Exclusive: Flames fortunate Avs matched

Jay Feaster might consider sending Greg Sherman a thank-you note. Or perhaps a fine bottle of wine.

The general manager of the Colorado Avalanche appears to have inadvertently done the Calgary Flames a big favour by choosing to match the offer sheet signed by 22-year-old centre Ryan O’Reilly on Thursday.

In a bizarre twist to an already unusual story, Sportsnet.ca has discovered that the Flames were not only in danger of losing 2013 first- and third-round draft picks as compensation if the Avs hadn’t matched the O’Reilly contract, but they also would likely have had to surrender the player before ever getting him in uniform.

That’s because O’Reilly would have needed to clear waivers before joining the team’s roster. ...more...

http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...anche_match_ryan_oreilly/
- GilPerreault11

I heard about this a couple weeks ago
I forget who was talking about it, but bc O'reilly played in another professional league this season, the rules say he'll have to clear waivers no matter who he plays for (including Colorado)...
This clearly is going to be a case where the NHL makes an exception bc of the circumstances with the lockout...
I forget who it was I head interviewed, but he seemed to think that it wouldn't end up being an issue

There is a lot of talent on the Capitals and their leadership sucks.

Great leadership doesn't always guarantee wins, it's just part of the ingredients needed to win. Just like scoring a lot doesn't mean you're guaranteed to win. Tampa Bay leads the league in scoring yet have the 22nd best record in the league.

One stat or one intangible is not the be all, end all. It's all just part of the dna of any successful team
- ZamboniMassacre

A ton of talent on Washington? I would say they have Ovechkin, Backstrom and thats about it.

Not sure, but Bob just said:

@TSNBobMcKenzie
For those asking, yes, my understanding is if COL hadn't matched CGY offer on O'Reilly, CGY would have had to put him on waivers to play now
- GilPerreault11

Sounds like an inside job so as not to look like the Avs caved. The question is what does Feaster get in return for the clever ruse?

Not sure, but Bob just said:

@TSNBobMcKenzie
For those asking, yes, my understanding is if COL hadn't matched CGY offer on O'Reilly, CGY would have had to put him on waivers to play now

@TSNBobMcKenzie
In other words, in this new CBA, team can sign one of its own RFAs or draft picks out of Europe in mid-season and get in lineup w/o waivers.
- GilPerreault11

The whole deal reaks of Good ole boys club stuff.

I heard about this a couple weeks ago
I forget who was talking about it, but bc O'reilly played in another professional league this season, the rules say he'll have to clear waivers no matter who he plays for (including Colorado)...
This clearly is going to be a case where the NHL makes an exception bc of the circumstances with the lockout...
I forget who it was I head interviewed, but he seemed to think that it wouldn't end up being an issue
- jdfitz77

Yep...Nabokov and Svatos were recent examples of this wings signed Nabokov and the isles claimed him. St. Louis signed Svatos and the Preds claimed him on waivers.

Joffrey Lupul ‏@JLupul
I am doing everything I can possibly do to get back asap. Can't put a date on it quite yet. Oh ya and Buffalo is the WORST

Joffrey Lupul ‏@JLupul
I am doing everything I can possibly do to get back asap. Can't put a date on it quite yet. Oh ya and Buffalo is the WORST
- metzeric

Why does this A$$hole have such a hard-on for Buffalo?

Joffrey Lupul ‏@JLupul
I am doing everything I can possibly do to get back asap. Can't put a date on it quite yet. Oh ya and Buffalo is the WORST
- metzeric

Who cares what this guys says? He clearly just wants attention

Can you agree that he's a pansy too?
- druryisclutch

how am i supposed to know he never hits anyone

Overall, I would call his 1st rd picks terrible

Kalinin-decent
Heisten-bust
Kryukov-bust- never wanted to leave Russia
Novotny-bust- not a complete bust, got Roy and pommers in the 2nd rd
Ballard-good
Paille-decent
Vanek- the only star drafted
Stafford-good compared to most of his picks
Zagrapan-bust- Could have been good, left for KHL
Persson-bust- not a great draft year- got Enroth and Weber in 2nd rd
Myers- the potential is still there
Ennis-solid pick

Too early to judge
Kassian
Pysyk
Armia
Grigorenko
Girgensons

- ZamboniMassacre

fixed

Why does this A$$hole have such a hard-on for Buffalo?
- twistedwrister9

Someone tweeted him first asking for a time-frame for his return and then said "Can you also tweet more about Buffalo." It was clearly tongue-in-cheek based on his prior comments. I think it's a pretty funny response, actually.

Show me teams with tons of talent and I'll show you teams with great leadership
- Rally_Shots

Thank you

Joffrey Lupul ‏@JLupul
I am doing everything I can possibly do to get back asap. Can't put a date on it quite yet. Oh ya and Buffalo is the WORST
- metzeric

Who cares what this guys says? He clearly just wants attention
- Rally_Shots

You would think having had the name "Joffrey" as a kid would have done the trick.

