I'm with you Bob. I also don't view him as a great playmaking center. More of a shooter I'd say. Not a bad player but the ten year commitment is way too big of a pill to swallow for the likes of him. Would love to see what Nash would do in a new home though. With us of course.

I really liked Morrison while he was here. Have a lot of respect for him now and wish him well in Chicago. He must be excited at the opportunity and possibilities that come with it.

I hate to lose such a character guy in BMo but ultimately his role has been drastically reduced this season and investing in the future has become the trend around here. However, I am glad we are going in the re-tooling direction rather than that of a complete rebuild. Overall I have to say this is a good trade but it does sting a little.... Good Luck BMo! Your efforts here were much appreciated.

I can't believe we just traded our best powerplay coach. I wonder if we will give Connelly a chance to play with the Flames or if he will stay with the Heat for the rest of the season.

Now we move for Jeff Carter yes??

Morrison was a good soldier for the team...just didn't recover from knee surgery sufficiently but gives Chicago some depth down the middle. Any word if Feaster was able to squeeze a late draft pick out of Bowman as part of this deal?

You nailed this one Kent - Feaster rectified a poor off season signing. It was pretty clear that with Jones added to the mix at center, something had to budge. I liked Morrison as a good dressing room guy, he was predictably less productive this year compared to last. I wonder if he'll get an apology for the knee injury the Hawks handed him last year.

Next up Stajan and Babchuck . . . I hope.

Blair Jones was the end of Morrison. Morrison didn't fit anymore with Tanguay coming back as well as Stajan.

I think there is a commitment to Horak's development and the other younger guys, especially Backlund in top spot.

Feaster knows he needs guys who skate and move well. Morrison was the least able in that regard.

Morrison can contribute but he was pushed out of top six and Jones was better fit for third line skill set and durability.

Can someone explain the recent fixation people have with Jeff Carter. The guy is a talent but based on his attitude he's displayed while with Columbus, I can't find the appeal.

I know he's battled injury, but when in the line-up he HAS QUIT on his team-mates. It's obvious he wants out, but really, do you want that attitude and the 10 year contract on the Flames? I don't.

We won't go for Carter (I hope), but this might lead to a Sarich or Babchuk trade (again I hope).

2 things come to mind.

1.) The trade makes sense, with both Smith and Brodie on the big club we lack a little depth on the blue line in Abbotsford. And it only seems like a move to Abby right now unless......

2.) This is the set up for a bigger trade opening more opurtunities for younger D men. So look for one of Babchuk, Sarich to be traded, or maybe both.

So if we were still "going for it" does this trade happen, or are we still "going for it" while at the same time shipping off Vets for Prospects? If thats the case is Olli Jokinen long for this team? Also if thats what we get back for Morrison does that mean we can actually get some returns for Kostoplous and such?

Great deal in my opinion. Morrison deserves a chance to move on to a possible stanley cup team this year.

I don't know much about connelly but those numbers, even for the ahl, seem impressive.

Here is a report card on Connelly from last spring.

"Brian Connelly, defense - Brian Connelly was named Rockford's top defenseman for the 2010-11 season. He was 6th among all AHL defensemen with 52 points (11 G, 41 A, including 4 GWG, +3) - and his points total also put him second on the team for scoring. As defensemen go, Connelly is on the small size (5'11"; 185 lbs), but he clearly fits the Blackhawks "puckmoving defenseman" mold. He set defensemen records for the IceHogs and was the only skater who appeared in all 80 season games. He was also named to the Western Conference All-Star team. The Blackhawks need physicality on the blue line, but his offensive ability is hard to ignore. Whether to use in a trade or to give him another year in Rockford - or even potentially to make the leap to the 3rd line in Chicago - it would be surprising if Chicago didn't re-sign him."

Reason for some hope.

The appeal: Two solid scoring lines and the acquisition of a long sought after 1st line centre. A legitimate shot of making and having the strength to make an impact in the playoffs.

How can you say he (Carter) has given up on his team-mates when the organization as a whole has given up? The truth is they've given up on themselves. Imagine being a competitive (and talented) player in this league going to a team with built up expectations and when it stumbles out of the gate the whole team gives up. Would you be upbeat and playing to your full potential? I would say that most would aspire for better. Also, who's to say we keep Carter for the extent of his contract??

