[News] With the 66th OA pick Flames select D Adam Fox

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Every year you wait gives him less incentive to sign here instead of just waiting for free agency.

Don't screw around with NCAA prospects once you've decided they are worth a contract.

Also, with the Harvard squad expected to be significantly worse next year as the best players move on, there is not much to be gained by another season in the NCAA.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

Also, with the Harvard squad expected to be significantly worse next year as the best players move on, there is not much to be gained by another season in the NCAA.

The Flames should trade at least two of their NHL Defensemen for offensive help next year. Brodie +. You win in this league with goaltending and the ability to score.

Create space for Valimaki, Fox, Kylington and Andersson. Kylington, I still think, is going to be a hidden star for us.

[yourbestfriend]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

The Flames should trade at least two of their NHL Defensemen for offensive help next year. Brodie +. You win in this league with goaltending and the ability to score.

Create space for Valimaki, Fox, Kylington and Andersson. Kylington, I still think, is going to be a hidden star for us.

That would only work if those guys are 100% ready to step into a top4 role, which I highly doubt any of them are at this point in their careers. And to be quite honest, I just can't see management trading away any of our NHL defensemen right now. It took them a long time to put this group together, they're not just going to disband them.

With the amount of almost ready NHL defensive prospects we have, I would rather the team trade those guys for some help up front. The remaining d prospects will be given the Kulak treatment - slowly but surely given opportunities in the NHL.

[Moneyhands23]

Game just started

[Fire]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

The Flames should trade at least two of their NHL Defensemen for offensive help next year. Brodie +. You win in this league with goaltending and the ability to score.

Create space for Valimaki, Fox, Kylington and Andersson. Kylington, I still think, is going to be a hidden star for us.

That would be playing with fire. With Andersson being the closest to the NHL , I would trade only one veteran RH defenseman. Trading Dougie Hamilton would be silly. I can't see the Flames trading Hamonic so soon. So I think the obvious choice is Michael Stone. The return wouldn't be great, but it would allow Fox or most likely Andersson to step into the line-up next season.

Valimaki needs at least 1 or 2 years in the AHL. If Kylington wants to play in the NHL next season he just has to be better than Kulak. Kulak has been a solid 3rd paring defenseman, but if Kylington isn't better than him then he's not ready for the NHL yet.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Fire

That would be playing with fire. With Andersson being the closest to the NHL , I would trade only one veteran RH defenseman. Trading Dougie Hamilton would be silly. I can't see the Flames trading Hamonic so soon. So I think the obvious choice is Michael Stone. The return wouldn't be great, but it would allow Fox or most likely Andersson to step into the line-up next season.

Valimaki needs at least 1 or 2 years in the AHL. If Kylington wants to play in the NHL next season he just has to be better than Kulak. Kulak has been a solid 3rd paring defenseman, but if Kylington isn't better than him then he's not ready for the NHL yet.

I wouldn't ever trade Dougie, but I would trade Brodie + Stone/Hamonic

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Fire

Valimaki needs at least 1 or 2 years in the AHL.

Why is it that the Flames and most of their fans feel the need to over cook our D prospects in the AHL? It's like our vets don't have brainfarts and make mistakes or something. *cough* Brodie *cough*

If a player can play he should be playing, I bet Tampa is happy playing Sergachev, same with Boston with McAvoy, Others like Hanifin, Chabot, Maatta..etc, the list goes on.

I for one would love to see some young exuberance on our blueline

[Bingo]

None of the young defensemen took a job in September. That's on them.

Andersson, Kulak, Kylington, Wotherspoon were pretty quiet. Nobody knocked the door down and took a job.

Since then I think Andersson has shown he's out growing the AHL and looked good in a one game stint up with the Flames so I'm guessing they're looking at moving a defenseman in the summer to make room.

But they didn't make it a tough choice in training camp.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Bingo

None of the young defensemen took a job in September. That's on them.

Andersson, Kulak, Kylington, Wotherspoon were pretty quiet. Nobody knocked the door down and took a job.

Since then I think Andersson has shown he's out growing the AHL and looked good in a one game stint up with the Flames so I'm guessing they're looking at moving a defenseman in the summer to make room.

But they didn't make it a tough choice in training camp.

Agreed, I think this September will be the first training camp where our D prospects create significant noise and chatter. Like you said, Brad is likely anticipating this and will move an NHL D-man for a forward around the draft.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Agreed, I think this September will be the first training camp where our D prospects make significant noise and chatter around camp. And like you said, Brad is likely anticipating this and will move out an NHL D-man for a forward.

My guess is the following ...

- Bartkowski walks
- they assume Andersson is ready
- but they bring in a right shooting veteran which will drive the fans nuts, but it shouldn't as he's an insurance policy on the cheap to be the 7th defenseman.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Bingo

None of the young defensemen took a job in September. That's on them.

Andersson, Kulak, Kylington, Wotherspoon were pretty quiet. Nobody knocked the door down and took a job.

Since then I think Andersson has shown he's out growing the AHL and looked good in a one game stint up with the Flames so I'm guessing they're looking at moving a defenseman in the summer to make room.

But they didn't make it a tough choice in training camp.

All four had a better camp and are better than Matt friken Bartkowski

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

All four had a better camp and are better than Matt friken Bartkowski

So? Do you want any of those 4 to be in the press box?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by the2bears

So? Do you want any of those 4 to be in the press box?

Exactly ...

Bartkowski was the perfect guy to sit in the stands. No waste of development time plus a place holder.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

All four had a better camp and are better than Matt friken Bartkowski

Yep, but the 7th D-man spot should not a be a graduating spot for a high level prospect. They needed to beat out a top 6 D-man.

[Bezer]

3-0 Harvard near the end of the second

[Bezer]

Fox with a goal 4-1 Harvard

[Beninho]

Adam Fox would be the Oilers best prospect by a mile

[Bezer]

Fox with another 5-1 Harvard..

[Bezer]

6-1 Harvard end of the second.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by the2bears

So? Do you want any of those 4 to be in the press box?

Nope, but if I can play GM for a minute

I would have traded Brodie for a top 6 winger, wouldn't have signed Stone and used the money for more forward help and picked 3 of Andersson, Kulak, Kylington or Wotherspoon to rotate in and out of the lineup all season.

In all likelyhood:

Giordano - Hamilton
Kulak/Kylington/Wotherspoon - Hamonic
Kulak/Kylington/Wotherspoon - Andersson

Kulak/Kylington/Wotherspoon

And before anyone says yuck!

Try the defense on leagues 4th best team:

Schmidt(26) - Engelland(35)
Theodore(22) - Miller(24)
Sbisa(27) - McNabb(25)
Hunt(25)

Or check out last years Stanley Cup winners defense minus Letang