Flames sign Cervenka

[bustaheims]

mirtle: Flames have signed centre Roman Cervenka to a one-year deal for $3.775-million. Was in the KHL and they believe he can be top six in NHL.

mirtle: Jay Feaster on Cervenka: "We made an aggressive pitch to convince him that Calgary was the perfect place for him to start his NHL career."

I don't know much about Cervenka past his stats, but that's a pretty significant chunk of cap to commit to a guy who has never played a professional game in North America.

 

[Corn Flake]

Yes Jay, with giant piles of money to roll in he agrees that Calgary is the place to be.

 

[maplesyrup]

Sure. Why not?

 

[Corn Flake]

Sure. Why not?

Well for one thing this puts them around $50 mil in cap for next year for 16 players. 

 

[maplesyrup]

Sure. Why not?

Well for one thing this puts them around $50 mil in cap for next year for 16 players.

Bah, it's far to early to worry about that. Bird in the hand and all. This is the type of risk the Flames kind to make. I don't see Calgary being on the short list for a ton of UFAs in a market that's very weak - especially at center.

 

[Kin]

Sure. Why not?

Well for one thing this puts them around $50 mil in cap for next year for 16 players.

Yeah, but there's pretty heavy speculation that they'll be trading some of their higher priced vets anyway to try and rebuild. I think it's a good deal. Worst case scenario is that it's a bad one year contract.

 

[drummond]

I don't know much about Cervenka past his stats, but that's a pretty significant chunk of cap to commit to a guy who has never played a professional game in North America.

He is considered to be the best Czech player not playing in the NHL. He was dominant player in the Czech Extraleague (winning scoring title, best player in the play-offs etc), he repeated that in the KHL 2 years ago. If I were a Calgary fan I would have 2 concerns. First one is his significant drop in the KHL once Jagr left Omsk. The first year with Jagr he was tearing up the league scoring, once he left, he did just OK. Second concern is his adjustment to North American hockey. He has never played a game here and he is not exactelly the youngest guy, so his adjustment might take longer.

 

[Madferret]

How Feaster handles the Flames from here up until puck drop next season is going to be very interesting. Like Busta said that's a pretty expensive roll of the dice...is that bonus laden or he's getting paid 3.8M regardless?

 

[bustaheims]

How Feaster handles the Flames from here up until puck drop next season is going to be very interesting. Like Busta said that's a pretty expensive roll of the dice...is that bonus laden or he's getting paid 3.8M regardless?

It's an entry level deal, which means there are bonuses involved, but, until we know how bonuses will be handled under the next CBA, you have to look at it as every penny counting towards the cap until the bonuses are not met.

 

[cw]

I don't know much about him but somehow a smaller version of Jiri Dopita popped into my head ...

I think Feaster's nuts if he doesn't go for a rebuild.

 

[Madferret]

I don't know much about him but somehow a smaller version of Jiri Dopita popped into my head ...

I think Feaster's nuts if he doesn't go for a rebuild.

Doesn't seem to think the Flames need one. "This core got us as high as 5th in he conf..."

 

[Peter D.]

I think Feaster's nuts if he doesn't go for a rebuild.

Hasn't it been speculated that Feaster was pushing for a rebuild since he took over but ownership wouldn't allow for it? 

Calgary has been due for a rebuild, or they could be setting themselves up for Leaf futility.  It's one team (along with Columbus) I would have considered, at the start of last season, in worse shape than the Leafs.