[Signing] Flames sign G Brad Thiessen (2 way, 1yr) and D/RW Sena Acolatse(2 way, 1yr)

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Jarome playing D?

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

There were a couple of college grad goalies that played a few games for the Heat last season that didn't do too bad. Doug Carr and Aaron Dell were a lot better than Roy or MacDonald. I was thinking one of them might get a chance.

Dell would be nice, he was a heck of a junior goalie and has put up good numbers at virtually every level.

[TheDebaser]

Acolatse seems like a pretty cool guy.

[Freeway]

Flames will probably still sign somebody for Alaska's goalie spot.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

Acolatse seems like a pretty cool guy.

Apparently a fan favourite in Worchester. Lots of Shark fans disappointed he wasn't given a QO.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I don't know much about these prospects at all, so can't really comment. I am surprised that they did sign replacements, however. Figured with Kulak, Culkin, Poirier, and a few other bodies graduating, as well as Ramage who should probably get some time on the A. Flames rather than Alaska, thought they would have to be making 'tough decisions' again.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

Jarome playing D?

Wow, can't believe you went there.

[getbak]

For anyone concerned about signing AHL d-men, don't worry, there are a lot of holes to fill.

Here's every defenceman who played for Abbotsford last season (number of games played):

1. Chad Billins (65)
2. John Ramage (50)
3. Tyler Wotherspoon (48)
4. Braden Lamb (44)
5. Dean Arsene (42)
6. Chris Breen (41)
7. Kane Lafranchise (34)
8. Derek Smith (32)
9. Mark Cundari (32)
10. Shane O'Brien (31)
11. Drew MacKenzie (17)
12. Zachery Davies (14)
13. Brett Kulak (6)
14. James Martin (2)
15. Patrick Sieloff (2)

Billins, Breen, Smith, O'Brien, and Martin were all on Flames contracts and won't be back.

Arsene announced his retirement after the Heat's season ended. Lafranchise, MacKenzie, and Davies spent a lot of time last season in Alaska. I'm not sure what Lamb's status is. He could be back, or they'll sign another AHL guy to replace him.


That leaves, Ramage, Wotherspoon, Cundari, Kulak, and Sieloff who will likely return and be under an NHL contract, plus Culkin will be joining the team.

There's a very good chance that Wotherspoon will spend most, if not all, of the season in Calgary. This leaves five guys under contract for the Adirondack blue line, Cundari is the only one who's an AHL veteran. Ramage will be in his second pro season, and the rest will be rookies.

Acolatse has three seasons in the AHL, so he'll bring some semi-veteran presence to the lineup. He'll also be able to be a call-up if the injuries pile up in Calgary and they don't want to bring up one of the rookies.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by getbak

For anyone concerned about signing AHL d-men, don't worry, there are a lot of holes to fill.

Here's every defenceman who played for Abbotsford last season (number of games played):

1. Chad Billins (65)
2. John Ramage (50)
3. Tyler Wotherspoon (48)
4. Braden Lamb (44)
5. Dean Arsene (42)
6. Chris Breen (41)
7. Kane Lafranchise (34)
8. Derek Smith (32)
9. Mark Cundari (32)
10. Shane O'Brien (31)
11. Drew MacKenzie (17)
12. Zachery Davies (14)
13. Brett Kulak (6)
14. James Martin (2)
15. Patrick Sieloff (2)

Billins, Breen, Smith, O'Brien, and Martin were all on Flames contracts and won't be back.

Arsene announced his retirement after the Heat's season ended. Lafranchise, MacKenzie, and Davies spent a lot of time last season in Alaska. I'm not sure what Lamb's status is. He could be back, or they'll sign another AHL guy to replace him.


That leaves, Ramage, Wotherspoon, Cundari, Kulak, and Sieloff who will likely return and be under an NHL contract, plus Culkin will be joining the team.

There's a very good chance that Wotherspoon will spend most, if not all, of the season in Calgary. This leaves five guys under contract for the Adirondack blue line, Cundari is the only one who's an AHL veteran. Ramage will be in his second pro season, and the rest will be rookies.

Acolatse has three seasons in the AHL, so he'll bring some semi-veteran presence to the lineup. He'll also be able to be a call-up if the injuries pile up in Calgary and they don't want to bring up one of the rookies.

Could Keegan Kanzig play in the AHL this year? Eric Roy turns 20 in October. What's his progression looking like? Did anything ever happen about Rafikov coming over from Russia?

Sounds like we could use those 3 to take big steps.

