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[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Well now you're just being stubborn.

When the player performs at the level Wideman just did for 90 games, you do not approach next season with the intention of dropping him to your 3rd pairing.

Wideman could still get 20+ mins per game from the 3rd pairing if they maxed his PP/PK time. It would create tremendous depth if we found another top 4, we'd have a top 5 defence in the league. If one of the five gets hurt (inevitable) we still have a dynamite top 4, what's not to like?

[troutman]

Use every draft pick. Acquire more and better draft picks.

Keep the view on the horizon.

[FlamesAddiction]

Joel Ward would be a good pick-up. I know, post apex and all that, but he would add an element that we are missing.

Frolik is another guy I would look at depending on the price. Not an overly physical player, but we can use skill on the RW.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

...why are people trying to shelter Wideman defensively? He was a rock back there this whole season. I'll just leave this here...



We need to find a quality guy to play on our 3rd pair, that could step up to top 4 duty if/when one of Gio/Brodie/Russell/Wideman get injured.

Thanks for posting that.

I made me go look and see how old Wideman is. For some reason I had him up at 36-37, but no he is 32, 1 yr older than the Capt.

[Dime_On_Flames]

I wish for:

Top 4 D that can add some size. Seabrook

#3/2 C with some size and faceoff skills. not sure who could fill that mold.

Most importantly, a hugely successful draft!

I think Treliving needs to make some tough decisions. I am in the camp of letting Backlund go. He's been pretty damn good this year, but if we want to address the "size" issue, it's time to move on.

[sureLoss]

Christain Ehrhoff's injury woes this season could make him an ideal UFA signing to bolster the Flames D.

Coming off significant injuries and 32 years old means it is unlikely he will get a long term deal from anyone.

Can start on the 3rd pairing with Engelland and perhaps move up to the 2nd pairing if required.

If he can't stay healthy allows for some of the farm team to come in and step up.

[debil]

Cody Franson, D, 27 ,big body , 36 pts, UFA this summer

[saillias]

I mostly want the team to stand pat. Wow, don't think I've ever said that before about a Flames team. I think most growth is going to happen from within. I think our lineup is pretty good, I think we could use an extra defenseman who can play 20 minutes, play the PK and be a shutdown guy. We don't need any more PP options, and RH shot isn't a pressing need either. Wideman/Engelland/Schlemko shoot right, Brodie is just fine if not better playing the right side with Gio.

[CanadaMatt]

Will Denis Wideman be a valued member of the roster when the Flames are legitimate Stanly Cup Contenders?

My guess is the Flames will be able to compete with the likes of Anaheim, consistently, in 3 more seasons...so my answer is 'no'.

Given that, I think it would make sense to trade Wideman now, at the height of his powers, to get the best return...then ensure the return delivers value in 3 years time (i.e. first/second rounder or high-level prospect). I am sure a team in 'win now' mode would love a D-Man with 50+ points and would be willing to part with a good package.

It would be sad to see the wide-dog traded though, he's been great...but the Flames are not in 'win-now' mode.

[OzSome]

I just hope people have no high expectation next season. I just hate to see people freaking out and wants to trade every single player if they don't have the same success as this season on 2015-16 season. The Flames is still in a rebuilding year and fortunately for us fans, we witnessed a great year on their 2nd year of rebuild. No need to go after expensive players that would ruin the system. I really think we are in the right course on this rebuild. We already have the first line combo, now we just have to start building our 2nd line with Sam Bennett centering that line. Backlund-Colborne-Bouma are good 3rd line, while Stajan-Jones-Ferland the 4th line. I still keep Bollig as a spare then have Granlund, Jooris or even someone from UFA signing to duke it out the 2 winger position on the 2nd line. On defense, I think Gio-Brodie-Wideman-Russell-Engelland-Schlemko as the top 6 would do. I would rather have Wotherspoon or Morrisson gets the shot as the #7 D who is capable of drawing in the lineup and not miss a step. Goaltending would be tricky because of Ortio's situation. I still want to see the Ramo-Hiller combo but I'll be satisfy with Ramo-Ortio combo as well.

[Cole436]

We need a big top six winger. I begrudgingly agree with Burke that we have to get bigger. The Ducks top six were manhandling our top line at times, and we need something to counter it. A player like Lucic would be perfect.

