Savard

i think it was quite obvious at the time of the Savard trade, that the Flames were going to look bad on this one.. i cant remember the guy they got for him, but does anyone know what this guy is doing.. how is he doing? is he a prospect anymore??

i think it was quite obvious at the time of the Savard trade, that the Flames were going to look bad on this one.. i cant remember the guy they got for him, but does anyone know what this guy is doing.. how is he doing? is he a prospect anymore??

The guy's name is Ruslan Zainullin, a right winger who looks like he's still playing in Europe this year. According to The Score, he's a third liner at best, but they think he's got a good chance at cracking the line-up in a few years. We'll just have to wait and see what happens I guess...

What makes me worry about this kid though is that he's only 21 years old and he's already belonged to three other teams. Drafted by Tampa, he went to Phoenix in the Khabibulin trade, and then to Atlanta in the Hordichuk trade. One wonders if Sutter won't use him as part of a trade at the deadline if it looks like we have a chance at a playoff spot.

What makes me worry about this kid though is that he's only 21 years old and he's already belonged to three other teams.

That can really work both ways in an argument. You could argue several teams have given up on him but at the same time you can say that several teams have wanted him enough to deal for him.

You also have to remember if Savard wasn't on a line with Kovalchuk he'd have very little production and the worst +/- in the league.

Doesn't he centre Kozlov and Mc Echren (sp?)

hmm...just trying to figure out who won this deal?
I hear Zainullin could be the next Brad Smith. A guy who no one has ever heard of, would never get into the NHL, and he's playing seniors out in the Yukon...on the other hand Savard is scoring for Atlanta.

Meh i'd take Zainullin, at least he's better on Calgary's salary list.

Doesn't he centre Kozlov and Mc Echren (sp?)

Yup! BTW it's McEachern. ;)

The guy's name is Ruslan Zainullin, a right winger who looks like he's still playing in Europe this year. According to The Score, he's a third liner at best, but they think he's got a good chance at cracking the line-up in a few years. We'll just have to wait and see what happens I guess...

What makes me worry about this kid though is that he's only 21 years old and he's already belonged to three other teams. Drafted by Tampa, he went to Phoenix in the Khabibulin trade, and then to Atlanta in the Hordichuk trade. One wonders if Sutter won't use him as part of a trade at the deadline if it looks like we have a chance at a playoff spot.


If he is 21 and hasn't even sniffed the NHL sounds to me like he either a) doesn't want to come to North America or b) maybe one of those guys who doesn't show up until mid to late 20's plays a handful of years and takes the cash back to Europe. Either way I don't expect to see him in a Flames jersey.

That's Funny...Man! Savard doesn't play on the same line as Kovy. He only plays with Ilya on the power play. Recognize!!! Good point about his production...in that he is leading the league on a point per game ratio. "Very little " production indeed! You also have to remember if Savard wasn't on a line with Kovalchuk he'd have very little production and the worst +/- in the league.
:dunno: :teach:

If he is 21 and hasn't even sniffed the NHL sounds to me like he either a) doesn't want to come to North America or b) maybe one of those guys who doesn't show up until mid to late 20's plays a handful of years and takes the cash back to Europe. Either way I don't expect to see him in a Flames jersey.

It's quite common to see Russians stay over longer. They seem to favour developing in Russia as opposed to the AHL.

It's quite common to see Russians stay over longer. They seem to favour developing in Russia as opposed to the AHL.

It'd be interesting to compare what effect playing in the CHL or US colleges would have on the development of Russian players. Two Russians, on their WJC roster, are currently playing for QMJHL teams. Certainly, playing over here allows them to adept better to the North American game. (Sergei Samsanov cut his teeth in the IHL.)

Who cares, he sucks.
I wouldn't say he sucks....more like Gilbert sucked.

Who cares, he sucks.


It sounds like you prefer defensively sound but offensively challenged players. If so you are in luck. So does Sutter.

I wouldn't say he sucks....more like Gilbert sucked.

Very true. Savard's value plummeted under Gilbert's tenure as coach. I'm still bitter over that whole situation, but hey, the Flames are playing amazing, so who cares right now :handclap:

It sounds like you prefer defensively sound but offensively challenged players. If so you are in luck. So does Sutter.
You are just bitter that the sharks gave up Sutter, so now you have to try to degrade the flames at every turn.

Sure savard was a mistake. I think we all see that.