We need to win Iggy a cup in Calgary and I feel a move like this would increase our chances. Carter also seemed to have a jump in his step when he played in the 'dome ( Our fans are top notch!). It would be the same sort of impact move as our 'stab' at landing B. Richards.

I'm not saying the Flames should or should not make a pitch for Carter. Quite frankly I don't see them have assests they can afford to part with to get him. I do think that if I took the haircut he did to sign a long term deal to stay in the city that drafted me and told me they wanted me for the long haul, then traded me to a piece of crap team like Columbus, I might have some sour grapes as well. I know he should be a professional and is collecting a huge cheque every year but cummon....Columbus. Only worse city where careers come to die is here! Maybe he comes here and we catch lighting in a bottle and he turns it around. A sucess story instead of the traditional bust.

While I did question the signing of Morrison in the off season, it was a stop gap until someone emerged from the pack in Abbotsford. Feaster managed to have Horak be the surprise out of camp and his displacement of Morrison only became evident of late. And Jones from Tampa is a steal, so that just was the end of BMo's tenure here.

I do suspect that with the glut of defencemen, when Smith is ready to go back into the line up it sets up another move or two. As has been noted in other comments, #s 6 and 33 would be the obvious trade bait. I am not certain that the target would necessarily be a Carter, but perhaps a second tier scorer such as P.A. Parenteau off the Island where defence is generally lacking.

Carter is not the center the Flames are looking for. Carter is more of a winger than a center and we need a center who knows how to use his wingers and isn't a puck hog.

Just out of curiosity I was under the impression there is a trade freeze during all star weekend?

Calgary needs to get in touch with the Anaheim ducks to see what possibilities could be available with Ryan & Getzlaf. I could see the two teams making a deal before the deadline.

Maybe a kiprusoff for Getzlaf or in order to get Ryan we would have to give bowwmeester straight up or a package deal of jokinen/tanguay?

What do you guys think?

You're smoking crack right? Cause thats they only explanation as to how you thought Kiprusoff for Getzlaf made any sense in the first place.

Also @PMR, trade freeze is over Christmas.

I wasn't going to dignify (@Jevon) with a response but you said what I was thinking. Exactly in fact.

Like the trade and glad Feaster keeps on making the team younger even though people undervalue his talent and the talent John Weisbrod has as he unearths talented guys signed or traded for in the past year like Smith, Wilson, Jones, and now Connelly! (side note - geez talk about common North American last names). Also like the moves like bringing in Cammaleri for an underachiever like Bourque too even though he is a bit older than those other guys! Maybe it's also time to sell high on Moss and Jokinen as perhaps their perceived value is higher than ever and would love to see an older D-man begone in a trade like Sarichpreferavlyor perhaps Hannan. As for the Carter idea I like it but would not do it due to his super-long contract...how about slightly-overpaid Brassard who has great potential!

Jokinen has stated that he'd sign on the cheap to play here long term which I'm sure will happen as he has more than proven the nay-sayers wrong. He's cemented him self as true 2nd line centre and I just don't see him being moved. To land Carter its going to cost us JBo + but we would hope to get a defensive prospect or (D)roster player in return. This trade is more feasible that most would expect.

I don't usually say this of Jay Feaster but my impression of this trade is that it is a very deft use of assets in shoring up a problem area of the Flames organization: the Abbotsford Heat. I know they have had a good season, but the list of successfully internally developed Flames prospects is not a long one and creating a winning farm team is one of the first steps in improving a franchise.

Connelly may end up being more Taylor Chorney than T.J. Brodie, but in the end the Flames have moved an expiring UFA who was often a healthy scratch into a prospect that may become an NHL player but at the very least appears as though he will contribute to a younger, winning team on the farm.

As for the idea that this somehow sets up another trade, or that there is another shoe to drop, for the last three years, every time I have heard of a Flames trade involving minor moves it has been said that this was a precursor to something bigger. More than any other team's minor moves. I'm not sure what it is about the Flames that this always seems to be mentioned.

I think the interest in Carter amongst fans here is that he appears to be something that the team has been searching for since Craig Conroy left town. Perhaps even before that.

Just a quick note on Ryan Suter: it was mentioned today that he really likes Nashville and is fond of the anonymity it provides. So I don't think he'd be too interested in signing in either Calgary or Edmonton. Or any Canadian city, for that matter. Maybe Dale Tallon can lure him to Florida. You can't be recognized by fans when there isn't anyone watching.

