Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
Funny, but that is the description of Billy Arnold to a tee. Once this guy gets a shot, he's not going back down. He's got speed, size, a great hockey IQ, and is very coachable. Stajan is one injury away from losing his job to this kid.
Arnold is a better player than Shore. Given the chance I think he'll make people forget about Jooris too. Colborne and Granlund play completely different roles, and will likely play more wing than center, so I don't see them coming into the conversation. The only thing holding Arnold back is Stajan, and has been said in this thread, Stajan's salary is way too big to be sitting on the 4th line. I suspect he gets moved when the Flames are settled on the roster and comfortably over the cap floor. Backlund better start looking over his shoulder as well. Not this year, but in a couple of years. If Jankowski continues his development and continues to impress, he'll be stealing Backlund's spot in the lineup. The Flames have some very good young talent in the middle that could give them the flexibility they need with budget and keeping the draft picks rolling in to keep the cupboards full.
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I agree (who wouldn't) that a younger and cheaper version of Stajan is better. Of course he won't bring the leadership, but there will still be a few of the current guys and some of the younger ones will be working their way into that role.
I'm not sure that moving Stajan requires eating salary, especially in a couple years. $3.1M isn't huge these days - try and and get a guy like Stajan for that as a UFA and you'll pay the same IMO. After next year it's only a year's worth of salary. Lots of teams need a guy like him in the POs (look at what he did this year - he was one of the better Flames in the POs IMO).
As for Backlund, if Jankowski outplays him, fine. I said in another topic, I don't think he deserves or is effective in 4th line minutes (unlike Stajan). so it's either second or third line for him or he gets moved. You could try and squeeze him in on wing, but he's probably more valuable to move.