Should the Flames go out and trade for a defenceman?

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by 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.

Simply saying 'improving' the team is too generic. Is it by immediately moving more of the vets for picks and space for youngsters? Is it to bring on another veteran presence? Faceoff specialist? Is it addition by subtraction? *cough* Butler *cough*

Or maybe given what they have to work with as assets and potential trade deals/partners, doing nothing is the better move. I'd say that that lack of activity isn't because it's a rebuild, but because it's too early to make any accurate judgements.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by BigRed

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

I wish people would quit trying to trade Glencross
He won't wave his NMC, and it would be selling low right now anyway.

I have no idea what is wrong, but we all know Scoreface can be better than this, and we have to hope he finds his game sooner than later.

On topic, I do think we trade for a D, especially with the increasingly crowded center position.

[blender]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Simply saying 'improving' the team is too generic. Is it by immediately moving more of the vets for picks and space for youngsters? Is it to bring on another veteran presence? Faceoff specialist? Is it addition by subtraction? *cough* Butler *cough*

Or maybe given what they have to work with as assets and potential trade deals/partners, doing nothing is the better move. I'd say that that lack of activity isn't because it's a rebuild, but because it's too early to make any accurate judgements.

Agree with the assessment that lack of activity is likely due to lack of good trade options. It speaks to the point that 29 other teams are in the same game.
Improving the team is making it better right now AND for the future at the same time. The focus cannot be anything less, but obviously that is tough to achieve.
I believe, based on the previous actions of this management group, that they are open to all options, and are expecting the Flames to be a competitive team every night with a goal of constant improvement.

[Dion]

We need to give all our prospects some time at the NHL level before we start looking elsewhere.

I want this team to create an enviroment where players will want to come here with the feeling they will get a fair chance. We started that with Monahan and the trend needs to continue.

[OzSome]

No. We are in a rebuilding year and we have some young D that can benefit from getting called up. I would rather see a guy like Ramage, Seiloff, Wotherspoon, Breen and others gets a chance to develop. Wideman is so used to playing lots of minutes and so as Giordano. No need to waste a roster spot by acquiring another D.

Yes I understand we all want the Flames to be in the playoff spot but at the same time, i would those young Ds to experience how to be in playoff race.

[Kaine]

If one is given to us? Sure. In the real world however you have to give to get, and acquiring a good young defenseman will require giving good young players.

Nein!

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Or do we just sit tight and play out the season with what we have?

Yes.

Let's evaluate what we have for prospects, we have a few D's coming down the pipe who are going to need some playing time. Realistically we would be looking to add a really good defenseman in his 20's and they just aren't available through trades unless you give up good young assets, that is the opposite of what we should be doing for the next year or two at least.

If we really need to add an outside player then let's try the UFA angle after this year, that way we don't give up any assets and we don't need to worry about cap hits for awhile anyway. If we let some of our higher priced vets walk then we might even need some salary to get to the cap floor. Either way the last thing we need is to trade for a mid 30's guy at this point in the rebuild.

Wideman is a perfect example, he didn't cost us anything, he may be overpaid a tiny bit but who cares and he is logging big minutes when we need it.

That being said I don't mind a pick up like Russell, decent depth guy in his mid 20's that we only pay a late pick for.

[albertGQ]

If the price is right, I'd like Adam Larson

Wonder if the Devils would give up on him already.

[FlameZilla]

Essentially, what the Flames need is for a desperate GM to go all Darryl Sutter on us & give us a promising young top-4 D man for all our spare parts. A 'Reverse Phaneuf Trade', if you will... If a big, promising but underperforming D man becomes available from a team that is willing to take our spare parts in return then I'm sure management will pull the trigger.

The sentiment that, because we're rebuilding, 'Any management who tries to make this team better should be fired' is imbecilic. I'm sorry, but you may as well grow a mullet, buy a rusty camero & move 3 hours north. This team will not go Full Oiler.

[stemit14]

Guys like Matt Greene, brooks Orpik, and dan Girardi are set to become free agents this summer... I would rather be patient now and overpay a little for guys like that.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Guys like Matt Greene, brooks Orpik, and dan Girardi are set to become free agents this summer... I would rather be patient now and overpay a little for guys like that.

I've always been a Brooks Orpik fan.

Free agency is one way to go, and there's very good reason to be patient & wait out the season. I would be looking out for a young & talented D man on the trade market anyway...