Like the trade. Really dont like what the cost would be for Carter. Probably at least Leiland as they are needing a future goalie, probably Backlund & our 1st. I dont know about that. I wonder what Buffalo wants for Roy instead, they have their balls against the cap so tight, Leino might just score a goal before the end of the season. I think Roy can be had for way cheaper, way less contract to commit to, a lot cheaper & I think Roy would have the same impact a Carter would have on a 1st line line with Iggy & Cammi. We get GlnX back & that isnt a bad 2nd line. Backlund for Roy straight up? That worth it? Buff gets an NHL ready centre & about 3.0Mill in cap space, we get a 1st line centre.

My stab at a possible deal for Carter is this:

Carter/Martinek + 2nd (2013) for Bouwmeester/Stajan + 4th (2013)

Ken & Colin i'm guessing your pretty active guys on this site which is great.

I have to say that contributing to the potential "Carter" trades & not even considering the possibility of trading our starting goaltender for a number 1 centerman like Getzlaf is amusing me.

Kiprusoff is an amazing goaltender there is no arguing that but please validate why you think this trade is not plausible? This is a trade you think Calgary would lose? Yes perhaps if Irving doesn't grown into the goalie he has the potential to be. Kiprusoff is our biggest tradeable asset on the team & Iginla won't be dealt so perhaps start smoking crack & consider the possibilities.

Kipper is the only reason we are where we stand in the hunt for a playoff spot. Moving him is highly unlikely before the end of the season (if then). Feaster has insisted he intends for us to make the playoffs as well. Getzlaf can go unnoticed for long durations in games. Kipper performs well game in and out albeit with the odd exception. I wouldn't rule out the acquisition of Getzlaf but Kipper wouldn't be going the other way especially not in the regular season. I find the possibility of anything like that ever happening more amusing to be honest.....

Hey Jevon. I guess the thing about a trade is that it's gotta make sense for both teams. Anaheim has a pretty good goalie in Hiller already, so why would they trade a coveted top centre in the league for a goaltender? The offers from other teams would blow away anything we could offer up to Anaheim because Getzlaff's value is truly that high. It would take Backlund, Brodie & our 1st to even heat up a conversation with Anaheim. I like the thought of Kipper for Getzlaff but there is really no reason for Anaheim to do that deal. Now if you said Kipper to Tampa Bay for Connolly & a 1st rounder, that would make a little more sense.

Jevon wrote:

"Kiprusoff is an amazing goaltender there is no arguing that but please validate why you think this trade is not plausible?"

The problem is that trading Kipper at this point goes against the "go for it now" mentality Feaster has said/shown he's going to do. If he trades Kipper, the Flames will not make the playoffs. The only reason they are close is because of him.

Also, I dont think Feaster will ever trade Kipper, not after his mistake trading Khabibulin while with TB. He thought he could just find another goalie of that caliber and traded him "to help the future of the franchise". The Lightning have had goalie issues ever since.

Yes you are absolutely correct Kipper has prevented our Goals against from being the worst in the league. However, if the Flames playoff hopes far farther & farther out of reach Kiprusoff will be a possibility. Also, if we have any shot at Carter Stajan will not be part of that package. He is not even worthy of the word useless.

Columbus is looking for more than Bow/Stajan & a 4th rounder that is a given

Feaster has made some great moves as GM so far

bringing in hannan for a 1 year contract getting lanks out of here for stempniak while reducing the cap hit & having an expiring contract. great move

como was a low key solid move as well.

The Bourque/Cammie deal seems good.

Morrison for Connolly seems like a smart move as well.

Let's be realistic here about our playoff chances. If the next 15 games are under 500 the dynamics of trading Kiprusoff will be completely open for discussion again & become a very hot debate.

I admit that was a slightly biased trade pitch.....

However if there were to be discussions between the two teams I believe it would start with JBo and Carter then the "evening out" assets would be discussed. Martinek is a roster 'D' @ 2.2 million and is a UFA at seasons end which is why I feel he would be considered. Stajan with the right linemates and role could, *cough*, could be a 2nd/3rd line depth centre for them which is why i wishfully included him in the deal. It'd unfortunately more likely include Backlund for the pick exchange to be more realistic. To give up on Backlund would be a major "Blacke Eye" on how our prospects fare in Calgary but in this case it'd probably be the selling point of the deal to work.

