2014 Training Camp Cuts. UPD: Oct 5 - Baertschi, Jooris and Ortio cut

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Without some surprises, the guys in bold get sent down leaving one of Baertschi, Ferland, and Gaudreau to make the team.

Personally, I think this team needs to find a way to keep at least 2 of these guys up. Part of rebuilding is knowing when you have to make room for the young guys, and I think at the very least Baertschi and Ferland would benefit more from being in the NHL than in the AHL. Gaudreau clearly has the skills as well, but I can see a case for him spending some time in the minors to acclimatize himself to the pro game and it's schedule. Granlund is also waiting in the wings, and he was perhaps the most ready out of all of these guys.

That's 4 players. I think we are that stage where if we don't start making room for a few of these guys, it will start impeding our long-term progress. You always need to have more players than rosters spots because of injuries, but I think the time is here where you start at least exploring the idea of making some room via trades (or trading some of these assets to shift talent to RW or D).

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I really don't want to see Diaz get signed.. He's too much like Butler, but doesn't cover up for his mistakes by blocking shots. He has an offensive edge but this is the type of player that causes the team to get hemmed in the defensive zone for extended periods.


Keep in mind this may be pre-season, but we're seeing the best Diaz has to offer right now as he's fighting for money and a spot on the team, just like the rookies. If this is what Diaz has to offer, I'll pass.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by OzSome

As for Brookbank and Yonkman, I didn't think they'll make it. You can tell because Hartley keeps playing Raphael Diaz more games. He probably like his two way plays.

IMO Diaz plays a pretty one-dimensional game, not two way. He reminds me of M-A Bergeron.

I also think he'll slot in nicely as a 7th d, rotate in, and get some powerplay time when inevitably injuries happen.

[Finger Cookin]

Diaz will be a depth guy who plays when there are injuries or back to back games. He won't be exposed as often as Butler.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by FBI

Hanowski was a disappointment too..

he is what he is...and Feaster is an idiot

[Poe969]

It's too bad about Yonkman......lol Yonkman.... I can't even type his name without giggling. I wanted him to make the team just so I could hear someone on TV say Yonkman without laughing.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Personally, I think this team needs to find a way to keep at least 2 of these guys up. Part of rebuilding is knowing when you have to make room for the young guys, and I think at the very least Baertschi and Ferland would benefit more from being in the NHL than in the AHL. Gaudreau clearly has the skills as well, but I can see a case for him spending some time in the minors to acclimatize himself to the pro game and it's schedule. Granlund is also waiting in the wings, and he was perhaps the most ready out of all of these guys.

That's 4 players. I think we are that stage where if we don't start making room for a few of these guys, it will start impeding our long-term progress. You always need to have more players than rosters spots because of injuries, but I think the time is here where you start at least exploring the idea of making some room via trades (or trading some of these assets to shift talent to RW or D).

I got raked over the coals for posting something similar before training camp. I agree there should be a couple of rookies added to the team each year. Darryl said that when he was GM, he just didn't have the level of rookies that we do. If we send our rookies down for another year of seasoning there will be an even bigger log jam next season when presumably Bennett and that years 1st will be ready for spots. Maybe injuries will allow it to happen.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by devo22

Forwards (20): Backlund, Baertschi, Bennett, Bollig, Bouma, Byron, Colborne, Ferland, Gaudreau, Glencross, Granlund, Hudler, Jones, Jooris, Klimchuk, McGrattan, Monahan, Raymond, Setoguchi, Stajan.

Defensemen (10): Brodie, Diaz, Engelland, Giordano, Potter, Russell, Sieloff, Smid, Wideman, Wotherspoon

Goaltenders (3): Hiller, Ortio, Ramo

10 more cuts. Klimchuk, Potter, Sieloff, Wotherspoon and Ortio are the only 'obvious' cuts left to make. After that it gets extremely difficult.

With everyone healthy, and knowing how NHL management tends to value professional experience, I have to think this is the most 'realistic' possibility:

Raymond Monahan Hudler
Byron Backlund Colborne
Glencross Stajan Setoguchi
Bollig Bouma McGrattan
Jones/Granlund

Giordano Brodie
Smid Wideman
Russell Engelland
Diaz

Hiller/Ramo

^^^^
In that lineup Setoguchi, Byron, Jones and Granlund are pretty much completely interchangeable and it wouldn't be particularly detrimental for anyone's development if they munch popcorn. But it's also not particularly fair to Gaudreau, Baertschi, Bennett, Ferland or Jooris, who have all been stand-out talents in camp.

If Backlund, Jones, Raymond and Granlund aren't fit to play the opener I think we'll see the following forward lineup:

Glencross Stajan Byron
Baertschi Monahan Hudler
Gaudreau Colborne Setoguchi
Bollig Bouma McGrattan
Ferland/Jooris

^^^^
Leaving only Bennett as the odd man out.

There must be a trade on the horizon, otherwise all the best talent is going to be playing in the AHL & Kingston once the injuries start to heal.

