[News] D Raphael Diaz accepts try out with Flames

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Fire

I just hope they don't sign both Diaz and Brookbank. Choose one and send Potter to the AHL.

I'd be fine signing all of them. Sign them give one of them (or Potter or whomever) the #7 job... put the remainder on waivers and stash them in the AHL. If another team losses a depth d-man to injury trade the guy with the team for a fair price and call up the next guy, Rinse-Repeat. I see it as a nice way to pick-up extra lottory tickets during the season. And if nobody wants them then they just provide competition on the farm and if they don't want to be on the farm then they just go on $125.00 waivers.

[handgroen]

they're talking on the fan960 like this is confirmed.
any word from the club on this yet, or is it just one of those it's unofficially official type things?

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Seems strange to me that so many people are so anti-Russell. I thought he was great last year and seemed like most people saw him as one of the best defensemen on the team. Yet several people here are suggesting getting rid of him and keeping Diaz instead.

I would trade Russell because it gives us more assets. If Diaz can replace Russell or even play almost as good to Russell then you sign Diaz and trade Russell. No one is going to give us assets for Diaz. And it's not like Russell is an amazing player or cornerstone of the team, he's replaceable. It's just asset management, nothing personal.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I would trade Russell because it gives us more assets. If Diaz can replace Russell or even play almost as good to Russell then you sign Diaz and trade Russell. No one is going to give us assets for Diaz. And it's not like Russell is an amazing player or cornerstone of the team, he's replaceable. It's just asset management, nothing personal.

I understand asset management but the Russell is a useful player both now and in the future. He is still relatively young for a defensemen and he has showed some great promise. Unless a team offers something of great value I think it would be better keep him.

[Finger Cookin]

I doubt these PTOs signal any kind of immediate moves. The plan is to add depth. You don't add depth at the bottom only to trade away one of our top 4, it defeats the intent.

Best case, Diaz challenges Russel/Wideman for top 4 minutes, more likely he's a platoon guy at 7 when we want to mix up the bottom pairing or have an experienced guy play to cover an injury. Brookbank at best can sub in for Engelland or Smid, otherwise he's a platoon guy at 7 or an injury replacement.

The kids on D may get nearly an entire season in Addy if the main roster stays healthy and the PTOs work out. That's probably good for their development.

[DOOM]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I would trade Russell because it gives us more assets. If Diaz can replace Russell or even play almost as good to Russell then you sign Diaz and trade Russell. No one is going to give us assets for Diaz. And it's not like Russell is an amazing player or cornerstone of the team, he's replaceable. It's just asset management, nothing personal.

It depends what another team would give up for Russell, like you said, hes not an amazing player or a corner stone, but is definitely more valuable then Diaz. Unless a team was willing to keep up something of decent value then id rather just hold onto Russell as an asset, as opposed to just flipping him for a middle round pick and signing Diaz.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

I doubt these PTOs signal any kind of immediate moves. The plan is to add depth. You don't add depth at the bottom only to trade away one of our top 4, it defeats the intent.

Best case, Diaz challenges Russel/Wideman for top 4 minutes, more likely he's a platoon guy at 7 when we want to mix up the bottom pairing or have an experienced guy play to cover an injury. Brookbank at best can sub in for Engelland or Smid, otherwise he's a platoon guy at 7 or an injury replacement.

The kids on D may get nearly an entire season in Addy if the main roster stays healthy and the PTOs work out. That's probably good for their development.

Yeah I think this is great, even if Flames are just adding B and C prospects the cupbaord has gone from bare to brimming in 2-3 years. The fact that Flames have choices is a sign of progress.

And all the new names give me a reason to go to pre-season games.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I understand asset management but the Russell is a useful player both now and in the future. He is still relatively young for a defensemen and he has showed some great promise. Unless a team offers something of great value I think it would be better keep him.

Originally Posted by DOOM

It depends what another team would give up for Russell, like you said, hes not an amazing player or a corner stone, but is definitely more valuable then Diaz. Unless a team was willing to keep up something of decent value then id rather just hold onto Russell as an asset, as opposed to just flipping him for a middle round pick and signing Diaz.

I agree. If Diaz somehow manages to play as good as Russell and we have two players we vale the same playing at the same level, then keep Diaz and trade Russell. If Russell is way better then keep him. Having Diaz try to prove he's that good doesmt cost us anything and could end up getting us more assets. Odds are Diaz is a #7 guy but who knows. It's just a good situation for the flames to be in.

