[News] Giordano out 6-8 weeks with broken ankle. Stempniak broken foot week to week

[stemit14]

Personally, I hope cundari gets the call up. I liked what I saw from him last year and we were already calling him the mini-gio at the time. Obviously the opportunity should go to whoever has earned it in abbotsford but I think he would fit in pretty good.

It's awesome that Russell has really made the most of his opportunity with the flames this season and has really impressed all over the ice. This could be a break out season for him with giordano gone for this long.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Hate to say it, but well need Butler In top 4 form. When he was at least average in the role. He was alright saturday. But this doesn't have to spell our doom. We just need someone else to step up and give us some of those Gio qualities. Perhaps little Gio (Cundari)? Seeing how they handled the Caps gives me hope for our situation, though. Sadly our goals against isn't gonna get much help unless one of these tenders starts showing they can steal games. We'll have to bring a strong offensive, puck possession game until December.

Butler played great against Washington, but I'd wager that kind of performance is less likely to repeat the more times Butler is asked to play those kinds of minutes. Butler in the Top 4 is a great example of a miscast player put in a position to fail. Calgary only has two players right now who can handle Top 4 minutes (Brodie and Wideman) in my opinion - maybe Russell.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Roger Millions wonders if an emergency call-up is in order...

https://twitter.com/rogmillions/stat...39022332608512

Kanzig? Kulak? Culkin? Roy?

I think I'd rather see Ramage get a call-up than Billins. Cundari adds a lot, but he's a waiver-claim risk.

Not sure where Roger is going with that, as the Flames are not in an emergency situation. Particularly since we already have seven healthy defencemen on the roster; Brodie, Wideman, Russell, Butler, O'Brien, Smith and Breen.

Edit: Whoops. Forgot Breen is nursing a small hurt.

[stemit14]

I see lots of pekoe suggesting trades to fill in for giordano... I would much rather give some guys already in the system a chance to show what they got. I know everyone looks at the defence and says we're too soft but this team continues to be under estimated.

I think cundari is a good player to bring up cause he has offensive upside like giordano does and he is built like a tank to make up for his size. He likes to hit and I'm sure he feels like he has something to prove. Don't worry about the waiver wire situation... If he plays well enough in a call up that the flames are worried someone will try to pick him off waivers when gio comes back, that means he's probably earned the right to stay with the big club over someone else like smith, butler, or O'Brian.

This season is suppose to be about improving the team and assessing players so let's do that when the opportunity is there rather than trading from a position of weakness.

[megatron]

Pretty bad luck with Gio being gone 6-8 weeks. This season he looked like he regained his form from a couple of years ago. Our D depth will be tested and we'll get to see who is ready for the NHL.

[mikephoen]

I'm surprised at how many people want to give Cundari a shot. He came to camp in not great shape, was in the first group of cuts and hasn't put up any numbers with the Heat. He knew he had a legit shot at making the Flames out of camp and hasn't done anything to seize the opportunity.

He should still get another chance if he gets his act together, but there's got to be a lot of guys more deserving of a shot than him at this point.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not sure where Roger is going with that, as the Flames are not in an emergency situation. Particularly since we already have seven healthy defencemen on the roster; Brodie, Wideman, Russell, Butler, O'Brien, Smith and Breen.

Edit: Whoops. Forgot Breen is nursing a small hurt.

The Heat only dressed 5 d-men on Saturday. Ramage, Cundari, and Sieloff were all out (although, it sounds like Ramage was a healthy scratch).

After that first Tweet, Roger followed up by saying that Cundari has been cleared to play, so it becomes a moot point, but if the Heat were only carrying 6 healthy d-men and the Flames called up one of them, they'd need to find a replacement somewhere.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by getbak

if the Heat were only carrying 6 healthy d-men and the Flames called up one of them, they'd need to find a replacement somewhere.

they still have James Martin in Alaska though or they could always sign someone from the ECHL on a tryout

[Rerun]

Crap.

How's Wotherspoon been playing this season?

[saillias]

Originally Posted by getbak

The Heat only dressed 5 d-men on Saturday. Ramage, Cundari, and Sieloff were all out (although, it sounds like Ramage was a healthy scratch).

After that first Tweet, Roger followed up by saying that Cundari has been cleared to play, so it becomes a moot point, but if the Heat were only carrying 6 healthy d-men and the Flames called up one of them, they'd need to find a replacement somewhere.

Wait, so Ramage was a healthy scratch yet they dressed 5 defenders?

Isn't Conroy supposed to be making sure Ward plays our prospects?

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Arghh. That one really hurts. We are so thin on D and Gio was playing so well. I hope the other guys can step up, but I think Wideman and Brodie are already maxed out for minutes. Ditto for Russell, although he might have a little more in the tank. The bottom pair has been a train wreck for the most part (although Butler looked ok against Washington and SOB looks ok, playing lower minutes).
Good lord, we might need to look at Liles or one of the Philly guys.

[Leo]

Dang it
They need more protection on them skates now

And apparently breen has an abdominal injury?

[Dentoman]

Originally Posted by AC

According to Scott Oak during the Washington broadcast, Gio was injured blocking a shot vs LA.

In his interview they played on the FAN, Giordano said it was hurt blocking a shot in LA.

[Fan in Exile]

I would love to see Feaster take a run at Gardiner. I like our prospects but there is always going to be a hole until we get another true top pairing guy.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Leo

Dang it
They need more protection on them skates now

And apparently breen has an abdominal injury?

Yes, but he's only listed as day-to-day, so it can't be that serious.

Before Gio went down I thought we could use some defensive re-enforcements & now I think Feaster really ought to find someone.

[MissTeeks]

Originally Posted by Leo

Dang it
They need more protection on them skates now

And apparently breen has an abdominal injury?

Looks like they are:

News Talk 770 Stamps‏@Newstalkstamps1h
All the Flames wearing boot guards at practice today....looks like a new team order in wake of the Giordano and Stempniak injuries

[Enoch Root]

I would like to see Wotherspoon get a stint. I understand that he has only been okay in Abby, but he is a smart hockey player and you never know, some guys do better in the NHL.

It is a rebuild - let's give them each a spin (W, Ramage, Cundari, Billins). Worst case scenario is they get a taste for the NHL and learn what they need to work on.

[Jebus]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Looks like they are:

News Talk 770 Stamps‏@Newstalkstamps1h
All the Flames wearing boot guards at practice today....looks like a new team order in wake of the Giordano and Stempniak injuries

Seems smart to me, at least in practice anyway. I find it odd more guys don't wear the guards in games if blocking shots is a big part of thier game. Are they really that cumbersome? I have never worn them, but I certainly don't block shots in beer league.

TSN had a segment dedicated to the fact that the Leafs were doing the same thing in light of Lupol's foot injury. All but two (Kessel and ?) were complying with the team request.

*side rant - slightly grinds my gears that the Leafs putting on skate guards in practice gets a full segment of discussion, complete with player interviews regarding the topic. That's TSN for you though. I mean, practice? We talkin about practice? /OTwhine

[Itse]

Now would be the perfect time for Feaster to find another 2011 Derek Smith for us.

[Ashasx]

We really should probably think about shipping out vets before the trade deadline just in case their are injuries.

Cammalleri and Stempniak especially are very prone.