Treliving: We would like to add a defenceman

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Absolutely agree. Sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side, and what you already have is good.

I think Nak can and should be on the bottom pair.

Agree and one would think he could be signed at a reasonable cap hit. He is also under 30 and has decent size.

[sureLoss]

It is pretty obvious the Flames intend to keep Brodie on the right side.

He is most comfortable there and has played the majority of his NHL career on that side.

Will they move him on the LHS in injury situations, probably, but the plan is to keep him on the right.

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Engelland probably wouldn't mind being exposed in the expansion draft as he lives in Las Vegas in the off season.

So many people are saying just sign Nakladal. Treliving already says it is not a fit with the way they currently have the defense set up. Nakladal and his agent are no dummies either and probably see it the same way.

on the right hand side, Flames have barring any moves:
Brodie
Hamilton
Wideman
Engelland

comparatively on the left side
Giordano
Jokipakka
Wotherspoon (assuming he gets signed)

Which side needs a defenceman more?

Hopefully Treliving can get rid of Wideman and sign Nakladal for a few years. Personally I think Nakladal has a lot yet to offer an NHL team.

[kehatch]

Right now we are at

Giordano-Brodie
????-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Engelland/Wideman
Smid/Nakladal

They need to trade one of Engelland or Wideman. Preferably Wideman. Together they make a crap third pairing for over 8 million.

They also need to find someone to play with Hamilton. Which is why they are out looking for a LH shot.

[devo22]

can I just say that I never thought I'd see the day where the Flames feel that they have too many RH defensemen. Feels like a relatively "new" problem ... I believe before the Wideman signing, Sarich was the only RH defenseman on the team. Oh, and of course the mighty Anton

[Imported_Aussie]

After Russell, the UFA market for left D is weak - Carle might be worth a look as he is being payed throgh his buyout, but Quincey, Bartowski and others do not seem to me to be enough of an upgrade to hold back Wotherspoon. If you can make a trade, maybe then you open up more possibilities, but what chips will Treliving want to part with for a 4/5D?

[JohnnyTitan]

For what it's worth...beyond this year (other than Wotherspoon), here are the shots the Flames have in the system. More lefties!
Andersson - 19 yrs (RH)
Kylington - 19 yrs (LH)
Hickey - 20 yrs (LH)
Wotherspoon - 23 yrs (LH)
Morrison - 24 yrs (RH)
Culkin - 22 yrs (LH)
Kulak - 22 yrs (LH)
Kanzig - 21 yrs (LH)

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyTitan

For what it's worth...beyond this year (other than Wotherspoon), here are the shots the Flames have in the system. More lefties!
Andersson - 19 yrs (RH)
Kylington - 19 yrs (LH)
Hickey - 20 yrs (LH)
Wotherspoon - 23 yrs (LH)
Morrison - 24 yrs (RH)
Culkin - 22 yrs (LH)
Kulak - 22 yrs (LH)
Kanzig - 21 yrs (LH)

Kylington is like Brodie though, he's a left shot who plays the right side.

So our top 2 D prospects (arguably) both play the right side on top of having Brodie and Hamilton there long term.

[CroFlames]

I have a feeling deep down that Andersson and Kylington will be regular NHLers for the Flames one day soon. Which will be really refreshing to see multiple guys come through the Flames own development system.

Andersson needs to lose weight and Kylington needs to gain weight though. Heh.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Right now we are at

Giordano-Brodie
????-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Engelland/Wideman
Smid/Nakladal

They need to trade one of Engelland or Wideman. Preferably Wideman. Together they make a crap third pairing for over 8 million.

They also need to find someone to play with Hamilton. Which is why they are out looking for a LH shot.

Or waiting to see what Kulak can do in camp

[ComixZone]

Barrett Jackman is my choice.

Giordano - Brodie
Jackman - Hamilton
Jokipakka - Engelland
Wotherspoon

Would be very happy with that 7. Although the longer we go into the summer, the more likely I feel it is that Widedog is retained until the trade deadline, and then moved there to maximize return.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I have a feeling deep down that Andersson and Kylington will be regular NHLers for the Flames one day soon. Which will be really refreshing to see multiple guys come through the Flames own development system.

Andersson needs to lose weight and Kylington needs to gain weight though. Heh.

which could be really beneficial next year when Wideman, Engelland and Smid become UFAs and the Flames potentially lose Jokipakka to Las Vegas. I really think they can replace most of those from within - Kulak should be NHL ready really soon, Anderssons and Kylingtons development looks good and I wouldn't count out Culkin either. Being able to replace players cheaply from within is going to be helpful once this team contends and really spends to the cap.

[Roof-Daddy]

Sure would have been nice to add Hamhuis on roughly the same contract he signed with Dallas. Would have solidified the top 4 for 2016/17, slotted Jokipakka where he should be for now and gave us a Dman to expose in the expansion draft.

[kehatch]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Or waiting to see what Kulak can do in camp

I think the Flames would like someone with some experience to stabilize the second pairing.

[DJones]

If they can trade Wideman and Engelland, and Smid is on LTIR. Then I would love to get Russell back on a cheap one year. Would be happy with Nakladal as well.

No one else really intrigues me. Let the AHL guys start coming up.

[FlameZilla]

I'm fairly certain that Brodie could play on either side if it came down to it.

Longer term I envision our top D looking like:

Brodie – Hamilton
Giordano – Andersson

With Jokipakka/Engelland/Wideman already there, plus Wotherspoon/Kulak/Culkin/Kylington/Morrisson raring to go and Andersson/Hickey not far behind I honestly don't see the point getting another D unless someone is on the way out.

[Vulcan]

I guess the easiest move would be trading Wideman for a left defenceman. Right defencemen are more valuable so I could see Treliving looking for an equal or slight upgrade.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I guess the easiest move would be trading Wideman for a left defenceman. Right defencemen are more valuable so I could see Treliving looking for an equal or slight upgrade.

unrealistic armchair GM idea: Johnny Oduya from the Stars. Has one year remaining too and would provide veteran leadership to th eteam, while the Stars have no RH defenseman outside of Klingberg and could use some firepower from the blueline.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by devo22

unrealistic armchair GM idea: Johnny Oduya from the Stars. Has one year remaining too and would provide veteran leadership to th eteam, while the Stars have no RH defenseman outside of Klingberg and could use some firepower from the blueline.

Julius Honka RHD 20 years old finished his second year as a pro 44 pts in 72 games in AHL.

In his first year after being drafted he went to the AHL ... as a 18 old he had 31 pts in 68 games..... If Kylington had that sort of rookie pro season he would be penciled in on this year's Flames roster.

The Stars are crazy deep in defenseman prospects... not likely that they would have to go outside their organization to get what Wideman has to offer.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Or waiting to see what Kulak can do in camp

Ya, in a radio interview the other day Conroy was saying that they want to have spots available for a young guy to step into this year. They don't want to close up all opportunities with #4 to #6 guys and take those chances away. The top 3 guys are solidified for this year, the bottom 3 aren't. This is the same for the forward group as well, they want spots for the young guys to have a real chance. They had to let some guys go who just weren't going to make the NHL this year or next with the Flames to make room for the latest group that are close to being ready to take that next step.

I can see a Kulak making the NHL team from training camp this year because the flames want to develop their guys.