2013/14 General Heat Discussion Thread - Page 133 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Drury18 · 03-21-2014, 10:31 PM

I don't know what's going on with Hanowski. You'd have to figure he's on his way back as Stajan, Glencross and Hudler are now all back and yes, Agostino is in and perhaps another college guy.

That or they are keeping him up for the rest of the season to evaluate whether they want to offer him another contract as he's an RFA after this season. Maybe they have some work for him with Rich in the gym or something like that.

Freeway · 03-21-2014, 11:41 PM

http://flamesnation.ca/2014/3/21/fla...-to-abbotsford

A few more details as to the why of Ortio.

Drury18 · 03-23-2014, 12:16 PM

The Heat have announced that Aaron Dell has been released.

Alberta_Beef · 03-23-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drury18

The Heat have announced that Aaron Dell has been released.

That's too bad. I would like to see them sign him to a SPC for next year. He has played really well and I like him better than Roy to be quite honest.

Freeway · 03-23-2014, 09:32 PM

Dell's gonna catch on somewhere.

Drury18 · 03-24-2014, 11:21 PM

Somewhat Heat related:

The Texas Stars have become the first team in the AHL to clinch a playoff spot. The Grand Rapid Griffins look to be the next team as they only need 2 points to clinch a spot.

Abbotsford is currently 13 points back of Texas with 14 games left. We are still 10 points ahead of Charlotte and OKC. OKC has run into some injury issues as two of their top forwards (Arcobello and Horak) are out with injuries and it looks like both could potentially be longer term. They also just recently lost Brossoit to Edmonton due to the Fasth injury and the Oilers have other injury issues that might involve call-ups. The Oilers want to leave top players in OKC but with Arcobello and Horak out, they might not have a choice but to start taking guys like Ford, Stretch and Miller. It doesn't appear like OKC will be able to mount much of a comeback with a depleted roster. Charlotte has a relatively healthy team, but streaky and while they might come close, I don't think they will catch us.

Realistically, it looks like we will be somewhere between 4-6 going into the playoffs. We want to stay away from 7th or 8th as it's almost a lock that Texas and Grand Rapids will stay in 1st and 2nd.

Our "magic number" to guarantee a playoff spot is 13. We need to win 7 of the next 14 games, or get at least one point in the next 13 of 14 games to clinch a playoff spot. Seems fairly doable.

Pierre "Monster" McGuire · 03-25-2014, 12:54 PM

I'm thinking once the Heat start to re-discover the chemistry they once had, it'll be no problem sticking in that 4th or 5th spot. That would mean a date with the Wolves in the first round, which is going to be tough because of Jake Allen being God and all. I think the Heat would put up a good fight though.

An Ortio versus Allen series is the price of admission itself.

Freeway · 03-25-2014, 06:57 PM

I had a dream that I got an e-mail from the Flames about assigning five guys to Abbotsford. I woke up and checked my e-mail....no such luck.

I don't remember any of the five guys from the dream, I just recall the boiler-plate press release e-mail heading.

I have a weird life.

Drury18 · 03-25-2014, 07:01 PM

Hmmm...not sure if this makes you clairvoyant or not but the Heat announced they have assigned Brendan Connolly back to Alaska.

http://www.abbotsfordheat.com/news/r...article_id=823

Drury18 · 03-26-2014, 10:43 PM

Brett Kulak and the Vancouver Giants become the WHL's first playoff causality.

Do the Heat offer him an ATO despite having an excess of healthy D? He is another left handed D which 7 of 8 of our healthy D currently are.

Athntk · 03-27-2014, 03:22 AM

We are just up here in Alaska winning with whatever roster they decide to send us. I guess it helps when we have a few locals who can suit up on a moments notice from their engineering jobs and play penalty kill and power play.

I'll say I have no problems with Flames/Heat/Aces. Got to apologize a bit for not getting your goalies many shots to deal with. Hard to keep them sharp when they take more drinks of water than face shots.

We have 9 games to go and should finish top three in overall in the regular season, a good chance at first place as well (for a record 4th time in a row), using 8 different goalies.

Do you have any 2 way deal defensemen once the eliminations happen that might free up Kane? He has 6 years on our olympic size ice and can really work with it.

Scoutski · 03-27-2014, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drury18

Brett Kulak and the Vancouver Giants become the WHL's first playoff causality.

Do the Heat offer him an ATO despite having an excess of healthy D? He is another left handed D which 7 of 8 of our healthy D currently are.

Isn't Kulak already signed? Can he still do an ATO despite that?

Drury18 · 03-27-2014, 10:47 AM

Kulak is signed, but there is uncertainty as to when his contract starts.

If he's signed but the contract doesn't come into effect until next season (i.e. Sept 2014, 2014-15 season), he's free to sign with the Heat on an ATO as he's technically unsigned.

If he's signed and the contract is for this season (2013-14 season), then he can only play with the Flames and cannot play with the Heat.

When he was signed, it wasn't 100% what the contact status was. The strong assumption by a number of people in the know is that the contract is for next year as he is a 20 year old WHL'er and an overager next year and when this season was done, so was his "junior" career so he could sign with Abbotsford for a few games experience and then attend Flames prospect camp and camp this upcoming season.

However, Freeway and PMM might be able to confirm the contact information as I'm sure with the elimination, more info has come out.

sureLoss · 03-27-2014, 11:05 AM

^ Freeway confirmed last week and capgeek also reports that Kulak's NHL contract starts next season

Enoch Root · 03-27-2014, 01:13 PM

nm - answered in another thread

Fire · 03-27-2014, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drury18

Brett Kulak and the Vancouver Giants become the WHL's first playoff causality.

Do the Heat offer him an ATO despite having an excess of healthy D? He is another left handed D which 7 of 8 of our healthy D currently are.

The Heat play 3 games in 3 days this weekend (crazy!) so they might like a few more bodies, but I doubt he would see much action. Eventually Wotherspoon will be sent down as well.

Freeway · 03-27-2014, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire

The Heat play 3 games in 3 days this weekend (crazy!) so they might like a few more bodies, but I doubt he would see much action. Eventually Wotherspoon will be sent down as well.

Granlund, Hanowski and Wotherspoon are the cavalry.

Drury18 · 03-28-2014, 09:04 PM

Morgan Klimchuk and the Pats have been eliminated from the WHL Playoffs.

Potentially another player that we could sign to an ATO and put on the roster.

Klimchuk is a 19 year old 5'11", 185 lbs LW with a left handed shot. 3rd on the Pats in scoring for the regular season.

Flame12 · 03-28-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drury18

Morgan Klimchuk and the Pats have been eliminated from the WHL Playoffs.

Potentially another player that we could sign to an ATO and put on the roster.

Klimchuk is a 19 year old 5'11", 185 lbs LW with a left handed shot. 3rd on the Pats in scoring for the regular season.

the Flames can assign him to the Heat now he has signed already.

Drury18 · 03-28-2014, 09:45 PM

Wow, I thought his contact would be like Kulak's and only kick in for next year since he's only 19 and still has another eligible year in the WHL.

Apparently it was to kick in this year so they could send him down.