The fact that we were able to get anything for Morrison has to be considered a success. I'm a Morrison fan, however it was clear he wasn't going to play much here, and that he wasn't going to be re-signed in the off-season. So instead of just letting him go at the end of the year, Feaster got an asset for him. Good on him. Also, I don't want Carter. He has 10 years left on his deal!! No thank you.

The reality is that BMo had a tough time recovering from his knee injury. It was unlikely he was going to repeat his 43 points in 66 games production.

However, BMo is a lucky guy in the fact that he now has the opportunity to win a Stanley Cup with the Hawks.

This a good trade, it keeps making the Flames younger and adding depth on defence.

As for Carter, he is more of a shooter as opposed to a playmaker. He has some injury issues and I don't care for his attitude. Carter has only put up more than 80 points once in his career. Every other season he has played he hasn't put up more than 66 points. He could be a lot better.

We didn't get enough for Morrison. Chicago was desperate for help at centre with Kane and Toews out. We should have sought a 2nd or 3rd round pick rather than an old, undersized AHL career defenseman.

Kanes playing in the All Star Game so I don't think he's injured. Morrison's trade value wasn't that high. Probably doing him a favor sending him to a contender and thanking him for his services.

Never liked Morrison as a fit here. This new guy is interesting. Is he a good player in the AHL? or is he a good AHL player? Another question, why so many Americans? The front office of this CANADIAN team is crawling with them. Just solidify's my opinion that it was wrong to re-sign Morrison.

I'm not a big fan of Feaster and the whole Flames management but I finally get a sense they understand how the salary cap works.

Unloading Morrison following the Bourque trade is a good move. This is a case of "Addition by Subtraction". The Flames need to shed salary to create playing time for younger players, who could potentially have upside is the way to go. Getting rid of Bourque's contract was pure luck.

Although Cammalleri makes more money at US$6.0mn a year until 2013-14 in the short-term, he is a tradable asset if need be. Bourque's US$3.3mn contract until 2015-16 was proving to be almost as bad as Stajan's US$3.5mn until 2013-14.

The question now is whether Feaster can get rid of Stajan (very, very tough), Babchuk and Bouwmeester's contracts. Tanguay's contract could also prove problematic as he is on the downside of his career and he has a long contract. None of these players won't help Calgary get to the next level, so dumping them for nothing will be big birthday gift like getting rid of Langkow's contract. Although I have to admit Langkow is very smart player and would have helped Calgary more than Stempniak this year but then again the latter is younger and cheaper. Both of their contracts are off the books at the end of this year. Much the same can by said of Anaheim taking Hagman through waiver's. Calgary got lucky here even though they are still absorbing half of Hagman's contract.

Getting rid of these contracts should be viewed as a case of addition by subtraction. Lets see Feaster get rid of more bad contracts.

On the surface, the organization moved an aging vet for a young prospect with an offencive upside, though like Byron, Connelly's lack of size may hurt any chance he may have of regular NHL minutes. All that said, how can one fault this move?

As for the next move... if there is one... Hannan may be the one with the most worth, due to his contract. It's what you can get back for him. Obviously, everyone wants to move Sarich ad Babchuk, particularly the latter. But I'm sure we'd have all rather read of the Hawks taking Stajan over Morrison, for Connelly.

As for Carter... We may not have the "parts" Columbus is looking for. They are looking for a young goaltender. We have Irving. Not really legitimate "bait". If we'd get Carter.... Which I find highly unlikely... Bressard would most likely be available. Not sure about Martinek. Pretty sure Columbus would have zero interest in Stajan. What team would?

Bouwmeester may be of interest, but with Wisniewski's contract... (incredibly poor signing for the Jackets for a guy who has peaked at 69 games in a season)

If Carter's being dangled... and we could move JBo... I'd be interested. What about a kid like David Savard coming back our way? Then with JBo... would they take Babchuk or Sarich?? Or Hannan??

One guy I have always liked on their roster, and someone I think could fill a role on our 4th line is Derek Dorsett. If you could get that kid as a throw in... He certainly has some heart, and may crack 10 goals this season. Unfortunately, he plays RW - same side as Jackman. But still... We haven't had a mucker like that since Prust.

Carter would "fit" the supposed/alleged direction the clubs moving. Would anyone take a punt on Bressard??

As an aside... Butler, after his horrific showing vs. the Bruins... Sits a 0 +/-.

