Sorry but that's absurd. The only ones ruining the Flames reputation are the Flames. Having the GM coming out a guaranteeing a playoff spot or saying their biggest rival is wandering the desert only to have it blow up in his face is what makes this franchise the laughing stock of the league. The Flames didn't even know about this provision, as
O'Reilly's agent confirmed:
I don't agree with Jay Feaster's comments about making the playoffs but it shows some confidence from upper management and that can do nothing but positive things to the players. Yes maybe he shouldn't of done that, but how is that such a big deal. I highly doubt people are looking back at this and saying "What was he thinking?" when the truth is they once again finished 9th and many believed that they we're going to make it as well once Cammalleri came into the picture.
'Many lawyers' confirming the Flames would have won the case? Like who? Read
post 362 of this very thread to see why saying with any level of confidence the Flames would have won is patently ridiculous.
http://offsidesportsblog.blogspot.ca/
This is a simple article showing that the Flames could have a case in the argument. Obviously, the right thing to do was to contact the NHL and find out how it really works but this shows that the MOU is not very well worded and does have a loop hole that the Flames can argue for.
Yeah, you sure about that? Because
Bill Daly sure seems like a solid confirmation:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/spor...rk-before-oreilly-offer-sheet/article9226312/
“We agree with the Flames in the sense that the entire issue has become an academic point,†NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an email to The Canadian Press. “Ryan O’Reilly has signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche and the contract has been registered. We have nothing further to say on the subject.â€
One source says he did one source says he didn't. The tsn article states Bill Daly told tsn he would have to clear waivers.. There is no quotes or video to back this up and I doubt Daly would simply come out and say that without reviewing the way they wrote up the MOU because it is in fact not exactly clear.
First of all, I wasn't happy with the offer sheet at all because for a team to risk a potential top ten pick, a pick which has a shot at first overall for a 2nd line centre is far to risky. So no, I wouldn't be bowing down to Feaster, particularly since he couldn't have pulled it off. He didn't even know about the clause.
Fair enough, but to say he didn't know about the clause is just blowing things out of proportion. He knew about the clause and he probably figured it was written in such a way that he could move around it IF somebody picked up on it.. Because clearly nobody did until the next day when the Avs already matched the offer. Something that you can criticize Feaster is why he would take such a risk without actually informing himself first.
The full level of interference by King and Edwards is unknown. Common sense suggests that they don't dictate each and every action Feaster should undertake, otherwise they'd just do the job themselves or hire some no name 'yes man' to do the paper work (like Charles Wang did with Snow) for cheap.
Can you seriously say you have no complaints with Feaster thus far and still expect to be taken with some credibility? If you haven't noticed, the team's in 14th place in the conference, has one natural centre on the roster, that being Matt Stajan, and has actually gotten worse under his tenure than when Darryl Sutter was the GM. All of this while guaranteeing playoff spots or proclaiming the Flames as contenders for a berth and maintaining the answers are in the locker-room. If you actually like the direction the Flames want to go in, then by that very rational you'd have to recognize that Feaster has failed miserably in achieving that goal and is actually doing the exact opposite of what he says he wants to do. He says he wants the Flames to contend for a playoff spot while in reality, the only they're contending for is the first overall pick.
What are you expecting really? Everyone knows that management doesn't want to rebuild. Murray Edwards even came out and said it. So I don't see how you can put this on Feaster for not rebuilding because HE didn't want to when the reality is the owners tell them what do to and they have to work with it. Feaster even said before sending the offer sheet he confronted Edwards and King to see if they we're on board so don't tell me he has the freedom to do whatever he wants. With what he's given I really don't have complaints with what he's done. This team was a disaster when Sutter left and three years later we have pretty much the same caliber team (they would be in the hunt with Kipper and Backlund) along with a much better Prospect pool. You're making it seem like im delusional to believe that when you haven't looked at all the details behind the story. I can guarantee that this team would be on the same pace they've always been if not for the lockout and some key injuries, the only reason they'd be worse is because of an aging core.
Yes we only have one natural center on the roster right now.. But you forgot to mention that Backlund is injured. And you can't say Feaster did not address this since he came with the club. He took a run at Richards and now O'Reilly. He brought in Cervenka and yes he's not playing center but that only reason is because first of all the coaching system in the KHL was much different to Hartley's. He joined in without a training camp and one day of practice before he played his first NHL game. He's making the transition from KHL to NHL and its much easier to play it on the wing. Had there been no lookout and a 3 week training we could've seen Cervenka playing center permanently right now.
I don't know if the Flames management shares your opinion with brushing this whole embarrassing saga under the rug but I wouldn't be surprised if they do. They've shown time and time again that they don't really think much of their fans and have no compunction with demeaning their intelligence.
Im not saying they do share the same opinions as me but clearly people are freaking out and blowing things out of proportion because they read and believe every single word the media tells them when they don't know whats going on internally. Feaster could get fired, but if he's not its time to put it behind you because face it. We still have the draft picks and we have the exact same assets we've had on Wednesday. Nothing has changed from that and a "loophole" in the CBA has not left me to believe that Feaster is going to start pulling some Mike Milbury trades with this team.
