I think that a number of teams that are looking for right-shot defenceman are playing the waiting game for the specific guys that they are targeting, and that Wideman is plan c or do. At the deadline, teams will be more desperate, and Wideman's cap hit will be more palatable, and it wouldn't surprise me to see even a 2nd round pick being the return. Wideman has to start playing like he was for most of the season though, rather than how he has been lately.
Defencemen are always worth a premium, especially right handers with PP ability.
I know Friedman stated that the Flames have been trying to trade him all season, but I am not sure that I buy it. None of Jokipakka, Kulak, and Wotherspoon seem able to play the bottom-pairing with any consistency. There seems to be a big hole at the number 4 spot for Calgary's blueline that they can't seem able to fill internally this season. Moving Engelland up is the only way to solidify the top 4, but then leaves the bottom pair fairly exposed, even with line matching and reduced minutes. The bottom pair has to be decent enough to allow the top 4 to rest, especially in the back-half of the season. Moving Engelland up makes it more difficult for Gulutzan to line match.
It may not be worth trading away Wideman for a low round pick - 5th or lower? - and end up with 2 raw defencemen on that bottom pairing.
Also, for anyone arguing about the Wideman effect in terms of reffing, I don't think it matters much if Wideman is on the team or not if you subscribe to the notion that the Flames are being unfairly penalized during games. The Flames stuck up for Wideman last season, and that is what the refs remember. It will take a few seasons post-Wideman for the refs to forget, IF indeed there exists some conspiracy. Refs aren't going to let the Flames off the hook simply because they turned Wideman into assets to help themselves.
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