Are there any young defencemen who aren't living up to their potential or can't crack the NHL lineup?

Dougie Hamilton has sat out a few games this season – No way he could be had for any package that didn't include some A-list prospects. Pipe dream.

Tom Erixon didn't crack the BJ's lineup & is playing in the AHL. I suppose it's unlikely Judas would return to the Flames.

Tyler Myers is struggling to perform up to his huge contract. Shades of Phaneuf there... Buffalo may be looking to shake things up. High risk, high reward if he was dealt for.

Philly are known to be trying to shake things up. Braydon Coburn isn't young, but he fits the criteria of 'Huge Calgarian' which I like to see on this team. He can log big minutes & would look great in the top 4.

Florida are struggling and known to be trying to make a deal. If we took back a veteran contract like Kris Versteeg (Lethbridge native) could we get them to throw in one of their promising D prospects? Alex Petrovic is 6’4" & a right-handed shot & looks the business.

[Psytic]

Not a stay at home guy but what about Jake Gardiner just to load up on more early 20's range prospects.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Guys like Matt Greene, brooks Orpik, and dan Girardi are set to become free agents this summer... I would rather be patient now and overpay a little for guys like that.

I would kill for Dan Girardi. He would make a huge difference in our top 4 with Wideman. Put Russell to 5-6 were he should be (I can't complain about his play this year) and add a youngster in Abby. I think guys like Sieloff and Ramage would benefit more from a full year in AHL and learn what it is to be a pro. No need to rush those guys for the sake of seeing them play.

[stemit14]

I agree he would be a great addition. Orpik seems like a guy that could actually make it to free agency since the penguins are tight to the cap and have several good defence prospects that will be knocking on the door. Orpik and Girardi are physical, #### down defensemen that block shots and make smart plays. Either would be a great pick up.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I agree he would be a great addition. Orpik seems like a guy that could actually make it to free agency since the penguins are tight to the cap and have several good defence prospects that will be knocking on the door. Orpik and Girardi are physical, #### down defensemen that block shots and make smart plays. Either would be a great pick up.

Auto-correct??

[Lanny_McDonald]

The Flames should be looking for defenseman, but not in the Dennis Wideman mold, but in the TJ Brodie mold. Guys in that 21-24 year old range that need opportunity and have some upside. A guy like Dylan McIlrath in New York is an example. Acquisition cost should be minimal with big potential if his game blossoms.

[FlamesAddiction]

In the long run, I think we do need some bigger shut-down type of defenseman.

I think Sieloff is going to be a good cannonball type of defenseman, but not a true shut-down type of player. Maybe Kanzig is the player in the future.

Still, if a chance comes along to acquire one young enough to be around when the rebuilding is showing results, I think we make the trade now.

[flambers]

No, only way the Flames should trade for a dman if an opportunity arises where a player is available and he falls into the long term plan.

Flames defense are fine... they have players in Abbotsford who are the depth.

Defense have played well so far this season.

[Erick Estrada]

The going rate on quality young NHL defensemen or proven shutdown defensemen is very, very steep and any team that would be interested in trading one is going to be looking for prospects like Poirier, Gaudreau, etc as you guys are living in a dream world if you think Glencross, Cammalleri, or Stempniak are going to net us that kind of defenseman. Those players will net you draft picks and maybe a young prospect. You have to give up a lot to get a good defenseman and right now that's counter productive to rebuilding.

Flames have to run with the hand they were dealt with. The team isn't going to make the playoffs anyway so I don't understand why we are having threads like this.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by nik-

9 games into the rebuild.

Isn't that long enough?!?!?!?!?!?! I mean we're clearly ready for the cup. I say we move out some of these young guys like Sven and Monohan for some veteran help while we're at it..... THIS IS OUR YEAR!


This is what I was affraid of when the Flames started playing well. We all expected this team to be a bottom 5 team this year and since they've been playing well, some fans want to do whatever they can to make them play better. If we want to rebuild properly, we shouldn't give up any kinds of assets, we should be getting them. We aren't trying to lose, but we shouldn't give anything up to win. Just let the team play and grow and gain experience. Like a few have mentioned, instead of bringing in an outside player, we should be looking from within first and foremost.

I look at every game as entertainment, if they win then it's awesome. If they lose, then it's ok too because they're learning.