[MissTeeks]

Derek Wills‏@Fan960Wills55s55 seconds ago

#Flames HC Bob Hartley, who's always a great quote, tells us Josh Jooris "Has 50 pounds of dynamite in his body". He's been very impressive.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I really don't want to see Diaz get signed.. He's too much like Butler, but doesn't cover up for his mistakes by blocking shots. He has an offensive edge but this is the type of player that causes the team to get hemmed in the defensive zone for extended periods.


Keep in mind this may be pre-season, but we're seeing the best Diaz has to offer right now as he's fighting for money and a spot on the team, just like the rookies. If this is what Diaz has to offer, I'll pass.

We could still pick up someone on waivers or make a deal with a surplus forward. I'm not liking Diaz much either, I'd rather have Wotherspoon but it's too bad he's been injured.

[kehatch]

I think the D is pretty close. Wotherspoon and Sieloff may get called up when there is a roster spot, but they aren't sitting the bench in the 7 spot. Diaz and Potter will fight for that spot.

Goalie is done. Ortio hasn't done enough to unseat either Hiller or Ramo. Those are your two goalies to start the season.

But I think forward is less clear then some are making it out to be. I think the only forwards that have made this team are Glencross, Raymond, Bouma, Byron, Colborne, Monahan, Stajan, Hudler, Backlund, and McGrattan. That is 10 guys to fill 14 spots.

I wouldn't be shocked at all to see guys like Bollig, Setoguchi, or Jones get demoted or ride the bench as the 13 or 14 forward to make room for a player that earned it.

[Caged Great]

It makes it even more difficult when about 6 of the players that we have are pretty much NHL ready, even if only in a 4th line role.

I think all of Ferland, Baertschi, Granlund, Gaudreau, Bennett, and Reinhart could slot in today without any difficulty. The only problem is how do you get rid of enough veterans to make that happen. We already have a full lineup technically, and don't really have any spots available even for 1 guy (thankfully injuries have helped to address that for the time being). It is frustrating when you have 4 players that aren't really going to benefit from more AHL time (Ferland/Baertschi/Granlund/Reinhart)

[868904]

I hope they pass on signing Diaz. I know it's for depth and the 7th spot, but they already have Potter who is actually signed. Plus you have guys like Acolatse, Wotherspoon, and Sieloff who can come up in case of injuries.

Unless they plan on getting a mid round pick for Diaz at the deadline, I just don't see the point.

He also still has a penchant for making suicide passes. Wideman almost got killed last game after taking one from Diaz. No one would really care if Wideman got injured, but imagine if that was Johnny, Sven, or Monahan?

[442scotty]

Dump Seto... No loss.. Put Jones on waivers for the AHL when he comes back. If someone picks him up...great!. Need to find a way to keep at least 3 players up. Ferland, Johnny and Baertschi... Make a trade and keep Granlund up as well. Johnny doesn't need AHL experience...seriously guys... Ferland and Sven need an opportunity to play a few games (10) to see how they adjust.. Send them down later if you have to. Time to move out some of the old guard... Next years not going to get any better with Bennet and Poirier coming... Poirier possibly this year!

[saillias]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Raymond Monahan Hudler
Byron Backlund Colborne
Glencross Stajan Setoguchi
Bollig Bouma McGrattan
Jones/Granlund

Giordano Brodie
Smid Wideman
Russell Engelland

Hiller/Ramo

I don't think I'd pay money to watch that forward group.

[killer_carlson]

I was hoping Knight or Reinhart would come into camp and steal a spot. I think both will prove out strong once given the chance, but neither knocked camp out of the park.

I suspect we will see both this year though.

[djsFlames]

There should be two more 5 player cuts. Probably friday and sunday, after each of the remaining preseason games.

Ortio, Potter, Sieloff, Wotherspoon, Bennett (inj), Granlund (inj), Klimchuk, Jooris I expect to be amongst those players cut, the final 2 cuts after those will be the hardest.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

If we send our rookies down for another year of seasoning there will be an even bigger log jam next season when presumably Bennett and that years 1st will be ready for spots.

And probably Poirier and Klimchuk might start making a case too (although at least Poirier would fill a giant hole on RW). I'd assume perhaps 1-2 of the lesser lights like Jankowski, Reinhart, Smith, Arnold, Jooris etc will also develop to a point where the NHL might be the best way forward.

Log jam indeed.

It's one of the reasons I have no interest in re-signing a guy like Curtis Glencross.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by saillias

I don't think I'd pay money to watch that forward group.

That's probably what it will be. I could see Jooris in instead of Granlund though.

[kehatch]

Some interesting battles:

• Diaz vs Potter vs Sieloff vs Wotherspoon for 7D position. Room for 1 guy.
• Ferland vs Bollig vs Jooris for physical depth forward. Room for 1 guy.
• Ferland vs Gaudreau vs Setoguchi vs Baertschi vs Jones vs Granlund for top 9 winger. Room for 2 guys.
• Bennett vs Granlund vs Jooris for temporary IR replacement for Backlund (if required). Room for 1 guy.
• Hiller vs Ramo for starting goalie job. Room for 1 guy.