Comments on: Flames GM will look far and wide for upgrades

By: albertateams

albertateams — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:39:00 +0000

Wilson would be a huge mistake.

A fresh face is needed. I think Troy Ward has done an absolutely amazing job in Abbotsford, considering the injuries / call ups, there was nights they weren't able to ice a full roster. With limited talent he has the heat in the AHL playoffs.

By: nordiques100

nordiques100 — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:22:16 +0000

Wilson is too old school to adjust to the new wave of NHL rookies. They're coming in at 18, 19, or 20 years old.

He is much better if they've done the nurturing. Like Grabovski for example. Kulemin too to some extent. Reimer as well. A 24 year old rookie. Gunny too. All those guys had pro experience. lots of it in fact.

Its Schenn, Kadri, Aulie, etc, those unestablished guys who require a lot of patience and growing pains. He treats them like anyone else. WRONG. you cant do that. its his biggest fault. He simply cant relate to them.

these kids. they're sensitive, they are immature, they lack experience, they are just growing. You have to handle with kid gloves. Especially if they're not like a Stamkos or Tavares, mature already. He didnt do that. He was in fact terrible at it. It hurt the organization in my mind.

you may think, oh, 20,21 years old, thats only 2-3 years difference from 23-25 year olds, but that maturity is huge. Those experiences are huge.

Kadri had what, less than 20 minor pro games and instantaneously it was "he is poor defensively" you dont publically do that to the kid.

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:34:03 +0000

To be honest, I'm not really sure. He's shown an ability to make teams better in Anaheim, Washington and San Jose. I think he probably deserves another chance.

I think he would do best in a place that doesn't have an overbearing media like Toronto. Calgary would be better than Toronto but would it be the best spot for him? I'm not sure.

By: FlamingHomer

FlamingHomer — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:02:34 +0000

That's what I thought I was seeing as well. He isn't on anyone's list of potential replacements for Brent Sutter but I was wondering if he should be.

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:00:05 +0000

That's was one of his strongest suits. He was very good at getting players to play well for him. I really think he can. He's a great coach but he has a tendency to throw players under the bus and single them out so it hurts them.

Would he be a good fit in Calgary? I don't know. I sort of think he might be. If the team is going with skill over size, he definitely knows how to implement a good run and gun system.

As much as I didn't like him, he actually was doing a pretty good job at the start of the season for the LEafs.

By: FlamingHomer

FlamingHomer — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:06:33 +0000

While I have your attention, I have a question about Ron Wilson. I can't help but notice that a lot of players had career years playing for him. I know he didn't get the team as a whole much success but can he really get the most out of players as it appears?

By: FlamingHomer

FlamingHomer — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:02:52 +0000

That could be very true. Despite the reports, I think ownership has a strong say in whether Iginla stays or not.

By: FlamingHomer

FlamingHomer — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:59:39 +0000

If the past draft is any indication that could very well be the case. Feaster certainly did not take size into consideration with his picks. Any time Paul Byron, a small, fast and skilled player was called up, Sutter did not give him much playing time. That shows some difference of opinion right there.

By: reinjosh

reinjosh — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 10:29:12 +0000

I hope its not that. I've heard rumors that it was more the way Feaster is planning on rebuilding the team rather than it not going into a rebuild. Feaster wants a lot of skill, and doesn't care if that means lots of small players, Sutter wants big, defensively responsible players.

I sort of hope its the direction of the rebuild that Sutter didn't agree with, since that would mean an actual rebuild.

By: albertateams

albertateams — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:51:56 +0000

I hope not. I still don't think the direction is clear. My opinion is that both Sutter and Feaster favor a rebuild however, ownership is reluctant due to the full houses and the stigma attached with Iginla.

I still think it going to be an interesting offseason.