In truth, I’m finding the comically exaggerated reaction to the trades – everywhere – so entertaining that I also can cardly find the will to be upset. You can count me in the group of Sutter apologists as well – the list of GMs to get their teams into the playoffs each of the last five seasons is very, very short – but I do have to say that, regardless of the names involved, I half want to see Sutter fired exclusively for trading with the Oilers.

Other than that, it has been an entertaining day. Leaf fans trying their damndest to encourage us to become suicidally depressed over acquiring Toskalol, not realizing he is an upgrade! The fourth guy on our FIFTH line for a 4th rounder, while not a good return, has led to much gnashing of teeth.

If nothing else, this team is damned entertaining. For that reason alone, I’d renew my season tickets for next year, even if the very, very strongly hinted outdoor game does not come to pass.

Toskola is at least a backup…CuMac was a liability.

If Steve Staios’ contract ended on June 30, 2010, I’d consider the day a slight success for the overall good of the team. The Boyd deal was sloppy, and I hate the waste of an actual player for a low-odds lottery ticket, but he can likely be replaced in his current role for analogous dollars. Bailing out the Oilers of a self-dug hole on the Staios deal annoys me, though.

I hear ya, everyones bitching about boyd and its like we traded Gretzky. Just like Lombardi, he wasn’t going anywhere here. Lombardi is playing decently in PHX because he is the number 1 centre on a system team, not because he’s actually that good. Boyd may be alright on Nashville but come on its not like he was going to do much here, every time he had the puck he was molested like a john wayne gacy victim before he could make a solid decision. A poor mans cogliano, with his smurf like stature and cement hands

My thoughts on the trade can be found here:

Boyd for a 4th Rounder:
Everyone is talking about how he didn’t do shit here, which is probably true. My main objection with this trade though was that we traded a 23 year old player for next to nothing. Boyd was a good bet to provide value for his contract in the future, A MUST for a team to be consistently successful the new NHL.

Toskala for Tobasco
I have no complaints about this deal, since we get an EXPIRING contract in return.

Staois come to Calgary
This trade was the worst…. yes, even the Jokinen deal earlier this year. Kent’s one word summary echos my exact thoughts: YUCK. The guy is probably no better then a 6th defenceman at this point, and that 2.7 million cap hit next year will be disastrous in terms of the cap. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see Ian White get flipped for a 3rd this off season if I have learned anything about DAZ recently.

I like your positive spin on it.

So what if everyone counts us out and the occasional troll from Vancouver or Edmonton tell us were dumb. All we are is fans, we can complain, we can try and play GM but we’re not. That’s why they call us fans.

Just go out and watch your team tonight, watch them every time they play if you can. With the Goalie we have and the leaders we have anything can happen. This is the first time since the lockout that the Flames are in this position (With the exception of 06-07 where we had 96pts and were a 8th seed) where we’re not sure the identity of this team.

In 03-04 of course the team was gritty but nobody talked about the Flames and when they looked at the Standings and April was here and saw that the Flames we’re in a playoff spot, Everyone was like “How the Hell did they get there”.

I know that it’s stupid to compare this to 03-04, new league and all. But we can’t do anything and all we can do is ride it out tonight, Friday and for the rest of the season. I can say tonight I feel more confident about this team for the first time since November. If you worry about money, contracts, NTC’s, Draft Picks it just gives you a headache no one likes talking about it and nobody likes hearing it that’s the reality here.

The best cure for this is watching the game and cheering on your Calgary Flames.