Should the Flames go out and trade for a defenceman?

[puckluck2]

While I like some pieces of our defence I don't think Wideman playing 28-30 minutes a night is really a good thing. He has major holes in his defensive game and is sometimes a liability while on the ice. I think he is better suited playing 22 minutes a night and not to play the PK and they should cut down on his defensive zone match ups.

I think we have Gio, Brodie, Russel, and Wideman playing the same kind of game but no real stay at home defencemen logging big defensive minutes. Butler obviously can't be that man and SOB is actually playing pretty well given how bad his reputation is he has actually surprised me. But he obviously isn't that guy either.

We are going to continue to struggle defensively unless we can go out and trade for a good stay at home defencemen or find a gem in Abbotsford. Breen doesn't seem like that guy quite yet.

Or do we just sit tight and play out the season with what we have? If the goal is to get better I think our defence has to get better.

I think getting rid of Sarich was a mistake but we did get a pretty good player in Jones out of the deal.

Maybe Paul Martin is that guy?

[Magnum PEI]

Need to do something, Gio is the only one that can defend against the top lines.

[Tyler]

No. If anything, they should be moving the Butler's and O'Brien's of the team and be bringing up the Ramage's and Sieloff's. We've got to get it out of heads that we need to be competitive this year (or next).

[nik-]

9 games into the rebuild.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by Tyler

No. If anything, they should be moving the Butler's and O'Brien's of the team and be bringing up the Ramage's and Sieloff's. We've got to get it out of heads that we need to be competitive this year (or next).

Yes. But adding a promising young D in exchange for Glencroiss, say, fits the bill.

[fuffalo]

Originally Posted by Tyler

No. If anything, they should be moving the Butler's and O'Brien's of the team and be bringing up the Ramage's and Sieloff's. We've got to get it out of heads that we need to be competitive this year (or next).

Agree with this. I'm not saying we should "tank", but we should do everything to let our guys continue to develop naturally. Let the rookies makes some mistakes, this is the prime chance to let them develop in the big leagues and make 'rookie mistakes' at a time when it doesn't matter.

[badger89]

I'd be willing to trade some of our forward depth for a young, top 4 stay at home d-man. But that may be easier said than done.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by nik-

9 games into the rebuild.

Just because you're rebuilding doesn't mean you can't try to get better by acquiring better players.

[dissentowner]

Too early to tell. If the team is in a challenging spot after christmas then maybe you look into that. If we are the steaming pile of sloth poo that everybody predicted we would be then why waste the cap space? I guess if it is a really young guy who will fit into the long term picture you make that acquisition but those don't come cheap.

[thymebalm]

We need another option back there. I don't like anything outside our top 4 guys, and one just got injured.

[Fire]

We have too many D-men already.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Just because you're rebuilding doesn't mean you can't try to get better by acquiring better players.

I think you missed the part where he said "9 games in". Now is not the time to be patient. The Flames are above .500 in a rebuilding season. It is only 9 games in. They should be worse, but it is only 9 games in. Why don't we see after 20 games how they are doing? Maybe they exceed expectations and continue to play at or slightly above .500. Maybe they really go downhill and are well below .500. Whatever happens, now is too soon to panic and jump all over a trade for the sake of improving a position. They aren't in win now at all costs mode, so they have time to evaluate what they need.

[Coach]

I want to see what Patrick Sieloff can do.

[jeffman]

Its hard to trade for a stud d man without overpaying in assets. We're likely to get someone no better than wideman. We'll just have to draft them

[Street Pharmacist]

You can never say no, but it had better be with a 3 year outlook. You don't sacrifice anything for right now. Playoffs are a bonus this year, not a goal

[Anduril]

As mentioned, there's no need to do so unless the opportunity comes up to add a young, promising defenseman.

Wideman has been overachieving this season in the best way, but he's bound to crash hard. What we could do is give the youngsters in Abby some opportunities to show their stuff and address that particular issue internally.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Buff

I think you missed the part where he said "9 games in". Now is not the time to be patient. The Flames are above .500 in a rebuilding season. It is only 9 games in. They should be worse, but it is only 9 games in. Why don't we see after 20 games how they are doing? Maybe they exceed expectations and continue to play at or slightly above .500. Maybe they really go downhill and are well below .500. Whatever happens, now is too soon to panic and jump all over a trade for the sake of improving a position. They aren't in win now at all costs mode, so they have time to evaluate what they need.

The Flames are the 4th worst defensive team in the NHL and have given up 3.44 goals a game and I don't see them getting much better especially with two unproven goalies.

You shouldn't have to wait 20 games to evaluate your team. We were third worst last year and haven't done anything to acquire a good stay at home defenceman. The earlier, the better IMO. Why wait when we KNOW we have holes on our defence?

[dammage79]

0h I'd take another Wideman type if thats what we could get. Hes been awesome so far in my books.

But yes, the Flames should always be on the look out for upgrades on the back end.

[blender]

Good thread, and interesting comments.

I think it is too easy and too common for fans to get fixated on a team being in a 'rebuild' as if there is a definite timeline and there are certain moves that can't be made until a certain time.
The NHL is the big leagues, elite hockey; only thirty teams allowed and even the 'bad' teams are made up of highly skilled pros and a vast group of highly skilled management and support personnel. Everyone wants to win every year, but only one team can. It is understood that some teams are better than others, but there is no way the Flames are not looking at improving their roster just because the expectations of fans and media are low. If there is a chance to upgrade the D (major weakness, for sure), they would do it.

If management is not actively trying to make the team better, they should be fired.
If management is waiting til Christmas to see where they are in the standings before making a decision about trying to make the team better, they should be fired.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I say Yes, as long as they don't give up a young asset to get one. I get the rebuild, and of course bringing a young D man would be fine, but even if it's not that young of a player, I think the team could use some depth back there and move out some of the dead weight. I think the development of the Sieloff and Breen, etc.. would actually benefit from it. I even think Brodie would benefit.

They key is ensuring those guys get the right ice time and role when they are ready, and the Butlers and SOBs of don't take their spot. But upgrading the top 4 with another body and opening spots up at the bottom would be best for the development of this team, but the price has to be right.