Flames Pending UFAs

[flambers]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Who do you see replacing Backlund? I don't think you just hand Bennett the second line role, and Stajan is a much better third-line centre. I think Backlund is locked in as our 2C for next season.

Flames options are Granlund, Colborne, Jooris for the 3rd Line Center role.

Stajan is your forth line.

I would bet Bennett is the 2nd Line Center.

Backlund had a good playoffs, would be a ideal time to try to trade him for a dman (Flames have no depth at this position).

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Who do you see replacing Backlund? I don't think you just hand Bennett the second line role, and Stajan is a much better third-line centre. I think Backlund is locked in as our 2C for next season.

You may be right, but I think Treliving goes after Vermette. He may well strike out, but I'd be shocked if our management doesn't consider 2nd line center as one of the areas most in need of an upgrade. If not Vermette, I think we will be active perusing other opportunities. I like Backlund but he doesn't score enough for the 2nd line and he's too small and bad at faceoffs to be an ideal shutdown guy (though I like him as a depth player). He's a classic utility player, good at lots of stuff, great at nothing. The way I look at it is either Backlund or Stajan should go to make room for a true #2C, as they are very similar players and we won't have room for both for very much longer.

[hockey.modern]

I could see Mark Jankowski replacing Backlund In a couple of years.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by flambers

Flames options are Granlund, Colborne, Jooris for the 3rd Line Center role.

Stajan is your forth line.

I would bet Bennett is the 2nd Line Center.

Backlund had a good playoffs, would be a ideal time to try to trade him for a dman (Flames have no depth at this position).

I'd like to get a better look at Shore on the third/fourth line. Stajan may play 3rd and Shore 4th going forward.

I am a Backlund fan, but Stajan was better in the POs IMO. And between him and Stajan, Backlund gets a better return in a trade.

Not sold on Granlund as a centre, just because of faceoffs. And I think Jooris is a better winger than a centre. Colborne has lots of upside IMO, in either spot (he's not bad at faceoffs, but I also like his board work as a winger in the offensive zone).

[transplant99]

Yeah.....maybe Backlands 200' game was good but your 2nd line C HAS to produce more than 2pts in 11 games if you want to be successful. I didn't think backland was anywhere near dangerous enough To allow the Flames to be anything but fodder for the Ducks

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yeah.....maybe Backlands 200' game was good but your 2nd line C HAS to produce more than 2pts in 11 games if you want to be successful. I didn't think backland was anywhere near dangerous enough To allow the Flames to be anything but fodder for the Ducks

Not sure if it's an auto-correct issue or not but it is Backlund.

[DoubleK]

Schemlko is totally deserving of a contract.

[Stay Golden]

Schlemko as the 7th would be perfect.
Gio Brodie
Russell & UFA Physical shut down D.
Wideman & Engellend
Schlemko
Let Diaz and Potter go.

[DoubleK]

LOL @ all the people splitting up Wideman/Russell.

The current top 4 are amongst the best in the league.

Need legit 5/6 guys that can handle 10 mins a game each.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

LOL @ all the people splitting up Wideman/Russell.

The current top 4 are amongst the best in the league.

Need legit 5/6 guys that can handle 10 mins a game each.

Agreed. Diaz and potter both need to go. Change is always necessary and that would be a good start.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Agreed. Diaz and potter both need to go. Change is always necessary and that would be a good start.

I don't think Diaz & especially Potter "need" to go. If they are willing to play in the AHL and get sparse call ups, then they can stay and help out mentoring Seiloff and Wotherspoon.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I don't think Diaz & especially Potter "need" to go. If they are willing to play in the AHL and get sparse call ups, then they can stay and help out mentoring Seiloff and Wotherspoon.

In my opinion you should have guys that are always pushing for somebody's spot. I myself never really seen that out of either of these guys. Experiment over, try with someone else. It doesn't mean that it always works out, but change is good. Donkey.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

LOL @ all the people splitting up Wideman/Russell.

The current top 4 are amongst the best in the league.

Need legit 5/6 guys that can handle 10 mins a game each.

