Colin Dambrauskas: Let’s Hear It - How Are the Flames doing!?

Colin Dambrauskas: Let’s Hear It - How Are the Flames doing!?
- Colin Dambrauskas

Great blog Colin!

As much as the trolls bash Feaster I think he's done a great job stocking the cupboards.

Badly

No Cammalleri?

Looking back now that team in 2010 was garbage

What really stands out is that 2011 draft, outstanding job by Feaster and co. there. Some real good picks there, and they all look like legitimate NHL prospects. Hopefully in 2 years when we look back at the 2012 and 2013 drafts we will feel the same way. If that's the case things will be looking up for the Flames....(along with our top 3 pick this year )

No Cammalleri?
- deuce22

haha - I guess in my mind hes already gone

Great blog Colin!

As much as the trolls bash Feaster I think he's done a great job stocking the cupboards.
- whipper334

Agreed! After seeing that Development Camp I'm alot happier with our prospects now.

Looking back now that team in 2010 was garbage

What really stands out is that 2011 draft, outstanding job by Feaster and co. there. Some real good picks there, and they all look like legitimate NHL prospects. Hopefully in 2 years when we look back at the 2012 and 2013 drafts we will feel the same way. If that's the case things will be looking up for the Flames....(along with our top 3 pick this year )
- The-O-G

I hear ya and I tried not to offer too much opinion in this blog as to not sway anyones opinion.

Great blog Colin!

As much as the trolls bash Feaster I think he's done a great job stocking the cupboards.
- whipper334

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it! And I too feel hes been doing a good job.

I hear ya and I tried not to offer too much opinion in this blog as to not sway anyones opinions.
- Colin Dambrauskas

My only complaint is that I feel Feaster stumbled out of the blocks....but when he first came in as "interim" GM he clearly wasn't pulling the strings, and looking back you can tell there was a push from ownership to "win now". That being said, it was a last kick at the can with Kipper and Iggy around, so I don't blame them too much for trying. In contrast, I love the restraint being shown right now. Nobody is clamouring for guy's like Grabovski or Raymond, they are sticking to their guns, and I hope this continues.

Bringing in guys like Russell, Knight, Galiardi are all great moves in my opinion, and it will be great to see some fresh faces in the dome. My expectations are low, but all I really want to see is EFFORT and COMPETE LEVEL. Needless to say the past few seasons, this hasn't been there.

Hopefully this blog will help show the other fans what Feaster has done. I side with most of his moves, i'd say 60-70%, but overall I like the direction the organization is taking. He takes too much flak in my opinion, then again, so does every GM.

Really enjoyed this blog.

Flames as an organization are definitely moving in the right direction in 2013, but I think Feaster could have done a much better job getting a better return for some of the players that have been moved out.

Really enjoyed this blog.

Flames as an organization are definitely moving in the right direction in 2013, but I think Feaster could have done a much better job getting a better return for some of the players that have been moved out.
- Egleg

Blame Darryl and his NMC's

Blame Darryl and his NMC's
- The-O-G

Very true!

Very true!
- Egleg

Definitely put him in a tough position (especially Iginla).

Great blog Colin.

The notable prospects list really jumps out. Although, some of the new gus could be left out for now I would think.

The one area where Feaster should be given a lot of credit is in the draft. That 2011 draft was solid.

Still, its difficult to say we arw "better." We've gotten worse but, finally, with the purpose of long term improvement. We are certainly in better place and direction.

haha - I guess in my mind hes already gone
- Colin Dambrauskas

I noticed you didn't include the Corban Knght trade with Florida & don't show him being as one of the Centres on the roster. I think he'll be a bigger piece than you think. I also think Berra's name should be there with Ramo & Joey Mac. In fact, he may surprise & be the best goalie in camp. Overall I gave a B for direction & drafting & his free agent signings haven't been that bad in Hudler & Wideman. I am frustrated a bit with some of the trades & not willing to eat some salary in the JBO trade & possibly Cammi to increase the returns. I don't like the Joey Mac signing, he's a good guy & all but a .903 save % isn't hard to replace. I would like to see Berra & Ramo start the year in net & Ortio & Brossoit down in Abbey. Great blog & yes, you were smart to remind the clowns when Jay actually began as GM of the Flames. They seem to think he has been here for years & years. Good job!

This team is gonna stink

I noticed you didn't include the Corban Knght trade with Florida & don't show him being as one of the Centres on the roster. I think he'll be a bigger piece than you think. I also think Berra's name should be there with Ramo & Joey Mac. In fact, he may surprise & be the best goalie in camp. Overall I gave a B for direction & drafting & his free agent signings haven't been that bad in Hudler & Wideman. I am frustrated a bit with some of the trades & not willing to eat some salary in the JBO trade & possibly Cammi to increase the returns. I don't like the Joey Mac signing, he's a good guy & all but a .903 save % isn't hard to replace. I would like to see Berra & Ramo start the year in net & Ortio & Brossoit down in Abbey. Great blog & yes, you were smart to remind the clowns when Jay actually began as GM of the Flames. They seem to think he has been here for years & years. Good job!
- Kevin R

Thanks Kevin - I did miss the Corban signing and the Russell trade...somehow...

