Was as at the game & made a point of watching Semin. There were many times I just saw him float out there doing absolutely nothing. Hard to believe Rutherford hasn't gone down to the bench & want to beat the $6mill crap out of him. What the heck has happened to Jordon Stall? Eric is elite but Jordan made very little impact& not very visible in that game. Skinner is quite the little player & I do think Sven can become our Skinner type of player too.
- Kevin R

Semin was activated of IR just before the game.. and it was his first game in weeks after being out the last 12 games. He never really drives the play and tends to hang back and try to slip in the open areas. I didn't think he looked good last night but didn't think he was terrible either. I noticed him coasting a bit last night too.. that is not typical of his time in Carolina. Ohh and Im pretty sure its $7mill.

I dont think Jordan is elite or ever was. I think he is what he is.. a nice, 2-way 2nd line center. I have no issues with Jordan's game at all. He plays a quiet game and doesn't do anything flashy but is solid all around!

Skinner is something.. hope he can keep this up while protecting himself. I would move Semin back up with Eric and have Skinner on the 3rd line with Nash.. he creates alot of his own scoring chances and doesn't need alot of space to get off his shots.

Colin, are you preparing a blog on the next GM of the Calgary Flames? You think Nieuy would be a good choice? I think he would, smart, experienced but raw enough to be the perfect protégé for Burke. My God, it looked like they let Burke out of the drunk tank at the Remand Centre to go do the press conference.
- Kevin R

Ya, last night at the game, King and Burke looked like they could have been sitting in the Legion . . . with me.

Clouts-445? What is that?
- TandA4Flames

Oh Lahey was referencing Clouts weight when I asked him what he was up to.

Rumour has it that insiders in the Dallas area have said Nieuy won't take the job. Doesn't want to uproot the family.

Could be bullsh!t, just hear Friedman say it on the radio this AM.
- whipper334

Ya, total Bullpoop. . . if he wants to work in the NHL, they have to move.

Oh Lahey was referencing Clouts weight when I asked him what he was up to.
- whipper334

Not a good sign when this guy is catching on to things and others aren't. Might have to do some math maybe the Mayans were a little off on their math.

Not a good sign when this guy is catching on to things and others aren't. Might have to do some math maybe the Mayans were a little off on their math.
- Lahey

Ya, total Bullpoop. . . if he wants to work in the NHL, they have to move.
- FL4MES

Honestly if I were him I'd pass. Coming to CGY could ruin his career. You have King there that pretends not to run things, you then will have Burke who pretends not to do anything. You then have a rebuilding team that Burke has already hinted at it being a quicker rebuild than Toronto.

Right moves and it could very well be quicker, but if expectations are for it to be quick and it takes longer look out.

Oh Lahey was referencing Clouts weight when I asked him what he was up to.
- whipper334

Oh. I thought he started his own blog site or something.

Honestly if I were him I'd pass. Coming to CGY could ruin his career. You have King there that pretends not to run things, you then will have Burke who pretends not to do anything. You then have a rebuilding team that Burke has already hinted at it being a quicker rebuild than Toronto.

Right moves and it could very well be quicker, but if expectations are for it to be quick and it takes longer look out.
- Lahey

Yeah I agree. But one thing I'll say is it has to be faster than TO only because the leg work is done. We got rid of bad contracts, we have cap space and cash. Like Burke said he doesn't have to shovel out the stable...

Oh. I thought he started his own blog site or something.
- TandA4Flames

Oh Clouts has. Supposed to start this weekend or something.

Puckrant.com

Honestly if I were him I'd pass. Coming to CGY could ruin his career. You have King there that pretends not to run things, you then will have Burke who pretends not to do anything. You then have a rebuilding team that Burke has already hinted at it being a quicker rebuild than Toronto.

Right moves and it could very well be quicker, but if expectations are for it to be quick and it takes longer look out.
- Lahey

After Dallas his next chance may be his last. He made some pretty terrible moves. Working under Burke may actually be really good for him.

Oh Clouts has. Supposed to start this weekend or something.

Puckrant.com
- whipper334

Nice. That should be good for a few laughs. I'm sure a lot of EDM fans on hers will go visit.

After Dallas his next chance may be his last. He made some pretty terrible moves. Working under Burke may actually be really good for him.
- TandA4Flames

, whoever Burke hires is going to be there to learn from him.

After Dallas his next chance may be his last. He made some pretty terrible moves. Working under Burke may actually be really good for him.
- TandA4Flames

But that's just it why make your last chance on a rebuilding Canadian club that is going to be under a microscope?

