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

[killer_carlson]

While I know you "advanced stat" people will come up with some sort of excuse, the fact remains that Stajan is tied for 9th worst +/- in the league. To put it in perspective, he is tied with Justin Schultz of the Oilers. And he is only -2 back of a three way tie for 4th worst, currently held by Stempniak and Camalerri.

[Money23]

As long as it's short term and not a ridiculous contract, I'm alright with Stajan sticking around. He didn't have much trade value anyway, and he seems to be a good veteran presence. I will be disappointed if Knight doesn't get a shot because of Stajan, though.

[Stanley]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

While I know you "advanced stat" people will come up with some sort of excuse, the fact remains that Stajan is tied for 9th worst +/- in the league. To put it in perspective, he is tied with Justin Schultz of the Oilers. And he is only -2 back of a three way tie for 4th worst, currently held by Stempniak and Camalerri.

Overall I dislike the +/- stat, but yikes!

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Stanley

I suppose the benefits of keeping him outweigh the benefits of dealing him.

I imagine the contract will be a bargain as well...

Still, I think most around here look forward to the day he leaves the Flames. Stajan is one of the last remnants of a very painful era, and as a result I think he embodies a lot of the disillusion & negative feelings we may feel about the franchise and how it is run.

He also kinda sucks.

[Igottago]

Stajan is the type of guy you sign in order to make sure you have a roster with at least some NHL experience on it. Unfortunately this is what it is for the Flames right now, you rebuild around guys that really aren't part of the long term solution but are a semi-capable warm body for the interim until the team starts turning the corner.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

While I know you "advanced stat" people will come up with some sort of excuse, the fact remains that Stajan is tied for 9th worst +/- in the league. To put it in perspective, he is tied with Justin Schultz of the Oilers. And he is only -2 back of a three way tie for 4th worst, currently held by Stempniak and Camalerri.

wait a second you mean a guy that plays against top lines on one of the worst teams in the NHL has a bad +/-??? You don't say!!

It doesn't take advanced stats to tell you his +/- will suck.

[trackercowe]

I'm okay with this, not blown away mind you, since I've never been overly impressed with his game. Another reason this is a good signing is that Calgary will probably have a tough time luring over vets in the off-season, and if Burke is going to be dealing guys like Cammy and Stempniak at the deadline then keeping a guy like Stajan on the team could be that much more important to teach the younger players. Money doesn't really matter either since we're not going to be a cap team again for the next few years, so really that only effects his trade value. Hopefully it's not that long of term though, since I could see Stajan's game decline if he has too much job security.

Who would have thunk that after the Phaneuf debacle that Stajan was going to be the one player we'd have this long. I honestly thought Hagman and White would do more for us, but Stajan has been the only small gem in that turd of a trade.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

People sure hold onto irrational hate for players for a long time. He disappointed as a centrepiece in the Phaneuf trade, but he hasn't been a disappointing player in over a year and a half. If he got a face transplant and a name change before the 2012/2013 seson people would like him.

Why would you suddenly expect rationality when there is none to begin with?

[saillias]

Seems like the least worst option, a mediocre "well it's not like we can do better" kinda move. That's why I'm not happy with it, it's not an attempt to improve, not really. Stajan is only an acceptable 3rd line centre when viewed in a vacuum of the Flames' terrible centre group since 2011ish.

[UKflames]

One less draft pick that everyone thought we were going to have

[Phil Russell]

I am OK with this. Stajan is a heart a sole player, hardworking and liked, and if any of our UFA's were going to be kept on for these veteran presence/veteran support characteristics this was the guy. His role will diminish as the team matures and he is probably just fine with that. This signing makes a lot of sense.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by UKflames

One less draft pick that everyone thought we were going to have

I hope that 3rd/4th rounder we missed out on doesnt hinder the Flames rebuild for the next decade.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Like many have said for a while now, you can't ice a team void of veterans - especially at centre.

It depends what the money and term are, but I don't see Burke over-paying.

The more interesting thing to note here is that Stajan is probably the complete opposite of the kind of guy Burke openly talks about to the media as a player he covets. He's not big and he's not truculent, so I think it's a pretty good indicator that it's not black or white with Burke, which should calm some of the worries about guys like Gaudreau, etc.

[flamesfan1297]

Not totally surprised about this. Not very happy about it though. But like others have said, you do need vets

[Stormchaser]

I am fine with this. You have to have some stability or appearence of stability through this rebuild...this is totally opposite of "oiler-esk" imo. Stajan is the guy who can fill the center roll on any of our 4 lines so I don't know how we could go wrong with keeping a guy like that around especially since his trade value is pretty low at the moment.

[Vulcan]

Good signing, we need some vets to carry the work load. It isn't that I'm loving Stajan but I guess the alternatives weren't appealing.

I'd be okay with re-signing Butler as well. Not that he's great but he's fine as a 6th or 7th defenceman who can move up when injuries happen. I don't think we'd get much value for him on the trade market either. In fact when you have a lousy team, it's hard to get value for any of our players.

[dammage79]

Personally, not a fan of the idea. I was hoping to clean the slate a bit more and make room for Granlund/Knight to show what they have up here for the rest of the season. Meh theres tons of cap room, as long as it isnt super long term, I can deal with it.

[MissTeeks]

Eric Francis‏@EricFrancis2 mins

Those rolling eyes over reports Matt Stajan has been re-signed need 2 know he is respected as much as anybody in room & can help w rebuild

[Mike F]

Don’t have time to read the thread, so this may be a duplication of other posts, but as much as I’ve been a defender of Stajan against the more ludicrous haters, re-signing him would be a mistake.

He’s not good enough to be a top 6 centre, not physical and gritty enough to be a 4th line energy centre, and doesn’t win enough faceoffs to be a 3rd line checking centre.

I was expecting him to follow Lombardi to Europe, a guy who similarly wasn’t horrible but didn’t do anything well enough to stick in the NHL.

Going into next season the Flames will have Backlund, Colborne, and an older Monahan at centre. I would have been content with that if they’d brought in a good veteran faceoff guy to solidify the third line centre position. That ain't Stajan.

[moon]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Personally, not a fan of the idea. I was hoping to clean the slate a bit more and make room for Granlund/Knight to show what they have up here for the rest of the season. Meh theres tons of cap room, as long as it isnt super long term, I can deal with it.

Many others have raised the Knight/Granlund/Reinhart etc. issue and I don't think Stajan really comes into play to block those guys.

I can't see the Flames going into next year with Backlund, Monahan, Colborne and a rookie so Stajan likely fills the vet void on the team.

It is likely that it would be Colborne and/or Backlund that would block any of the Abbotsford guys from coming in unless the Flames are going into full tank mode next year. And actually Monahan probably blocking them the most by taking the sheltered/offensive zone minutes that you would normally give to those kind of guys.