Monday, January 29, 2007
From the BoA Archives
This post (specifically the comment thread) from two months ago today is pretty interesting to look back on.The one concept that wasn't discussed in that thread (but was since) is the [opposite of inspirational] effect that Kevin Lowe's Patience would have/has had on the team as a day-to-day concern; I don't think there's any doubt that most of us underestimated its impact.
# posted by Matt @ 11:19 am 
Comments:
There's a reason Matt started a head-to-head site rather than a Flames-oriented blog: he enjoys pricking Oilers fans' wounded egos a lot more than actually paying attention to the Flames. It's not his fault, of course, that it's easier than normal these days.
"..I told you so?"
No, at least not to the main point. Lowetide, to use the most obvious example, has been more strident (and for more months) that the inexperienced shallow D would bite the Oil.
But as to whether waiting was a bad gamble? Sure. There's still 4 weeks until the trade deadline, but the price for a rental defenceman has not gone down since November (it may have gone UP). Even in a month, there'll be 10 teams willing to give up picks and prospects for a guy like Brad Stuart.
And even if the Oil manages to stay in the hunt AND acquire a useful defenseman AND not "overpay", there's still the matter of integrating the new guy into the team and get everything firing. Let's not forget that the Oil acquired Spacek and Tarnstrom on Jan. 26th last season (Samsonov was Mar. 9th), but they didn't play that well until mid-April.
Conroy to Calgary for Lundmark, and two picks. Considering the Flames' top two centers have performed at (Lombardi) or above (Langkow) expectations, that seems like a fair chunk of cap space to give up. I'd have thought getting a better 2nd line RW might have been a higher priority.
By waiting this long, and continuing to wait, Lowe's most likely blown any Oilers chance at winning the division and grabbing 1st place and HIA for at least the first round of the playoffs.
I don't know what the fuck he was thinking heading into this season and whatever he was thinking was clearly the wrong idea.
I'm glad the Flames jumped with the Conroy deal though becuase maybe that might get Lowe's ass in gear. Plus, if the Oilers and Flames were the two main teams after Tucker, now they're the first in line and I'd much rather have Tucker than Conroy.
There's no accounting for a guy coming back to familiar surroundings and we know that him and Iggy are "great friends" but isn't there a chance that this guy's on a serious decline? He's got shagall points and he wasn't playing much either and he just turned 35 a few months ago.
I still think he could be a valuable piece but maybe hardly anyone else does and that's why the Flames gave up virtually nothing for him. Lundmark is garbage, a lot of things have to fall into place for a 4th rounder to turn into anything and a 2nd is a nice pick but it's obviously not a first.
Of course maybe the bounty's also further mitigated by the fact Conroy's on sked to make just a tad less than 2.4 in '08 as well. And if this season is any indication, that's gonna be a waste of money.
There's nothing wrong with shoring things up down the middle but it's like the Beaver said, you'd think they'd be better off going after a winger and if you want to pick up a guy that can't score then why not just go after Gelinas?
The one concept that wasn't discussed in that thread (but was since) is the [opposite of inspirational] effect that Kevin Lowe's Patience would have/has had on the team as a day-to-day concern; I don't think there's any doubt that most of us underestimated its impact.
I think I can agree with that statement. I think we did underestimate it.
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There's a reason Matt started a head-to-head site rather than a Flames-oriented blog: he enjoys pricking Oilers fans' wounded egos a lot more than actually paying attention to the Flames. It's not his fault, of course, that it's easier than normal these days.
"..I told you so?"
No, at least not to the main point. Lowetide, to use the most obvious example, has been more strident (and for more months) that the inexperienced shallow D would bite the Oil.
But as to whether waiting was a bad gamble? Sure. There's still 4 weeks until the trade deadline, but the price for a rental defenceman has not gone down since November (it may have gone UP). Even in a month, there'll be 10 teams willing to give up picks and prospects for a guy like Brad Stuart.
And even if the Oil manages to stay in the hunt AND acquire a useful defenseman AND not "overpay", there's still the matter of integrating the new guy into the team and get everything firing. Let's not forget that the Oil acquired Spacek and Tarnstrom on Jan. 26th last season (Samsonov was Mar. 9th), but they didn't play that well until mid-April.
Conroy to Calgary for Lundmark, and two picks. Considering the Flames' top two centers have performed at (Lombardi) or above (Langkow) expectations, that seems like a fair chunk of cap space to give up. I'd have thought getting a better 2nd line RW might have been a higher priority.
# posted by 
: January 29, 2007 2:54 pm
: January 29, 2007 2:54 pm By waiting this long, and continuing to wait, Lowe's most likely blown any Oilers chance at winning the division and grabbing 1st place and HIA for at least the first round of the playoffs.
I don't know what the fuck he was thinking heading into this season and whatever he was thinking was clearly the wrong idea.
I'm glad the Flames jumped with the Conroy deal though becuase maybe that might get Lowe's ass in gear. Plus, if the Oilers and Flames were the two main teams after Tucker, now they're the first in line and I'd much rather have Tucker than Conroy.
There's no accounting for a guy coming back to familiar surroundings and we know that him and Iggy are "great friends" but isn't there a chance that this guy's on a serious decline? He's got shagall points and he wasn't playing much either and he just turned 35 a few months ago.
I still think he could be a valuable piece but maybe hardly anyone else does and that's why the Flames gave up virtually nothing for him. Lundmark is garbage, a lot of things have to fall into place for a 4th rounder to turn into anything and a 2nd is a nice pick but it's obviously not a first.
Of course maybe the bounty's also further mitigated by the fact Conroy's on sked to make just a tad less than 2.4 in '08 as well. And if this season is any indication, that's gonna be a waste of money.
There's nothing wrong with shoring things up down the middle but it's like the Beaver said, you'd think they'd be better off going after a winger and if you want to pick up a guy that can't score then why not just go after Gelinas?
The one concept that wasn't discussed in that thread (but was since) is the [opposite of inspirational] effect that Kevin Lowe's Patience would have/has had on the team as a day-to-day concern; I don't think there's any doubt that most of us underestimated its impact.
I think I can agree with that statement. I think we did underestimate it.
Post a Comment
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