[Signing] Flames sign Sieloff (3yrs, $925k AAV)

[Lanny_McDonald]

After Wideman, Giordano and Brodie I don't see a single defense,an that should be a lock or not be a candidate for Abbottsford. Open it up and may the best player win. If two players are equal, let the player with the best potential, or furthest from becoming post apex in Jay Feaster lingo, take the roster spot. Butler, Russell, Smith, and to a lesser degree O'Brien, should all be looking over their shoulders. I would not be disappointed to see a blue line this season of Wideman, Giordano, Brodie, Cundari, O'Brien, Breen, Ramage and Sieloff. Nice blend of skill and toughness.

[Anduril]

Now that I think about it, wouldn't Kronwall be the ideal comparison considering how much Sieloff models his game after him?

[Da_Chief]

If Sieloff and Wotherspoon can come into the camp and steal the bottom pairing spots, that would be MASSIVE. Let them play the year against lower lines at 15 mins a game.

[Deegee]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Gotta love these big nasty pieces the Flames are adding!

I'd love to see a Flames team that has skill, but also one that other teams fear playing. That's one thing I really miss from the DSutter coached era.

[Sylvanfan]

I think people are getting a bit ahead of themselves with Seiloff. Very good pick in the spot he went, and a good example of why rebuilding teams need to hit some second round picks. But teenage defenceman are very rare in the NHL. This guy still has a lot that he could accomplish in Junior yet. Kronwall didn't see the NHL until he was 22 and was 24 when he played a full season. I like him and hope to see him in Flames uniform one day. But I think it's at least another year in junior, and one in the AHL away from happening.

[Da_Chief]

^ I think ppl get that. But if he's as good as Smith/SOB/Russell etc then might as well give him the job instead of sending him to Juniors.

One of the reasons why dman don't come into their own is because they are sent to juniors/minors for numbers of years cuz they're limited spots available. We right now have spots available if they're as good as the "vets" then boot the vets out. Same reason why goalies take forever to come into their own, they need to play against top competition but there are only 30 starting spots. Takes them a long time to de-throne an established guy.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

^ I think ppl get that. But if he's as good as Smith/SOB/Russell etc then might as well give him the job instead of sending him to Juniors.

One of the reasons why dman don't come into their own is because they are sent to juniors/minors for numbers of years cuz they're limited spots available. We right now have spots available if they're as good as the "vets" then boot the vets out. Same reason why goalies take forever to come into their own, they need to play against top competition but there are only 30 starting spots. Takes them a long time to de-throne an established guy.

Sieloff needs to be better than Butler to have a chance of sticking in the NHL this year. SOB is all but assured a job with the flames. Smith and Russell will be pressbox fodder, so there is no point in Sieloff taking their place.

[kn]

As much as Sieloff is turning to one of my favourite players, he will be hard pressed to crack the lineup and it's probably best he return to junior. If he comes to camp and steals the show and makes an impact in nine games, then perhaps you make room for him.

Wideman, Giordano, Brodie, Butler, O'Brien, Smith, Russell is your opening day lineup barring injuries.

(It sure would be nice if Breen, Cundari, and others could shake it up though...)

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Anduril

Now that I think about it, wouldn't Kronwall be the ideal comparison considering how much Sieloff models his game after him?

The right Kronwall we hope

[Da_Chief]

Disagree on Butler, he's got a spot locked up. SOB probably as well. so Sieloff is fighting for the 6th dman spot. That he might be able to crack.

[edslunch]

I'm still surprised they picked up Russell when there are so many prospects near ready. Not necessarily Sieloff this year but Breen, Cundari, Wotherspoon, Ramage....

[transplant99]

Yeah i dont expect him to stick with the club this season...unless he absolutely wows em in camp.

But i do expect him to be a fixture on the backend after that. Start as a 6/7 guy after this year and then anywhere from a 2- guy moving forward.

He just reeks of a hard nosed 15 year vet type who will do whatever it takes.

Someone said an Adam Foote comparison...and i agree although my initial thought was a Steve Staios type. Nothing wrong with either one and truly a home run from a 2nd rd guy if thats how it plays out.

[The Swedish Flame]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

"It's like we told (Patrick) Sieloff - we don't have a lot of players in the organization that play the way you play and we're going to give you an opportunity in camp. We're going to give you pre-season games and see if you can knock the door down" - Feaster

Love it. Probably means he's going to give it his all and then some.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

If Sieloff and Wotherspoon can come into the camp and steal the bottom pairing spots, that would be MASSIVE. Let them play the year against lower lines at 15 mins a game.

I would rather see Wotherspoon, Ramage and Sieloff getting lots of minutes and playing key situations, which means playing in Abby (Windsor for Sieloff)

The future will come soon enough, let them develop properly.

[badger89]

Just watched his highlight videos and can see that we'll be spending many hours both in awe of his big hits and also debating whether they should warrant suspension or not. Used to be that they were good hockey hits, but he targets the head a lot and sometimes leaves his feet so he's likely to get in a fair bit of trouble.

Hate to say it, but his open ice hitting reminds me of Phaneuf. Glad to hear that he's good defensively and picks his spots better.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

[FlameZilla]

^^^^

Yes, perhaps the argument on who he will replace in the line up will be moot, since we'll need to carry an extra defenceman to cover for Sieloff while he spends time on suspension...

[Coach]

I like what I've seen from Sieloff. Our next tough as nails, mean Dman.

[Reggie28]

Blue collar through and through. Signs a 2.7 Million contract in a $20 tee-shirt, and with a fifty cent pen.

Does the NHLPA have programs to help these young guys with money management?

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Yeah i dont expect him to stick with the club this season...unless he absolutely wows em in camp.

But i do expect him to be a fixture on the backend after that. Start as a 6/7 guy after this year and then anywhere from a 2- guy moving forward.

He just reeks of a hard nosed 15 year vet type who will do whatever it takes.

Someone said an Adam Foote comparison...and i agree although my initial thought was a Steve Staios type. Nothing wrong with either one and truly a home run from a 2nd rd guy if thats how it plays out.

Probably just nostalgia speaking but I see Regehr in Sieloff. Hard hitting, built like a brick $&*%-house, limited offense (although not completely void of an offensive game) and what really seals it ... his ears . I'd love to have Ramage and Sieloff as our shutdown/punishing pair in a few years.

[opendoor]

Originally Posted by FAN

I would temper my expectations of Sieloff as an NHL defenseman next year. There is absolutely no need to rush him. He has played only one year in the OHL. In terms of game experience he is pretty green. There is some offensive upside to Sieloff so let him develop his offensive game a bit. Let him play big minutes in junior and in all situations and maybe he can flesh out his offensive game a bit which is always useful not for the purposes of being a point producer in the NHL but for the purposes of being able to play top 4 minutes in the NHL. Sieloff should go back to juniors and work hard on improving his puck skills.

Yep. Even stay at home defenseman who look absolutely lost offensively in the NHL generally developed pretty good offensive games in junior. Guys like Sarich, Foote, Hannan, etc. were point per game players as 18 or 19 year olds in the CHL and guys like Regehr and Warrener put up 0.5 to 0.75 pts/g as 18 year olds.

If a defenseman hasn't developed an offensive game to the point that they can put up pretty good numbers in junior, then it's tough to see how they'd be able to keep up to an NHL pace at that age. It's probably in Sieloff's best interest to round his game out some more rather than being thrown into the NHL.