Great Blog Colin!

The Feaster "length of tenure" misconception is almost as infamous as the "when did the Oilers rebuild really start" argument...

You guys are doing great so far this offseason. Adding hometown fan favorite type work horse players such as Galiardi and Russell are smart moves. Got younger and some fair value for Tanguay who didnt want to be apart of the team anymore.
Had a decent haul at the draft.

You will have a really successful offseason if you can get any roster player value for Cammalleri. If you can get a get a good second liner + for him and then sign Grabo to centre your top line. It would be a good direction heading into training camp

This team is gonna stink
- nhark

Dont worry, I have notified the team and they have released a few extra positions to take care of this potential problem.

Daytime Housekeeper
The Calgary Flames are looking for Daytime Part-time (up to 40 hours per week) Housekeeping Staff. As a Housekeeper you will provide clean and sanitary surroundings for the Scotiabank Saddledome. The housekeeping staff must follow the required procedures for handling, cleaning, disposing, or moving of objects/materials. The responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to the following duties:

• All cleaning duties including: washing, sweeping, mopping, dusting, polishing, vacuum cleaning, and carpet cleaning of designated areas to the required building standards.
• Emptying waste and recycling bins.
• Cleaning toilets and washrooms.
• Cleaning work surfaces and other furniture in the Scotiabank Saddledome.
• Ensuring all janitorial rooms are tidy and stocked with necessary materials.


Cheers

Definitely heading in the right direction now. My biggest problem with this team is I don't see where the scoring will be coming from. Of course Cammaleri, probably Stempniak, players like Glencross, Stajan, and Backlund will provide some depth scoring. I'm just not seeing the "top line" right now. Definitely alot of exciting prospects in the pool I would love to have on the Oil. Let's make the Battle of Alberta relevant again

Colin Dambrauskas: Let’s Hear It - How Are the Flames doing!?
- Colin Dambrauskas

Good blog.

I didn't vote, because there are actually two questions at hand here:

1) How has the Calgary Flames organization improved over the 2010 version of the org?

2) How has the organization improved?

The answer to the first question in my opinion is about a B. The roster isn't as good but the system is far far better and they did a decent enough job getting assets for the old-guard players they sent out (they didn't let them walk for nothing). They got rid of the team idiots and kept a few guys to build around.

It's tricky to answer the 2nd question, but my impression is a B- or C+. Here's my disclaimer: It's totally unfair to answer to play the "ifs and buts" game as well as the "hindsight is 20/20" game, because no team can win every move every time and every team has a move or two that weren't optimal. Perhaps especially the Oilers.
That being said, here goes:
I think they could have sold Iginla and definitely Kipper and gotten more earlier, if they were going to end up parting ways with them anyway. Who knows whether they drafted as well as they could have, but we do know that Feaster went off the board a couple of times. They still seemed to make a few "win now signings" and it's not apparent that the moves for Hudler or Cammalleri can be successfully be recast as future moves. Just as many teams have before them, this period is the slow decent into a rebuilding phase, and those periods can often leave a sour taste in one's mouth. They could rise back up as a well-rounded St Louis type of team, but they probably need one more elite piece from what they've found over the last 3 years.

My overall evaluation is that they've done quite well. I'd weight their work on improving the squad they started with as more important than the could'ves and should'ves.

Dont worry, I have notified the team and they have released a few extra positions to take care of this potential problem.

Daytime Housekeeper
The Calgary Flames are looking for Daytime Part-time (up to 40 hours per week) Housekeeping Staff. As a Housekeeper you will provide clean and sanitary surroundings for the Scotiabank Saddledome. The housekeeping staff must follow the required procedures for handling, cleaning, disposing, or moving of objects/materials. The responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to the following duties:

• All cleaning duties including: washing, sweeping, mopping, dusting, polishing, vacuum cleaning, and carpet cleaning of designated areas to the required building standards.
• Emptying waste and recycling bins.
• Cleaning toilets and washrooms.
• Cleaning work surfaces and other furniture in the Scotiabank Saddledome.
• Ensuring all janitorial rooms are tidy and stocked with necessary materials.


Cheers
- Colin Dambrauskas

Finally Nhark can maybe get a job....that is if Lahey doesn't beat him to it.

Great Blog!

I think the Flames are worse off now then they were last year or two years ago, but they had to get value for the assets. A big part of the fun of picking on the Flames is Feaster's decisions and that they should have started the rebuild a few years earlier.

Looking forward to meaningful battles of Alberta in the future