Of course its not the end all be all. Organizations are complex. However, Talent without leadership will not perform as well as talent with leadership.

All great organizations have great leadership. Its proven.

Please give me an organization that is poorly led but extremely successful.

Poorly led organization/teams/groups might have moments of "goodness" but will never perform at a high level over the medium to long term.
- RynoBull

Exxon, Haliburton, Tyco, Wal-mart, Chase Bank, Bank of America. Shall I go on?

You would think having had the name "Joffrey" as a kid would have done the trick.
- Buffalo--Sabres

Even this guy laughs at the spellingof that name!

A ton of talent on Washington? I would say they have Ovechkin, Backstrom and thats about it.
- Rally_Shots

yeah, tons of talent may have been kind of an overstatement but the do have other taleneted players like Ribeiro and Green. But even in past years when they had more talent, they always fell way short of expectations. I thinks it's partly do to poor leadership.

Again, I don't think leadership is the entire reason. Just one of many pieces needed to be successful

Even this guy laughs at the spellingof that name!
- LamontSanford

You sir, are funny.

fixed
- adambuffalo

Novotny was a bust. If you are drafted in the 1st rd and are not a regular player/contributor, you're a bust

Could've been goods and never wanted to leave Russia do not help Darcy's case

Show me teams with tons of talent and I'll show you teams with great leadership
- Rally_Shots

Quality leadership makes good players better and average players good.

Teams that have alot of talent do so because leadership enables those players to thrive in a very supportive, focused, driven, accountable environment. We can use Detroit for that example. Those without are void of such an environment and talent can not be maximized. We can use Buffalo as that example.

Leadership creates engagement, engagement creates teamwork, teamwork creates wins.

I'm not talking about just sports, this is life in general. Great teams have great leaders. Great companies have great Leaders.

Quality leadership makes good players better and average players good.

Teams that have alot of talent do so because leadership enables those players to thrive in a very supportive, focused, driven, accountable environment. We can use Detroit for that example. Those without are void of such an environment and talent can not be maximized. We can use Buffalo as that example.

Leadership creates engagement, engagement creates teamwork, teamwork creates wins.

I'm not talking about just sports, this is life in general. Great teams have great leaders. Great companies have great Leaders.
- RynoBull

Well said. Exactly what I think, but you are much more articulate than I am

Exxon, Haliburton, Tyco, Wal-mart, Chase Bank, Bank of America. Shall I go on?
- sbroads24

How are these companies poorly led?

Overall, I would call his 1st rd picks terrible

Kalinin-decent
Heisten-bust
Kryukov-bust
Novotny-bust
Ballard-decent
Paille-decent
Vanek- the only star drafted
Stafford-good compared to most of his picks
Zagrapan-bust
Persson-bust
Myers- the potential is still there
Ennis-solid pick

Too early to judge
Kassian
Pysyk
Armia
Grigorenko
Girgensons

It's not even that he doesn't draft stars, he drafts too many players that are complete busts. I'll admit everything from the 2nd round on is a total crapshoot. To some extent, the 1st rd is too, but the choices made should be much more educated. While most picks won't be stars, they should be contributors to the team
- ZamboniMassacre

You're describing EVERY team that doesn't constantly pick at the top of the first round...
I'll use the Red Wings as an example bc it's constantly talked about how good they are at drafting, and because they've clearly been the best franchise in hockey (maybe all pro sports) since the mid-80s
Here's the last bunch of 1st round picks Detroit has made...

Riley Sheehan
Tomas McCollum
Brenden smith
Jacob Kindle
Nicolas Kronwall
Jiri Fischer
Jesse Wallin
Maxim Kuznetsov
Yan golobovsky
Anders Ericsson
Curtis Bowen

How many of those guys have u never heard of?
Granted they were generally picking even lower in the 1st than us most years, but I think you can clearly see my point...

You're describing EVERY team that doesn't constantly pick at the top of the first round...
I'll use the Red Wings as an example bc it's constantly talked about how good they are at drafting, and because they've clearly been the best franchise in hockey (maybe all pro sports) since the mid-80s
Here's the last bunch of 1st round picks Detroit has made...

Riley Sheehan
Tomas McCollum
Brenden smith
Jacob Kindle
Nicolas Kronwall
Jiri Fischer
Jesse Wallin
Maxim Kuznetsov
Yan golobovsky
Anders Ericsson
Curtis Bowen

How many of those guys have u never heard of?
Granted they were generally picking even lower in the 1st than us most years, but I think you can clearly see my point...
- jdfitz77

There is a huge difference from picking 26-30th annually and anywhere from 10-20 annually. Count how many picks inside the top 20 detriot has had in the last 10 years and compare it to Buffalo

How are these companies poorly led?
- RynoBull

Tyco- one of the more successful companies - Revenue north of 17 billion had it's CEO and CFO steal upwards of 150 million from the company.

That's just one example, i'm not going to go through all of them. Point is leadership when there is talent (strong product) is almost irrelevant. It will win championships or makes money regardless.