Matt Stajan and the future!

[chubeyr1]

Matt Stajan,
This is not a hate thread about Matt Stajan, more of a question of whether we need him on our team? I questioned the signing this past year. I see him as a 3rd line center, that can play up to the first line in a pinch (in Calgary).

I am not one to rush youngsters into the league but........ Max Reinhardt, Corban Knight, Marcus Granlund, Bill Arnold, and Bennett, lesser extent Jankowski on the way. All of these guys IMO can pretty much do what Stajan does but with alot more upside.

Treliving says there are roster spots available for our young guys, I just dont see where. Injury call ups definately, but not a regular spot in the line up.

Is Stajan gonna be trade bait?

What about our wingers? Sven, Van brabant, Wolf, hankowski, Agostino, Klimchuck, Ferlund, Poirier, and Gaudreau?

We are rebuilding but no spots really open for young guys! I understand needing veteran players, but next year what will our team look like 2015 -2016 season? Bennett, Klimchuck, Gaudreau, Poirier, Reinhardt, Knight,Granlund, Sven, Ortio, Wotherspoon, Seiloff. Thats ten rookies in the lineup! That is not including other prospects that have legit shots either. Or our first round pick next year which could be a superstar.

Dont get me wrong, having too much talent knocking at the door is a great problem to have.

I ask where is the room for our young guys? Our current roster scares me. We could easily be worse than last year. Entertaining forsure lol! Yet the year after that with our signed vets the roster does not change much either.

What are your thoughts?

[codynw]

For now, I think they need him. A veteran center to eat up minutes that the rookies may not be able to handle. A year or two down the road, he'll probably be unnecessary.

[boogerz]

On the contrary, Stajan is the exact type of veteran centreman the Flames need... someone who can fill in on any line or any situation while the kids develop and find their roles.

The Flames are gonna be bad, but Stajan isn't the problem. It'd be worse to trade Stajan and throw 19 year old Monahan into a top6 centreman role without any support.

[Lanny_McDonald]

The Flames need Stajan until one of Knight or Arnold step up to be that number three/four center. As soon as those guys step up and can be effective I think it might be time for him to move on. That will mean another year or two of Mr. Stajan in a Flames uniform. By time that happens you'll also have Bennet and Jankowski banging at the door.

[Street Pharmacist]

I ask where is the room for our young guys? Our current roster scares me. We could easily be worse than last year. Entertaining forsure lol! Yet the year after that with our signed vets the roster does not change much either.

What are your thoughts?

There isn't a spot for the kids. They have to be better than the tweeners that are in the lineup. Opening night is not the same roster as a couple weeks in. Remember that a team averages two roster spots open per game during the season. There's ample opportunity.

How does this roster scare you? Replace a vet with a rookie and we look worse...

[kirant]

Stajan, until a better alternative appears, seems like a fine player for this team. He is a veteran with what I've heard is amazing locker room personality. I think he, like Giordano and McGrattan, is part of the atmosphere that Hartley was advocating for last year. Is he the best player available for the Flames? Probably not. He isn't skilled enough for the first line and just "kind of" fits on other lines. But he's a guy who seems willing to show up for work, can fill time, and is well liked by the rest of the team. The atmosphere and culture that he brings to the Flames in addition to his ability to slot in most lines at some capacity is probably worth it until other players begin to surpass him.

[FlameZilla]

The organisation is going to be patient with the youngsters. Guys like Stajan (and Wideman, Glencross etc) are solid, knowledgable veteran players to have around the few kids that do make the lineup. If a rookie plays so well in camp and preseason that they are undeniably better than the veteran options ahead of them — that's when the 'trade bait' conversation happens between Treliving and Burke.

[Stupid]

I think for now we're happy to have him, we don't want an oilers 2.0 scenario. A year or maybe a couple down the road Stajan can be tried on the wing as well, we'd have a solid team guy who can take face offs, maybe try him on right wing?

