Has the NHL released a statement on the situation? I understand what the press release and the sportsnet articles say... but the NHL didn't officially say one way or the other has it?
I honestly think that the Calgary Flames would have put up a legal fight over this. There was a common interpretation as well as NHL didn't have any knowledge of O' Reilly playing official games after Jan 19th. Yadda yadda yadda.

Am I the only one who thinks that Calgary would have still ended up winning that legal fight in the end?
- j.henderson

I think that is called being delusional. The staff did not do their homework and feaster in his statement back peddled and deflected from the fact being that "they (frank)ed up". If a reporter from sportsnet can figure it out and break the story, then there is no excuse for them not figuring it out in the first place. What legal account would they win this based on??

Has the NHL released a statement on the situation? I understand what the press release and the sportsnet articles say... but the NHL didn't officially say one way or the other has it?
I honestly think that the Calgary Flames would have put up a legal fight over this. There was a common interpretation as well as NHL didn't have any knowledge of O' Reilly playing official games after Jan 19th. Yadda yadda yadda.

Am I the only one who thinks that Calgary would have still ended up winning that legal fight in the end?
- j.henderson[/quote]
Yes, yes you are.
Not a chance in hell they would have won.

It would have been awesome

Feaster has been fantastic in Calgary thus far. He brought change and optimism as well as the support from the owners and coaching staff.
I'm still looking for an explanation of why the Leafs signed and traded for offensive minded players... and then hired an extremely defensive coach. Is Liles a healthy scratch now?
- j.henderson

Fantastic? He came on with the promise of perennial contention. How have we been doing in the standings since he came aboard?

He is done at the end of this year.

How can the Avs be held to this contract due to duress? The offer sheet given to ROR was under false pretenses, the ambigous waiver rule, If it was known ROR had to clear waivers Im sure the offer would never have arrived.

sometimes you say wonderful things whipper. wonderful wonderful
- j.henderson

How can the Avs be held to this contract due to duress? The offer sheet given to ROR was under false pretenses, the ambigous waiver rule, If it was known ROR had to clear waivers Im sure the offer would never have arrived.
- all mighty oil

Then Colorado should of done their homework and not matched. So in theory Sherman is as dumb as Feaster...

Then Colorado should of done their homework and not matched. So in theory Sherman is as dumb as Feaster...
- whipper334

I was VERY surprised they matched so quickly. I expected them to at least take a few days to analyse everything before making a decision. So yes Sherman screwed up with his knee jerk reaction.

Fantastic? He came on with the promise of perennial contention. How have we been doing in the standings since he came aboard?

He is done at the end of this year.
- takeyourvitamins

I don't think you remember what the team used to be....

He opened up cap space with trading Regehr with Kotalik's brutal contract. Trading Langkow's 4.5 for Stemps 1.9.
He got back off and on Cammy and picked up a goalie prospect for off and on Bourque.
He managed to get picks (Wotherspoon and Granlund) as well as Horak for Tim Erixon who didn't wanna be there.

I understand all hockey fans want instant turn around. But so far he made the team cap space flexible, stayed out of the Parise/Suter sweepstakes and signed Hudler and Wideman early, brought in an uptempo passing and skating game, etc etc.

There are a lot of upsides. I think the Calgary fans who desperately want change aren't understanding of the situation he is/was in. He has made a few questionable decisions (Jankowski, Comeau, O'Reilly) but our team is in a much better direction it was in 2010.

I think that is called being delusional. The staff did not do their homework and feaster in his statement back peddled and deflected from the fact being that "they (frank)ed up". If a reporter from sportsnet can figure it out and break the story, then there is no excuse for them not figuring it out in the first place. What legal account would they win this based on??
- ruttager17

First off, I'm obviously not a lawyer. But in this situation, the new CBA, the lack of information on O'Reilly by the NHL (confirmed by sportsnet), the misunderstanding of that given rule by both the agent and NHL organizations.

There will never be an answer to what would exactly have happened. I don't think its as cut and dry as everyone thinks though. I think the NHL is just as happy to not have to deal with what could have been a potentially brutal situation challenged by the Flames Organization.

