[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Sure, but as always, you want to give roster spots to young talented prospects coming up in the system. Beecher is young, but is he talented?

The only reason you keep him is if you don't have any forwards in the minors who could use some NHL playing time. In my mind, the Flames have several guys who could use that playing time to see if they can reach the next level. 4-5 games doesn't work very well. You need to give a guy 15-20 to show if he has potential, just like they did with Klapka recently. Now he seems like a guy that has a ton of value in different roles on the team.

I would hope that they might leave a spot open for one of the younger centers to come in and show they can do the job, like Morton or King. I also think they really need to give Kerins that 15-20 games to see if he can take his skills to an NHL level. In my mind, because he's produced so well at lower levels, you have to give him a real shot before you decide he's not an NHLer. I don't think they've really done that yet, and while he hasn't been amazing in NHL games, he hasn't looked that out of place either.

In short, Beecher has NHL size and some abilities on the PK and faceoff dot. Other than that, he doesn't add much, not even physicality despite his size. He doesn't win a lot of puck battles, doesn't have any real scoring skills, and isn't an amazing skater. Maybe he comes back and looks better, but there was a reason he was on waivers in the first place.

If you are keeping a spot open for a younger C, Morton is 2 years older than Beecher and King is the same age (and not doing very well in the AHL). You can make an argument for Kevin’s I guess, but IMO Beecher is a better bet to improve. He’s a better skater than Kerins for sure. He might just need some steady time on the Flames. And I’m not sure Kerins can play 4th line.