tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post5369048223617714365..comments2008-05-26T12:06:21.375-06:00Cucumbersliceshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11525653363146168135noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-47312414735149678992008-05-26T12:06:00.000-06:002008-05-26T12:06:00.000-06:00<I>BUT I'm left wondering if its even possible to improve a team incrementally to a championship level.</I><BR/><BR/>This is a really good question.hellohockeyfanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12461396862605645397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-23531427230763597442008-05-26T11:19:00.000-06:002008-05-26T11:19:00.000-06:00All of the off-season moves, of course, interest me as a Flames fan, BUT I'm left wondering if its even <I>possible</I> to improve a team incrementally to a championship level. It seems Detroit has incrementally <I>remained</I> at a championship level but to first attain it, I wonder if you don't need to blow it up first. Especially in the cap era, is there even enough time to assemble the pieces, get them in place, pay them commensurate with their skill level, before the team's window with its core of 'stars' closes due to free agency, injury or just declining performance.cynical joenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-33341148966239498232008-05-24T12:07:00.000-06:002008-05-24T12:07:00.000-06:00Bjorn:<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the firsthand account. That stuff makes me a little more hopefully the Flames can entice Thornberg over for a look-see.MetroGnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-50822184617781259532008-05-24T04:55:00.000-06:002008-05-24T04:55:00.000-06:00Thornberg played on HV71's top line with former duck Johan Davidsson and finn Juka Voutilainen this past season and it was one of the best units in the SEL only behind Linkopings top line of Weinhandl-Martensson-Hakansson I think.<BR/><BR/>Thornberg is a lot grittier than Huselius, resembles Detroits Mikael Samuelsson a bit. He would have been on the swedish team in the world championship but had to undergo shoulder surgery.Bjornnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-59093233951319475452008-05-23T14:07:00.000-06:002008-05-23T14:07:00.000-06:00Don't get me wrong...King is a treat to deal with from a fan perspective, in terms of being accessible and magnanimous.MetroGnomehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15679878875910837307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16918358.post-30641484933639992402008-05-23T12:01:00.000-06:002008-05-23T12:01:00.000-06:00I do agree that the Ken King interview was like a piece of dry toast, he didn't say much of anything at all. I think he may have spent too much time with Gary Bettman. Although I do really respect Ken as I did email him once with respect to not being able to watch enough Flames games living in Vancouver, and I had a sensible reply within about 10 minutes.jonesinnoreply@blogger.com