That's truly incredible. Is a testament to his play, of late?

Exactly right!

Feaster has now made something out of nothing and picked up some decent players in the process. He is also directly responsible for making Abbotsford a winning team, since last year. Now he needs to work fixing his Babchuck mistake.

Not to be rude, but what do think the market is for a slow, 36 year old center with a bad knee, and a grand total of 4 goals?

Feaster made something out of (nearly) nothing. Be happy.

Who cares where the players come from? The only thing that is important is the crest on the front of their jerseys, and winning - everything else is a distraction.

Yes the Flames are getting younger, this is a good thing provided they younger also has talent. I've also noticed that they are getting much smaller, and we are lacking that big body presence. I noticed at times that they can be run out of the rink physically. The LA Kings man handled them a few games back and they really had no answer.

Skill is great but we're gonna be smaller than Montreal here going forward.

If Carter is to come to the Flames it would probably be just him in exchange for ______ + _____ + _____. The Jackets gave up a 1st round pick that was in the top 10, as well as a highly touted prospect and a third round pick. Everything about Carter's being moved includes mention of Columbus wanting to recoup their losses in that move.

To that end, any trade suggestions would probably be closest in including those items.

For instance, from the Flames, Sven Baertschi is a very fair comparison to Voracek as prospects go, next would be a first round pick, obviously not in the top ten, but were the Flames to add a sixth round pick as well it may add up. Finally, a third round pick this year or next would almost have to be included. In lieu of a sixth round pick and the third round pick a roster player with minimal cap hit and decent potential could be included, in the neighbourhood of Blake Comeau or Blair Jones.

From a Flames standpoint that may sound like a lot, and it would be a significant package, but remember that this is similar in nature to what Columbus gave up less than a year ago and so is probably fairly close to what would be considered "market value". And while one has to consider what makes sense for both teams, taking into account that Scott Howson has until the beginning of the 2012-2013 season to field trade offers, I would say that he has time to find the most lucrative deal he can.

I didn't include Columbus wanting Irving in a return because they may just sign a UFA goalie this summer or trade for one in the off-season, rather than diminish their Carter return by asking for one now. Bouwmeester might appear to be a fit in Columbus, but I also didn't mention him as I can't see Howson wanting to lock up that much cap space in just two defencemen (Wisniewski). If Bouwmeester were to be acquired by Columbus, it might only be in straight exchange for Wisniewski, and I'm not certain that Feaster would be interested in that deal.

As for Stajan, I don't think Howson has any interest. It may be that teams will wait to inquire about Stajan until after the new CBA structure has been determined or if Feaster finds himself in a weak position for a trade to try and extract a Kotalik-style payment for taking his contract.

I think it'll be interesting to see whether Feaster has the guts to get rid Jackman and Kostopoulus. These two have bee amongst Calgary's best forwards on a consistent basis, albeit playing fourth line energy roles. They both have expiring contracts and would offer valuable depth for teams that want depth and grit in the playoffs. The reality is we should get rid of both as these roles should be filled by younger guys like Bouma and Niemze (apologies for incorrect spelling).

The problem is Calgary management can never seem to let go of these types of players, who are easily replaceable. Let's see if Feaster is really different. The fact that we have PLLL and Ivanans sitting in the minors with one contracts suggest not.

I like the move alot. Feaster gets rid of an older veteran who's mostly been in the press box for the majority of the season and wasn't contributing to the team on the ice. He may have been a good locker room guy, but I don't think that validates him staying on the roster. In return for BMo, the Flames get a much younger player in Connelly, and a guy who can play on the farm and continue his development. And as Kent said, maybe the guy turns out to be somewhat of a Derek Smith find. A no risk move by Jay Feaster, and I'll give him a thumbs up on this one.

I'm not complaining where they come from. i just know that, for example the Habs have almost ZERO Francophones (2 average no names). Toronto is run by an American and coached by a wannabe (disavowed Canadian). I understand the place they are from is not important but fans need to relate. In Toronto the fans were concerned when Sundin first became captain but won the fans over. I'm not sayin, i'm just saying. Would be nice to have at least one Canadian up top?

Hey Nolan. Curious, are you an appraiser?

They traded a Minor League Hockey player for a Bank (BMO)?!!?

Seems to me that the Calgary Flames organization may have to look for other sponsors if they are giving away a bank for a minor leaguer. Seriously a bank?! I've officially seen it all.

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