Welcome back to Calgary Wotherspoon

[FlamesFan68]

Seriously, I really don't see how the Flames don't recognize that Wotherspoon should stay in the NHL for good. I've liked him for the past 2 years. He's such a calming influence back there. He understands his role, and I think the Flames would do well to keep him up in the NHL. I don't see him learning much more in the AHL. We may need to trade a defenseman to make it work.

[Hockeyguy15]

I don't think you should be making a trade to make room for him. You need depth, not to get rid of it.

[calgaryblood]

He hasn't earned it, that's why he doesn't have a spot. There isn't a big conspiracy to keep Wotherspoon out of the lineup.

Isn't that 4 coaches now who have thought he wasn't ready and were scared to play him?

Even tonight he's had a few good plays and a few bad ones. He hasn't taken the bull by the horns whenever he's had a chance.

[TheScorpion]

He's decidedly mediocre, if you have me. 8:02 of decent icetime where he hasn't looked out of place does not an NHL defenseman make.

There's a logjam of defenseman prospects coming up. Wotherspoon will have to prove that he's better than all of them to maintain a spot. Right now, Jokipakka does the 6/7 job just fine for this team (and better than #26), and is also pretty young. Wotherspoon will likely be out of the organization by July 1, if not sooner.

[Hockeyguy15]

Weren't you someone who wanted to get rid of Hamilton?

Are you trying to set up a trade Hamilton and give Wotherspoon the ice?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

He's decidedly mediocre, if you have me. 8:02 of decent icetime where he hasn't looked out of place does not an NHL defenseman make.

There's a logjam of defenseman prospects coming up. Wotherspoon will have to prove that he's better than all of them to maintain a spot. Right now, Jokipakka does the 6/7 job just fine for this team (and better than #26), and is also pretty young. Wotherspoon will likely be out of the organization by July 1, if not sooner.

Agree with all of this, other than Jokipakka is more of a 7th dman IMO. I don't think he's very good. And yeah, about the same as Wotherspoon.

This team will be signing or trading for a defenseman before next season.

[FlamesFan68]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

He hasn't earned it, that's why he doesn't have a spot. There isn't a big conspiracy to keep Wotherspoon out of the lineup.

Isn't that 4 coaches now who have thought he wasn't ready and were scared to play him?

Even tonight he's had a few good plays and a few bad ones. He hasn't taken the bull by the horns whenever he's had a chance.

I don't give a rat's *** what coach's think, Fan 960 thinks, GM's think, or President of Hockey operations think. This is what I think. The only time this player has every been on the negetive side of plus/minus is on a rebuilding Calgary team. He's +16 or something in the AHL, the worst minus rating over any period of games that matter is a -3. The Flames slipped up somewhere developing this player properly.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Agree with all of this, other than Jokipakka is more of a 7th dman IMO. I don't think he's very good. And yeah, about the same as Wotherspoon.

This team will be signing or trading for a defenseman before next season.

They're rather similar, yeah, but Jokipakka I find gets more involved in the rush and has a better shot (although it isn't all that accurate). I've always seen Wotherspoon as a pretty timid player, not a good trait for a supposed shutdown defenseman.

[Hockeyguy15]

Originally Posted by FlamesFan68

I don't give a rat's *** what coach's think, Fan 960 thinks, GM's think, or President of Hockey operations think. This is what I think. The only time this player has every been on the negetive side of plus/minus is on a rebuilding Calgary team. He's +16 or something in the AHL, the worst minus rating over any period of games that matter is a -3. The Flames slipped up somewhere developing this player properly.

AHL success doesn't guarantee NHL success. You seem to be thinking with your heart over your head, either that or you just want to troll.

Have a good night.

[FlamesFan68]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

AHL success doesn't guarantee NHL success. You seem to be thinking with your heart over your head, either that or you just want to troll.

Have a good night.

I'm not a troll. Look at his stats! When was his longest NHL stint where we could get a good look at how he'll do? 11 games he was a 0 +/-. That was his longest stint in the NHL. Yet, people will tolerate a defenseman at -20. This kid has never ever seen a -20 anywhere.

I would submit you are really the troll here.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by FlamesFan68

I'm not a troll. Look at his stats! When was his longest NHL stint where we could get a good look at how he'll do? 11 games he was a 0 +/-. That was his longest stint in the NHL. Yet, people will tolerate a defenseman at -20. This kid has never ever seen a -20 anywhere.

I would submit you are really the troll here.

The Flames have zero defensemen at or below -20.

[StrykerSteve]

I agree, always been a fan of his game. Wish they'd keep him in there, he's as steady as they come. No flash, no dazzle, just steady. He's always been a +/- monster because of it.

[FlamesFan68]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

The Flames have zero defensemen at or below -20.

Right now that may be true. -15 and -20 have been tolerated in the past.

[FlamesFan68]

Drives me crazy how people can't think for themselves anymore. If I want the coach's opinion, I just have to look at the lineup for the night's game. If I want the GM's opinion the player will still be in the system. If I want the President of hockey operations opinion I'll check the paper and see if the coach and GM are still employed. If I want hockey fan's opinions I will come to a hockey fan forum and get their opinions. Seriously, people think that the opinions of coaches, GMs, and PoHO's is always the right one? Of course it isn't.

[sureLoss]

Flames may have to make a decision with him pretty soon. They have used 25 or 26 of the 30 days before he needs to go clear waivers again to be sent down.

If they believe he will clear waivers again, then maybe they won't care.

If they think he will stay up for the rest of the season, maybe they won't care either.

[dissentowner]

Every game I have seen him play screams mediocrity at best. I really don't see an NHL calibre D man there.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

The second you suggest a trade needs to be made to "make room" that's a flashing neon sign that says, I like this player, but he hasn't earned it, so I'd like the team to make room for him. You don't make room for a player who is when playing well, at best your 6th best Dman.

All that said, thought he was solid tonight.

[kirant]

I certainly don't mind Wotherspoon staying up. He seems to make a good #7 defenceman...quietly goes about his business and doesn't disrupt the team. Not enough talent to really make it high on the team's depth chart but exactly what I think fans expected when he got drafted: a safe pick with a low ceiling...the type of player you don't mind swapping out whenever the coach feels like he wants the alternative.

That said, no special accommodations should be made for him. He's probably in the best spot he can: fighting for his time against a player with established positives and negatives. If Wotherspoon can prove he's worth more time than he is getting, good for him. I'd love to see him springboard past Jokipakka and force himself in as a consistent roster player. That's a good problem to have...especially if Jokipakka ups his game as well.

[Reggie Dunlop]

He's 23. Defensemen take time.

Giordano was straddling the AHL/NHL and bolted to the KHL at that age.

Just sayin'.

[Galakanokis]

I don't mind him but he needs to be a lot tougher and stronger out there. He's one dimensional so he needs to be a lot better at that one.