[RockOnRoberts]

I think many people confuse having young players in the lineup with a desire for having rookies in the lineup so they can see fresh meat play. I understand the excitement, but saying there is no room for young players on this roster is absurd.

If they aren't "young" players, what does that make Monahan, Colbourne, Backlund, Bouma, Brodie, and Byron? Include the fact that we will see players get time due to injury and possible spots on the team for Sven, Gaudreau, and Wotherspoon/Sieloff and I don't see what people are panicking about.

[djsFlames]

Damn this is a long off-season....

We won't need Stajan after this year, he'll be pushed out by 3-4 young capable centres. Unnecessary extension imo. I do like the guy though, it's nothing against him.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by RockOnRoberts

I think many people confuse having young players in the lineup with a desire for having rookies in the lineup so they can see fresh meat play. I understand the excitement, but saying there is no room for young players on this roster is absurd. If they aren't "young" players, what does that make Monahan, Colbourne, Backlund, Bouma, Brodie, and Byron? Include the fact that we will see players get time due to injury and possible spots on the team for Sven, Gaudreau, and Wotherspoon/Sieloff I don't see what people are panicking about.

Good point. Without a single rookie the flames are likely top 5 youngest team

[FAN]

Stajan is ideally a top 2 line center on a nonplayoff team. That's when he has produces his best. You can't win with him and he's not very good as a bottom 6 option.

[Fire]

Stajan's contract was two years too long. He will come in handy this season for sure, because Bennett won't be ready. He will be good insurance next season as well, but before the 2016-17 season they will be looking to get rid of him.

[LouCypher]

Right now Stajan is a really good fit because of his ability to play up and down the line up, play different roles and generally fill in where needed. His attitude I feel is great for the team and we would be hard pressed to find another center who would play this role, with experience and be happy doing it.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Fire

Stajan's contract was two years too long. He will come in handy this season for sure, because Bennett won't be ready. He will be good insurance next season as well, but before the 2016-17 season they will be looking to get rid of him.

I agree that Stajan will more than likely be playing somewhere else before his contract is over. Don't agree that his contract is 2 years too long. It seems like gm's would rather trade for someone with term left, rather than rental player. Can't remember what Stajan makes on his new contract , but I thought it was just over $3 million a year. At that price,in 2 years , he will be a bargain for a 3rd line center.

[savardandjokinen]

A guy like jooris could fill in on the fourth line

[T@T]

His contract is one and one...




..as in one year too long and one million too much.

[Gaskal]

Stajan is a vital piece for a rebuild, not so much once it's time to make a push up the standings.


He'll spend the next two seasons moving up and down the lineup where needed before he's dealt - Bennett won't be ready until the 2015-16 season yet (and he'll need sheltering) and I'd say two seasons is a good bet until Monahan no longer needs sheltering.

Centers for 2014-15 season will be:
Backlund (scoring/tough minutes)
Monahan (sheltered scoring line)
Stajan (possession/checking)
Bouma (Marvel vs Capcom)

2015-16:
Backlund (the toughest minutes)
Monahan (still sheltered, but will see tougher competition towards end of season)
Bennett (super sheltered)
Stajan

I'm guessing Matt gets traded in the following offseason as Arnold will by then have 2 full seasons of pro experience and is more than ready to make the jump.

2016-17:
Backlund (sheltering Bennett's line)
Monahan (should be able to handle tougher minutes and competition by then)
Bennett (sheltered scoring line)
Arnold (Bollig/McGrattan)

[ForeverFlameFan]

Worst case scenario, Stajan gets pushed to the 4th line on his last couple of years on his contract. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I do agree the contract was a bit too long.

[Mike F]

I've harped on this a number of times lately, but one glaring weakness for the Flames has been their inability to win faceoffs, and Stajan is a main culprit.

His faceoff % the last 2 years was 48.1 and 46.2.

An upgraded veteran 3rd line centre to mentor the young guys should have been a priority.