Flames' 2017 Off-Season Defence Discussion

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I look at a team like Nashville.
Who is their 'Engelland'?
I don't think they get run out if the rink.

Mattias Ekholm. Except he's bigger and more mobile

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Itse

I don't see it. To me all the reasons we let him go the first time are still valid today.

Plus he'll cost more (vs. when he left or even this past year). Not worth it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Itse

I don't see it. To me all the reasons we let him go the first time are still valid today.

The reasons they let him go the first time was because they couldn't fit his salary in. I'm not advocating they sign him but I believe they like him and with some salary off the books they would possibly have some interest.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Itse

I don't see it. To me all the reasons we let him go the first time are still valid today.

Ya he's not a #3 like we played him. He's a #4/5

I would love to have him on our third pairing.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Itse

I don't see it. To me all the reasons we let him go the first time are still valid today.

I think the Flames would have loved to sign Russell last summer if they could've dumped Wideman. Alas Wideman was unmoveable

[Yanda]

My Prediction
- No Qualifying Offer for Kulak and Wotherspoon
- Andersson and Kylington simmer in the AHL
- Stone signs elsewhere for about 1m more than management offers
- Engelland signs a 2 year deal and eventually slows down and is a huge mentor like Brian McGratton was before being sent to the AHL the last half of the 2nd year.
- Russell comes back to Calgary way cheaper than Stone would have and gets the job done despite being a huge wiping boy.

Gio - Hamilton
Brodie - Russell
Bartowksi - Engelland
(2018 version of Grossman)

[MarkGio]

I can't see the Oilers not wanting Russell back. I would bank on them signing him to a few years.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I can't see the Oilers not wanting Russell back. I would bank on them signing him to a few years.

Hopefully to a ridiculous overpayment.

[Love]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I can't see the Oilers not wanting Russell back. I would bank on them signing him to a few years.

Sounds like more want him gone than those that want him to stay.

[nieuwy-89]

A few thoughts:

I was impressed with Stone and wouldn't mind if the Flames overpay to keep him. He really stabilized that second pair and allowed Brodie to play his game. People thought we overpaid Sarich but he ended up being a fantastic player for this team.

For the third pair I think you rotate in the kids and see what they can do in limited ice time. It's time for one or two of them to grab a roster spot. Any chance that Kostka plays on our third pairing? If not why bother trading for him (in the Lazar deal)?

Regarding Kris Russel, I think he wants to play in Alberta, so Edmonton and Calgary should have a slight market advantage with him. He was a very polarizing player in Edmonton this year, just like he was in Calgary. But you know he is going to battle his can off every night, even if he is doing so to cover up his own mistakes. If Edmonton walks away from him then I would have no problem with the Flames offering him a short term deal (say 2 years at $3 million per). But no longer or higher than that.

[Love]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

Any chance that Kostka plays on our third pairing?

No chance at all. He sucks.

[StanTheMan]

This summer is absolute key to solidifying our depth on defence, which has been an absolute disaster in recent years. I think this is the current greatest weakness on the team, so BT can't afford to mess this up.

In an ideal world, I would love to see BT trade for a young, true #4 D that can REALLY help Brodie elevate his game and give the Flames two elite level top pairings. Someone like Vatanen, Tanev, etc... Having said that, this would obviously have to be done after expansion and is clearly easier said then done. Players like these don't come available often and almost always cost a pretty penny.

In a more realistic world, I would like for BT to look into signing both Franson and Stone to reasonable contracts of around 3-4 mill x 3 years each. This gives GG lots of options for his second pair with Brodie, and also provides depth in case of injury. Whoever loses out on the #4 job in camp is paired with rotating cast of rookies on the bottom pairing.

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Franson
Kulak-Stone
Anderrson

[Roof-Daddy]

I wonder what the ask for Hamonic would be now?

He had a terrible season in New York, and maybe now would be a decent chance to buy low on him if you think he'd bounce back.

Giordano - Hamilton
TJ Brodie - Hamonic
B. Kulak - M. Stone

That right there is a pretty solid D core if Hamonic returns to his solid shut down form of years past.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

Any chance that Kostka plays on our third pairing? If not why bother trading for him (in the Lazar deal)?

I believe the Senators wanted to dump a contract so they would have room for their other acquisitions. The Flames had no objection to taking on a contract, and here we are. But Kostka is basically a career AHLer, and I don't imagine he's in any team's plans.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I wonder what the ask for Hamonic would be now?

He had a terrible season in New York, and maybe now would be a decent chance to buy low on him if you think he'd bounce back.

Giordano - Hamilton
TJ Brodie - Hamonic
B. Kulak - M. Stone

That right there is a pretty solid D core if Hamonic returns to his solid shut down form of years past.

Paying Hamonic and Stone would throw off our salary cap balance wouldn't it? I'd imagine if we pay Stone what he's worth ($4m+) you'd have to have very low salaries on the bottom pairing.

Signing Stone and trading for Hamonic would put us at about $26mil for our defense, minimum.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Paying Hamonic and Stone would throw off our salary cap balance wouldn't it? I'd imagine if we pay Stone what he's worth ($4m+) you'd have to have very low salaries on the bottom pairing.

Signing Stone and trading for Hamonic would put us at about $26mil for our defense, minimum.

Yeah, about $25 for the top 5. Just over $26 with 650k guys as the #6 and #7 which for next year would be likely Kulak and Bartkowski.

Would be one of the highest paid D cores in the league, but very likely money well spent.

EDIT: But I'm ALL IN for letting the young guys play if they are good enough and ready. I'm tired of trying to figure out who the Flames should trade for to make their roster better. I'm hoping we turn a corner and start churning out home grown NHLers for once, especially on the blue line.

I would be happier than a pig in #### if our D was:

Giordano - Hamilton
TJ Brodie - Andersson
B. Kulak - M. Stone

...next season, and they were actually GOOD.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by nieuwy-89

A few thoughts:

I was impressed with Stone and wouldn't mind if the Flames overpay to keep him. He really stabilized that second pair and allowed Brodie to play his game. People thought we overpaid Sarich but he ended up being a fantastic player for this team.

For the third pair I think you rotate in the kids and see what they can do in limited ice time. It's time for one or two of them to grab a roster spot. Any chance that Kostka plays on our third pairing? If not why bother trading for him (in the Lazar deal)?

Regarding Kris Russel, I think he wants to play in Alberta, so Edmonton and Calgary should have a slight market advantage with him. He was a very polarizing player in Edmonton this year, just like he was in Calgary. But you know he is going to battle his can off every night, even if he is doing so to cover up his own mistakes. If Edmonton walks away from him then I would have no problem with the Flames offering him a short term deal (say 2 years at $3 million per). But no longer or higher than that.

Sarich was a fantastic player? I thought he was overpaid his whole contract. At his prime we were loaded with some combination of Jbow, Reghre, Phaneuf or Giordano so he almost always played on the third pair. He was slow and injured all the time. The Flames were always up against the cap while he was here. And towards the end of his career that kind of one-dimensional defenseman became obsolete. Shut down guys need to skate and at least stretch pass or wrister it on net. Sarich could only really body check.

[activeStick]

Treliving's first choice will be Stone but if it's too much, he'll re-sign Engelland.

[calgaryblood]

Bartkowski shouldn't be anywhere this team, or the NHL

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Bartkowski shouldn't be anywhere this team, or the NHL

The perfect 7th Dman if you ask me. Let him eat popcorn and practice while the prospects that don't make the top 6 play big minutes in Stockton.