Which Heat Players Make the Big Club?

[Muta]

Still don't know why we re-signed Comeau and (to a lesser extent) Stempniak. We have guys in Abbotsford ready to take their places.

Granted, this season is a good one so far for the Heat. Hindsight is 20/20, I guess.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I am going to go out on a limb here and say Sven will play the whole season in the AHL unless injuries get him called up. Far too much forward depth and not enough centers. The most likely candidate would be Horak followed by Brodie. Just a guess of course but there are too many one way contracts and for Sven to get a full time Slot someone will need to be traded i.e Stempniak, Comeau, Jackman, Stajan. Stjan being a Center and with negative trade value I do not see him being dealt.

I doubt Sven plays the whole year in the AHL. Feaster said that it would take a miracle for Sven not to be on the flames opening day roster. My guess is that Stempniak will be sitting in the press box making millions.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I am going to go out on a limb here and say Sven will play the whole season in the AHL unless injuries get him called up. Far too much forward depth and not enough centers. The most likely candidate would be Horak followed by Brodie. Just a guess of course but there are too many one way contracts and for Sven to get a full time Slot someone will need to be traded i.e Stempniak, Comeau, Jackman, Stajan. Stjan being a Center and with negative trade value I do not see him being dealt.

Your limb just broke.

Feaster pretty much guaranteed Sven would make the Flames and that was before he even played in the AHL. Now after having that intermediate experience I don't see any way he wouldn't make the team. He's more of a lock than Stajan is IMO.

If Feaster has to make trades to fit Sven in then that is what will happen.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Muta

Still don't know why we re-signed Comeau and (to a lesser extent) Stempniak. We have guys in Abbotsford ready to take their places.

Granted, this season is a good one so far for the Heat. Hindsight is 20/20, I guess.

To play devil's advocate - I'm not sure we do. This is a team short on skill - and certainly Lee Stempniak has that. The guys ready for prime time on the farm (Sven being the exception) aren't big skill guys. Horak may continue to surprise but I wouldn't rely on him being a scorer at the NHL level.

Stempniak and Comeau have both potted 20 at the NHL level - the Flames don't have many guys on the farm capable of appraoching that mark.

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Muta

Still don't know why we re-signed Comeau and (to a lesser extent) Stempniak. We have guys in Abbotsford ready to take their places.

Granted, this season is a good one so far for the Heat. Hindsight is 20/20, I guess.

Stempniak I can understand as he's always been a skilled goal scorer and can be useful. Comeau on the other hand just baffles me. He brings absolutely nothing to the table that deserves an extension. The only time Comeau is somewhat useful is when he decides he wants to be physical, and he seems to forget that part of his game a lot. When he first got to Calgary he was hitting everything in sight and then he started playing soft for the rest of the season.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I think Comeau is fine with losing Kostopolous. We need solid role players and 4th liners and Comeau can play that role and perhaps still pot a few. He's a guy upgrade on many of the 4th liners the Flames have sported over the last 15 years. He's a tad overpaid IMO but not horribly so and far from the worst contract on the Flames.

Comeau-Jones-Jackman is a great 4th line IMO. Very hard to play against. Physical, fast, hard on the boards. Bouma could be in there but is currently injured at the moment. Aliu is another guy competing for that role. I guess you could have Stajan in there and move Jones up but I think Jones is a pretty ideal 4th line centre.

The real questions on the Flames roster revolve around who are playing as the top 3 centres. Cervenka, Backlund and who? Cammalleri? Hudler? Stajan?

[Calgary4LIfe]

I believe the 4 center spots are going to Cammy, Cervenka, Backlund and Jones (in that order). I think it will be their spots to lose. Stajan will have to out-perform one of these guys (and really, I don't think Hartley will put anyone other than Jones as the 4th line center, as it seems he likes to have 'toughness' in the lineup, and Jones is a better fit for the 4th line than anyone else on the roster for the 4th line center).

Reinhart is a lock to play parts of this season due to injuries, or perhaps through meritocracy. He will get a few looks on the Flames this season, but doubtful he will become a regular unless during one of his call-ups, he really excels. I see him as a definite future center on the Flames, but not much outside spot duty this season.

I think the top 3 lines (IMO) are basically 'set':

Tanguay - Cammy - Iginla
Glencross - Cervenka - Hudler
Baertschi - Backlund - Stempniak (though Horak could push out Stempniak IF he continues to progress)

The 4th line is a bit more murky. I am personally not very high on Comeau. It seems to me that he doesn't possess very high hockey IQ, which seems to be what the Flames are moving towards. I think he will rotate into the lineup regularly. Jackman will be in the same boat as him.

Stempniak, Comeau and Jackman will be the guys rotating in and out of the lineup, I think anyways.

The big question is Babchuk. His first year with Calgary I thought he was very effective (though VERY sheltered). However, I noticed that Sutter threw him out on a few PKs, and I thought Babchuk was fine. Last season, he was barely utilized. With Wideman on the team this season, I think Babchuk will get a 'fair shake', but I doubt he will be more than a 7th defencemen until there are injuries. Brodie will definitely be on the team, however.

I really believe that the Flames will be making a bit of room on their roster for Horak. Stajan, Stempniak and Comeau are possible trades - though for what who knows (and none have much value until at least the trade deadline). Babchuk I think will be traded - and he will have trade value for teams needing a PP specialist (which I think he is rather good at), and I am sure the no-trade clause he has will be irrelevant, as he either agrees to be traded or he sits.

I think a lot of players will get some games in. Horak, Baertschi and Brodie will probably make the team right away. Bouma, Reinhart, Aliu will get looks/injury duty. I have to figure that Nemisz will get a decent look as well, though probably coming in more towards the end of the season when he 'catches up' after his injury (no idea when he is expected back). Byron I am not so sure of - he is quick and talented, and plays a fairly aggressive style, but I am not yet convinced he will become an NHL player (though hopefully he will).

The real question will be in net. Ward seems to favor Taylor and Brust. Irving will definitely get a shot at backup duty for Kipper - but what if Karlsson out-competes Irving? It is looking like Irving will not have a future with the Flames (and I think he has gotten a fair shake - his inconsistencies season-to-season is what has hurt him). Irving has to take charge and just out-compete everyone at this point, and show that he is #2 on the depth chart not just because he is a 1st round pick, but because he is the 2nd most talented goalie in the system.

Just my random thoughts. This season will be a very interesting one as we may lose certain prospects, and there will be some adjustments to the roster as some prospects push themselves onto the team. I don't think there will be anyone - prospect or veteran - that will be on the team for any reason other than meritocracy. Feaster will make trades accordingly to fit players in who deserve it - regardless of vets, contracts, waiver eligibility or draft pick hierarchy. Signing Stempniak and Comeau were depth moves - if people take their position, they will sit, get traded or even be sent down if need be - ala Kotalik and Hagman. Feaster just wants depth and for players to actually compete for their positions.