Zenon Konopka on Waivers - claimed by Sabres - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Swayze11 · 01-02-2014, 10:14 AM

I would love for the Flames to claim him. I thought the Flames should have signed him years ago.

One of the best faceoff guys in the league, adds size, can be used in key faceoff situations and on a dirt cheap contract.

Westgarth - Konopka - McGratton would be a pretty scary 4th line.

IgiTang · 01-02-2014, 10:15 AM

Truculence!

ComixZone · 01-02-2014, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swayze11

I would love for the Flames to claim him. I thought the Flames should have signed him years ago.

One of the best faceoff guys in the league, adds size, can be used in key faceoff situations and on a dirt cheap contract.

Westgarth - Konopka - McGratton would be a pretty scary 4th line.

Yeah, for us. That would be the worst line in the NHL.

moon · 01-02-2014, 10:15 AM

Mentioned in another thread but he is the kind of "truculence" the Flames can use. He can play a legit 10 mins in the NHL and is great on the FO's.

With Stajan, Monahan, Backlund and Colborne not sure where he fits but he would be a great fit as the 4th line Center.

PeteMoss · 01-02-2014, 10:16 AM

Konopka isn't that big... but he would be our best faceoff man by a country mile.

He's actually a guy who would be a decent inspiration for some players. He clearly isn't very talented, but he became a faceoff guru and fights a bunch to carve out career.

moon · 01-02-2014, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Yeah, for us. That would be the worst line in the NHL.

The Oilers Gadzic-Lander-Jonesuu line is pretty horrible.

And if the Flames line were the worst in hockey it would be due to the two wingers not Konopka.

Edit: I would prefer Bouma-Konopka-McGratton/Westgarth rotation

Oling_Roachinen · 01-02-2014, 10:20 AM

I would be okay with an actual 4th line center being on the 4th line. Would be happy never to have to see Monahan center McGrattan again. Would only really have to figure out what to do with the 4 other centers for the next 20 games as we'll likely see some shuffling anyways at the deadline.

playmaker · 01-02-2014, 10:25 AM

No thanks. At this point, there's no reason for us to have 33 years old 6'0 vet centering our 4th line. We've got at least 3 young guys who're good fit for this spot -> Corban Knight, Blair Jones and possibly Byron and Bouma as well. And we're on the Ekblad race anyway right ?

The Original FFIV · 01-02-2014, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by playmaker

No thanks. At this point, there's no reason for us to have 33 years old 6'0 vet centering our 4th line. We've got at least 3 young guys who're good fit for this spot -> Corban Knight, Blair Jones and possibly Byron and Bouma as well. And we're on the Ekblad race anyway right ?

I've heard questions on his character too, might not be good to have around the young guys. He does stuff like cranks up the radio when the media comes in to ask questions (they mentioned this on team 1040).

moon · 01-02-2014, 10:31 AM

I don't think that Byron plays center anymore does he? And Bouma has been winger for the most part as well.

They seem to want to keep Knight in AHL until he is ready to go full time although I think that was a Feaster comment.

And none of those guys help at FO's which have been brutal again for the Flames this year.

Probably don't get him with the Westgarth addition but would be a better fit and more useful than either Westgarth or McGratton.

Frank MetaMusil · 01-02-2014, 10:38 AM

Konopka is the guy I wish Feaster had signed over Jackman last year.

AcGold · 01-02-2014, 10:41 AM

Hell no to this, the opposite direction of where we need to go. He'd be a good pickup as a stopgap but we don't need that, we need talent we can develop that appreciates the overall asset base of the team. There are 5 other guys in our system that could use a few games over Konopka.

Swayze11 · 01-02-2014, 10:45 AM

I guess where I was going with this is I can see him having value past this season.

I understand we want to give our younger guys more ice, but Konopka would not be taking ice away from these guys. He would be a 4th line center.

I would like to see him being used the way the Leafs use McClemment. He takes an important faceoff and then gets off the ice for the center that is actually on that line. Konopka isn't a defensive liability, so if he gets caught it wouldn't hurt us.

sureLoss · 01-02-2014, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

I've heard questions on his character too, might not be good to have around the young guys. He does stuff like cranks up the radio when the media comes in to ask questions (they mentioned this on team 1040).

Didn't Burke/Wilson make the last guy to fiddle with the radio captain?

Oling_Roachinen · 01-02-2014, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

I've heard questions on his character too, might not be good to have around the young guys. He does stuff like cranks up the radio when the media comes in to ask questions (they mentioned this on team 1040).

All I've ever heard of Konopka is how great of a teammate he is. Googling "Konopka great teammate" brings up tons of results.

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/hocke...urpose/1086174

Quote:

Konopka will be a free agent after the season, and Tocchet said, "He's someone you want in that locker room. … His skill level is there. He just has to find a little bit more. There's a lot of people who would like to have a guy like that. He's a great teammate and a great guy to coach."

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_2259491...hy-nhl-respect

Quote:

"Great team guy. Love him in the locker room," said Avalanche right winger P.A. Parenteau,

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/sp...ders.html?_r=0

Quote:

“But he’s never been a heavyweight,” said Trevor Gillies, a 227-pound Islanders forward who was also a teammate of Konopka’s in Portland. “The guy people don’t see is a great locker room guy, a rah-rah guy, a great warrior.”

He's getting up there, the wear and tear may be a bit too much, but I wouldn't really question having him in the locker room. Probably the exact attitude you want in a young locker room as you know he's going to stick up for the young players.

killer_carlson · 01-02-2014, 10:56 AM

I'd much rather have Konopka on the roster than Westgarth.

Claim Konopka and send Westgarth to the minors.

Konopka is also going to be great in practice for our other young centers to practice against and see how he prepares.

JobHopper · 01-02-2014, 11:00 AM

I think the Flames have passed on trying to build or better their team through waived players.

Brian Burke and the new GM are going to step up here and go after top talent and picks.

Getting players from waivers and making small trades is not how you build a winning team.

strombad · 01-02-2014, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JobHopper

I think the Flames have passed on trying to build or better their team through waived players.

Brian Burke and the new GM are going to step up here and go after top talent and picks.

Getting players from waivers and making small trades is not how you build a winning team.

Stanley Cup winners make small trades every single year, but generally don't make waiver claims because they're usually in the top portion of teams, meaning 10-20 teams have priority over them.

Nice try though.

kyuss275 · 01-02-2014, 11:16 AM

If we had not just traded for Westgarth i would be all for picking up Kon. To bad Burke did not wait a week. Granted he probably wanted a contract out ( Nemisz) if bringing in a player.

JobHopper · 01-02-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strombad

Stanley Cup winners make small trades every single year, but generally don't make waiver claims because they're usually in the top portion of teams, meaning 10-20 teams have priority over them.

Nice try though.

Except the Flames are not quite at that stage yet.

Flames are currently and for the next 1-2 years focusing on establishing a core group to go forward with.

Like Sean Monahan and TJ Brodie as well as prospects like Emile Poirier and Johnny Gaudreau if the Flames can sign him.