Quote:
Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy
How would you like the Flames management to build the D next season?
Do you want them to just simply bring back the RFA's, and have the above group duke it out for roster spots/ice time, given that it's a rebuilding year anyways?
Are you hoping they make a major splash or two via trade or UFA?
Just some minor tweaking via trade/UFA?
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Back to the OPs questions, I am completely fine bringing back the same group and maybe even getting rid of Butler if Breen and Cundari impress enough. Here's what we have to work with with the group IMO:
Brodie #2-not only has he improved, he's been so calm and steady with the puck in his own zone that I feel he can eventually develop into a #1 guy. He's definitely a #2 right now but has some room to grow still. Keep giving him 25 minutes a night on the top pairing.
Giordano #3-Gio has regressed a little this year playing more minutes against tougher opponents. Something tells me that he will continue to work on his game and will probably be better next year and could even be a 2B guy, but is likely a #3 guy going forward. No knock against him, it's just where he's going to help the team the best.
Wideman #4-Playing with a down year Gio has shown why Wideman isn't worthy of top pairing minutes. That being said, when he has a strong defensive partner he can be very effective getting out of the zone and attacking on offense. Play him with the right guy and he'll be fine going forward.
Butler #5-#7-It entirely depends on the night with Butler. Sometimes he can be an effective 3 zone player, other nights he is a complete disaster. To me, it's between the ears, and if he ever figures it out he could be a good asset. I'm just not sure that he will ever figure it out since he is already 26 and hasn't improved much from when we first acquired him. The only reason I would keep him is to have some NHL capable depth, but if we could get a decent draft pick from someone else giving him an offer sheet, I say let him walk.
Sarich #6-#7-Sarich is a steady veteran presence with great physical play, but he simply can't keep up with top line players anymore. I would play him with a mobile defender and give him bottom pairing minutes next year, taking the odd game off if we are playing an exceptionally quick team. I love what he could teach the young kids coming up.
Cundari AHL/#5-#6?- To me Cundari is a slightly more skilled version of Andrew Ference. A small player but a "bulldog" in his own zone and good offensive instincts. He's the perfect type of guy to pair with Sarich on the 3rd pairing, but he still has to prove he can play in the NHL on a regular basis. My gut tells me he can handle 3rd pairing minutes as early as next year, but you never know and he could possibly move into a top 4 role if he continues to impress.
Breen AHL/#5-#7?-He's a total unknown quantity to me, but he has been close for a couple years now in the Flames management's eyes. If not for an injury, he'd definitely be playing right now I'm sure. I don't know if he can play in the NHL, but it sounds like his style of play would likely take over Sarich's role in the future.
Carson AHL/#7- He's a depth defender. Always has been, always will be. He has moments here and there, but he's not quite up to snuff to play regular minutes. I let him walk.
Babchuk AHL/PP specialist-I can't think of one good thing Babchuk can do besides shoot the puck. Let him run off to Russia.
Smith #7-Derek is a quality player when he doesn't play a lot of minutes, and doesn't play every night. I would actually keep him as a decent 7th defenseman that could be a good fit for Hartley's system. I wouldn't cry if we traded him away either.
Wotherspoon, Ramage, Lamb, and Martin will all definitely be in the AHL next year to start (also not sure that Lamb will be qualified). That means that two of Smith, Butler, Sarich, Cundari, and Breen will be in the AHL as well. My money is on Smith and Breen unless Sarich is traded away.
Agreed that there probably isn't even room for Kulak, Culkin, or Sieloff on the AHL team, and it wouldn't be good for their development anyway, despite Kulak playing with them this year.
So in the end, we don't have anyone able to handle the #1 minutes that Bouwmeester took with him. It's not the end of the world for a rebuilding team to have that gap, but it would make us a lot more competitive sooner if we were able to fill it with a younger player. IMO, Tyler Myers has #1 potential, and if Buffalo is interested in moving him I would work very hard to acquire him without giving up our own valuable prospects. Easier said than done since Buffalo is also on a mini-rebuild, but that is the type of player that can fill that role. I would rather not pay an aging veteran to play #1 minutes unless they can actually play physical defense on a top pairing.
If by some miracle we win the draft lottery, I would actually take Seth Jones to fill that #1 role. We are weak at center, but even weaker with shutdown top line defensemen. Build your team from the net out and top end talent on the blue line. Jankowski is our long term top center prospect at the moment, and we might be in line for another top center next draft too, AND centers are usually ready sooner than defensemen.
Whew...long post I know.
