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Originally Posted by debil
I can't agree more. This is too risky. getting stuck with big and long contract on average guy is what kills your opportunities in the future. He will improve your team marginally given we have similarly talented players in Jones, Bouma, Colborne but if this fails were stuck with big money contract for 5 years. I don't like it.
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Defensively Frolik is possibly our best winger, and offensively he would have been 4th in forward scoring last season and 3rd the season before that. That is not a marginal improvement. He could very well be our best winger not named Hudler or Gaudreau.
(Bouma and Jones are also very different players. Colborne could end up being somewhat similar, but his play was very inconsistent last season.)
As for getting stuck with Frolik, by all accounts he was a sought after player that was signed to a very reasonable contract. If he ends up being a luxury player we can't afford, he's easy to move. I wouldn't worry about it.
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Moreover, what would happen with Poirier now? Did we give up on him? We should start this guy and develop him this or next season. I understand he didn't look ready last year, but his time is coming. I wanted short term bridge-RW for 1-2 yrs but 5years and overpayment for Frolik is not the right move.
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To begin with, you don't hand out spots to rookies just because. It's not the way the Flames operate. Plus as you said, there's no guarantees that Poirier is ready for the NHL. What is guaranteed IMO is that he will not be ruined by another season in the AHL.
After this season Hudler and Jones are UFA's and Raymond could very well be moved due for other reasons, so spots will be available.
Plus there will be injuries, typically 2-4 at any one time. And Jones will probably be among them again (sadly).