Very true. Savard's value plummeted under Gilbert's tenure as coach. I'm still bitter over that whole situation, but hey, the Flames are playing amazing, so who cares right now :handclap:
For sure :yo:

Actually I just don't like players who cause more goals against their own team then they get FOR their team, and who are lazy-*****, and players who when a rookie scores his 1st NHL goal whine that it shouldn't have been credited to the rookie but to them (them being Marc Savard if you haven't figured it out.)

Savard stats 24 14 16 30 +2

Atlanta must be improving defensively when Kovalchuk is only a -6 but Savard must also be making more of an effort than he did with Calgary.

I'd rather watch a lazy player has the ability to score 40 goals than one who is great defensively and doesn't have scoring touch but I agree with you that there is no excuse for whining about who is awarded a goal. Even a great talent can be a detriment to the team if he is a disruptive influence.

Edit: As others have said a lot of the blame for Savard's problems can probably be attributed to Gilbert. And some of the credit for his perfromance in Atlanta should be attributed to Hartley.

Savard has obviously matured. Good for him and great for the Thrashers. But it can't be denied that his trade requests were a distraction. Lot's of GM's don't want players who don't want to be there and you can count both Button and Sutter in with that group.

You are just bitter that the sharks gave up Sutter, so now you have to try to degrade the flames at every turn.

Sure savard was a mistake. I think we all see that.

I was calling for Sutter's dismissal 3 years ago. I think San Jose could have won the Cup 2 years ago with a coach who played a less restrictive defensive system.

I have said that his defensive system does allow enough creativity for a team to win a Cup unless they can hold the other team to one goal a game. I have been known to be wrong. I also said Pat Burns would never win a Cup as a head coach. :mad:

Look how much distraction Savard is still causing :D

NO MORE SAVARD TALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

players who when a rookie scores his 1st NHL goal whine that it shouldn't have been credited to the rookie but to them (them being Marc Savard if you haven't figured it out.)

A certain someone got pretty torqued up last season when that got brought up. Savard didn't exactly whine, but saying that he thought he got the goal didn't exactly demonstrate a high level of class.

It is time to put this topic to rest. Savard is basically one-dimensional. He's a smooth passer...but a poor skater, below average faceoff man, a defensive liability, who wasted some valuable pestering skills. He's putting up fairly decent numbers in Atlanta because he's on a featured scoring line. If he'd remained in Calgary, where do you think he'd fit in the current scheme? He very likely would've found himself in Daryl Sutter's doghouse within a short period of time with his less than stellar work ethic.

Do you think Bob Hartley would put Savard on the ice 25 minutes per game if he had a less than "stellar work ethic"? Playing the PP and PK? Poor skater?...His linemate, Kozlov, said he was a good skater. Below average faceoff man?..Wrong again. Defensive liability? Kovalchuk is a minus 6, Savard is a +. He's putting up some numbers in Atlanta because he's on a featured scoring line?...You call Slava Kozlov and Shaun Mac. scoring all-stars? I've never in my life seen one player, Shaun Mac., miss so many open nets in one year in my life(and the season is only half over!). Savard's set him up for all these open nets. I know Calgary couldn't use Marc this year. After all, who would want a player who has 39 points in 28 games, and is about 6 points behind the NHL scoring leader...even though he misses 9 games with an ankle sprain. Has highest points per game average in the NHL. Good comments guys!!!A certain someone got pretty torqued up last season when that got brought up. Savard didn't exactly whine, but saying that he thought he got the goal didn't exactly demonstrate a high level of class.

It is time to put this topic to rest. Savard is basically one-dimensional. He's a smooth passer...but a poor skater, below average faceoff man, a defensive liability, who wasted some valuable pestering skills. He's putting up fairly decent numbers in Atlanta because he's on a featured scoring line. If he'd remained in Calgary, where do you think he'd fit in the current scheme? He very likely would've found himself in Daryl Sutter's doghouse within a short period of time with his less than stellar work ethic.
:dunno: :joker:

Read what Savard did after Greg Gilbert dispatched the strength & conditioning coach to assist with the offseason workouts.

http://www.canada.com/calgary/sports/teams/flames/story.html?id=AF17F72B-16D3-423A-ADAE-A69A490A2A57

Funny, no Flames fan seem to take exception with any of the comments. We saw enough of him. He wears out his welcome.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid%5B%5D=15605

NHL teams with Marc Savard, on their rosters, have an amazing tendency to finish outside the playoffs. However, being in hockey's weakest division is a boon to the Thrashers. If they do make the playoffs, you'll see Savard for the puffball he always has been.

Oh, and you just have to love it, when somebody else infiltrates our board to resurrect a dead thread. If you think you've got a jem on your hands, congratulations.