Do you really think under those circumstances the Flames would have simply rolled over and said "Oh Ok, oops"?

I have my doubts.

I don't think you remember what the team used to be....

He opened up cap space with trading Regehr with Kotalik's brutal contract. Trading Langkow's 4.5 for Stemps 1.9.
He got back off and on Cammy and picked up a goalie prospect for off and on Bourque.
He managed to get picks (Wotherspoon and Granlund) as well as Horak for Tim Erixon who didn't wanna be there.

I understand all hockey fans want instant turn around. But so far he made the team cap space flexible, stayed out of the Parise/Suter sweepstakes and signed Hudler and Wideman early, brought in an uptempo passing and skating game, etc etc.

There are a lot of upsides. I think the Calgary fans who desperately want change aren't understanding of the situation he is/was in. He has made a few questionable decisions (Jankowski, Comeau, O'Reilly) but our team is in a much better direction it was in 2010.
- j.henderson

I completely agree!

I don't think you remember what the team used to be....

He opened up cap space with trading Regehr with Kotalik's brutal contract. Trading Langkow's 4.5 for Stemps 1.9.
He got back off and on Cammy and picked up a goalie prospect for off and on Bourque.
He managed to get picks (Wotherspoon and Granlund) as well as Horak for Tim Erixon who didn't wanna be there.

I understand all hockey fans want instant turn around. But so far he made the team cap space flexible, stayed out of the Parise/Suter sweepstakes and signed Hudler and Wideman early, brought in an uptempo passing and skating game, etc etc.

There are a lot of upsides. I think the Calgary fans who desperately want change aren't understanding of the situation he is/was in. He has made a few questionable decisions (Jankowski, Comeau, O'Reilly) but our team is in a much better direction it was in 2010.
- j.henderson

He did free up cap space. He also wasted that space by signing Babchuk, Sarich, and Comeau. Wideman and Hudler have been alright so far--jury is still out on those contracts.

I will agree the prospect pool is marginally better.

The uptempo game won't work given the team he has constructed (3 2nd lines). Where is the the next generation of elite talent going to come from?

I would argue we still have no direction. Nothing has really changed. Yes we have a few more prospects, but our elite talent is older, and will likely be gone after this year.

when is kipper coming back?

He did free up cap space. He also wasted that space by signing Babchuk, Sarich, and Comeau. Wideman and Hudler have been alright so far--jury is still out on those contracts.

I will agree the prospect pool is marginally better.

The uptempo game won't work given the team he has constructed (3 2nd lines). Where is the the next generation of elite talent going to come from?

I would argue we still have no direction. Nothing has really changed. Yes we have a few more prospects, but our elite talent is older, and will likely be gone after this year.
- takeyourvitamins

Good summary. He has done good & questionable. He has put more emphasis on scouting & drafting which is badly needed. The biggest question I have on his tenure is trying to rebuild while still trying to compete. These are two opposite directions that simply get you nowhere. Sutter did this too & it seems King & Edwards is pointing Feaster to this path as well. The stratedgy Feaster wants would have worked fantastic in 2007 thru 2009 & we wouldnt be in this awful spot. Feaster now is going to be left out to dry. He wont be allowed to make moves on Kipper/Iggy, he doesnt have the young horses to make the playoffs even though Mr King & Edwards expect playoffs. And there is an excellent chance Iggy signs elsewhere & we get nothing & there was jack Feaster could have done about it. I can see Ken Kings press conference already.

Our only hope: We lose 5 of the next 7 games(look at the schedule & this is very realistic) Iggy please please get the balls & say you want to win a Cup & request the trade to Pitt or the Bruins. Once that happens, Feaster can take the rebuild direction the rest of the hockey world see as desperately needed. Maybe, just maybe if he can extract overpayments & pull a Vanc(Sedins) at the draft & scoop 2 of the top 3 picks to kick start excitement & a new era for this franchise, he might be able to put this ROR fiasco behind him. Wouldnt hold my breath.

I completely agree!
- whipper334

You would.