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

[Matty81]

It's not a horrible move but i'm not a huge of him taking ice/blocking another young player. 1 year extension is ok so he can be a deadline rental next year I guess, price is almost irrelevant with how much cap room the flames have/will have.

Between granlund, knight, reinhart, backlund, monahan and colborne there are a ton of centres in the organization who should be getting a chance to at least test the waters at the nhl level and if they draft sam reinhart it will be an even worse clustercluss. Monahan and Backlund are the two best flames forwards this year, so this basically blocks the rest of them un from anything except shotgun between mcgrattan and westgarth.

Unless backlund gets moved kind of hard to understand, I get the mentoring bit but centre is one of the few positions we have a couple guys in their mid 20s already.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I am a little surprised given Burke didn't seem like a big fan in Toronto as I recall one of the reasons he traded him to Calgary is that Burke and his agent couldn't see eye to eye on Stajan's value with him due to become a free agent at the end of that season.

Yes, I seem to recall the same thing mentioned in the media before the trade (Burke was going to let him walk as a free agent).

[moon]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If we're keeping Stajan just so we can trade Backlund for a 2nd, it's a brutal mistake.

Is there anything remotely reliable to indicate that is going to happen?

[nik-]

Signing Stajan so we could trade Backlund would be annoying as hell.

[Zulu29]

Put me in the not a bad signing camp depending on term and dollars. If it's a reasonable contract (4m 2yrs area) then perfect. We need some vets next year, I gotta admit that even though he's slumping lately, his play this year has been more positive than negative. He's decent in the dot and doesn't kill us defensively. Hopefully he's in the 3rd line roll who can jump up to the 2nd if need be. Considering there probably isn't much out there in way of improvements I'd say Burke did a good job (if true).

[Zulu29]

For the record if he's re-signed at the cost of Backlund then I'm dead against it, I think Backs has a bright future on this team.

[Clever_Iggy]

My first reaction was very disappointed/concerned (I had to check the date of the original post as I thought initially it was his extension right after he was acquired).

Having time to reflect, I'm nervous, but understand it if true. Someone needs to take the beatings of the top pairing and top line from other teams and who better than Stajan. So long as the term is short (2 years is ideal) I'm okay with it. However, if this is the choice between Stajan and Backlund... yikes.

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I am a little surprised given Burke didn't seem like a big fan in Toronto as I recall one of the reasons he traded him to Calgary is that Burke and his agent couldn't see eye to eye on Stajan's value with him due to become a free agent at the end of that season.

Stajan was holding down 1st line duties back then and my guess is he wanted to be compensated as such... I'm sure Stajan's agent is standing on much different ground and more accommodating

[Bonded]

Sign and Trade!

[Erick Estrada]

If Backlund has to be packaged off to get a good defenseman or forward I'm okay with it. The Flames aren't going to land good players for nothing after all and if guys like Backlund and Baertschi have to go then so be it.

[troutman]

How does this address Burke's Quest for Size?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by nik-

Signing Stajan so we could trade Backlund would be annoying as hell.

Depends on the return. If the return was good, then it could be brilliant.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If we're keeping Stajan just so we can trade Backlund for a 2nd, it's a brutal mistake.

I could see a deal like Backlund for Gardiner straight up I doubt Backlund is flipped for a pick

[Zulu29]

Originally Posted by troutman

How does this address Burke's Quest for Size?

Surround him with beef?

[SuperMatt18]

Calgary Puck is going to explode when we trade Backlund and Baertschi for Kadri.

[Bourque's Twin]

Originally Posted by troutman

How does this address Burke's Quest for Size?

Great question.

I'm not against signing Stajan for 3 more years, MAX. He's a good guy in the locker room and plays a decent 2-way game (better than any other centre currently on the roster). If it's for 3 years or less, then Stajan can fade out when Monahan, Backlund, McDavid, etc. are ready to carry the load.

[SeanCharles]

This doesn't make sense unless:

- Colborne is being moved permanetly to the wing
- Backlund is being traded

Backlund, Colborne, Monahan and Stajan are all best suited for top-9 duty. Something has to give here.

I think Colborne is being moved to the wing and players like Stempniak, Cammalleri and D. Jones are likely to be on their way out.

Glencross-Backlund-Hudler
Byron-Monahan-Colborne
Bouma-Stajan-Galiardi
Westgarth-B.Jones-McGrattan
Street

[indes]

Sign & Trade? One can hope

[Muta]

Well, Burke did say he was going to re-sign half his UFA's. AT LEAST one of them had to be Stajan / Stempniak / Cammalleri / Butler by that logic; there's only so many UFA's on the team.

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

This doesn't make sense unless:

- Colborne is being moved permanetly to the wing
- Backlund is being traded

Backlund, Colborne, Monahan and Stajan are all best suited for top-9 duty. Something has to give here.

I think Colborne is being moved to the wing and players like Stempniak, Cammalleri and D. Jones are likely to be on their way out.

Glencross-Backlund-Hudler
Byron-Monahan-Colborne
Bouma-Stajan-Galiardi
Westgarth-B.Jones-McGrattan
Street

Only way D. Jones is on his way out is if we buy him out.