Your wish list

[Azhouse]

As stated before I hope the Flames management keep their eyes on the prize and not have a knee-jerk reaction to some moderate playoff success. No signing of older sluggos (post-apex) to fill immediate needs. Young prospects moving forward and let Hartley develop them. This team needs to peak at a similar time to achieve greater things. You can rent role guys later.

[polak]

Young prospects are well and good but we have ZERO high end D in the pipes.

[Azhouse]

Originally Posted by polak

Young prospects are well and good but we have ZERO high end D in the pipes.

It is my opinion that now is not the time to sign Seabrook or Franzen to long term high $$$$ deals.

[HOWITZER]

In all reality, wish for next year: playoffs again!

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by polak

Young prospects are well and good but we have ZERO high end D in the pipes.

Plus the fact that most quality D take 4-6 years to develop into legit NHLers. It even took Brodie until this year to emerge as a 1st pairing D-man after being in the NHL for 4 years.

This above all others is an area the Flames could use quality veteran players because nobody is close to pushing for a spot.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Azhouse

It is my opinion that now is not the time to sign Seabrook or Franzen to long term high $$$$ deals.

No adjustments being made means that we'll end up with a similar result next year. It just needs to be the right adjustments.

[cracher]

I wish for the Angry Joe Colborne that emerged in the last few games to take Gentle Joe's spot in the lineup next season.

Also a #4 D with some size. The Getzlaf and Kesler lines both moved east-west on the cycle with impunity. Those lines could always barge an extra couple steps and have position... As great as our top 4 were (not counting Gio here), one of them has to get traded while their value is sky high so we can bring in someone to handle the big wingers.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I call BS

It is more the case that he is the new whipping boy that couldn't be whipped because he had a homerun season and elevated his game when it mattered most. You couldn't run him out of town this season based on his play from game 3 onward, so now it is about pushing him down a pairing.

At best your plan grossly devalues an asset that is at an all time high.

But why not try a different spin on this? Brodie made a solid pairing with Engellend. Let's leave that as our bottom pair and bring Ina new player to pair with Giordano (note:not serious)

While that may be some people's thoughts, I have always liked Wideman, and have defended his contract. The fact remains he is a good to great offensive defenseman and while he appeared to learn how to "manage his minutes" as the announcers kept saying, the fact also remains that he is slow and often chooses the wrong guy to cover. He was average at best defensively this year, and below average before that ever since junior.

I've watched his career since he was a London Knight. Great guy too, had all the time in the world for my niece whenever she met him (was her favourite player when he was here).

It's called asset management. You would be able to play him longer on the PP, more against bottom 6 lines on his regular shift both of which play to his offensive stregths and also move him up when losing if what you end up with is a more stay at home type ahead of him.

I, for one, was not Wideman bashing, nor have I ever.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I wish people would stop trying to push Dennis Wideman onto the third pairing after he scores 56 points in the season, adds 7 points in 11 playoff games, is included by opposing coaches for praise after the series for the amount of work the big 3 d have put in since Gio went down, and wore a letter at times this season. The guy had his career best season and was well worth the contract. He had a season that puts him as a #1 defender on at least 10 teams.

And some of you want him to be on our 3rd pairing!?!?!? Because 55+ point players are so easy to find? Let alone 55+ point defencemen?

If this crap continues after that quality of a season, then I hope for Wideman's sake he is traded.

Sounds like a perfect candidate to trade. His value is through the roof.

I love the guy too, but he won't come close to repeating his season.

[memphusk]

I wish for Sieloff to make massive strides in his game and make the big team.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Stud_McCool

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

Good lord man. Gio and Brodie were the best pairing in the NHL till Gio got injured. Why mess with a good thing?

[Azure]

Sieloff makes the team, averages 10-15 min and hits people.

Ferland emerges as a 10-15 goal scorer that hits people.

Colborne figures out how to consistently use his size, scores 15-20 and hits people.

Bennett adds 10lbs muscle over the off-season again, takes over the 2nd line center role, scores 15-20 and hits people.

Monahan scores 25-30, figures out that he is a beast, and hits people.

Raymond is traded because he won't hit people.

Bollig is traded because Ferland is better at hitting people.

Stajan is kept here for the 4th line center role because he is a hell of a guy, hits people, blocks shots, wins faceoffs, and beats the Canucks. Like it or not we are still in rebuild mode and we need him here for another year at least.