Also a bigger top four defender. Wideman and Russell are great, but again they seemed physically outmatched at times.

[Burke Salad]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Is Belesky really as good as his last 5 games, or even as good as this seasons production might lead you to believe? Really good numbers with Kesler as his center man. What happens if he has Backlund as his center? Probably similar production to previous seasons when Bonino or Winnik centered him

Ssshh, don't tell Edmonton, when they back up the brinks truck for him.

[polak]

Holes we absolutely need to fill:

1x Top 4 D-Man:
No one on the farm that's any where close to being able to step in a top 4 role. We definitely need to fill this hole from the outside. Might as well do it now.

1x Top 6 winger:
The top line is set and we have a solid looking 2C in Bennett who I'm comfortable with going forward but that's it for solid top 6 forwards. I don't expect us to fill out the 2nd line entirely this season but I think we need at least one top 6 winger if we want to move forward next season. Let Porier and Bouma fight it out for the last top 6 spot.

Holes, but not glaring:

1x Top 6 Winger - Obviously what I was referring to above (the spot I'm okay with Bouma/Porier in)

1x Bottom 6 Winger - Basically if we have to move Bouma into the top 6 then we need to replace him in the bottom 6. Not confident that any of our left over players can play that 3rd line role like Bouma/Ferland. I think you need two players like that (Ferland being the other).

.... Really that's all I think we need for now if we're not looking to sell the farm and go all in. If we can just fill those to 2 big needs then I think we're sitting pretty next season while more talent develops on the farm.

[Stud_McCool]

I'd like to add Adam McQuaid as a bottom pairing with Engelland.

[goodyear]

I would like to see a more balanced top 6 D group. Can't expect to go far when the top 3 guys are playing 27+ min every game like they did ending the regular season and through the 1st two rounds.

Not sure about Ramo or Jonas. Both had good stretches but also some nervous moments.

I hate Kessler, but the Flames need a guy like that...good on faceoffs, can score and a jerk to play against, especially in the playoffs. Don't know who else is out there that plays like but I'll let Treliving figure that out and I'll hide anonymously on a message board!


Regardless, this will be a good off-season for the Flames. And drafting 15 overall? I want to see some draft day trades!

Good job Flames and CP...great season!

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Stud_McCool

I'd like to add Adam McQuaid as a bottom pairing with Engelland.

I think that would look a lot like Smid-Engelland. IMO Deryk needs a mobile puck mover to compliment his game. Otherwise it's fire drills and icings every shift.

[Jason14h]

We need a big center who can win faceoffs, a big winger who can score 20 goals, and a bigger puck moving D.

All three of these are easy to find

[Stud_McCool]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

I think that would look a lot like Smid-Engelland. IMO Deryk needs a mobile puck mover to compliment his game. Otherwise it's fire drills and icings every shift.

Good point. Brodie with Engelland and Gio with McQuaid. This will help balance things a little with some size and toughness.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Wideman was fantastic this year.

But the Flames would be a far better team if they could utilize him for specialized, offensive minutes and reduce his defensive responsibilities.

Also, Russell is awesome - one of the most under-rated players in the league - but if you could pair him with a big, physical puck mover, he would be that much better.

I think it would be the exact opposite. Wideman and Engelland both have said its easier to play when you get more minutes and you can engage into the game well. I'm not so sure Wideman will be as effective if he is below 18 minutes, I think he likes the 22-25 minutes. He's also been great defensively as pointed out above... not sure why you would want to turn him into a PP specialist of sorts. Our game was built upon activating the D and getting chances off the rush.

Also I think his game compliments Russell because they both cover for each other. I don't think we need to get one away from the other.

What we need is a bottom pairing guy that can play up the roster in case of an injury - Schlemko fits the bill perfectly for that. Engelland ends up in that spot too out of depth. I see the minutes breakdown down something like :

Gio - Brodie .... 24 min
Russell - Wideman ... 22 min
Engelland - Schlemko ... 14 minutes

I wish the bottom pairing could get more minutes (closer to 18 min) but there just aren't enough minutes to get everyone in.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

We need a big center who can win faceoffs, a big winger who can score 20 goals, and a bigger puck moving D.

All three of these are easy to find

The easy solution here is to trade Hanowski for Lucic, Agostino for Getzlaf and Reinhart for Seth Jones.