It isn't that people are trying to split up Wideman/Russell. It's that they are hoping that we can get another top 4 defenceman so that Wideman can shore up the third pairing and Russel will have a big physical partner. Wideman would still get his minutes on the PP. The downside of pairing Wideman with Engelland is that they are our only RH shots on defence, so this isn't ideal.

Another way of doing it would be to keep Brodie and Engelland together and get a new partner for Giordano or pair Russell and Engelland . This would give balance to all three pairings until the bench is shortened in the third period.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Need legit 5/6 guys that can handle 10 mins a game each.

We already have legit 5/6 guys that can take 10 mins per game. Their names are Engelland, Schlemko and Diaz. The point would be to find a clear upgrade who would be considered a 4/5.

If these 10 min per game guys can jump in and take 18-20 mins per game for an entire season, and be successful, they might be long term solutions for that spot but I don't believe they can. True contenders wouldn't have those any of those three playing 18-20 mins per game by design, and neither should we if that's what we're aspiring to be. We cannot just keep riding the top 4 like we did this year either, we got lucky they didn't burn out IMO. Good teams have quality depth in the 5 spot so that key guys stay fresh all year and so there are legitimate options available when injuries happen or when a certain pair is overmatched against a powerhouse team in the playoffs.

Usually a guy is getting 10 minutes a game for a reason, because they are a Schlemko or a Diaz (ie not a top 4). What this team needs is another guy who can take 18-20 mins a night as the team's undisputed #5 guy. Engelland was a surprise, but he also neutered Brodie's offense a fair deal and I would argue he is not a good solution going forward in that role. Ideally, he plays no more than 15 minutes on the third pairing exclusively, but it is nice he can move up in a pinch and not be a total disaster. However, shouldn't we want/expect more than that out of our #5? If we're being honest, Engelland is a meat and potatoes depth defenseman, and we can do better for that spot, though he is a great 6/7, as are Schlemko and Diaz.

Ideally, it would shake out like this:

Giordano 22-24 mins
Brodie 22-24 mins
Russell 20 mins
Wideman 20 mins
New Guy 18-20 mins
Engelland 10-15 mins
Schlemko depth

Then, when one of the top 4 gets injured, you're not forced into playing the three remaining guys 30+ minutes per night because your team's bottom 2 guys are in over their heads against the other team's top 3 lines.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Another way of doing it would be to keep Brodie and Engelland together and get a new partner for Giordano or pair Russell and Engelland . This would give balance to all three pairings until the bench is shortened in the third period.

I obviously agree with the other stuff you wrote but we can't keep T.J. with Engelland as a permanent solution, we just can't. It would be a heinous waste of Brodie's potential. It would be an accomplishment if Brodie got 30 points lugging Engelland around for an entire year. Whatever you do, you don't split up Gio and Brodie, they are just too good together.

[CroFlames]

Why you calling me a donkey?

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

We already have legit 5/6 guys that can take 10 mins per game. Their names are Engelland, Schlemko and Diaz. The point would be to find a clear upgrade who would be considered a 4/5.

...

Ideally, it would shake out like this:

Giordano 22-24 mins
Brodie 22-24 mins
Russell 20 mins
Wideman 20 mins
New Guy 18-20 mins
Engelland 10-15 mins
Schlemko depth

Then, when one of the top 4 gets injured, you're not forced into playing the three remaining guys 30+ minutes per night because your team's bottom 2 guys are in over their heads against the other team's top 3 lines.

Bang on^^

The Flames need to pickup a legitimate 4/5 defensive dman who can play 20 mostly error-free minutes a night and be an insurance policy in case one of the big guns is lost to injury again.

Ideally, they need a more mobile, less injury-prone version of Smid. Given the currently weak UFA class this year, Zbynek Michalek or Johnny Oduya would probably suffice as short-term solutions.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Why you calling me a donkey?

Over your head bud. Don't fret.

[CroFlames]

Thanks for the condescending response.

[Stay Golden]

There are at least 100 other D in league that are the same as Diaz and Potter.
There is no reason to keep them when the Flames can improve and still have Schlemko and a AHL battle for the bubble D on the roster.