Jones is traded for draft picks because he won't always hit people.

Jankowski to take big steps forward. A 6'4" center that can skate, win faceoffs, has some decent hands and good offensive/defensive instincts? Yes please. Hopefully they teach him how to hit people.

Mostly I want more people that hit people, and for our young guys to keep doing what they are doing.

Oh, and draft some players that can hit some people too.

[pylon]

Honestly, I hope it's only minor tweaks. They have an awesome line up going forward, and in 3 or 4 years, once some of these kids mature, this team could be world beaters. To me, goal tending needs to be addressed. I don't think it was as good as some thought. I would give Ortio the starter reigns next year for the first 20 games, and keep Hiller as the backup, and see what we really have there. Let Ramo walk. The only management decision I didn't like this year was sending him back after his streak. He earned the right to stay in my opinion, and he was showing Kipprusoff'esque sings of talent. I think he is our answer going forward in net. And if not, there is Gillies a year or 2 away.

A 35 year old Gio, backstopping this group when they hit their stride in their mid-20's is pretty damn awesome to think of. Some of the fringe guys I wouldn't keep around would be Granlund, Byron, Jones. Ferland and Bouma, I would lock up. We need a couple of 'that' player, and they have definitely earned it.

Lastly, I would really like to see them find a minute eating defensive defenseman for PK duties. Wideman, Russell, Brodie and Gio are all offensive studs, and give us a great threat on the PP. In my eyes, that makes Diaz expendable. I really like what Engelland brings, so if you could find a Regherish sort of stay at home guy, that would eat a ton of the minutes against plug lines where you don't want your top calibre D-men out there.

Anyway, I really like what I see, and this team is really only a handful of pieces away from being the real deal in my opinion.

[Stay Golden]

Would like all the Flames D to remain with exception of Diaz and Potter.
Smid i think is going to be long term injury list.
Need to toughen up 1 more Dman but decent skating.
First choice would be...
6'5 28 yr old McQuaid
Beauchemin
Franson was much better with NSH andnot being a Leaf.
Jackman
Oduya
Bartkowski
Need to shore up 1 RW with size and skill
Beleskey
Stafford

[woob]

Patience. Don't get caught up in the taste of playoff hockey we got and make poor decisions trying to get back there. As others have said, if we get back to playoffs next year, great. But if they're patient and smart with their decisions and we miss, that's fine by me. Very exciting times!

[Murph]

Originally Posted by Azure

Sounds like a perfect candidate to trade. His value is through the roof.

I love the guy too, but he won't come close to repeating his season.

So what you're saying is that Wideman had an unsustainable season?

[polak]

Originally Posted by woob

Patience. Don't get caught up in the taste of playoff hockey we got and make poor decisions trying to get back there. As others have said, if we get back to playoffs next year, great. But if they're patient and smart with their decisions and we miss, that's fine by me. Very exciting times!

Disagree. Patience is one thing but this team is most likely not going to be drafting in the top 5 any time soon so what are we being patient for?

You leave the team alone to fight on the bubble again and what do we gain? Picking one or two spots higher? I'd rather trade a forward prospect and use up some cap and try and improve and make the playoffs.

Obviously you don't sell the farm at this point but some improvements should definitely be made. We're sitting pretty on offense and in goal in terms of prospects (although its looking less likely that theres anyone that will be able to step into the top 6 soon) but we have zero high end D. Thats a hole we need to fill and we have the cap space and depth up front to do it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by memphusk

I wish for Sieloff to make massive strides in his game and make the big team.

This guy will be lucky to even have an NHL career period let alone make the big team next year. He needs more time in the AHL as Wotherspoon is further ahead and couldn't crack the big team.

[saillias]

Now that Treliving has broke the ice on trading with Vancouver, I wonder if Zack Kassian could be had. RW, shoots right. 1991 birthyear. 6'3". He's kind of crazy and dumb, but has the talent level to be a top 6 RW. His name has been popping up in trade rumors for at least a year. This guy fits the bill of what everyone wants. A young, right shooting powerforward.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Murph

So what you're saying is that Wideman had an unsustainable season?

Very likely was a career year for Wideman. Hudler too. Excellent to have an environment that brings out the best in players. Someone(s) else just needs to carry more next year.