Colin Dambrauskas: Flames Sign Russell, Flames @ Flyers Post Game, The Olympic Break

anyone know a good safe site to stream the Olympics while at work?



ok....now I will read the blog Colin

anyone know a good safe site to stream the Olympics while at work?



ok....now I will read the blog Colin
- The-O-G

cbc.ca I believe?

http://olympics.cbc.ca/

cbc.ca I believe?

http://olympics.cbc.ca/
- Colin Dambrauskas

pure (frank)ing genius!!!

Swiss team for Berra, not Sweden.

I'm pumped for the Russell signing. Great deal for both parties IMO. I also really like what Russell had to say about Calgary being a good fit for him. I think there may be a few other players in the league like him who might look to Calgary as a great opportunity to get a chance. Hopefully the brass can take advantage of this and find a few diamonds in the rough.

Congrats Kris! I'm glad he finally found a place in the NHL. He got pushed out of St. Louis as we have way too much defensive depth. He even played left wing a couple games haha.

Congrats Kris! I'm glad he finally found a place in the NHL. He got pushed out of St. Louis as we have way too much defensive depth. He even played left wing a couple games haha.
- cuethenoise

Swiss team for Berra, not Sweden.
- jtommyt

Pft, neither have a shot anyways






Thanks

I'm pumped for the Russell signing. Great deal for both parties IMO. I also really like what Russell had to say about Calgary being a good fit for him. I think there may be a few other players in the league like him who might look to Calgary as a great opportunity to get a chance. Hopefully the brass can take advantage of this and find a few diamonds in the rough.
- The-O-G

I agree. Love the signing & love the expectation & attitude coming in. Calgary is a real unique opportunity, they have real good leadership pieces, why Gio aint going nowhere, real good players on the cusp of league recognition like Brodie & Backlund, sprinkling of vets & some decent pieces about to come in or already here in Monahan & Sven & Knight & Seiloff & a recognized decent cupboard of prospects. Add an aggressive impatient GM/President & that could be something fun to be part of. What thrills me, this is year 1 of rebuild. Excellent

Good deal on the Russell signing. I'm wondering if this opens an opportunity to move Wideman as he has been playing g the 3rd pairing recently. Salary retention and/or bad contract return and i think we get a god return.

Colin, it might be a good time fo explore possible trade targets for CGY. We've spent so much time on what we might move out there hasn't been a lot of discussion on what players, realistically Burke might try to acquire. You know, aside from draft picks etc.

I agree. Love the signing & love the expectation & attitude coming in. Calgary is a real unique opportunity, they have real good leadership pieces, why Gio aint going nowhere, real good players on the cusp of league recognition like Brodie & Backlund, sprinkling of vets & some decent pieces about to come in or already here in Monahan & Sven & Knight & Seiloff & a recognized decent cupboard of prospects. Add an aggressive impatient GM/President & that could be something fun to be part of. What thrills me, this is year 1 of rebuild. Excellent
- Kevin R

Emile Poirier named 3rd star of the week in the Q.
8 Goals in 3 games.
3rd player to reach the 40 goal mark behind Anthony Mantha and Anthony Duclair

What do you guys think:
Will Joe Nieuwendyk also be named GM on his "Forever A Flame" night (March 7)?

- The-O-G

Hey don't fret bro, I like the fact that Burke is going to rebuild on a sped up timetable. We have better pieces to start our rebuild around. We don't need to be going into year 5 of a rebuild & fight for the #1 overall pick like some other team we know.

Hey don't fret bro, I like the fact that Burke is going to rebuild on a sped up timetable. We have better pieces to start our rebuild around. We don't need to be going into year 5 of a rebuild & fight for the #1 overall pick like some other team we know.
- Kevin R

I still think it would be prudent to hold off putting together what likely ends up be I g his bigger body of work until the new season has begun. Given that we are only in year 1 and fans are geared for it and our current situation/standings, we really do have a legit shot at McDavid. That player alone could quicken the rebuild faster than any other move Burke could make.

With Russell resigned, they should definitely look to trade Wideman. Aside from a little more experience, I'm not sure what Wideman brings to the team that isn't already present on in the other players still there.

Now it's all about maximizing the returns on players. Retain salary, tweak the deals, but get all you can. Move Cammilleri, Stempniak, Butler, Wideman, and I'd even listen closely to offers on Hudler, and consider moving Berra. No they may not be able to move them all, and I'm not saying all will be great returns. But they may provide pieces that can be moved later.

And I don't buy the there is no way a player is worth a first. It is the trade deadline. It always happens. Teams react to what other teams do. In the end they always pay.

Target the teams that are in the wildcard spots, or just outside them. Especially those that are all the more desperate to get in (yes all teams want in, but for some there is a greater need). Look at Detroit, Columbus, Winnipeg, Phoenix, and Washington. If you can get a 1st rounder out of a trading partner, these teams will still be in that mid teens spot, or even some may fall out and make it even better.

