[News] Flames claim David Schlemko off waivers. Wotherspoon sent down.

[Harry Lime]

Giving Schlemko #3 seems to indicate that they feel that he is going to be a contributor on this team. Giving him a high available number would have sent a different message.

I'm hoping that between Treliving knowing the player, and Russell being familiar with his play, we will see a player that has yet to reach his potential, given the chance to do so. I think that we see Russell/Schlemko pairing soon.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I understand defensemen take longer to develop, that's not the issue.

The issue is having called up Wotherspoon 4 times this season and missing AHL games, only to be benched in place of Diaz, Engelland and/or Potter.

Wotherspoon played last year and looked NHL ready. It's been almost a year and he hasn't got another NHL game in.

I get that Treliving likes to over-rippen his prospects, but at what point does Wotherspoon start taking exception to this?

I guess that is a question only Tyler Wotherspoon can answer, but I think it is grossly premature to start to think that it is one that he should be entertaining.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I understand defensemen take longer to develop, that's not the issue.

The issue is having called up Wotherspoon 4 times this season and missing AHL games, only to be benched in place of Diaz, Engelland and/or Potter.

Wotherspoon played last year and looked NHL ready. It's been almost a year and he hasn't got another NHL game in.

I get that Treliving likes to over-rippen his prospects, but at what point does Wotherspoon start taking exception to this?

Wotherspoon did NOT look nhl ready last year

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I understand defensemen take longer to develop, that's not the issue.

The issue is having called up Wotherspoon 4 times this season and missing AHL games, only to be benched in place of Diaz, Engelland and/or Potter.

Wotherspoon played last year and looked NHL ready. It's been almost a year and he hasn't got another NHL game in.

I get that Treliving likes to over-rippen his prospects, but at what point does Wotherspoon start taking exception to this?

I was underwhelmed by Wotherspoon last year, but I figured it was to be expected. As for being called up and not played? Welcome to the bubble. It's a nod to good play in the AHL. Plus, I don't think he missed that many games in the AHL - their schedule is weird. Anyway, Hartley sees them in practice and if he thought Wotherspoon was better, he'd play him over one of those guys.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I was underwhelmed by Wotherspoon last year, but I figured it was to be expected. As for being called up and not played? Welcome to the bubble. It's a nod to good play in the AHL. Plus, I don't think he missed that many games in the AHL - their schedule is weird. Anyway, Hartley sees them in practice and if he thought Wotherspoon was better, he'd play him over one of those guys.

I don't think we'll ever be overwhelmed by Wotherspoon but if you watch him, he efficiently does his job with few mistakes. He ain't going to be a Bobby Orr or a Brodie but he'll do his job very well.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

The general consensus last year was that Wotherspoon was NHL ready. He didn't look out of place and was quiet every game. That's exactly what you want from a defensive defenseman who's holding down the bottom pairing.

I don't think he would of got into 14 games last year if he wasn't NHL ready..

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

The general consensus last year was that Wotherspoon was NHL ready. He didn't look out of place and was quiet every game. That's exactly what you want from a defensive defenseman who's holding down the bottom pairing.

I don't think he would of got into 14 games last year if he wasn't NHL ready..

I don't recall that but maybe I'm mistaken. He was good for a raw 20 year old, but let's not pretend he got those Ganges because he was ready. Hanowski got games at the end of the season, was he ready? Candari did, etc. He was there because there was a spot open and the flames were out of the race. By almost every metric he was one of the worst defensemen out there despite very soft minutes.

I think he'll be a good bottom 4 guy, but let's not pretend he's there already based on last year because it's factually inaccurate

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I understand defensemen take longer to develop, that's not the issue.

The issue is having called up Wotherspoon 4 times this season and missing AHL games, only to be benched in place of Diaz, Engelland and/or Potter.

Wotherspoon played last year and looked NHL ready. It's been almost a year and he hasn't got another NHL game in.

I get that Treliving likes to over-rippen his prospects, but at what point does Wotherspoon start taking exception to this?

I don't think this is another Barts situation waiting to happen...

Also, didn't Wotherspoon just come back from re constructive shoulder surgery in late 2014? Perhaps could be a factor in that? Or maybe the set up is not yet tweaked to include a stay at home D in the system?

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/09/24...rn-from-injury

But then again, so did Poirier with shoulder surgery and I think Poirier has played more NHL games than Wotherspoon this season, no? So perhaps, not the reason.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I don't recall that but maybe I'm mistaken. He was good for a raw 20 year old, but let's not pretend he got those Ganges because he was ready. Hanowski got games at the end of the season, was he ready? Candari did, etc. He was there because there was a spot open and the flames were out of the race. By almost every metric he was one of the worst defensemen out there despite very soft minutes.

I think he'll be a good bottom 4 guy, but let's not pretend he's there already based on last year because it's factually inaccurate

Hanowski and Cundari were there in an attempt to make the Iginla and Bou trades look decent. Also to see what area's of the game needed the most improvement.

Nobody expected those two to make the team. Many fans thought Wotherspoon earned bottom pairing minutes. I haven't heard a single negative thing about the guy until you piped in just now.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I understand defensemen take longer to develop, that's not the issue.

The issue is having called up Wotherspoon 4 times this season and missing AHL games, only to be benched in place of Diaz, Engelland and/or Potter.

Wotherspoon played last year and looked NHL ready. It's been almost a year and he hasn't got another NHL game in.

I get that Treliving likes to over-rippen his prospects, but at what point does Wotherspoon start taking exception to this?

