Have any of our off season acquisitions impressed?

[Ashasx]

People are upset with the performance of NHL tweeners like Setoguchi, who hasn't played like an NHLer for over a year.

I know that somebody like Hudler or Gio have spots locked up. That makes sense. They are among the best players on our team.

I was hoping, however, that players like Bollig or Setoguchi, who really aren't great NHLers to begin with, would actually be competing with the risk of losing a spot to a prospect or whomever.

I understand that NHLers in the past have had poor preseasons and have gone on to have solid seasons. But Setoguchi is not Iginla or Kiprusoff. I'm not sure why we owe anything to a player like him.

[Split98]

Can Diaz count? I've been pretty impressed with him so far and am downright excited to see him on the ream opening night.

I remain excited about Raymond. Was a player I loved when he was in Vancouver and excited that he's finally wearing a jersey I don't hate.

Setoguchi I haven't been blown away by, but parts of his career should leave us tentatively excited.

Another thing I haven't seen brought up here (or maybe I missed it) is that we are criticizing veterans who seeing their first games since the end of the regular season. The kids are using the pre-season to earn a spot on the team, and the veterans are using pre-season to get their legs under them. They're not going to drive as hard as the kids, and I hope they don't. Setoguchi missing the start of the regular season to impress CP with his pre-season performance would be silly. I want this guy to give 110% in the regular season, not pull something the first time he competes on the ice.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Yrebmi

I remember some posters being very disparaging about Joe Colborne. Some said he didn't belong in the in NHL either. Taking a spot from our kids.
Now Joe was not as established as Setoguchi in the NHL and maybe much of his improvement can be attributed to growth and being given a chance. Still, I have hopes that Seto can similarly rediscover his career.

Colborne was 23 years old.. He was just on the verge of establishing himself as a NHLer.

Now the Flames are loaded with guys in the same position.... This or next season is THE make or break year for Knight (24) Jooris (24) Rienhart (22), Agostino (22) Hanowski (23) Van Babrant (22) and Wolf (25).

They have this year to establish themselves. Next year Gaudreau, Baertschi Poirier,Granlund, Bennett, Klimchuck will all have a good chance of passing these guys.

Setoguchi is simply filler that takes away NHL audition space for these guys....

I would hate for them not to get a chance to show their stuff on the Flames and break through in some other organization....

Just like Colborne wasn't given much of chance on the Leafs and might be a long term Flames.

[Red Menace]

I am more disappointed with the 4 year contract given to Stajan. Not that I particularly dislike him or think he is not a worthy player to the team. But with Backlund, Monahan, Bennett where exactly does he fit on the team after this season?
Not to mention we may be landing another big C at next years draft.....and the likes of Granlund, Reinhart, Arnold, Jankowski, Knight, etc all potential C's too.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I am more disappointed with the 4 year contract given to Stajan. Not that I particularly dislike him or think he is not a worthy player to the team. But with Backlund, Monahan, Bennett where exactly does he fit on the team after this season?
Not to mention we may be landing another big C at next years draft.....and the likes of Granlund, Reinhart, Arnold, Jankowski, Knight, etc all potential C's too.

Do you remember the years of having no centres? Teams are always looking for centres. If you really get to a point where you just can't fit guys in the line-up, there will be a market for him. Dominic Moore gets traded every year for a 2nd round pick and he's a lesser Matt Stajan.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I am more disappointed with the 4 year contract given to Stajan. Not that I particularly dislike him or think he is not a worthy player to the team. But with Backlund, Monahan, Bennett where exactly does he fit on the team after this season?
Not to mention we may be landing another big C at next years draft.....and the likes of Granlund, Reinhart, Arnold, Jankowski, Knight, etc all potential C's too.

Never count your prospects before they've hatched. They will make the NHL if, not when, they are good enough to make the NHL. Monahan and Backlund are the only 2 who've made it so far. Stajan's fair value contract makes him a tradeable commodity if we need to move him. Don't worry about that until it needs to happen. Same with Setoguchi and anyone else who isn't quite good enough to make us better. They will move on when the time is right. For now they are placeholders.

[Red Menace]

I don't disagree, but I still feel they should have left 1-2 spots open for the gang of 5-6 quality prospects to fight over. I still have my doubts that they will actually demote any of the vets to the minors.

[Goriders]

From the small sample size I would say:

Good:
Engelland: Upgrade over Butler. Looks like a presence type D man.
Raymond: Upgrade over Galiardi

Not Sure:
Hiller: Need a few full starts to comment. Hasn't knocked socks off so far. Hopefully better than Berra.
Bollig: looks like he hasn't figured out his role yet.


Not a Fan:
Setoguchi: looks ineffective and worse than many of our AHLers.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

I don't disagree, but I still feel they should have left 1-2 spots open for the gang of 5-6 quality prospects to fight over. I still have my doubts that they will actually demote any of the vets to the minors.

I doubt they will either. Which leads you to wonder why they bother to have a training camp.