[Signing] Flames sign CZE D Jakub Nakladal to 1 year ELC

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I think he signed because Gillies took him aside to explain about the red mile and the women in Calgary.

Considering what's available at home, I don't think anyone from the Czech Republic is going to be enticed here by the women and/or drinking establishments.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I think I would much rather have Wotherspoon playing top pairing minutes with Morrison in Stockton than him alternating with Nakladal and Engelland for a bottom pairing spot.

Would much rather let Tyler get more playing time in Stockton, play top pairing minutes, and the Flames re-sign Schlemko to have Schlemko/Engelland/Nakladal alternate as the 5/6/7's.

Why? Weren't we saying the same thing last year too? At some time Wotherspoon has to make the team and work his way up. It's not like he's ever going to be playing top pair in Calgary anyways so play him in the role he likely will be in coming years.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Why? Weren't we saying the same thing last year too? At some time Wotherspoon has to make the team and work his way up. It's not like he's ever going to be playing top pair in Calgary anyways so play him in the role he likely will be in coming years.

last year he was coming off major shoulder surgery and took a lot of time to get his game going again

A guy often forgotten is Ramage who apparently finished off the year as one of our minor leagues top defenseman

[jeffman]

Good Signing. Hes probably not a slouch defensively as Czech Republic was never blown out this WHC even when facing some offensively gifted teams and should be able to eat some valuable minutes so that Brodie and Russell can reserve their energy for offensive rushes

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I've read this come from Fan960 a week ago, but this has been bantered around for weeks. Other then the fact that it was a pretty serious injury, is there any justification for this speculation?

The injury has been confirmed to be related to a neck surgery for a bulging disc he had done in 2010.

Article on the surgery:
http://www.faceoff.com/story.html?id...c-156b007ba727

My understanding is that repeated damage to that injury could be quite problematic for a professional athlete, but not 100% sure.

[sureLoss]

Calgary Flames @NHLFlames
“He’s a guy that our guys liked. He’s a guy that we pursued to bring in." - #Flames GM Brad Treliving on signing Jakub Nakladal

[Reggie Dunlop]

Nakladal = BIG!

Big = GOOD!

[sureLoss]

Aaron Vickers @AAVickers
Treliving on Nakladal: “We think this is a smart, sensible signing with upside in a position we want to continue to build and add depth.”

[Bezer]

Found money, now let's see if it's a shiny penny or a 50 spot.

[sureLoss]

Wes Gilbertson @SUNGilbertson
#Flames GM Brad Treliving on D Jakub Nakladal: “Ultimately, how you describe him is he's a stable defender with mobility.”

[Sylvanfan]

Lets hope he can be a Jan Hejda type for the Flames. Decent stay at home bottom pairing guy. This past playoff run proved that you can never have too much depth on defence.

[sa226]

"Stable defender with mobility" Is exactly the type of player they need on the bottom two.

If the Flames want to play the same system for years to come, they need certain skill sets on every pairing. I always liked Smid and Engelland is a minor folk hero after the playoffs, but their slight lack of mobility and puck skills was a huge factor when they were a pairing throughout the season.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wes Gilbertson @SUNGilbertson
#Flames GM Brad Treliving on D Jakub Nakladal: “Ultimately, how you describe him is he's a stable defender with mobility.”

Which is strange, because a lot of Czech fans are saying he's a pretty poor skater.

[sureLoss]

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=768222

“He’s a guy that our guys liked,” Treliving said. “Where he fits, training camp will determine that. We look at this as we think there’s some upside there. There are always questions with players that have spent their careers in Europe in terms of transition and how long that will take. He’s a solid person. He keeps himself in great shape. But we’ll see. Training camp, preseason will determine where he slots in. We talked about continuing to add depth to the blue line. This is that.

“We think there’s upside here, but to us the risk-reward factor we felt when we analyzed it favours upside without a great deal of risk. We’ll see. We think this is a smart, sensible signing with upside in a position that we want to continue to build and add depth.”

“Against really good competition he showed well,” Treliving said. “When our people spoke with the Czech people, (he was) probably the most reliable player over the course of the tournament. Watching him specifically over the past three weeks and speaking with him, all the reports checked out in terms of the character.”

“He’s a good-sized, right shot defender,” Treliving described. “He can move a puck, he’s got a big shot, but his game is a defending type of game with the ability to make simple plays, simple outlet plays. I don’t want to confuse him with a guy who’s going to take the puck from one end to the other, but he’s a solid, stable defender.”

[Buck Murdock]

Can we confirm that he's actually a defenseman and not a centre?

[Fire]

Does seem like a Smid replacement.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Nakladal = BIG!

Big = GOOD!

Isn't he 6'1" or 2"? That's pretty average for a defensive d-man, no?

[Vulcan]

He's 6'2" and 205 which is average for a defenceman but bigger than any of our top four.

[Stay Golden]

Flames persued him and he chose the Flames so thats one plus.
ELC for 1 year thats another plus.
6'2 thats a plus.
Could battle for a bubble spot or 3rd pairing upgrade over Diaz and Potter so that is another plus.
I don't see a down side to a 1 year ELC here.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Can we confirm that he's actually a defenseman and not a centre?

He played this season in Turku. If there's one thing I know about Turku, it's that he's probably a goalie now.