[The Original FFIV]

Before we start thinking of trading Russell, he's one season removed from being waiver bait. Yes he's played well for us but he has much more value to us than others. There are others (Wideman, cough cough) who have higher value and are more likely to be dealt.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I agree. If Diaz somehow manages to play as good as Russell and we have two players we vale the same playing at the same level, then keep Diaz and trade Russell. If Russell is way better then keep him. Having Diaz try to prove he's that good doesmt cost us anything and could end up getting us more assets. Odds are Diaz is a #7 guy but who knows. It's just a good situation for the flames to be in.

Russell is not a big surprise. He played the same way in St.L and Columbus.

Russell played exactly 14 games in the AHL.... other than those 14 games in his second year he has been a NHL regular for 8 seasons.

He got more TOI with the Flames .... mainly because Wideman and Gio missed so many games.

Because of his size he is not a hot trading asset in the NHL.

The Flames traded a 5th round pick for him last off season.


Diaz has as much of a chance to replace Russell on the Flames Defense as did Derek Smith.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Russell is not a big surprise. He played the same way in St.L and Columbus.

Hmm not sure what this comment is based on but from what I'd seen, he played a lot better last year than for Blues and Jackets. He was a good skater and puck mover for them but that's all he was, which is why he kept getting passed on the depth chart there. Last year for the flames he was a much better all-around defender, smarter and more mature.

[Poe969]

You never know. Diaz wasn't horrible last year and maybe a change of scenery will inspire him or being on a PTO will motivate him to turn around his career. If Diaz plays better than Russell which is highly unlikely, then the Flames have the option of moving a defenseman.

As for Russell, he played well enough last year that other teams may look at him as a decent puck moving bottom pairing defenseman if they are in need of depth.

Point being, having Diaz on a PTO is a good situation for the Flames mostly because it isn't a bad situation. More good can come of it than bad so it's positive.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by heep223

Hmm not sure what this comment is based on but from what I'd seen, he played a lot better last year than for Blues and Jackets. He was a good skater and puck mover for them but that's all he was, which is why he kept getting passed on the depth chart there. Last year for the flames he was a much better all-around defender, smarter and more mature.

He was a top d-man on the Canadian WJC that won gold in 2006 and again in 2007. He won the CHL Defenseman of the year in 2007.



He had a near career worse -11 last year with the Flames.


In the 2011-12 playoffs.... the one that St.L played before Bouwmeester... the year they actually won a series, Russell was their #4 d-man in TOI and had the team leading +3.

He got bumped off the Blues top 4/5 the next year by the Blues getting Leopold and then Bouwmeester.

Bouwmeester has messed up better D-men than Russell.... Regehr and Phanuef and Sarich and Aucion all moved down to make room for Big Bouw.... and the Flames no playoffs and subsequent rebuild was put in motion.

Gio did not shine until Bouwmeester left town.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

He was a top d-man on the Canadian WJC that won gold in 2006 and again in 2007. He won the CHL Defenseman of the year in 2007.



He had a near career worse -11 last year with the Flames.


In the 2011-12 playoffs.... the one that St.L played before Bouwmeester... the year they actually won a series, Russell was their #4 d-man in TOI and had the team leading +3.

He got bumped off the Blues top 4/5 the next year by the Blues getting Leopold and then Bouwmeester.

Bouwmeester has messed up better D-men than Russell.... Regehr and Phanuef and Sarich and Aucion all moved down to make room for Big Bouw.... and the Flames no playoffs and subsequent rebuild was put in motion.

Gio did not shine until Bouwmeester left town.

Now it all makes sense.

It was Bouwmeester's fault that every team in the NHL passed on him when the Blues put Russell on waivers July 3 , two days before the Flames acquired him for a 5th pick.

Thanks for clarification.

[DoubleK]

Love it. Could use another right handed shot back there.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Poe969

You never know. Diaz wasn't horrible last year and maybe a change of scenery will inspire him or being on a PTO will motivate him to turn around his career. If Diaz plays better than Russell which is highly unlikely, then the Flames have the option of moving a defenseman.

As for Russell, he played well enough last year that other teams may look at him as a decent puck moving bottom pairing defenseman if they are in need of depth.

Point being, having Diaz on a PTO is a good situation for the Flames mostly because it isn't a bad situation. More good can come of it than bad so it's positive.

Thing is teams don't give up much for depth dmen. We aren't exactly deep so moving him for a low pick or middling prospect doesn't really help us compared to what a nhl ready dman does. Don't trade him just because we may get some depth at d, make the right deal that helps us long term.

[The Eliminator]

Treliving confirmed this via his interview on the Fan this morning

[canflip_101]

diaz > butler

[Fire of the Phoenix]

turd sandwich > poop pie

[Iceman90]

This is a good move. I think it's always a good idea to bring veterans into a training camp if you can. It gives the rookies more guys to watch and see what it takes to be a pro.

When you have rookies and vets both competing for a roster spot, it'll bring out the best in everyone.