personal favorite:

Right, I'm just nitpicking.