Could see our pro D depth chart looking like this come October:

NHL:
Giordano
Brodie
Smid
Wideman
Russell
Engelland
Kanzig

AHL:
Cundari
Wotherspoon
Acolatse
Kulak
Ramage
Sieloff
Culkin
Roy

[Heavy Jack]

Switch Kanzig with Wotherspoon for sure but that looks pretty great depth wise. If we can figure out how to turn Del Zotto into Wideman's spot I'd be thrilled.

[getbak]

I think Kanzig is still too raw to play in the NHL, and he has to go back to Victoria for one more year if he doesn't make the Flames.

I'm not sure what they'll do with Roy. He could play in the AHL, but he might be better served by another year in junior. We know that Treliving and Burke aren't afraid of "overcooking" prospects in junior.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Switch Kanzig with Wotherspoon for sure but that looks pretty great depth wise. If we can figure out how to turn Del Zotto into Wideman's spot I'd be thrilled.

Kanzig probably tops out as a 6/7 D man, so it's no tragedy for his development if he rides the pine a bit with the Flames. Wotherspoon should be in the AHL, soaking up huge minutes IMO rather than sitting in the pressbox with the Flames.

Del Zotto would be an interesting signing but I think it's a pipe dream at this stage. I think Wideman is due a rebound season now that he's healthy again. If Del Zotto arrives I fear he makes Russell more expendable than anyone else.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Brad Thiessen was the best goalie in the AHL playoffs this past season. He was an absolute monster. He's going to be such a solid backup playing 1/3 of the games.

I want to see the Flames sign Carr to a one-year two-way deal and put him in Alaska for the season. Bring him up only in case of an injury to Ortio or Thiessen.

As for Acolatse, I don't know much about him since the Heat never ever played Worcester. I just remember him being a real a-hole against the Flames prospects during the Penticton tourny several years back. There won't be a whole lot of toughness on Addy's blueline. Just Sieloff and Acolatse so far. Wotherspoon can be mean if he needs to be.

A couple of solid pickups.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Brad Thiessen was the best goalie in the AHL playoffs this past season. He was an absolute monster.

Really? Because his stats seem pretty awful according to eliteprospects.

4gp 3.81GAA .881SV%

Case of stats not telling the whole story?

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Really? Because his stats seem pretty awful according to eliteprospects.

4gp 3.81GAA .881SV%

Case of stats not telling the whole story?

Woops. Meant the season before last. He played 12 games, 1.38 GAA, 0.952 SV%.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Brad Thiessen was the best goalie in the AHL playoffs this past season. He was an absolute monster. He's going to be such a solid backup playing 1/3 of the games.

I want to see the Flames sign Carr to a one-year two-way deal and put him in Alaska for the season. Bring him up only in case of an injury to Ortio or Thiessen.

As for Acolatse, I don't know much about him since the Heat never ever played Worcester. I just remember him being a real a-hole against the Flames prospects during the Penticton tourny several years back. There won't be a whole lot of toughness on Addy's blueline. Just Sieloff and Acolatse so far. Wotherspoon can be mean if he needs to be.

A couple of solid pickups.

PMM, what was your opinion of Lamb, Lafranchise, MacKenzie, and Davies last year? Do you think any are worth bringing back on AHL deals?

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Could Keegan Kanzig play in the AHL this year? Eric Roy turns 20 in October. What's his progression looking like? Did anything ever happen about Rafikov coming over from Russia?

Sounds like we could use those 3 to take big steps.

Roy was really bad defensively by all reports so unlikely he comes up.

Kanzig looked like a 4 year junior from the day he was drafted.

I think both are back to junior especially as it seems there will be plenty of young/inexperienced guys there already.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by getbak

PMM, what was your opinion of Lamb, Lafranchise, MacKenzie, and Davies last year? Do you think any are worth bringing back on AHL deals?

Lafranchise is the only one I would want them bringing back, but he's getting up there in age. As a 6/7 d-man he'd be useful. He doesn't excel in any one area. Just a defenseman flavoured defenseman.

[pgsieve]

Unbelievably stoked about Acolatse. Heck of a player in Prince George and I loved his transition to the AHL. Solid signing! I might get a name bar for him

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

Switch Kanzig with Wotherspoon for sure but that looks pretty great depth wise. If we can figure out how to turn Del Zotto into Wideman's spot I'd be thrilled.

FYP, that is well below league average for organizational depth.

I think our top pair could be effective as a top pairing on a winning team with a good bottom 4 behind them, but I would call ours slightly below average at best.

And in terms of prospects, it is easily bottom 10 in the league.

RD especially, but D in general is our biggest organizational weakness. And that's coming from a bottom 5 team.