Comments on Five Hole Fanatics: Grading the off-season

And the Tanguay deal looks a lot better when you v...

2008-07-12T11:32:00.000-06:00

And the Tanguay deal looks a lot better when you view it as a three-way that includes Mike Camalleri. For trading down seven slots on a deep first round, Sutter managed to dump salary and replace an unhappy player who was playing below potential for a younger, flexible, player, with equally high prospects for success.

re: My thumbs down for the Bert signing. Looking a...

2008-07-11T09:16:00.000-06:00

re: My thumbs down for the Bert signing. Looking at the numbers and listening to the reviews of his play leads me to think, as of right now, that there's a better chance he's a bust next year than not. I wouldn't say it's a lock by any means, however.

What a face lift on the flames team. I count 8 dep...

2008-07-11T00:52:00.000-06:00

What a face lift on the flames team. I count 8 departures and 5 arrivals so far and expect a trade involving Adrian Aucoin and Anders Eriksson or Marcus Nilson or Wayne Primeou soon. May trade a few of them for draft picks next year.
I think Big Bert will score 28 goals and achieve 41 assists in this year.
The struggle for jobs on the Flames this year will be tough.

I would disagree with Bertuzzi. Not saying its a ...

2008-07-10T23:28:00.000-06:00

I would disagree with Bertuzzi. Not saying its a thumbs up but I think it's somewhat neutral. Vandermeer was a mistake IMO. Also, until Sutter dumps the trio that's a thumbs down. Also, waiving Nilson instead of Primeau is a mistake IMO. Nilson is cheaper and I think a better player.

MG, I agree with all your thumbs, but I would like...

2008-07-10T17:22:00.000-06:00

MG, I agree with all your thumbs, but I would like to hold on the Bert verdict. I don't like this very much now, but if it works out...Having said that, if Shanny signs a Bertuzzi-like contract elsewhere, I'll crap my pants. I'd bet he could meet or exceed anything Bert-loozi brings to the table this year. Plus, Shanahan and Iginla, IMO hockey's two best ambassadors, on the same team would have been awesome. Otherwise, it should be fun watching GlenX and Lombo fly around. And, I'll give a pre-thumbs up to any trade involving Aucoin (bet you will too).

Indeed. Only another Sutter can touch Duane now. <...

2008-07-10T15:07:00.000-06:00

Indeed. Only another Sutter can touch Duane now.

Good for Noodles though. Although I always figured he'd get into the broadcasting side of things.

Anyone else worried about the apparent formation of an old boys club?

sorry, link should go here.

And the Red Deer Mafia gets another...

2008-07-10T14:09:00.000-06:00

And the Red Deer Mafia gets another made man.

What actually is the result/advantage of having...

2008-07-10T14:06:00.000-06:00
What actually is the result/advantage of having Warrener, Ericsson and Nilsson 'pre-waived'? Is it easier to move them down to Quad Cities? Does it change their contract status in some way?

There really isn't any besides our knowing Sutter doesn't really consider them useful players anymore. But until he gets rid of them in some fashion, they're still part of the team and the payroll.

What actually is the result/advantage of having Wa...

2008-07-10T13:55:00.000-06:00
What actually is the result/advantage of having Warrener, Ericsson and Nilsson 'pre-waived'? Is it easier to move them down to Quad Cities? Does it change their contract status in some way?

Gelinas particularly -- the man is 38 years old...

2008-07-10T13:42:00.000-06:00
Gelinas particularly -- the man is 38 years old to Bertuzzi's 33, he put up half as many points as Bertuzzi did last season and he's also missed a lot more games due to injury than Bertuzzi as well. Bertuzzi is clearly the better choice here, from a hockey perspective.

Well, you do have consider the different circumstances in which each player played last year to compare the two. Gelinas played tougher competition (0.02) with much weaker teammates (-0.14) than Bert and still had a +4 at ES...not to mention a lower GA/60 than Bert (2.08). In contrast, Bert was the opposite: He played against nobodies with strong linemates (and ended up +9, but with GA/60 of 2.26).

Gelinas also got next to no PP time, while Bertuzzi played a 3 minutes a night with the man advantage.

In addition, while Martin is older by 5 years, he's actually been the more durable player over the last 3 seasons (221 GP to Betuzzi's 165). Also, there's no chance of him being a divisive presence in the dressing room.

The only thing one could say about Bert above Gelinas is he has a higher potential offensive ceiling I think.

Vandermeer. At what he got paid last year, he would have been fine. At 2.3 million? For three years? It would take a big leap on his part to justify that number

Agreed. Not sure how I forgot him. I dont mind Vadermeer as a player, but I think that has a good chance to be a poor value signing. Thumbs down.

Only thing you missed was the waiver action.

Waiving Warrener/Nilson/Erikson - thumbs up

Yeah...I held off on that until Sutter actually does something with it. Thumbs up if they go away. BIG thumbs down if they dont.

I can't give a thumbs up / thumbs down yet to Bert...

2008-07-10T12:58:00.000-06:00
I can't give a thumbs up / thumbs down yet to Bertuzzi, but the more I think about it the more I lean towards it being a "thumbs up" move.

But I cannot agree that the alternatives were better. Gelinas particularly -- the man is 38 years old to Bertuzzi's 33, he put up half as many points as Bertuzzi did last season and he's also missed a lot more games due to injury than Bertuzzi as well. Bertuzzi is clearly the better choice here, from a hockey perspective. The contract he signed is "cheap" so he's more likely to outperform it than not, I'd hope.

Vandermeer. At what he got paid last year, he woul...

2008-07-10T12:51:00.000-06:00
Vandermeer. At what he got paid last year, he would have been fine. At 2.3 million? For three years? It would take a big leap on his part to justify that number. That Kurt Sauer contract looks better for Phoenix every day.

Agree on all points except Bertuzzi. I'm tentative...

2008-07-10T12:40:00.000-06:00
Agree on all points except Bertuzzi. I'm tentatively thumbs up on that just because of the dollar amount. Plus, I still think this is a "re-tooling" year, so all I care about is that we're well entertained (and that the young players get development chances). Which ever way this goes, it will definitely be entertaining. :)

Only thing you missed was the waiver action.

Waiving Warrener/Nilson/Erikson - thumbs up

Doing nothing else with them yet - thumbs down. I'm still waiting to see what happens next though. 1 or 2 have to disappear somehow.

NOTE: I do like all three players still, there just isn't room on the payroll for them.