But that's just it why make your last chance on a rebuilding Canadian club that is going to be under a microscope?
- Lahey

because if it works his stock would go through the roof.

Yeah I agree. But one thing I'll say is it has to be faster than TO only because the leg work is done. We got rid of bad contracts, we have cap space and cash. Like Burke said he doesn't have to shovel out the stable...
- whipper334

I'm not saying it will take longer or shorter, I just don't think Nieuwendyk is the guy to do the job. He didn't do much in Dallas and if he never played in CGY his name wouldn't even be in consideration.

Rebuilds are very unique you look at COL, FLA, NYI, WPG etc... These teams are all over the god damn place. Colorado was done their rebuild according to their fans and then what happened? Drafted Duchene looked to turn a corner and made the playoffs only to miss for another 3 years. As they stand today they are still not through the rebuild.

As for GM 's, there are 2 maybe 3 guys I would want in terms of negotiating trades; Burke, Sather and as scary as it is, Regier (but only trades!!!). But none of those guys are good at free agency signings and only Regier has shown some decent drafting. Although Burke has improved there. I liked the idea of Burke, Feaster and Weisbrod because the drafting has been solid and Burke could handle the trades. And I actually like Feasters UFA signings for the most part. Hudler and Wideman have been solid pick hps.

I'm not saying it will take longer or shorter, I just don't think Nieuwendyk is the guy to do the job. He didn't do much in Dallas and if he never played in CGY his name wouldn't even be in consideration.

Rebuilds are very unique you look at COL, FLA, NYI, WPG etc... These teams are all over the god damn place. Colorado was done their rebuild according to their fans and then what happened? Drafted Duchene looked to turn a corner and made the playoffs only to miss for another 3 years. As they stand today they are still not through the rebuild.
- Lahey

Yeah I hear ya. Who the hell knows what will happen. But one thing you can count on it won't be dull.

But that's just it why make your last chance on a rebuilding Canadian club that is going to be under a microscope?
- Lahey

So a better option is to go to a team with no pressure from a fan base and thus lack the dough for proper resources? Feaster is a great example. His drafting in TB was terrible but the team couldn't afford the resources to surround him with to make educated decisions. Here his drafting so far has looked very good.

Yeah I hear ya. Who the hell knows what will happen. But one thing you can count on it won't be dull.
- whipper334

I'm very excited to see what hapens, it better not be dull.

But that's just it why make your last chance on a rebuilding Canadian club that is going to be under a microscope?
- Lahey

Burke needs a protégé sort of speaking, he referred to the GM as more of an administrator. I think Nieuy fits the mold he wants perfectly. You cant judge too much about what he did in Dallas, because he had zero budget & little leverage. He couldn't even sign Richards & had to watch him walk as a UFA. In Calgary, I see it as a huge opportunity for Nieuy to cement his career in hockey Management. Whipper is right, you don't have a career in hockey & expect to not relocate. I think he has a Law degree, then he should just go be a lawyer & then he wouldn't have to uproot his family.

You know, all this talk about Evander Kane being available, he seems like the type of kid Burke would go after. We would have to give up Sven for sure, and likely Backs and I would think at least our 2nd. Backs may have to be more like Glenx or something. Throw our name in that mix, I can certainly see Burke trying this. Thoughts?

You know, all this talk about Evander Kane being available, he seems like the type of kid Burke would go after. We would have to give up Sven for sure, and likely Backs and I would think at least our 2nd. Backs may have to be more like Glenx or something. Throw our name in that mix, I can certainly see Burke trying this. Thoughts?
- TandA4Flames

If you can land E Kane for Baert, Backlund and a 2nd you do it in a millisecond.

You know, all this talk about Evander Kane being available, he seems like the type of kid Burke would go after. We would have to give up Sven for sure, and likely Backs and I would think at least our 2nd. Backs may have to be more like Glenx or something. Throw our name in that mix, I can certainly see Burke trying this. Thoughts?
- TandA4Flames

I liked Kane at the start of the year...but frank me!! I picked him in a pool and he never gets on the damn score sheet (before he was hurt) The guy plays top line minutes and shoots from everywhere and nothing goes in the franking net.

I liked Kane at the start of the year...but frank me!! I picked him in a pool and he never gets on the damn score sheet (before he was hurt) The guy plays top line minutes and shoots from everywhere and nothing goes in the franking net.
- Saskabush

Easy Saskabush, it's Friday! Crack a Labatt's light or a Pil and all will be good.