[News] Shane O'Brien assigned to Heat. Breen recalled.

[Buck Murdock]

O'Brien vs Cundari? This should help the heat a little bit with the loss of Cundari, SOB should be able to chip in plus play somewhat defensively......

[getbak]

If my math is correct, with O'Brien down and Glencross and Cammalleri on IR, the Flames are at 22 players on the roster...

1. Backlund
2. Bouma
3. Byron
4. Cammalleri (IR)
5. Colborne
6. Galiardi
7. Glencross (IR)
8. Hudler
9. B. Jones
10. D. Jones
11. McGrattan
12. Monahan
13. Stajan
14. Stempniak
15. Street
16. Westgarth
17. Brodie
18. Butler
19. Giordano
20. Russell
21. Smid
22. Wideman
23. Berra
24. Ramo

Cammalleri was cleared for practice on Friday, and could be back for the game on Tuesday. Assuming everyone else is healthy, activating Cammalleri off of the IR would bring the roster to the 23 man maximum.

If they bring up a d-man from Abbotsford, they would have to send a forward down before they could re-activate Cammalleri. Everyone on the roster right now (except the goalies) requires waivers to be sent down. Byron, Street, and Jones will all likely clear if they're waived, but there is a chance someone might put in a claim and the Flames might not want to risk it (especially if Burke is working on a trade or two that would open up spots for them).


Both the Heat and Flames are at home this whole week, so a recall can be done in a few hours. Carrying seven d-men in Calgary isn't as important as it would be if one or both teams were on the road.

I would not be surprised to see them stick with the roster as it sits right now for at least the rest of the week (assuming Cammy returns and there are no further injuries or trades).

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by macrov

Can this even happen? When do I get more. I have an addiction. I need a fix asap.

Within 24 hours you'll have all your thanks available again.

[MissTeeks]

“@SUNRandySportak: #Flames Burke said the team wants to give Chris Breen a chance. "We're going to find out now," Burke said.”

[Racki]

Looks like Breen's on his way up. Burke wants to give him a good look.

[Vulcan]

I think they're trying to make a deal involving Breen. Why else would they call up a defenceman from Alaska while telling Breen to pack his things, while not announcing Breen's call up.

guess not since Breen's been called up.

[killer_carlson]

Good.

Let's see what the kid has. And I like doing it like this, meaning he has had a chance to be around the team, see his deficiencies, go back to the AHL to address some stuff and come back up.

Breen will sink or swim and I like we're giving another prospect a shot.

[krynski]

'Cause he's big? Dunno how this is going to work.

[nik-]

Maybe he'll play a bit better knowing that he's going to get a string of games so he can not stress about it. Granted this string of games likely defines his NHL career ... sooooo yeah.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

This is how, this is how we tank

[dammage79]

Yeah. this is pretty much Breens last shot with the big club. I have hopes for him to figure out how to play in the NHL but his appearances so far have been very disappointing. Good luck green giant. And make the best of this chance.

[Vulcan]

This whole scene emphasis' the importance of defencemen. If we need a forward call up, almost anyone will fill in while if we need a defenceman, you need a guy who is ready. This is why you build from goalie out and partly why I want Ekblad.

[MissTeeks]

“@KristenOdlandCH: #Flames acting GM Brian Burke was being diplomatic about Shane O'Brien Sunday. But it's easy to read btwn lines (-3 in 5:37 ice time on Fri)”

“@KristenOdlandCH: O’Brien, a 10-year professional, still has another year left on his $2-million contract.”

“@KristenOdlandCH: Burke on O'Brien: “Obviously the extra year of his contract is the killer so now we’ll see if we can structure a trade ..."”

“@KristenOdlandCH: "...we’ll see if there’s a team that would take him if we aren’t part of the obligations.””

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

This is how, this is how we tank

Replacing one AHL-quality defenseman with a younger AHL-quality defenseman is not what I would call a tank move.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

This is how, this is how we tank

This is only rational explanation for calling up Breen. Thanks a lot Burke for making us wait all day for a crummy one liner explanation. Breen has not impressed and can't see how this improves the team apart from making us bigger.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

This is only rational explanation for calling up Breen. Thanks a lot Burke for making us wait all day for a crummy one liner explanation. Breen has not impressed and can't see how this improves the team apart from making us bigger.

He's been a good prospect for us and has been great in the minors. Time to see if he can play in the NHL. That's the primary reason.

But tanking is probably a nice secondary reason.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Replacing one AHL-quality defenseman with a younger AHL-quality defenseman is not what I would call a tank move.

There's no way I can see us tanking into the 29 or 30 spot no matter what we do so I'd rather see us continue to compete. For my money any one of Dal Colle, Bennett or Draisaitl will be a solid pick anyway. And I can't see any way we finish out of the bottom five.

[Robo]

I like this move I hope breen plays with more confidence and can hopefully find his game at the nhl level

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

He's been a good prospect for us and has been great in the minors. Time to see if he can play in the NHL. That's the primary reason.

But tanking is probably a nice secondary reason.

Good prospect? Great in the minors?

You are being generous. Decent prospect, at best good in the minors. Looked like Bambi last time he was up.

[Super-Rye]

Breen didn't look very good when he was up here earlier, but I think it might have more to do with the fact he was injured for a bit and that he would spend long stretches in the press box before drawing in for one game. It's hard to get any type of play going.

Now that he has been playing with some regularity in the AHL there are no more excuses. It's time for him to show if he can be an NHLer or is a career AHLer. Should be a fun next few games to see his progression, if any at all.