Which of the Flames "established" 24/25 year old forwards are a part of the future?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by devo22

I don't think anybody writes him off, it's just more of a numbers game. Simply no room for him going forward.

There's always room for your fourth best possession driver.

You may lose a couple of the older guys on your list but I don't see losing them all, unless you weren't talking about next year any more. PLus, I don't think you want only Hudler as a seasoned vet up front. Eventually they all get moved, probably in order of Raymond, Bollig, Jones and Stajan.

It's tough to predict, but I'm just not sure any of the seasoned vets other than Hudler bring enough on the ice to justify it, and off the ice you've still got essentially the entire defensive core. Stajan has the strongest case to stay, but then Backlund is effectively an NHL veteran by this point. Jones is on the last year of his contract and if you have to pick between a guy who could be here for 4-6 years VS a 31 year old who you probably don't plan on resigning, you probably pick the former. And Bollig... he can't be gone soon enough. That leaves Mason, and I see it as just a numbers game.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

There's always room for your fourth best possession driver.



It's tough to predict, but I'm just not sure any of the seasoned vets other than Hudler bring enough on the ice to justify it, and off the ice you've still got essentially the entire defensive core. Stajan has the strongest case to stay, but then Backlund is effectively an NHL veteran by this point. Jones is on the last year of his contract and if you have to pick between a guy who could be here for 4-6 years VS a 31 year old who you probably don't plan on resigning, you probably pick the former.

Why are you picking between Jones and someone, and who is that someone - Byron? I like Byron but he can't do what Jones does. I think Jooris and Byron are eachothers' competition (because they play a similar game and because I don't see either at centre over any of Shore, Stajan, Colborne or Granlund).

Because Jones is a UFA, I get moving him at the deadline, same as Glencross. Except I think Jones is a guy you can re-sign at a reasonable price and term.

[Coach]

Backlund and Bouma for sure.

Colborne Jooris and Shore I like and think will/should stick around.

Byron is likely gone. Sad because he is a great energy guy, but we already are too small. He'll get an NHL spot somewhere though. He is a solid player.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Why are you picking between Jones and someone, and who is that someone

Any of Drew Shore, Josh Jooris, or Joe Colborne. Even Byron too though. Remember Jones was out for a chunk of the season and the team didn't skip a beat with Byron as his replacement - on the contrary that was when Glencross/Monahan line was performing well.

I don't see either at centre over any of Shore, Stajan, Colborne or Granlund).

I see all of them over Granlund.

[thymebalm]

How quickly people forget Byrons impact. He was such a big part of the team this year. Drives possession, fast as hell, virtually mistake free on the defensive side, and will never command a high salary. Basically the perfect role player. I hope he sticks around

[GioforPM]

With all due respect to Byron, he didn't replace Jones, and I don't think he can. Colborne can do the things Jones does, and maybe Shore can as well. Jooris - I think the team needs to see him more in case this year, which could not have been predicted based on anything he ever did before, is just an anomoly.

But you still need to round out a roster for next year and I don't think you get rid of everyone over 25 just because. I'm pretty sure Jones will be on the team for the majority of the year, and will be traded only if they can't come to terms with him.

Next year I think we see, to start the year:

Gaudreau Monahan Hudler
Bouma Bennett Jones
Jooris Backlund Colborne
Ferland Stajan Poirier
Byron/Bollig/Raymond in for Jooris and Ferland every so often. Granlund up if a C goes down.

I can see Jones going at the deadline if he doesn't get a new deal. But I think they'd far rather have him and deal Raymond for value. Byron is in a really tough spot.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, I kinda knew Byron would get the least amount of love here. Too bad, his size really isn't a factor IMO, because he is actually quite strong and gives a good as he takes. Plus his speed is awesome....always dangerous. If he ever finds his offensive "mojo" and starts capitalizing more on the chances he creates, he'll be even more dangerous.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

With all due respect to Byron, he didn't replace Jones

...except he did.

Originally Posted by GioforPM

But you still need to round out a roster for next year and I don't think you get rid of everyone over 25 just because.

Hudler
Giordano
Russell
Backlund
Wideman
(Schlemko/Diaz/Engelland)

Will still all be over 25.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Gone, I see are Bollig, Stajan, Raymond, and Jones.

All of which are more difficult to move out than Byron due to contract term and dollars. Not to say there's no chance any or all of them get moved - just that simply not renewing Byron is much easier.

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Hudler
Giordano
Russell
Backlund
Wideman
(Schlemko/Diaz/Engelland)

Will still all be over 25.

None of the players bolded are relevant in a discussion about forwards.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Yeah, I kinda knew Byron would get the least amount of love here. Too bad, his size really isn't a factor IMO, because he is actually quite strong and gives a good as he takes. Plus his speed is awesome....always dangerous. If he ever finds his offensive "mojo" and starts capitalizing more on the chances he creates, he'll be even more dangerous.

