UPD: Klesla clears waivers and D'Agostini claimed by Buffalo

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by 868904

I don't think the Flames will claim him.

You have to think that any team in the league looking to clear some cap space has Feaster on speed dial. Flames are pretty much the only team that has cap space, AND is willing to use it.

Phoenix must have already tried to get something out of Feaster already, and was rejected.

But for Feaster, free is the right price possibly.

I wouldn't mind seeing a third pairing duo of Smid and Klesla. They'd be steady and unlike O'Brien those two can actually play defense.

[neo45]

Claiming Klesla off waivers seems like a waste of millions of dollars to me. Can't trade him, he isn't a long term solution, and is only really an upgrade on SOB or Butler.

Pass

[Roof-Daddy]

If we can't flip him at the deadline then why in the world does anyone want the Flames to claim him?

So we can "possibly" be a more competitive team for the remainder of this season where we have pretty much zero chance at making the playoffs?

So we can give ice time to a broken down 31 year old Klesla while never getting a proper look at guys like Breen or Billins?

Pass.

We should be looking at moving out a couple Dmen like O'Brien and Butler (especially once Gio comes back) not claiming an older Dman who can't be flipped as an asset.

[dammage79]

This obsession with acquiring players and then flipping them at the deadline is strange. After watching hockey for twenty years I don't think I've ever seen this as a common occurrence. Where do you guys get these ideas from?

Am I missing some sort of historical precedent?

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by dammage79

This obsession with acquiring players and then flipping them at the deadline is strange. After watching hockey for twenty years I don't think I've ever seen this as a common occurrence. Where do you guys get these ideas from?

Am I missing some sort of historical precedent?

It happens all of the time in EA sports. In fact I think the Flames should take Klesla for free and then package him up with two or three garbage players for a top line power forward. Scott Hartnell would be ideal.

But seriously, the Flames aren't going anywhere until they address the lack of top end talent. That is not going to come from the waiver wire. Pass, too many fringe players already.

[FlameZilla]

Why acquire Klesla? He's an upgrade on Butler and SOB, thus making them entirely expendable. He's got some pedigree. He has in the past played physically, and he plays smart.

I would acquire him with the hope that his addition will improve our defence & shelter our inexperienced goalies just that little bit more. He ain't gonna single-handedly ruin anyone's dream of getting a lottery pick this season. If he fits in maybe he earns himself a contract for next season.

Still a no brainer.

Giordano Brodie
Smid Wideman
Russell Klesla

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Why acquire Klesla? He's an upgrade on Butler and SOB, thus making them entirely expendable. He's got some pedigree. He has in the past played physically, and he plays smart.

I would acquire him with the hope that his addition will improve our defence & shelter our inexperienced goalies just that little bit more. He ain't gonna single-handedly ruin anyone's dream of getting a lottery pick this season. If he fits in maybe he earns himself a contract for next season.

Still a no brainer.

Giordano Brodie
Smid Wideman
Russell Klesla

Almost looks like a solid D corps. I could deal with that.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

If we can't flip him at the deadline then why in the world does anyone want the Flames to claim him?

So we can "possibly" be a more competitive team for the remainder of this season where we have pretty much zero chance at making the playoffs?

So we can give ice time to a broken down 31 year old Klesla while never getting a proper look at guys like Breen or Billins?

Pass.

We should be looking at moving out a couple Dmen like O'Brien and Butler (especially once Gio comes back) not claiming an older Dman who can't be flipped as an asset.

Could not agree more. Acquiring Klesla would cause me to seriously question what direction this team is heading in, and whether we've actually turned the page it seemed we did around trade deadline last year.

[868904]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Why acquire Klesla? He's an upgrade on Butler and SOB, thus making them entirely expendable. He's got some pedigree. He has in the past played physically, and he plays smart.

I would acquire him with the hope that his addition will improve our defence & shelter our inexperienced goalies just that little bit more. He ain't gonna single-handedly ruin anyone's dream of getting a lottery pick this season. If he fits in maybe he earns himself a contract for next season.

Still a no brainer.

Giordano Brodie
Smid Wideman
Russell Klesla

I'd love to replace SOB and Butler with Klesla, but if the Coyotes couldn't find a taker for a UFA Klesla at $3,000,000 per year, how are the Flames going to find a taker for SOB at $2,500,000 for another year after this?

I think this Klesla thing just showed how much value there is for SOB. SOB haters should stop dreaming about trading him.

Butler and SOB may be expendable but that doesn't mean the Flames can just get rid of them. You can't just push vets down on the farm because you want your young prospects developing.

I'm starting to believe all the talk about how difficult it is to make deals this year. Every team's hands are tied with the cap and rosters.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Locke

What the hell? I know I havent been following Phoenix that closely lately but I thought Klesla was playing in their Top 4 and playing really well.

Hes a big, steady stay-at-home Dman. Hells yes.

