So who the heck are our defense and how do they rank?

[442scotty]

I’m going to predict that Bean is going to surprise a lot of people now that he’s home.

[Vinny01]

I feel like this is the worst blueline the Flames have had on paper in the cap era. When the last rebuild started the Gio-Brodie pairing was solid and Russell, Wideman, Engellend were pretty solid.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Groot

Weegar - Miromanov
Bean - Andersson
Bahl - Pachal
Hanley

Broke up Weegar and Andersson to each help the less experienced guys.

2024/2025 Possible Graduates - Solovyov, Poirier, Kuznetsov

2025/2026 Possible Graduates - Parekh, Brzustewicz, Grushnikov

2026/2027 Possible Graduates - Mews

As players graduate they push players down and out of the lineup where applicable.

In the system, not sure what to expect - Jurmo, Ohotiuk, Jamieson, Fibigr

Fibigr is a Kraken.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Sure smells like a high pick!

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I feel like this is the worst blueline the Flames have had on paper in the cap era. When the last rebuild started the Gio-Brodie pairing was solid and Russell, Wideman, Engellend were pretty solid.

Having a bad blueline is probably the most important factor in a solid tank job.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Unless there are some big surprises, this is a bottom 5 team.

Yup, and it’s beautiful.
No ugly overpayments on free agents.
Just a season to watch development of the kids and moral victories.
No stress, I’m really looking forward to it finally having a direction.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Having a bad blueline is probably the most important factor in a solid tank job.

True but I am glad to see it’s likely more of a short-term (1-2 year) problem. Over the last year the flames have gone from being a team with virtually nothing in the prospect pool for defencemen… to having one of the deepest prospect pools of defencemen including potentially one of the highest offensively-skilled defencemen to come out of the OHL ever (Parekh). So while the defence right now will be an island of misfit toys… I think it will shift to being a strength of the team by the time the flames are coming out of the rebuild.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Fibigr is a Kraken.

Huh strange, I just went off this link for a summary and they had him at 202 to Flames lol

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/every-c...-draft/sn-amp/

Seventh Round
202: Jakub Fibigr, D, Missaussage Steelheads (OHL)

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by stemit14

True but I am glad to see it’s likely more of a short-term (1-2 year) problem. Over the last year the flames have gone from being a team with virtually nothing in the prospect pool for defencemen… to having one of the deepest prospect pools of defencemen including potentially one of the highest offensively-skilled defencemen to come out of the OHL ever (Parekh). So while the defence right now will be an island of misfit toys… I think it will shift to being a strength of the team by the time the flames are coming out of the rebuild.

100% agree.
My only concern is the potential impact on Wolf.
But on paper, this could be a bottom 5 or bottom 3 team next year.

Timing wise bottoming out the next 3 years, wouldn't be bad. I like the top end of the drafts particularly in 2026 and 2027. But next year ain't bad.

[Lanny_McDonald]

It's way too early to make a call, as other teams are still filling out their defensive corps, but it is going to be really easy to beat the Flames' roster on the back end.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

100% agree.
My only concern is the potential impact on Wolf.
But on paper, this could be a bottom 5 or bottom 3 team next year.

Timing wise bottoming out the next 3 years, wouldn't be bad. I like the top end of the drafts particularly in 2026 and 2027. But next year ain't bad.

Definitely could be a concern for Wolf. My hope is that the coaching staff tailor the starts this season with an eye on the development of Wolf. That means never letting him sit out for too long and also protecting him against certain teams - especially at the start of the season. No doubt many fans will be calling for him to be the starter this year but my hope is that Vladar is given more starts at least to begin the season. Can’t perfectly protect him but if the staff looks at it in 5 game segments… give Wolf the 2 “weakest” of the 5 and give Vladar the “stronger” of the 5.

As the season goes on, if Wolf shows progression (good save percentage), you could adjust it so he gets more starts. If he struggles, keep it at 2 of every 5 starts for Wolf - don’t scale him back as he needs to keep getting exposure to NHL teams. Either way, I will definitely not write-off Wolf if he struggles this season. He will be adjusting to the NHL still and he will be playing behind a defence that likely struggles to limit chances against.

[The Hendog]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

I’m going to predict that Bean is going to surprise a lot of people now that he’s home.

I hope so

Columbus tried to ruin him and is that really surprising?

Hopefully bounce back

[Locke]

Oh man...our goalies are going to get absolutely shelled.

It is going to be like '1940s London' at the Dome.

They're going to have to convert a Pocket Dawg stand into a shelter.

[Flames1217]

Weegar-Anderson
Bahl-Pachal
Bean-Miromanov
Hanley

Yeah...not good lol

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I want to see Bahl-Parekh for 9 games

If he weren't facing heavy criminal charges, I'd be game to give Cal Foote a PTO next training camp.

Then we could watch Foote-Bahl while the exhibition games are on.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Groot

Huh strange, I just went off this link for a summary and they had him at 202 to Flames lol

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/every-c...-draft/sn-amp/

Yeah, I saw that too. I double checked cause I didn’t see a CP thread for the pick. I guess Sportsnet forgot that we traded Seattle that pick for Jarnkrok.

[lazypucker]

Does Brz have another year of junior eligibility left?

If not, I wouldn't mind seeing him bouncing between the AHL and the NHL

[Groot]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Yeah, I saw that too. I double checked cause I didn’t see a CP thread for the pick. I guess Sportsnet forgot that we traded Seattle that pick for Jarnkrok.

A+ journalism

[Roof-Daddy]

I like our D core

It's full of nice place holders while we wait on Parekh and Brzustewicz to come in light #### up.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Yeah, I saw that too. I double checked cause I didn’t see a CP thread for the pick. I guess Sportsnet forgot that we traded Seattle that pick for Jarnkrok.

They also haven’t noticed Arizona moved to Utah on their trade board.
Someone should tell them about the news they missed while they were slobbering over McDavid and the Oilers.