It's not that I don't like him a lot - I do, and I defended him when people were on him about breakaways.

I can see him beating Jooris for a spot more than I can see him beating Jones, who has been a 2nd line mainstay when healthy and has size and more offensive numbers going for him. This is also because I can see Jooris tailing off, in fact, he already has started to do so.

I'd rather keep Byron over Raymond, who I've also defended some, and Bollig (who I haven't). Of course Byron and Bollig are completely different animals.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I'm curious why some of you think Colborne will be traded? Pretty sure he intends to stay with the team that gave him the best opportunity to succeed, as well as playing in his hometown.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

...except he did.



Hudler
Giordano
Russell
Backlund
Wideman
(Schlemko/Diaz/Engelland)

Will still all be over 25.

I don't recall Byron on the Monahan/Glencross line (as it was back then). I could be wrong, and even so, what I mean is that Byron plays a completely different game, which is similar to Jooris and not to Jones. I think you need some beef up front, and right now, Jones is it. Colborne maybe as well, and Shore. The kids Ferland and Poirier could do it in the future, but right now they aren't going anywhere near the second line.

You can't have Backlund as one of the young guys and the vets list. I don't think he has that role yet. And we are talking forwards, or so I thought.

[CSharp]

Not sold on Shore. If it wasn't for his dumb-arse play on one of the games (think it's against the Devils), the Flames wouldn't have gone into OT for that game. A lot of people harp on Byron, but he's got the legs and has proven that he can play with the team and he's got tremendous speed. The speed that he has pushes the opposition defence back. It's just too bad that he's smallish, but he does finish his forechecks.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I can see him beating Jooris for a spot more than I can see him beating Jones, who has been a 2nd line mainstay when healthy and has size and more offensive numbers going for him.

Keep in mind that Jones at one point in the season was on the virge of being healthy scratched. The only thing that kept him in the lineup was Hudler's wife going into Labour and he went and had his best game to that point in the season to keep himself in the lineup.

Hartley hasn't even entertained the idea of scratching Byron and in fact relies on him late in games, and especially in 4 on 4 scenarios.

I'm not denying that Jones has his value - I like him actually even at 4mil/year. But he's generally been the 3rd best player on his line and at his age he's not a piece you can build around. I'd imagine that in Treliving's mind, building is still at the forefront not contending.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I'm curious why some of you think Colborne will be traded? Pretty sure he intends to stay with the team that gave him the best opportunity to succeed, as well as playing in his hometown.

Probably just a numbers thing. People are looking for full-time playing slots for Bennett, Poirier, and possibly others.

I'm more on the fence about Colborne and Jooris than I am about Backlund and Bouma, for example. And while I think there could be room for all four moving forward, I would be less surprised if Colborne or Jooris makes way for upcoming forwards than I would be if Backlund or Bouma do.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by CSharp

Not sold on Shore. If it wasn't for his dumb-arse play on one of the games (think it's against the Devils), the Flames wouldn't have gone into OT for that game. A lot of people harp on Byron, but he's got the legs and has proven that he can play with the team and he's got tremendous speed. The speed that he has pushes the opposition defence back. It's just too bad that he's smallish, but he does finish his forechecks.

Shore had one bad play that I saw (where he ended up on Ramo). But he otherwise has been decent on faceoffs, a really good forechecker and has some size, speed and grit. Pretty good defensively - I saw some good takeaways.

I hate isolating a play and tagging a player with it. Schlemko had some bad moments last night, but I think he'll be fine.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't recall Byron on the Monahan/Glencross line (as it was back then).

While Jones was out, the line was Glencross-Monahan-Byron and at the time it was producing - and you can see that once Jones (and then Colborne) was back in, the whole line's production simply plummetted throughout December until it was altogether broken up in January with the return of Backlund.

[Hackey]

Bouma and Backlund I definitely see room for in the bottom 6. These guys would be ideal bottom 6 players on a contending team. Colborne and Jooris still not sure. Hopefully they continue to progress and make a case but not sold on these guys yet. At minimum hopefully they continue to improve and can be used as trade pieces. Drew Shore I'm skeptical on but kind of hard to say with such limited time. Byron he's gone.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

None of the players bolded are relevant in a discussion about forwards.

They're relevant in a discussion about veterans.

[GioforPM]

Jones was indeed going to be a healthy scratch (I was surprised at that, because his previous game was pretty decent). Hartley has scratched guys all over this roster from Jooris up to Gaudreau. I don't read too much into it from a roster position.

Byron has been scratched before by Hartley, and, and wasn't tendered a qualifying offer last June. He's obviously upped his play this year (IMO) but I just don't sense that management sees him as a long term guy. And, like was mentioned, everyone but Jones is difficult to move contract-wise.