[Rumour] Friedman: Never got the sense that Flames and Stone close to a deal. Likely hits UFA

[Teroy]

I think some of you are making too big a deal out of the 5th spot. So we sign someone and then one of our top four gets hurt. Now we have to rely on prospects for our 3rd pairing. Two weeks later our number 5 or another one of the top four is hurt. Suddenly we have to rely on the prospects in Stockton. I'd just as soon start off with the prospect/prospects. Wotherspoon & Kulak aren't going to get any more ready than they are now. Time to use the prospects. If you're going to spend the money then get a RW and backup goalie.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

tre has gone after reclamation projects in the past. Versteeg wasn't able to get deal with Oil. Bartkowski was late addition from minors? That Swedish mess we had to start on D last season. Who are we not thinking of that could be a fit? Franson maybe but im betting something less obvious than that even.

Versteeg could totally have gotten a deal from the Oil. Tre scooped them.

[neo45]

I would give Stone a little bit under the Russel deal. He fits in well here. Plus depth at D has been a problem for us since Sutter left as GM. One injury and our D corps looks terrible.

Sutter understood the importance of depth on the back end. I believe he picked up a defense man every single trade deadline, also wasn't afraid to give a number 5 guy like Sarich money and term.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by badradio

I wouldn't pay a lot for a 5 spot defenceman. Especially considering how much money we have tied up on the back end already. That said, Bartkowski is not the answer and Stone would want too much, unless Tre works his wizard magic. Need an upgrade on Bartkowski around the 2 mill mark... 3 at most.

Bartkowski is the #6. He's fine as the #6. Guys that I'd consider to fill the number 5 slot who wouldn't cost a fortune would be Kyle Quincey, Brian Campbell, Beauchemin, or Ron Hainsey.

Beauchemin played nearly 22 minutes a night for the Avalanche this season and he was only -14. For that clown show. For a 3rd pairing, veteran D who's been through all the playoff wars and knows how to do a little more than 'off the glass and out'? On a one-year deal, sign me up.

[theinfinitejar]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Bartkowski is the #6. He's fine as the #6. Guys that I'd consider to fill the number 5 slot who wouldn't cost a fortune would be Kyle Quincey, Brian Campbell, Beauchemin, or Ron Hainsey.

Beauchemin played nearly 22 minutes a night for the Avalanche this season and he was only -14. For that clown show. For a 3rd pairing, veteran D who's been through all the playoff wars and knows how to do a little more than 'off the glass and out'? On a one-year deal, sign me up.

I would much prefer in Bartkowski never played a game for the Flames again. He's already fulfilled his role of expansion draft fodder.

[lazypucker]

If the Flames offer $2.5-mil and he has offers for $4-mil elsewhere (even $3.5), I think Stone will choose to go for money.

It's not like he doesn't want to remain as a Flame, but the team just can't provide what he is looking for compensation-wise.

[bigrangy]

Bartkowski is absolutely not fine as the #6. On actual playing ability he wouldn't even make the Heat.

He was signed for the expansion and if he plays another game for the Flames someone needs to be fired.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Bartkowski is the #6. He's fine as the #6. Guys that I'd consider to fill the number 5 slot who wouldn't cost a fortune would be Kyle Quincey, Brian Campbell, Beauchemin, or Ron Hainsey.

Beauchemin played nearly 22 minutes a night for the Avalanche this season and he was only -14. For that clown show. For a 3rd pairing, veteran D who's been through all the playoff wars and knows how to do a little more than 'off the glass and out'? On a one-year deal, sign me up.

I'd rather the Flames go with two of their own kids as their 3rd pairing D than acquire either Quincey or Beauchemin.

[Karl]

Yeah, do not want any of Bartkowski, Quincey or Beauchemin as defencemen for this team.

Bartkowski & Quincey are garbage. As for Beauchemin, he is way over the hill and done.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Teroy

I think some of you are making too big a deal out of the 5th spot. So we sign someone and then one of our top four gets hurt. Now we have to rely on prospects for our 3rd pairing. Two weeks later our number 5 or another one of the top four is hurt. Suddenly we have to rely on the prospects in Stockton. I'd just as soon start off with the prospect/prospects. Wotherspoon & Kulak aren't going to get any more ready than they are now. Time to use the prospects. If you're going to spend the money then get a RW and backup goalie.

But this is exactly why the 5th spot is so important.
The top 4 are bound to get injured, so the #5 guy will spend quite a bit of time in the top 4. This is especially true later on in the season, like the playoffs.

I would much rather Stone be that top 4 substitute than Kulak (who has only played 30 games).

[Racki]

I'll be shocked if Stone isn't back. He sees what we all see. A really good young team that's coming into their own and getting ready to go for it all. Who they hell wouldn't wanna be a part of that?

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Racki

I'll be shocked if Stone isn't back. He sees what we all see. A really good young team that's coming into their own and getting ready to go for it all. Who they hell wouldn't wanna be a part of that?

Someone with only a few more years of earning power left leaving millions of dollars on the table, for one.

[djsFlames]

I like his playing style and his heavy shot. It works well here. Also isn't a dope with the puck in his own end for the most part.

Hope he would take something like 3.5 to stay if other teams won't offer a 4+ contract on July 1.

I the end though, if our prospects are legitimately ready to step up, the cap space that could be saved without having millions tied up to your third pairing could be helpful in shoring up other areas.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Racki

I'll be shocked if Stone isn't back. He sees what we all see. A really good young team that's coming into their own and getting ready to go for it all. Who they hell wouldn't wanna be a part of that?

The situation both for personal reasons and organizational reasons is indeed a fit for him.

The money, term, and role that the Flames can offer is extremely limited though, as he is relegated to bottom pairing for the foreseeable future with the Flames top 4 rounded out through Hamonic.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by Racki

I'll be shocked if Stone isn't back. He sees what we all see. A really good young team that's coming into their own and getting ready to go for it all. Who they hell wouldn't wanna be a part of that?

Haha sounds like Oiler fans with the rumoured McDavid money.

[Racki]

We don't know any numbers yet. I guess it's possible to assume that someone will vastly overpay as that always seems to happen July 1st but if the Flames offer is somewhat competitive, not a chance he leaves.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Don't be greedy, Michael. Be a part of what Tre is putting together here, could be a winning formula and that's what it's all about. You'll still be a millionaire regardless. But being a millionaire Cup champ is priceless.

And I was just chastising hf Oilers fans for saying the same about Foo.

Except you're probably joking. I hope.

If our offer is way off, you can't blame a guy for leaving. But for a few hundred k? Maybe he'll pick fit over money. That also assumes he's not lured by the possibility of more playing time somewhere else.

[savardandjokinen]

Lol @ Kulikov and Franson as our 5th dman... they'll be looking to be 3/4 on other teams and therefore will ask for that money. Been there, done that with expensive 3rd pairing d. They're good players but we need that money to spend on other players.

[TheScorpion]

I want Paul Postma as the #5. Seriously underrated defenseman who could easily blossom into a top-4 guy, and he has a Calgary connection. Only 28, and made $887k last year.

[memphusk]

Use the kids. It's time to give them a shot. You may be surprised with what they do when they don't have Wideman or Engelland as their partners.