Vanek and maybe Moulsson are the keys for Calgary. Once they move, then look hard at their Rivals. If LA adds Vanek (for example) will Anaheim or San Jose want to respond. That is where Cammi may come in. Anaheim may be good as they do have Ottawa's pick. Maybe they would move that pick.

With the supposed lack of depth in the draft this year, consider top prospects as well. Maybe try to get Anthony Mantha out of Detroit instead of their first. I'm not saying it will happen, but to me it would be just as good, if not better as he is a better and closer to ready player. There are similar possibilities in Columbus. Would Anaheim move Etem?

There is a lot of opportunity out there. The big thins is the team can't go into it looking to completely take advantage of the other teams. Be willing to retain salary (Cammalleri and Wideman) to better the return. Consider taking back a bad contract. One of Calgary's assets right now is their Cap Space going forward (have to meet the floor next season somehow) and if need be they do still have both their buy-outs left. The rebuild isn't going to come for free, this is how the teams pays to better themselves in the long run.

Burke has never had a problem with making trades and I believe he will continue to do so here. No they don't always work out the absolute best, but who can say they always do. Do what they can to get the building blocks going forward and the rebuild will continue down the right path.

Emile Poirier named 3rd star of the week in the Q.
8 Goals in 3 games.
3rd player to reach the 40 goal mark behind Anthony Mantha and Anthony Duclair

- Lucky23

8 in 3 and he gets the 3rd star.

Burke has never had a problem with making trades and I believe he will continue to do so here. No they don't always work out the absolute best, but who can say they always do. Do what they can to get the building blocks going forward and the rebuild will continue down the right path.
- dal_johnson

Biggest advantage with Burke is his ability to get what he wants in a deal, Feaster seemed to get bullied.

The problem is, it is almost Sutteresque again with one guy with full autonomy and no checks and balances, well except Ken King and we all know how that worked out last time

Biggest advantage with Burke is his ability to get what he wants in a deal, Feaster seemed to get bullied.

The problem is, it is almost Sutteresque again with one guy with full autonomy and no checks and balances, well except Ken King and we all know how that worked out last time
- scoot174

There should be one guy though, so long as that one guy doesn't go down that "Sutteresque" road. The alternative is too many opinions, and the risk of somebody even higher up jeopardizing the direction and moves. These are commonly discussed when it comes to the Islanders and with the Oilers.

I would much rather one vision that is tried. If it isn't working out then something needs to be done. Just don't wait forever like it seemed to be done with Sutter.

Good deal on the Russell signing. I'm wondering if this opens an opportunity to move Wideman as he has been playing g the 3rd pairing recently. Salary retention and/or bad contract return and i think we get a god return.

Colin, it might be a good time fo explore possible trade targets for CGY. We've spent so much time on what we might move out there hasn't been a lot of discussion on what players, realistically Burke might try to acquire. You know, aside from draft picks etc.
- TandA4Flames

I think there's still value in Wideman. His offensive numbers per 60 min played are still elite, he's just not as reliable defensively as some of our other options. A playoff team with a struggling power play might be very interested in his skills though.

If the Flames trade all their big contracts how on earth are they gonna get to the cap floor next year

I think there's still value in Wideman. His offensive numbers per 60 min played are still elite, he's just not as reliable defensively as some of our other options. A playoff team with a struggling power play might be very interested in his skills though.
- jtommyt

Exactly. Look to teams like LA, Vancouver, Detroit, Tampa, and Anaheim here. All teams that are in or pushing for playoffs and all in the bottom half of the league in power play percentage.

Wideman's Cap hit is going to scare any team away, but that is where the Flames should retain, or consider taking back another not great contract.

I think there's still value in Wideman. His offensive numbers per 60 min played are still elite, he's just not as reliable defensively as some of our other options. A playoff team with a struggling power play might be very interested in his skills though.
- jtommyt

Top 4, and an argument could be made for top 3 with Wideman, are always in high demand. And if we retain enough to make him a $4mil offensive Dman with term (also beneficial for us to reach floor) and at a relatively decent age, he should fetch a really good return in my opinion.

Look up North, the Oilers may not need an offensive Dman, but Wideman would be an improvement over all of their current blue line. They've been looking for a legit top 3 guy for years.

If the Flames trade all their big contracts how on earth are they gonna get to the cap floor next year
- flashfire

Retain Salary on bigger Contracts they trade.

Take back undesirable contracts in trade.

Sign free agents to higher salary, short term to bridge the gap until when the kids will be up for their next contracts.

Retain half of Wideman's contract if it will get you a much better return in the trade.

Should Dany Heatley (as an example) be offered 5 mil a year? Not any more. But if signing him to that for 2 years gets the Flames to the Cap floor, and bridges the time until the kids are negotiating their second contracts then that is what may need to be done.

If Detroit wants out from under Steven Weiss, then maybe take that contract on for a few years. It may make them willing to give up more in trade by allowing them to go after a bigger named UFA (Vanek)

Right now the flames have the ability to take on those contracts or spend that money as it is only bridge that gap in the re-build. It may not be ideal, but it allows them to make that cap floor for this period of time with rookie contracts.