Step Into The Freezer
By Stacy Shaikin
Frankly all the talk about whether Calgary should or should not trade Jay Bouwmeester is starting to get on my nerves. In addition I find it trying to criticize or Salute Flames management right now as I really feel it is too early in their tenure to get a read on how well or poor they are doing at navigating out the mess that Daryl Sutter left for Jay Feaster.
I suppose there are a few things I will like to highlight as far what they have done...The single best signing this team has made in the last year is getting John Weisbrod on board. His ability to read talent and sports IQ is second to none. I am not sure he is taking a Money ball approach to this all but it seems like he has a formula that he demands his scouts follow. I think in 5 years we will say that he helped revolutionize the teams scouting department and we will see the fruits of his labour much more clearly. However, right now it is impossible to evaluate his work as his job is about looking long term.
As has been discussed ad nauseum the Flames are looking like they are about to take a downturn in their cycle. Jarome Iginla, who is still the face of the franchise, can no longer carry this team. He is merely just a great player not a superstar anymore. His mate Miikka Kiprusoff is by far the most valuable player on the team. I don’t believe the team should trade him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. If there is one thing Brian Burke does well it is rip off other teams. He is a master at it and we don’t need to sell short on any of our tradable assets. The fact is both these guys are on the wrong side of 35...how much more can we expect from them? Once again the discussion of trading them is has been done so I won’t go there but they represent an era for this team that has passed.
I hate to say it but it almost like the Flames need to just push through a couple seasons of mediocrity with the hope they can scratch and claw their way to a playoff spot. Unless there is a crazy out of nowhere trade that finds the team bringing in a 23 or 24 year-old rising superstar there is just not enough here to build around in the long term. Don’t get me wrong I do think the team has talent on paper. With names such as Tanguay, Glencross, Hudler, Giordano, Cammalleri, Wideman and Bartschi the team will be able to compete. Ultimately it’s about expectations. I don’t expect a monster season out of these guys but they will beat some good teams and probably lose to some bad ones. I predict they finish 10-7 in the conference but anything higher or lower and they will surprise us whether it’s good or bad.
See you next time.
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