Choosing Directions

 

Guess that disgraceful 9-0 loss in Boston last week didn't change Jay Feaster's mind at all.

Just the opposite, in fact.

Instead of deciding to drop out of the playoff chase, on Thursday night the Calgary GM sacrificed a second-round pick, a prospect and a big chunk of salary cap space to the Montreal Canadiens to bring in slumping scorer Mike Cammalleri.

That's futures and flexibility for help right now. Interesting.

In fact, Cammalleri's first job is to replace the goals lost by including winger Rene Bourque in the deal with Montreal, a player who has been as good a scorer as Cammalleri in recent times.

If Cammalleri can do that, the Flames can be even in the deal, for now. Feaster is banking on the fireplug winger to add energy and enthusiasm, as well, with Bourque's laconic nature one of the reasons Calgary cooled on him.

But giving up a pick, a prospect and cap flexibility to exchange Bourque for Cammalleri, who will be 30 soon?

It's aggressive, for sure. Some might suggest it's the most recent evidence that Calgary is in self-denial over the state of their roster. We already know Jarome Iginla isn't going to be traded for the assets that might generate, and we know the Calgary prospect chart, while it has some prospects, lacks true blue chippers. Certainly there's no heir apparent to Iginla.

Again, this seems so remiscent of what the Maple Leafs were doing in the final years of the Mats Sundin era it's eerie. As of today, the Flames are sitting in 12th in the Western Conference, three points out of eighth, so sure, they could conceivably make the playoffs. But to do what? Beat Chicago or Detroit in the first round?

But Feaster has set his course and isn't deviating. Getting defenceman Mark Giordano back soon will certainly help. But adding salary has complicated the crush on the Flames payroll, with long term injuries supplying the necessary relief to keep Calgary cap compliant.

From a Montreal standpoint, at first blush it's more nonsense from a franchise once known for doing things the right way. Pulling a player off the ice during a game for the purposes of trading him one day after a very public outburst that really wasn't particularly negative?

That's bad business all around. Having the Molson family back in charge was supposed to bring back the glory, not start a new descent.

Acquiring Bourque, by the way, wasn't a bid to address the linguistic issues created by the ham-handed hiring of head coach Randy Cunneyworth. Bourque's from Alberta and only speaks a few words of French.

But he does give the Habs size and some edge - he's been suspended twice this season, and still has one-game left on his current suspension - and Cammalleri wasn't producing.

Bourque is locked up for four more seasons at a reasonable $3.33 million annual cap hit.

Really, despite the outcry for the way in which the Habs are doing business, this wasn't a bad deal at all. Maybe a very good one. All that new cap room means that if the Canadiens wanted to, they could add upwards of $8 million in salaries before the trade deadline.

What's unclear is whether they'd want to do that, or in general, where the Habs are headed. Cammalleri and Jaroslav Halak were the heroes of the run to the conference final three years ago, and neither is in Montreal any more. Montreal is 24th overall, and with their playoff chances dimmer than Calgary, this wouldn't be a bad year to take the hit, sink further and draft high in June.

This is, most believe, a very good draft. 

But dumping out of the playoff race isn't what the club is publicly saying, so we'll watch and guess for a while longer.

 

Comments

[jimmy]

Couldnt disagree more. This is a terrible move for MTL. They could have traded Camellari to for young players and picks. They could have offered him to more than one team. This is two lame duck GMS both making a horrible move. Why would CGY want to add a 30 year old guy? Tanguay, Camellari, Jokinen...CGY keeps getting back players they already lost it makes no sense. Feaster and Gauthier are the two worst GMS in hockey. Why was Sutter Fired again? I have only seen Feaster keep the exact same philosophy.

[borjefan4ver]

Habs freeing up space for Lecavalier...

[Shaun]

Damien, Cammy is not the first player to be pulled off the ice for a trade ... nor is he the first player to have the media -- who were the first to note the Habs' "loser attitude" -- present his words in the format that the interviewer felt better reflected "what he really meant". Moaning about all that is stirring the pot, not reporting.

Mtl.'s problem for the past two years has not been dealing with Martin, who was never going to bring any roster anywhere, and Gomez. That has killed the team and put them where they are now ... PG's roll of the dice on Markov would have been gutsy if Markov had played this year. As it now stands, it's the nail.

[Cutters21]

Canadiens manage to stay in 12th place, but slide a little closer to last in the East - only 3 points now. Headed for last place overall? They should be grateful for Columbus!

[Cutters21]

Mike Cammalleri - luckiest man in the NHL right now. I guess to get out of Montreal, all you have to do is tell the truth. Don't worry fans, you still have Scott Gomez.

[John Carss]

Every time I watch a Calgary game, Rene Bourque is one of the best players.

[gern]

Cammalleri wanted to be traded. The Montreal media released a photo of him right after he was given the news, you can tell he was happy:

http://puckbandits.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/cammalleriafterbeingtoldhewastraded.jpg