He is playing on the bottom pairing based on his ice time (actually 8th if you included all the guys that played for them) and playing poorly.

I think a lot of people have Colombus, young healthy Klesla in mind not the broken down, slow bad Klesla that he is now.

He is maybe a better option than SOB but adding him to the team is only an upgrade because the defense is so awful. Klesla at this point is not a good defenseman and a Smid-Klesla pairing would get killed by a line with average speed let alone good speed.

Hopefully the Oilers are able to claim him as he would be a nice pylon to skate by at this point in his career.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

If we can't flip him at the deadline then why in the world does anyone want the Flames to claim him?

So we can "possibly" be a more competitive team for the remainder of this season where we have pretty much zero chance at making the playoffs?

So we can give ice time to a broken down 31 year old Klesla while never getting a proper look at guys like Breen or Billins?

Pass.

We should be looking at moving out a couple Dmen like O'Brien and Butler (especially once Gio comes back) not claiming an older Dman who can't be flipped as an asset.

Acquire him so you can 1) trade Butler now and 2) send O'Brien to the press box, while at the same time ice a nhl defence corp. Management wants to ice a competitive lineup and they have been clear about this from the beginning. I haven't seen anything from Breen nor Billins that would warrant a callup. Our young D is going to take time to mature and learn the game. Adding a vet like Klesla is not tossing out the rebuild plan like so many doomsayers would have you believe.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by 868904

I'd love to replace SOB and Butler with Klesla, but if the Coyotes couldn't find a taker for a UFA Klesla at $3,000,000 per year, how are the Flames going to find a taker for SOB at $2,500,000 for another year after this?

I think this Klesla thing just showed how much value there is for SOB. SOB haters should stop dreaming about trading him.

Butler and SOB may be expendable but that doesn't mean the Flames can just get rid of them. You can't just push vets down on the farm because you want your young prospects developing.

I'm starting to believe all the talk about how difficult it is to make deals this year. Every team's hands are tied with the cap and rosters.

The second bolded part answers the first bolded part.

The Flames are one of the only teams that have cap space and no clear cut internal budget.

We can trade players like Shane O'Brien because we can take extra salary back in a deal whereas most other teams in their dealings need to do close to $ for $.

I heard at least one hockey analyst say back when the Flames entered last offseason, after selling the farm, the Flames had a tremendous opportunity upon them. Not only for the 3 first round picks but for the following year when the cap dropped.

Kipper, Iggy, JBouw, Babchuk, Cervenka all coming off the books in the same year we begin a rebuild and the only year the cap has dropped.

Trades getting useful and promising players like Colborne, Knight, Russell and Galiardi for 4th and 5th round picks and Smid for depth players are evidence of the leverage we have in deals.

Teams are calling us because we can offer much more options in a trade than pretty much anyone in the league.

Teams needing to move contracts, salary or RFA's buried in depth charts have come calling already.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Seems the speculation is that the Coyotes waiving Klesla a precursor move before trading for Erat.

Not second guessing but what is the source?

[kn]

Just say no... I want to see Breen, Witherspoon, Ramage and Sieloff, not some broken down post-apex player.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I would trade SOB for Klesla, for the simple fact that klesla's deal expires at the end of the year.

Wouldn't acquire him on waivers though, have enough fat to trim IMO.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Good for Buffalo, I guess. Must be nice looking at two top 5 picks in the same draft.

not necessarily ... if the pick is in the top 10, the Islanders have the option to keep their pick. Buffalo would then receive the Islanders' 2015 pick instead.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by devo22

not necessarily ... if the pick is in the top 10, the Islanders have the option to keep their pick. Buffalo would then receive the Islanders' 2015 pick instead.

I doubt any teams are looking to get rid of their 2015 1st rounder though.

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by kn

Just say no... I want to see Breen, Witherspoon, Ramage and Sieloff, not some broken down post-apex player.

you do realize a 31 year old D man is far from post-apex historically in the NHL.

[sureLoss]

Klesla clears

Craig Morgan ‏@cmorganfoxaz 39s
#Coyotes D Rusty Klesla cleared waivers. GM Don Maloney's gamble pays off.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by moon

He is playing on the bottom pairing based on his ice time (actually 8th if you included all the guys that played for them) and playing poorly.

I think a lot of people have Colombus, young healthy Klesla in mind not the broken down, slow bad Klesla that he is now.

He is maybe a better option than SOB but adding him to the team is only an upgrade because the defense is so awful. Klesla at this point is not a good defenseman and a Smid-Klesla pairing would get killed by a line with average speed let alone good speed.

Hopefully the Oilers are able to claim him as he would be a nice pylon to skate by at this point in his career.

Agreed. The fact that the Coyotes couldn't get a bag of pucks for him in a trade tells you that the rest of the league isn't enamoured with what he brings to the table right now. It's possible a defensively starved team like the Oilers take a flyer on him but I wouldn't be surprised if he passes through waivers.