[Signing] Stajan signs 4yrs $3.125Mil AAV contract extension (limited NTC)

[saillias]

Originally Posted by ah123

Not too surprised - I see it as more of an insurance policy than anything else

It never really is though with these vets. They get the roster spot and the prospects become victims of the numbers game because they're not waiver eligible. See Horak, Roman

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

This one is no surprise if you look at the Flames needs. Colborne, Monahan and Backlund are really the only legit (young) centers close to able to play at the NHL level. Need to fill out a roster, need to have some vetran presence at that position and to create competition as well.

Ideally it be great if we could replace Stajan with "something better", but we don't have the assets to trade for that and we will not be an appealing desitination for the next couple of years for a different UFA centre, so Stajan wanting to be here likely represents the best option. I know he's not as popular as some of our other pending UFA vets, but this one to me makes the most sense, and was positionally a good spot for one of the re-signs Burke alluded to. I'd like to the team "create" some more room on the wings for the young guys at the farm level (with out completely eliminating competition), I think we have more depth there, but our center depth is pretty weak and our best young centers are already playing at the NHL level IMO.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by memphusk

This is terrible news. I feel sick.

Let's not get melodramatic now.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Knight, Backlund, Monahan, Reinhart, Colborne.

I'd rather see any combination of these 4 players in the lineup over Stajan.

Agreed but there is very little experience with that group. I hate to say not but I think Backlund is a goner

[Scoutski]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Knight, Backlund, Monahan, Reinhart, Colborne.

I'd rather see any combination of these 4 players in the lineup over Stajan.

Which one of those guys do you trust to be out there against another teams top line? and second line for that matter?

[killer_carlson]

you have got to be ####ing kidding me.

There is no way this plug deserves to be on the team.

Did Brian "The Team Must do Community Events" Burke forget Stajan's stunt during the lockout with the charity golf tournament? Did no one tell him about that?

Matt Stajan for his career has been nothing more than an underperforming player handed top 6 icetime on non-playoff teams. He is expected to produce and produces nothing aside from early tee times.

This is a disaster if he is signed, unless he is quickly traded thereafter.

[N-E-B]

I like this move.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by saillias

It never really is though with these vets. They get the roster spot and the prospects become victims of the numbers game because they're not waiver eligible. See Horak, Roman

Roman Horak is not a victim of a numbers game, he's a victim of not being good enough. There are no victims of number games with this Flames team. It is a bad team, and any rookie who can't earn his spot on this roster doesn't deserve one, the Flames current roster is the definition of "opportunity" for any young player. The responsibility is on them to push our vets out of spots, and based on the quality of our vets, it shouldn't be that hard for any prospect worth their weight.

[Fuzzy14]

Excellent. He's not good enough to make any improvement in our position in the standings, wouldn't have any significant trade value, can still be traded if there's no NTC, and will mentor guys like Backlund and Monahan as they grow to replace him.

I wouldn't be surprised if Burke reinforced the fact that he isn't safe even though he's getting a contract when he signed it.

[puckedoff]

This is not nearly as bad as everyone is making it out to be. He isn't a number one center but he plays well on a shutdown line. We don't exactly have an excess of NHL ready centers.

[Neeper]

I am gonna get a Stajan jersey now!

I don't think it's really that bad, it makes sense for now. Stajan can be useful playing the right role. He'll eventually get traded before his contract expires.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Let's not get melodramatic now.

Stajan is terrible, Calgary re-ups him, therefore, sickness.

[zukes]

As long as it's the ball park $$$ wise as the last deal, I am fine with it. Stajan is a useful player. He is responsible defensively, can fill in top 6 and seems to be regarded as a leader. Have to have some veterans.

[FlamesAddiction]

It really depends on the terms. Stajan is not a terrible player, but his last contract was a little out of whack.

[Buff]

Stajan was playing great this year until he took the knee on knee hit against the Blues on December 23. Perhaps he is well enough to play but is playing through an injury? That may explain his play as of late. I think it is good to keep veterans. As long as it isn't a 6 year term with a NMC, I'm fine with it.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

you have got to be ####ing kidding me.

There is no way this plug deserves to be on the team.

Did Brian "The Team Must do Community Events" Burke forget Stajan's stunt during the lockout with the charity golf tournament? Did no one tell him about that?

Matt Stajan for his career has been nothing more than an underperforming player handed top 6 icetime on non-playoff teams. He is expected to produce and produces nothing aside from early tee times.

This is a disaster if he is signed, unless he is quickly traded thereafter.

How is it a dissaster? Who's he going to keep out of the line up that we care about? Answer, no one.

Are we a cup contender, so should we care that our best center is still likely Stajan? The answer, no.

Sorry, we don't really have any up and comming prospects that deserve his ice time at center, and the ones we do have are already playing in the NHL for us, and anything that would be an upgrade over Stajan out in the market would either not sign here as a UFA or we don't have the assets to trade for.

How can having Stajan be our veteran center while we go through our re-build be a dissaster?

[Mango]

There are definitely pros and cons to inking him to a new deal. However, he obviously wants to be in Calgary and be part of the solution. It's tough to knock him for that.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by saillias

It never really is though with these vets. They get the roster spot and the prospects become victims of the numbers game because they're not waiver eligible. See Horak, Roman

If Roman Horak were as good a hockey player as Matt Stajan, he would be on the roster of the Calgary Flames.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Scoutski

Which one of those guys do you trust to be out there against another teams top line? and second line for that matter?

I don't trust Stajan on the top line, that's for sure.

Knight and Reinhart are just fine defensively.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Roman Horak is not a victim of a numbers game, he's a victim of not being good enough. There are no victims of number games with this Flames team. It is a bad team, and any rookie who can't earn his spot on this roster doesn't deserve one, the Flames current roster is the definition of "opportunity" for any young player. The responsibility is on them to push our vets out of spots, and based on the quality of our vets, it shouldn't be that hard for any prospect worth their weight.

I don't have a link because this was an offhanded quote in October-ish, but I'm pretty sure Feaster said exactly that, word for word, Roman Horak was a victim of the numbers game because he was not waivers eligble.

Furthermore, contrary to popular belief the current Flames team isn't really that young. There are other, better teams out there, who are not only better right now but inserting more young talent into their rosters on a yearly basis. We are still failing in that regard