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UPDATE: Clay Wilson signs with KHL.....// Jay Feaster: Why All The Hate? |
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Update: As per SportsNet Rob Kerr, Clay Wilson has signed with Ukraine in the KHL.
Wilson was signed to a one year, two way contract last year with the Flames, but with the glut of defenders they currently hold, there was no real room for him to move up. Wilson was the Heats MVP last season and played a big role for them.
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The criticism concerning Flames’ GM Jay Feaster has been mounting as of late as it seems that many fans believe he is not the right GM for this organization and that he is simply an inefficient general manager.
In order to properly breakdown Feasters current tenure with the Flames, it’s important to take a look at his career beforehand. Jay Feaster was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning for six years, during which he was named the NHL's executive of the year by The Sporting News in 2004 after guiding the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup championship. A few years after winning their first cup, Feaster parted ways with the Lightning as he felt the new owners interfered too much with the hockey operations, not allowing him to properly act as GM. After leaving Tampa, Feaster remained active by writing for TheHockeyNews as well as appearing on many radio shows discussing the NHL developments.
In addition to his NHL awards, Feaster is also known for winning the AHL’s executive of the year award in 1997 with the Hersey Bears working alongside current headcoach Bob Hartley. As general manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Feaster made moves and decisions that were scrutinized by many. However he was well respected, and for all intents and purposes, left on relatively good terms.
Since joining the Flames organization in 2010, Feaster has yet to make any moves that have impacted the team significantly. The list below represents all transactions completed by Feaster since his start date with the Flames, including a few made while still working under his predecessor.
- Jan 24, 2011 - Craig Conroy is placed on waivers
- Feb 20, 2011 - Niklas Hagman is waived.
- Feb 27, 2011 - Brett Carson is claimed off waivers
- Feb 27, 2011 - Fredrik Modin is traded for a 7th round pick.
- May 15, 2011 - Curtis Glencross is resigned for 4 years on a $2.55 million Cap hit with a NMC
- May 31, 2011 - Tim Erixon and a 5th round pick (Shane McClogan) traded to the New York Rangers for Roman Horak and two 2nd round picks (Markus Granlund & Tyler Wotherspoon)
- June 19, 2011 - Henrik Karlsson is resigned on a two year deal with a $863,000 Cap Hit
- June 24, 2011 - Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik and a 2nd round pick are traded for Chris Butler and Paul Byron.
- June 24, 2011 - Alex Tanguay is resigned on a 5 year deal for a $3.5M Cap hit.
- June 30, 2012 - Chris Butler is signed on a two year, $1.25 million Cap hit.
- July 3, 2011 - Anton Babchuk is signed on a two year, $2.5 million Cap hit
- July 3, 2011 - Sven Baertschi signs 3 year entry level deal at $925,000 with his NHL bonus he will be a Cap Hit of $1.425 million on the Flames next year.
- July 5, 2011 - Leland Irving resigns a one year deal at $600,000
- July 12, 2011 - Derek Smith is signed as a Free Agent at $700,000.
- Aug 12, 2011 - Scott Hannan - Signed as Free Agent on a $1 million - one year deal.
- Aug 28, 2011 - Daymond Langkow is traded for Lee Stempniak
- Nov 24, 2011 - Blake Comeau claimed off waivers
- Jan 5, 2012 - Brenden Mikkelson traded for Blair Jones
- Jan 11, 2012 - Rene Bourque, Patrick Holland and a 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft for Mike Cammalleri, Karri Ramo and a 5th round pick
- Feb 7, 2012 - Derek Smith is extended on a two year contract for $775,000
- Feb 26, 2012 - Tim Jackman signs two year extension with a $613,000 Cap hit
When looking over the majority of the moves Feaster has made to date, it seems as though much of the criticism he’s received may be unfair. While he certainly did not step in and make blockbuster moves for his club, he has certainly not made horrendous moves either. Feaster has been GM for the Flames for a short time and has plenty of work left to do. When he took over the team, he was left with a big mess on his desk to sort out, and he is steadily working through it. Managing an NHL team, especially one that was guided by someone else’s vision, is not an easy task.
Feaster was a part of two drafts with Calgary since taking over, and none of these draft picks will have any real impact on the team for another few years, save for Baertschi. The moves that Feaster have made to date have arguably been done in order to construct a new “vision” for the club with what was left behind from his predecessor. As previously discussed, he has been acquiring players who are considered to be hockey smart, and has been doing his best to make the team younger, one transaction at a time.
The Calgary Flames have been a playoff bubble team for the past three seasons, and Feaster has only been here for two. There is arguably no feasible way that this writer believes he could have stepped in and made significant changes to the roster that would have resulted in a dramatic shift from the team’s current circumstances. There was damage control to be taken care of, and he is still working at it. Many seem to believe that “blowing it up” is the way to go. Well, I ask you…how many cases support this? How many GMs have stepped in and “blown things up” which paid off?
There are not too many GMs who enjoy losing or who want to plan for a poor season in order to draft higher. The notion of “tanking” is one created by fans. Jay Feaster has stated numerous times he will not put this franchise through years of losing only to hope for the best draft selections and try to win sometime down the road. This, in my opinion, is not the way to run a franchise. While Feaster’s decision to retool while remaining competitive may be a long and rough road to hopeful success, there should be more credit given to the man…and if not, at the very least more patience.
In a few years when his draft selections begin to make their mark on the team, and the larger trades or acquisitions he makes begin to influence the rest of the team, at that point we can sit around a table with a few beers and grade him. But the constant criticism and articles about how he may lose his job if the Flames do not make the playoffs this year, to me, are undeserving.
While the Flames will remain competitive under Feasters guidance, his new vision for the team will allow them to become stronger in the process. The roster currently holds a few vets with a significant amount of trade value, and whether or not Feaster moves them for needed upgrades or youth is left to be seen. However, critiquing the Flames GM after but two years is unwarranted.
Thanks again for reading!
You can follow me on twitter: @noename09
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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