First of all, some thanks:
To Earl Sleek, for his valuable insight.
To Greg Wyshnyski, for the link love.
And to everyone that stopped by, be it to observe, assuage, share in or laugh at my pain yesterday.
Some thoughts that have occurred to me since the initial foot-stomping...
Whats Old is New Again
Darryl Sutter is a creature of habit. He's been fairly consistent in his managerial style since he came into power. Some of his fetishes are obvious and well-worn: Western Canadian players (preferably born and bred), ex-Sutterites (perhaps add ex-Keenanites to that list now) and former first round draft picks.
Sutter has also made a habit of, every year, acquiring a reclamation project from the scratch and dent bin with the hopes of hammering out the imperfections (with various levels of success). Since 05/06, Sutter has signed or traded for the likes of:
Tony Amonte
Jeff Friesen
Kristian Huselius
Adrian Aucoin
Owen Nolan
and now, Todd Bertuzzi. Make no mistake about it - Bert is a project. He's been moved four separate times since the lock-out, each time with the hope that the "change of scenery" would help him regain his form (a phrase I've heard frequently from the radio jocks and talking heads since the announcement). It hasn't worked yet. Bertuzzi (and pieces) was dealt for Luongo in what is one of the worst trades in NHL history in 2006 (not coincidentally, by the man that now helms the Flames bench). He spent the majority of the season injured before being moved to Detroit at the deadline. He played 24 games as a Red Wing (RS and play-offs) scoring just 11 points. Brian Burke took a chance on Bertuzzi the following summer, inking him to the boat anchor contract which led to his inevitable buy-out this off-season.
Bertuzzi hasn't played a full season since 05/06. We are nearly 5 years removed from his last "dominant" year in the NHL (02/03). By all accounts, he rode coattails in Anaheim last year.
One of the issues with reclamation projects - for GMs and fans alike - is potentially confusing the player that was with the player that is. Acquiring former stars is seductive - the notion that your teams particular jersey will be the magical token that reinvigorates a fallen juggernaut to his former greatness creeps into every fans (GMs?) head. Hell - sometimes it works too.
More often than not, though, the decline is an inexorable one and there is no real way to halt or reverse it. See: Tony Amonte, Jeff Friesen. I think that's where the Flames are with Bertuzzi - the questions being: how rapid is his decline? And where do we land on the downward slope?
Celebrity Endorsements
During a press scrum yesterday, Sutter was asked about the potential for "fan backlash". He responded "I haven't, quite honest (TM), thought about it for more than five seconds."
I believe him. Sutter's personnel considerations aren't informed or swayed by their potential popularity. But someone in the Flames office does have the unenviable task of allaying the angry mutterings of paying customers. And that person, or persons, has made the savvy move of hitching the Bertuzzi wagon to the Iginla horse.
In just about every story or press release I've seen on the acquisition, the fact that the Flames Captain was consulted on - and endorsed - the signing has been mentioned. The reason is simple: Jarome's character is pretty much unimpeachable in Flames country. He's an elite hockey player, the face of the Franchise, a life-long Flame and, by all accounts, classy and gregarious. I doubt there's another "hometown" celebrity that holds the social clout of Jarome Iginla. He could probably run for mayor tomorrow, win the position in a landslide, and then declare his intention of converting Calgary into his own personal medievil fiefdom without anyone raising a stink.
It's the smart play from a PR perspective. There's almost no chance of Bertuzzi sullying Iginla's name. In contrast, one can already observe the calming effect Jarome's thumbs-up is having on the faithful. Just a day removed and I've heard something to the effect of "if Jarome is okay with it then..." more times than I can count.
Heros ease the rationalization process.
Matt takes on this point in his Bert post today and challenges the assertion that Sutter didn't think about the PR repercussions.
