[Signing] Flames sign Versteeg (1yr, $950k)

[jg13]

Derek Wills ‏@Fan960Wills
In less than 24 hours, #Flames top line has potentially gone from Vey-Monahan-Ferland to Gaudreau-Monahan-Versteeg.

[GoJetsGo]

Too many hurt feelings about Ferly potentially not playing on top line RW.

If anything it just provides us depth if he moves to one of the lower lines.

Also gives multiple options.

All good things.

[CliffFletcher]

So what's with all these guys on PTOs around the league who come to camp and play the pre-season with one team and then end up signing with another?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Gaudreau - Monahan - Versteeg
D Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
M Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
L Bouma - M Stajan - Hamilton/Chiasson

Wouldn't hurt my feelings to see Stajan in the pressbox either. Go with:

Bouma - Hamilton - Chiasson

...as the 4th line.

It's funny how that 1 added player seems to give us a new level of depth. Instead of looking at Bollig for pressbox duties we're looking at Stajan or Chiasson. Injuries are going to happen and we've got several guys that can play up and down the line-up.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

D Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer

Hopefully not.

[FireItUp]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

News Update

Rob Tychkowski @Sun_Tychkowski
"He was offered a contract here." Oilers coach Todd McLellan on Kris Versteeg

[polak]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Ferland is a young, developing, improving player who showed surprisingly good smarts, passing, puck handling and skating last season despite not putting up many points. Those who watched him closely saw this offensive upside and apparently some people glossed it over. We don't all see the same things when we watch hockey. But there are a few of us on this board who have seen Ferland's offensive upside that he may still realize.

Twould be silly to suggest a very young and inexperienced player won't improve and generate more offense.

I feel like these are the same people who watched Lombardi, Saprykin, Boyd, Nystrom...etc and kept saying that they're just young guys that need to figure it out. Except most of those guys were already ahead of Ferland at this point.

You can't say he has offensive upside when he hasn't shown any offensive touch in the NHL at all in 2 years now.

[Geeoff]

I have a feeling there won't be a permanent fixture on the top line this season, unless we make a big splash at the deadline

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Hopefully not.

oh god no plz no D.Tkaczuk

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

So what do you think this signifies for the Flames, that they are thinking of placing Ferland on the top line and Versteeg on the 4th?

Nope. Versteeg likely to play on the first.

Ferland's long term offensive upside really has nothing to do with that. Some people here are doubters about Ferland's offensive upside, some are believers. Time will tell who is right.

[nik-]

Probably the doubters

[sureLoss]

haha now the Oilers media speculating that they may have also missed out on Parenteau by not knowing about the Flames offer to Versteeg.

David Staples
@dstaples
@SportsnetSpec Wonder when Oilers knew about this, and if it would have impacted decisions on waived players like Parenteau. @NHLbyMatty

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Gaudreau - Monahan - Versteeg
D Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
M Ferland - Backlund - Frolik
L Bouma - M Stajan - Hamilton/Chiasson

Wouldn't hurt my feelings to see Stajan in the pressbox either. Go with:

Bouma - Hamilton - Chiasson

...as the 4th line.

I like the mix of young/old.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by polak

You can't say he has offensive upside when he hasn't shown any offensive touch in the NHL at all in 2 years now.

Well last year he did show the smarts, passing, puck handling and speed. You must not have been watching closely enough. He didn't have much luck finishing but the rest of his offensive game looked like he could be a complimentary top two line powerforward like a Brouwer when he fully develops.

[Flash Walken]

Bro, this is the Versteeg signing thread, you're pretty much the only one talking about Ferland.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I think Versteeg is likely the better start for that first line. But IMO, Ferland plays the right "type" of game to fit on that line. He brings the physical along the boards play, he has the speed to keep up with them, but most importantly he has the hockey IQ to play with them.

I don't necessarily disagree with those who say he doesn't have the "offensive" upside, although I'm still willing to "see" with him. But what doesn't happen with him, is plays don't "die" on his stick. So I ask, does he really need the "offensive" upside to play with those two, aren't they offensive enough, and with him creating more space for them out there, it seems ideal to me if he could earn it.

Based on what I saw out of him last year when he got his chances with the top line, he was too focused on trying to get one of the other two the puck, versus taking the shot himself or doing the right "hockey" play. Something he doesn't do on other lines. So for me, if he gets a shot on the top line, he just needs to make his usual choices, and not change his mindset just cause he's playing with JG on Mony, and he could be a great addition to that line.

[indes]

First thing I did when I saw versteeg signed was check the waiver wire thread to see if the oilers picked anyone up. Second thing I did was text my oiler "buddy" the link to the signing. His response was "meh, you can have him". Love it.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

haha now the Oilers media speculating that they may have also missed out on Parenteau by not knowing about the Flames offer to Versteeg.

David Staples
@dstaples
@SportsnetSpec Wonder when Oilers knew about this, and if it would have impacted decisions on waived players like Parenteau. @NHLbyMatty

delicious

[Calgary4LIfe]

Good signing. Gives the Flames a lot of flexibility.

- If he doesn't work out, you waive him. If no one picks him up, his entire cap hit is gone when he gets assigned to Stockton.

- Will he play on the top line? I would bet he gets a look. I think this year, Gulutzan will 'Hartley' the top line and keep rotating guys in there until someone sticks. It may be him, it may not be.

- Versteeg vs Ferland - I agree with FDW that Ferland has some underrated ability here. Dude has really good instincts, and I am still a believer that he will provide a decent amount of offence as he develops - and IMO, he is still developing. Either way, why the argument over it? Flames have another bullet in their chamber to find a fit on the top line, that's all. No point in making any proclamations. I would bet that Versteeg gets first crack at it - I imagine in deciding to snub the Oilers, he was probably promised a 'look' on the top line at least. Maybe not - the Oilers are still a tire fire of a team, and they have a reputation of treating players poorly, especially in the last 5 years.

- Versteeg + Pribyl + Ferland + Chiasson + Poirier + Shinkaruk + Jankowski +...I am sure there will be more until the Flames find a fit. One more option, and one that comes with very minimal risk (contract spot, that's it).

[Bingo]

Love this ...

I'm certainly not suggesting Versteeg is a true top 6 winger, he sort of was, but isn't now. However he is a top nine, and he's got that cup pedigree, and he's a better fill in up the roster with his history and snarl than some of the options that are winning by default on the current roster.

If he goes to the Monahan line you have the Flames four young forwards riding shot gun beside Versteeg and Brouwer which is a very smart way to roll things out this year.

If he doesn't go up that high perhaps he could play the off wing with Backlund and Frolik but someone I doubt that's the plan.