[News] Backlund & Smid activated off IR. Granlund & Potter assigned to Adirondack

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

With Stajan on the books for a few more years it's not looking good for guys like Reinhart, Arnold, and Knight as Jooris came out of nowhere to unseat them.

Yeah, I'd really be surprised if we kept Stajan for that entire time frame. He's a pretty serviceable player on a cheaper salary. I think you could find a taker for him if you really needed to. But, if the Adirondack guys aren't better than Matt Stajan, Mr. Jack of all trades/master of none, do you really want them?

[Toonage]

Personally I see our centres next year as Monahan, Backlund, Bennett & Granlund with Stajan in the press box. Guys like Knight & Arnold could help fetch decent returns. Though really between now and then who knows what wackiness could occur.

[btimbit]

If one of those guys prove they're better and add more to the team than Stajan does, I can definitely see Stajan moved. But right now Stajan is still good for this team and we can't supplant him with a kid just in the hopes that they turn out better. They need to prove it

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

That only leaves Bennett on IR, yes? The Flames haven't been this healthy in a very long time. Great to see!!!

Great timing too. Lets get back into a playoff spot and hold it.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Yeah, I'd really be surprised if we kept Stajan for that entire time frame. He's a pretty serviceable player on a cheaper salary. I think you could find a taker for him if you really needed to. But, if the Adirondack guys aren't better than Matt Stajan, Mr. Jack of all trades/master of none, do you really want them?

I think it's an artifact of the "TSN Era" of NHL fandom, where a young guy doing a worse job than Matt Stajan in the same role is more exciting than Matt Stajan doing a better job.

It's pretty unlikely that Bill Arnold, say, will ever be a better NHL player than Stajan is now. There's a chance, of course, but not a big one. But .. but .. he's 22 (or whatever) so he's a shiny new toy. C'est la vie.

[terminator]

Bennet/Monohan/Backlund/Granlund that's an nhl caliber centre crew, no?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by terminator

Bennet/Monahan/Backlund/Granlund that's an nhl caliber centre crew, no?

I prefer Granlund on a wing actually, if we need to find a spot for him. But it's not if he's NHL calibre - it's whether he's a better option than Stajan. What does he do better? I can't say very much at this point, even though I like Granlund fine, and he has more offensive upside And as a 4th liner with Bollig and Bouma? Give me Stajan in that situation.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by terminator

Bennet/Monohan/Backlund/Granlund that's an nhl caliber centre crew, no?

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I prefer Granlund on a wing actually, if we need to find a spot for him. But it's not if he's NHL calibre - it's whether he's a better option than Stajan. What does he do better? I can't say very much at this point, even though I like Granlund fine, and he has more offensive upside And as a 4th liner with Bollig and Bouma? Give me Stajan in that situation.

And Granlund is not defensively responsible to center two fourth line players

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I like Stajan, but if he needs to be traded, fine. Or even bought out. Or if Reinhart/Arnold/Knight can be moved to get improvement where we need it, good luck to them. At the moment none of those guys have played any better in their callups (Reinhart and Knight - Arnold I'd like to see because of his history with Gaudreau and he is a sizeable guy with a right hand shot).

The time for Stajan to move on is this year or before next for sure.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Personally I see our centres next year as Monahan, Backlund, Bennett & Granlund with Stajan in the press box. Guys like Knight & Arnold could help fetch decent returns. Though really between now and then who knows what wackiness could occur.

I don't see Granlund play more than Stajan next season. Stajan is a great 3rd or 4th line centre. Granlund isn't as good at this point and I don't see him being better than him next season either.

Does Bennett start at centre next season or maybe on the wing since we have a bit of a log jam at the position it seems.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

And Granlund is not defensively responsible to center two fourth line players

He's not terrible defensively, and I think he's going to be a good two-way guy. But at the moment he's not like Stajan, and not good enough to centre a Bollig or Bouma.

Almost like pairing a stay at home D man with a roving guy.

[Henry Fool]

Granlund is already good defensively. I don't know where the idea that he isn't comes from. He may be better off with big minutes in the AHL right now but he'll be perfectly fine with guys like Bollig and Bouma. I think he has played very well with Bouma for example.

His game has gone down a bit lately but in general he's a very steady centerman. He is easy to overlook on the ice with the way he plays though.