Always earned, never given. Has Wotherspoon blown the roof off the AHL? No. He's making steady progress, and If I was him, I wouldn't be complaining about getting called up when 6 other D-prospects haven't even gotten to practice with the big club or collect an NHL salary.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Hanowski and Cundari were there in an attempt to make the Iginla and Bou trades look decent. Also to see what area's of the game needed the most improvement.

Nobody expected those two to make the team. Many fans thought Wotherspoon earned bottom pairing minutes. I haven't heard a single negative thing about the guy until you piped in just now.

It's not that negative, it's just that he was what you would expect a young 20 year old player to be. He could be a bottom pairing guy now, I don't know and won't comment there as I haven't watched him much this year. Last year though, he had a couple good games that maybe tinted peoples view because he had 4 points in those 14 games. Despite the soft minutes, the opposition had almost twice as many scoring chances the flames did when he was out there. In fairness to him, he was paired with Smid

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Always earned, never given. Has Wotherspoon blown the roof off the AHL? No. He's making steady progress, and If I was him, I wouldn't be complaining about getting called up when 6 other D-prospects haven't even gotten to practice with the big club or collect an NHL salary.

That's the issue.. Wotherspoon will never be flashy or blow the roof off anywhere. It's not his game.

And the majority of posters also thought he earned an NHL spot this season:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...erspoon&page=1

[Vulcan]

I don't know about his Corsi or his level of competition but he had pretty good stats and when I watched him he didn't look overwhelmed at all. He was for sure better than O'Brian, Billins and Smith, also IMO better than Butler. I thought that except for his shoulder injury he had a good chance to make the team this season.

His stats were okay and even his plus minus fell into about team average for the games he played. I figure the reason he's staying in the AHL is too build up his offensive game, so that he can be more than just a third pairing guy but right now I'd have more faith in him than some of the guys on our third pairing.

NHL 14 0 4 4 4 -3

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Giving Schlemko #3 seems to indicate that they feel that he is going to be a contributor on this team. Giving him a high available number would have sent a different message.

Other than kids starting on the farm, did we ever give established players numbers outside of the low numbers? I don't recall Diaz or Raymond ever using a high number for instance.

Not questioning your comment. Sounds like a reasonable assumption and belief. Just wanted to clarify.

[Knut]

I think that Wotherspoon coming up gives him opportunity to practice with the NHL club and work with NHL level coaches. The team likely have him working on things.

There really is no rush to put him into action.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

That's the issue.. Wotherspoon will never be flashy or blow the roof off anywhere. It's not his game.

And the majority of posters also thought he earned an NHL spot this season:

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...erspoon&page=1

I'm not suggesting he was going to be some offensive force. I just thought he was not quite an NHler last year (but OK with the progress).

That thread is hard to read but it looked to me like a lot of the posters had Wotherspoon as a 7th defenceman. Of course, there was no Engelland or Diaz, and lots of people had add-ins like Mike Green.

Is there a thread of the views of Wotherspoon from this years camp?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'm not suggesting he was going to be some offensive force. I just thought he was not quite an NHler last year (but OK with the progress).

That thread is hard to read but it looked to me like a lot of the posters had Wotherspoon as a 7th defenceman. Of course, there was no Engelland or Diaz, and lots of people had add-ins like Mike Green.

Is there a thread of the views of Wotherspoon from this years camp?

If you want to find counter evidence than find it yourself..

This is based off his play from last season, so the linked thread is relevant.

And yes he was the 6-7 d-man for most line-ups (I actually had him in the 2nd pairing due to Wideman's terrible play last year). That means he has a permanent spot after the first injury. There has been injuries throughout the year and Wotherspoon has no ice time to show for it. There's currently 2 injuries nearing the end of the season and he's still not in the line-up.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

If you want to find counter evidence than find it yourself..

This is based off his play from last season, so the linked thread is relevant.

Thanks for your help. I am not trying to counter you, but I would suggest that his performance at this years camp is more relevant than a thread speculating on this years lineup which includes guys like Mike Green or Aaron Ekblad on defence.

I imagine Wotherspoon could outplay Engelland on a lot of nights. That doesn't mean that I want him to have those minutes as opposed to a better role in Adirondack. And I do trust Hartley and his decisions on lineups. He could have put Wotherspoon in and he didn't. I would, in fact, have an issue if Treliving started dictating to Hartley what his lineup is going to be.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Thanks for your help. I am not trying to counter you, but I would suggest that his performance at this years camp is more relevant than a thread speculating on this years lineup which includes guys like Mike Green or Aaron Ekblad on defence.

I imagine Wotherspoon could outplay Engelland on a lot of nights. That doesn't mean that I want him to have those minutes as opposed to a better role in Adirondack. And I do trust Hartley and his decisions on lineups. He could have put Wotherspoon in and he didn't. I would, in fact, have an issue if Treliving started dictating to Hartley what his lineup is going to be.

There's nothing wrong with a prospect playing bottom pairing minutes. He was still getting 12-15 minutes of ice time per night. It's not the same as a forward like Poirier on the 4th line getting 5-7 minutes of ice time (which nobody seems to even have exception with).

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I understand defensemen take longer to develop, that's not the issue.

The issue is having called up Wotherspoon 4 times this season and missing AHL games, only to be benched in place of Diaz, Engelland and/or Potter.

Wotherspoon played last year and looked NHL ready. It's been almost a year and he hasn't got another NHL game in.

I get that Treliving likes to over-rippen his prospects, but at what point does Wotherspoon start taking exception to this?

If he's taking exception to making an NHL salary and practicing and travelling with NHL players, instead of riding the bus for an AHL salary but playing AHL games, then ... well, I'd be surprised.