Waiver wire Sept 26. Flames waive Rychel, Robinson, Quine, Klimchuk, Graovac

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Drunk Uncle

Curious who you think should our 13th/14th forward should be if both are sent down.

Since they seemingly insist on Peluso, him and Lomberg works for me

[Imported_Aussie]

Looking at who is left that needs to clear waivers helps you see where the remaining battles are on the roster:

At forward - Peluso and Lazar need to clear. Since the team is unlikely to want Mangiapane or Dube to sit in the pressbox vs AHL top line, we can assume that one of them is demoted at least. Considering that the top 11 is likely set (Gaudreau, Monahan, Lindholm, Tkachuk, Backlund, Neal, Ryan, Czarnik, Frolik, Jankowski, Bennett) then there are 3 spots to fill.
So 3 make the team of: Dube, Mangiapane, Lazar, Hathaway, Peluso - perhaps Foo is kept around, but likely he is AHL bound.
12F = Dube or Mangiapane
13F = Hathaway
14F = Lazar
Peluso is kept around as an option should these guys fail to lock down a spot, or if the team wants a tough guy. I think they should steer clear of keeping a tough guy around, as they can always call up if they feel a need later (i hope not)

On D - I think that Valimaki has been given a shot, but looks like he would benefit from AHL development, contract slide situation notwithstanding. Kylington also has kinks to iron out of his game. Since Prout and Kulak are still here, and Andersson has looked very good, I think the Flames are down to 8, with the top 4 locked in (Giordano, Brodie, Hanifin, Hamonic) and then 4 guys looking at 3 spots (Andersson, Stone, Kulak, Prout). Andersson is the only one not needing waivers.
This could prompt the Flames to look to trade Kulak/Stone, if there are any takers, or waive and demote Kulak/Prout. Sending Andersson down while waiting for a trade would be a bad move. They could also decide to run with 8 D, meaning waivers for an extra forward. Andersson is forcing a tough decision here - they could play him on the bottom pair on the left, but then that forces keeping Kulak IMO as a natural left sided D in case Andersson needs more time to adapt. Between the arbitration hearing and positive feedback on Prout, the Flames may be looking to move on from Kulak. I would opt for the below:
3rd pair: Andersson - Stone
7D = Kulak
This means waiving Prout, but I feel he will clear, and extra D depth to callup is never a bad thing

Goalie backup battle - if waivers are the factor, you demote Gillies. But Rittich has not made the best case to win that position. A lot will come from how coaches have observed specific characteristics, practice sessions, etc. I think that given that a team has to keep him up all year, Rittich can clear waivers, and Gillies has looked better IMO.
2G = Gillies
Waiving Rittich doesn't mean he won't be back later, but I feel the team has a good idea of what they have in him, and should Smith get injured (knock on wood) then the Flames will be trading for a new goaltender anyway.

Roster prediction:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Neal
Bennett - Jankowski - Frolik
Dube - Ryan - Czarnik
ex. Hathaway, Lazar

Giordano - Brodie
Hanifin - Hamonic
Andersson - Stone
ex. Kulak

Smith
Gillies

[David Struch]

I hope Morgan Klimchuk clears, he has done well during his three years down on the farm, 19 goals in each of the past two seasons. (66 & 62 games)

[GullFoss]

I see two options:

12 - mangipane or dube
13 - hathaway
14 - peluso

Or

12/13 - Lazar/Hathaway
14 - peluso

Things to consider:

If they want size and mangipane draws out for a game, does Lazar ever draw in ahead of Hathaway? If not, Lazar is a pressbox head.

At 26 years old Hathway is probably content as #13. At 23 years old, is Lazar? If he believes he's good enough to play somewhere else, he'll asked to be waived to see if he's claimed. Also, first line in the AHL might actually be helpful for his development vs. pressbox. Perhaps Lazar just needs a little time to get his hands back...

I bet most likely is:

Mangiapane
Hathaway
Peluso

[Drunk Uncle]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Since they seemingly insist on Peluso, him and Lomberg works for me

Out of the games I saw, I didn't think Peluso or Lomberg outperformed Hathaway or Lazar. At the very least they were even.

Not saying it would hurt us to make that move or that Hathaway or Lazar are good NHLers, but it seems like change for the sake of change without any real improvement to the roster to me.

[Drunk Uncle]

Originally Posted by David Struch

I hope Morgan Klimchuk clears, he has done well during his three years down on the farm, 19 goals in each of the past two seasons. (66 & 62 games)

I think he clears. I would be surprised if there is a GM in the league that is ready to hand Klimchuk an NHL roster spot for the year.

[Young_Guns]

Even if we lose Lazar on waivers, who really cares? The pick never should have been sent in exchange for him to begin with. We already lost that trade so at this point it doesn't really matter. No point in saving face and keeping around a guy just because his personality is good. The Formenton guy the Senators picked with that 2nd rounder seems like hes going to make the big club this year (from what I read a few days ago).

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Drunk Uncle

I think he clears. I would be surprised if there is a GM in the league that is ready to hand Klimchuk an NHL roster spot for the year.

Maybe a team like gong-show Ottawa would

Or Montreal, they might want to try Klimchuk at C like all of their other wingers do. It’s protocol.

[sureLoss]

No official word yet, but safe to assume everyone cleared.

Usually if a player was claimed, the news would have come out by now.