To be honest, one was hoped for, one was unexpected, and one was just disappointing in the way the whole situation played out…
Let’s face it. I was never a big supporter of Anders Eriksson. I thought he was WAY too mistake prone and looked either lost or out of position far too often last season. True, he wasn’t making very much and was only brought in to be a 5 or six and was forced into more minutes by circumstances, but I would argue that for similar $$$ Andrei Zyuzin who the Flames got rid of, was a better fit and more versatile than Eriksson ever showed he could be, and we all know how Zyuzin was run out of town. Which I kind of thought was unfair because I thought he was one of the better Flame defenseman at the end of the 06-07 season which only made it even more frustrating for me when Eriksson was brought in, but I digress…
Rhett Warrener is, and always has been, a warrior. Somewhere in the past two seasons the team seems to have lost faith in the player that was once one of the emotional leaders of this team. He was a player that you could always count on to fight tooth-and-nail for everything and make sure that the opposition knew they were in for a fight when he was in the line-up. Not only has he been a leader on the team, but he’s also been a leader in the community. His bowling tournament for charity is a highlight of the city’s charity events and always has a great turn-out from fans and former players and team-mates alike. There’s a lot to like about Rhett’s time in Calgary, there isn’t much to like about the way he was treated in the past twelve months, and I just hope he knows that although the team doesn’t seem to want him around anymore, he was always appreciated by the people of the city and it’s a sad day for a lot of Calgarians.
Why would you waive Marcus Nilson? Seriously, what has he not done that he’s been asked to do? He’s cheap! Pulls in a whopping 1 mil a season… as a reference Eriksson makes 1.5…. He’s played every forward position, he’s played on almost every line, and he’s played in almost every situation and he’s done so without complaint. True he isn’t flashy or outgoing, but he’s a solid, versatile player that comes cheap. Doesn’t every team want a guy like that? When he’s been matched with creative people he’s been able to step up his game, when he put in a role position, he plays his role. I just can’t understand this move. I don’t just don’t understand how you can replace a player who can fill so many roles for as little as he makes. I guess I’ve just always thought he was under-rated as a Flame.
Many changes abound and if nothing else we’re sure learning that the team will definitely have a different look player-wise come training camp!
Have a great day!
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