Schlemko, Diaz, Potter; Who do we want to keep?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Here's a list of UFA defensemen available as of now.

And I agree, I'm not sure we'd want to get chained down with the dollars and term that UFA defensemen will command in the off-season.

Those guys will get paid and get term, like they always do... and we'll likely be one of the teams signing one of these big deals. Lots of cap space and a glaring need on D, pretty obvious Treliving will throw his hat in the ring as that's his job to upgrade the team's weaknesses. Luckily several of those guys are clear upgrades on Schlemko and Diaz so he'll have lots to choose from.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Caps fans think Orpik played great for them this year and was instrumental in stabilizing their defense, but I'm guessing you didn't watch him or the Caps this year.

The last two years likely won't be fun but if you want the player you have to commit or he will just sign with someone who will. I don't think anyone in Washington is regretting that signing right now.

Orpik has been great this year. Will be be worth $6M in 4 more years? Boy a chance in hell. Washington had to go all in as Ovechkin's window is closing. Calgary's is just opening, so it's not at all the same

[Finger Cookin]

Yeah, I'd be leery about adding a 32+ D for 5 or more years at a $5.5M or more AAV at this point.

I'm not sure which UFAs who are younger than that would be available for Calgary to sign. We'll see if anyone lands here.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Orpik has been great this year. Will be be worth $6M in 4 more years?

He might be, nobody knows for sure. It's the risk you take if you sign a UFA, regardless of what stage you're team is in. Also I think he makes $5.5m and in real dollars it is probably front loaded, so it shouldn't be impossible to move if needed.

Who knows, maybe he becomes totally useless like M.Richards, and becomes completely impossible to move. Definitely possible though that could literally happen with any UFA that gets signed. The only way to avoid the risk is to never sign UFAs, which I'm not sure is a great strategy.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

He might be, nobody knows for sure. It's the risk you take if you sign a UFA, regardless of what stage you're team is in. Also I think he makes $5.5m and in real dollars it is probably front loaded, so it shouldn't be impossible to move if needed.

Who knows, maybe he becomes totally useless like M.Richards, and becomes completely impossible to move. Definitely possible though that could literally happen with any UFA that gets signed. The only way to avoid the risk is to never sign UFAs, which I'm not sure is a great strategy.

I think you missed my point. That's a fair gamble when your window is near closing and your youth has developed. The capitals aren't concerned about 4 years from now as much as the flames and are much more concerned about the immediate future than the flames are.

That deal makes sense for 1 team, but not the other. I do agree that you have to pay that for a decent UFA, but that's why I'm suggesting now is not the time

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think you missed my point. That's a fair gamble when your window is near closing and your youth has developed. The capitals aren't concerned about 4 years from now as much as the flames and are much more concerned about the immediate future than the flames are.

That deal makes sense for 1 team, but not the other. I do agree that you have to pay that for a decent UFA, but that's why I'm suggesting now is not the time

I didn't miss your point, I just dont agree with it. I don't think it's a big risk for us with 20m+ in cap space and no one signed for longer than 2 years besides Stajan and Brodie. If you think potenially overpaying for one top 4 D in 3 or 4 years is a bad gamble, well I just don't agree.

I don't want to see Dmen playing 3 minutes a night in the playoffs again because we have no depth. I'm sure Treliving doesn't want that scenario happening again and will explore the UFA market to bolster the team's depth. I would sign a guy like Michalek to a 5x5 without hesitation given the team's situation.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by getbak

My guess is that only Schlemko will be back of those three.

It also depends on what happens with Smid. Smid still has two years left on his contract, and he isn't even 30 yet, so I don't see him retiring unless his injury is severe.

If Smid does retire, or the Flames are able to move him, Diaz returning isn't a bad option.

Wotherspoon is still waiver-exempt for next season, so I could see him being the 8th man again. I don't think the Flames will be lucky enough to avoid major injuries to the blueline for most of next season again, so Spoon will likely get his shots even if he starts the year in Stockton.



Gio - Brodie
Russell - Wideman
Smid/Schlemko - Engelland

Diaz/Wotherspoon

Crap, I was going to post in this thread, but Getbak read my mind perfectly. Couldn't have said it better. I will say that I like Schlemko a little better because he's defensively responsible and adequate physically, but he can still skate and make smart plays with the puck coming out of his own zone. I wouldn't be crushed to see him get time on the 2nd pairing if there were an injury in the top 4 next year.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

If the team does want 7 guys excluding any of the current AHL Defensive corps, I would rather see them sign a guy who could deputize in the top 4 (Michalek?) or make a move to bring in a guy who is NHL ready with upside (Petrovic?)

If you mean Alex Petrovic, you're not likely to pry him out of Florida. They've been pretty high on him for awhile and put plenty of time into him. Now that he's about to break into the NHL full time you're not going to see them move him. More likely you would see someone like Campbell or Kulikov moved rather than Petrovic.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Crap, I was going to post in this thread, but Getbak read my mind perfectly. Couldn't have said it better. I will say that I like Schlemko a little better because he's defensively responsible and adequate physically, but he can still skate and make smart plays with the puck coming out of his own zone. I wouldn't be crushed to see him get time on the 2nd pairing if there were an injury in the top 4 next year.

I like Schlemko but he's another smallish defenceman. I'd really like a bigger, meaner type.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

If you mean Alex Petrovic, you're not likely to pry him out of Florida. They've been pretty high on him for awhile and put plenty of time into him. Now that he's about to break into the NHL full time you're not going to see them move him. More likely you would see someone like Campbell or Kulikov moved rather than Petrovic.

