tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post4905029747265330683..comments2008-07-03T18:53:33.315-06:00Cucumbersliceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11525653363146168135noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-29744442677860084912008-07-03T18:53:00.000-06:002008-07-03T18:53:00.000-06:00Williams: good one...Shanny: that would be great...<B>can anyone say where these guys are rumored to go, or who is interested?</B> But, Bertuzzi: no, please God, no. I'd rather see Iggy in Oiler blue than that messed-up head case Bertuzzi in Flames red.a nonny mousenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-14160738754682211042008-07-03T16:40:00.000-06:002008-07-03T16:40:00.000-06:00Re: Taratukhin. <BR/><BR/>I dont think there's any chance of him returning, especially this year. He's back at home making more than he could here and the Flames roster is full to the brim with bottom 6 forwards.MetroGnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-30789779622584068522008-07-03T16:23:00.000-06:002008-07-03T16:23:00.000-06:00Is there any chance of Taratyukin showimg up to camp this year??? It looks like he's got one more year on his Russian contract.jonesinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-34915995269479316722008-07-03T14:33:00.000-06:002008-07-03T14:33:00.000-06:00Im with you Greg. The Flames need to be low-key and savvy this summer so they can re-load next summer. They won't be winning anything this year, thus the impetus will be on "staying comeptitive" so the fans and owners don't get too pissed off. <BR/><BR/>This is the tact Sutter could have - and should have - taken last summer. Instead, we were treated to Primeau, Eriksson, Smith and Nilson signings (and Giordano and Taratukhin defections). However, it really looks like Sutter may have learned his lesson.hellohockeyfanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461396862605645397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-38347878641052727482008-07-03T13:58:00.000-06:002008-07-03T13:58:00.000-06:00I think Sutter is going in the right direction this off-season. Had no cap space, lots of bad contracts, and a middle-of-pack team... with the defending cup champions adding Hossa, any attempt to try and win it all this year would have just been the definition of insanity (you know, keeping doing the same thing...)<BR/><BR/>Instead, what I think Sutter has done is set us up for a good "re-tooling" year. Not "re-building", just re-tooling. Keep the very-good core intact, and bring in a bunch of youth and give them lots of chances to develop. They'll be crucial peices in an uphill battle for the playoffs which will do wonders for their development. Then next year, when all but Primeau comes off the books, and Zetterberg gets his raise, and there's a (hopefully) better UFA crop, we go for broke. We'll have the same great core, a better supporting cast, and the same 2 holes but significant cap space to do something about it. Why screw that up by tieing up money next year because you wanted to buy someone out to do better on a lost cause this year? Why through too much money at a Shannahan or Naslund or Nolan and take away the development chance for the young guys?<BR/><BR/>For me, it's Williams or bust. If you can add a young guy like that this year, you can fast track that re-tooling plan a bit. Otherwise, all you are doing is picking up the same tools again. You know, the ones that back into the playoffs each year and can't get out of the first round?<BR/><BR/>I agree with previous posts here that Sutter has been a mix of brilliant and brutal so far. But this is the first off season that I've completely agreed with his approach. He navigated the cap-crunch, kept the team competitive, and got younger and closer to a bright future. A solid B+ for the GM from me. If Williams gets signed and 1 or 2 Waiver-brothers gets traded (NOT bought-out), it's an A. A+ if he can also address that top 4 d gap, but I'm pretty sure he has Vandameer pegged as Phaneuf's caddy this year (which worked fairly well last year I thought).<BR/><BR/>Throughing away time or money this year and screwing up the 09/10 season? That grade quickly drops to a D.Greg Ashbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01563417788060093006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-14219852066070606802008-07-03T13:52:00.000-06:002008-07-03T13:52:00.000-06:00Bertuzzi; I saw him good here in Vancouver, and I swear even before the Moore disaster there has never been a grumpier rich guy. He's made millions of dollars playing a <B>game</B>! and I never saw the guy smile once. Grumpy when he's playing well (which was rare), grumpy when he's injured (which was often), grumpy when team winning, grumpy when team losing, grumpy with media (but wouldn't just shut up, instead always had something negative to say) and then after Moore, the guy totally lost his edge, his fitness and pretty obviously the desire to play the type of game that he needs to excel. I guess Keenan probably has a jones on for him, but Sutter has got to just say no. He's not a good enough skater to play with Lombo, so you'd have to stick him with Iggy! Thats just wrong.cynical joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-3405637154677425482008-07-03T13:34:00.000-06:002008-07-03T13:34:00.000-06:00I might have to stop cheering for the Flames if they get Bertuzzi. I flat out hate that guy.MetroGnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-3639338588777673432008-07-03T13:18:00.000-06:002008-07-03T13:18:00.000-06:00Just looking at our division, I'd say only the Oil have improved, but they got softer. The Wild, 'Lanche, Canucks have all slipped backwards I'd say, barring the Sundin deal. I think Calgary has probably treaded water, but scoring is going to be tougher this year, its unlikely Iggy gets 50 again, the games are probably going to be closer and we're not a great OT/Shootout team.<BR/><BR/>Its tough to see Sutter getting anything for Nilson, Warrener and Eriksson, when any team could have had them for free.<BR/><BR/>The only obvious puzzle piece is Aucoin: I don't think you could get a top six forward for him, don't think you could get a high draft choice for him, and there's no UFA worth the 4 mill if you bought him out. He may have <I>some</I> value at the deadline, but then I think the Flames playoff fate will have been decided.cynical joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-36444721469451671152008-07-03T12:59:00.000-06:002008-07-03T12:59:00.000-06:00I wonder what it would take to rope Shanahan. I'd also consider Bertuzzi depending on the cost. At this point I don't think beggars can be choosers.therealdealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05825358966465275254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-84544197138746070512008-07-03T12:10:00.000-06:002008-07-03T12:10:00.000-06:00Crap...both to the greedy Pens. <BR/><BR/>Williams still out there I guess.MetroGnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-36121945311492800622008-07-03T12:07:00.000-06:002008-07-03T12:07:00.000-06:00Well that sucks. I must be behind the news. Where'd they go?MetroGnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-48157469280317254722008-07-03T12:05:00.000-06:002008-07-03T12:05:00.000-06:00Fedotenko and Satan are gone.therealdealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05825358966465275254noreply@blogger.com