How's Campbell been?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I like Schlemko but he's another smallish defenceman. I'd really like a bigger, meaner type.

6'1" and 196 lbs. is smallish? Good lord, don't look at Kris Russell's tale of the tape then. Schlemko plays the body well enough and is a solid 2-way defenseman who can play a very solid 12-15 minutes a night on the 3rd pairing. Not sure what else you could get for 1.275 million that's better than what he brings.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

How's Campbell been?

Honestly, he's softer than melted butter, but he's smart and anticipates the play exceptionally well, and uses his stick very, very well. However, he's lost a step skating-wise and his offense has been drying up. His shot is softer than Bouwmeester's. Sees the ice well and can still pass with the best of them. He's not a bad veteran defender, but I don't think he fills a need for the Flames.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

6'1" and 196 lbs. is smallish? Good lord, don't look at Kris Russell's tale of the tape then. Schlemko plays the body well enough and is a solid 2-way defenseman who can play a very solid 12-15 minutes a night on the 3rd pairing. Not sure what else you could get for 1.275 million that's better than what he brings.

I'm aware of Russell's tale of the tape and it is one of the reasons we need to get bigger if we want to keep Russell. Paired with a big defenceman who can keep up, I think Russell could be more effective.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'm aware of Russell's tale of the tape and it is one of the reasons we need to get bigger if we want to keep Russell. Paired with a big defenceman who can keep up, I think Russell could be more effective.

Sooooooo, one of the reasons I wanted Tyler Myers.

Wideman has been awesome, but Myers with Russell would have been fantastic.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Sooooooo, one of the reasons I wanted Tyler Myers.

Wideman has been awesome, but Myers with Russell would have been fantastic.

and I wanted Boychuk last summer.

[Vulcan]

Here's a tale of the tape for those interested. The Ducks are the heaviest team in the NHL at 210.1 lbs. and we're the lightest at 196.3 lbs. A 13.8 lb difference.

http://mirtle.blogspot.ca/2014/10/20...eight-and.html

a little old but in 2010 the average NHL defenceman was 209.66 lbs. so Schemko is 13 lbs. below average.

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/20...weight-and-age

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Here's a tale of the tape for those interested. The Ducks are the heaviest team in the NHL at 210.1 lbs. and we're the lightest at 196.3 lbs. A 13.8 lb difference.

http://mirtle.blogspot.ca/2014/10/20...eight-and.html

a little old but in 2010 the average NHL defenceman was 209.66 lbs. so Schemko is 13 lbs. below average.

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/20...weight-and-age

2010 is 5 years ago, and by all accounts the game has gotten even faster with more emphasis placed on mobile defensemen over size. Lots of guys aren't playing anymore that were playing regular top 4 minutes then. Think Douglas Murray or Robyn Regehr. Height still seems to be a major factor, but still varies mostly on the skating ability of the player. Weight seems to be a trait in rapid decline, as it slows a defenders ability to skate.

http://hockeyvisualized.com/2015/03/...s-goaltenders/

Gone are the times of big bruising defensemen. The guys that are the best in the league are elite skaters with the ability to gain position and hold it or win puck battles along the boards, not clear the front of with vicious cross checks and slam guys into the end boards.

Being physical is important, but you don't have to be huge to be physical. Remember Chris Breen? He was never known as an overly physical defenseman and he was huge.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

2010 is 5 years ago, and by all accounts the game has gotten even faster with more emphasis placed on mobile defensemen over size. Lots of guys aren't playing anymore that were playing regular top 4 minutes then. Think Douglas Murray or Robyn Regehr. Height still seems to be a major factor, but still varies mostly on the skating ability of the player. Weight seems to be a trait in rapid decline, as it slows a defenders ability to skate.

http://hockeyvisualized.com/2015/03/...s-goaltenders/

Gone are the times of big bruising defensemen. The guys that are the best in the league are elite skaters with the ability to gain position and hold it or win puck battles along the boards, not clear the front of with vicious cross checks and slam guys into the end boards.

Being physical is important, but you don't have to be huge to be physical. Remember Chris Breen? He was never known as an overly physical defenseman and he was huge.

The one good year that Breen had was because he became more physical. After his injury he reverted to his soft game.

Sure size isn't everything but being the lightest team in the NHL isn't good either. Yeah you can win some when the team has a weakness but the idea is to strengthen that weakness not add to it.

Regehr is a poor example as he was still very effective this season. I was hoping he'd be an option for us next season. Sure big bruisers that can't skate or do much else are a dying breed but there are lots of big defencemen who can skate.

I'm not trying to disparage Schlemko as I think he's doing a pretty good job but I'd like an upgrade. He'd be a good #7 defenceman though. If Diaz comes back I'd look at that as a failure.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Regehr is a poor example as he was still very effective this season. I was hoping he'd be an option for us next season. Sure big bruisers that can't skate or do much else are a dying breed but there are lots of big defencemen who can skate.

Not so sure that he's a poor example. He just turned 35 a month ago, which is really young to retire for a defenseman of his calibre and experience. He was used mostly on the bottom pairing for L.A. this year and his footspeed has been in rapid decline...really only compared to the rest of the league. It's just showing that speed and agility matter more than anything else at pretty much every position. If Andreychuk was around now he would have likely retired 5-6 years earlier than he did.

[dammage79]

Of that UFA list I wonder if a 2 year deal to Erhoff would be good. He fits the Flames skating style of play from the back end. Added weapon on the PP too. Has a Wideman esque knack for getting the puck to the net from the point.

Other than that, the usual suspects like Franson and McQuaid would be my favorites. But Erhoff just screams of a smart signing for the Flames.