[Rumour] Cody Franson on a plane to Calgary

[Violator]

His brother plays for UofC

[Locke]

I don't know about the rest of you but I feel inclined to know Franson's whereabouts at all times!

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Pliddy

I hate threads like these, it's one step away from being a moron leaf fan that digs thru Kessel's garbage can to see how many cheeseburger wrappers he can find. Let him have his privacy and fly wherever in peace. It's crap like this that makes free agents want to sign in Columbus or Florida over Canadian markets

Everyone knows Kessel likes hotdogs, not cheeseburgers. C'mon man!

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Pliddy

I hate threads like these, it's one step away from being a moron leaf fan that digs thru Kessel's garbage can to see how many cheeseburger wrappers he can find. Let him have his privacy and fly wherever in peace. It's crap like this that makes free agents want to sign in Columbus or Florida over Canadian markets

Agreed. The real story is some weirdo creep taking pictures of people on planes and posting it on the internet.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by cannon7

If the Flames could move Engelland, a top six of...


Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Fransson
Russell-Wideman

Would be downright frightening.

Just say no to separating Brodie and Gio.

[SofaProfessor]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Everyone knows Kessel likes hotdogs, not cheeseburgers. C'mon man!

Kessel has an annual cap hit of $8M and, if I remember correct, he's owed $10M in this upcoming season.

The man isn't eating peasant meat hotdogs like the rest of us. He's probably dining on some fancy endangered animal meat. Like a Siberian Tiger steak or something.

If technology ever advances to the point where scientists are able to clone dinosaurs from ancient DNA samples, you better believe Phil Kessel will be the first in line with a briefcase full of cash to eat one of those baby dinosaurs.

[theTrumanShow]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Just say no to separating Brodie and Gio.

Agreed, I also might add that if somehow the Flames got Franson, you could say adios to Wideman AND Engelland.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by saillias

Those people were utterly ridiculous, yes some wanted to actually buy Wideman out, and many posters argued that point with them. Me included.

You don't need to anxiously start cutting ties with players 2 years out of UFA status because of hypothetical decline or hypothetical contract demands.

Seems like a bad case of trying to fix what isn't broken/too much EA NHL games. As I see it the best course of action looks to be let him play out the final years of his prime, his contract ends at 35 and his money comes off the books at a good time for the team needing to shed salary. Nothing needs to be changed from the status quo there.

You don't have to trade or re-sign every player. Contenders don't trade every impending UFA, that would be absurd and counter-productive. Sometimes just letting a guy go at the end of the year is the best move.

As for his PP time,
Gio-Wideman
Brodie-Hamilton
You probably want to give Wideman top PP time because his scoring is his best asset. The only thing Hamilton changes is taking either Russell or Diaz equivalent off the PP.

I've also been someone who thinks Wideman is a good player and I have said from day one that Wideman and Hudler signing were great pick ups. I still bring it up to buddies who are oiler fans when TSN labeled the Flames the biggest losers at UFA day that summer when we added Wideman and Hudler. They laughed I argued that TSN was wrong. I have said from Day 1 that both were worth their contracts and eventually will become steals as the cap goes up. Here we are. But those days are almost over. So I'm not a guy who is just looking to get rid of Wideman for the sakes of getting rid of him

But what I like to do is look at hypothetical situations and scenarios that I think can help the flames now and in the future...its called forecasting and it's an important part of running a business

I see Wideman's value at an all time high right now. I see inflated numbers as Wideman had 19 points in his last 18 games post Giordano's injury. I see average defensive d-man who is an asset on the PP. I see this as a strength of the Flames. I see what he potentially brings back in a trade right now as worth it to move him

I see Franson as a similar player to Wideman. I also read he is asking for around 5 but it's August and still no signing. I see potential for that number to decrease at this point. I see Franson as a good replacement long term for Wideman

I also see the Flames in the building stage of their re-build. I see cap issues next summer. I don't see many teams these days letting assets walk for nothing...unless they have no choice (either to good of a team to sell or return wasn't worth moving the players). I see the Flames needing to move contracts out this season or next summer. I see Wideman as a top candidate for this as I don't see the Flames even considering resigning him unless he gives a nice hometown discount. I see the time to trade Wideman is now. Only way I keep Wideman for this season is if we can move out Raymond and Engeland instead

I see the Flames if things going well being in the mix for a cup for the 16/17 season. But I think they need to fix some cap issues before that can happen. I would rather be proactive and work on that now rather than later

I'm also starting to get nervous that the Giordano talks aren't going well. Brad said his number 1 priority was signing Gio. Rumors have Gio wanting 9 mil for 8 years. If we can't get him to lower those numbers by quite a bit then we have to start thinking about moving him. If that happens I look at the 17/18 season as my target for the Flames to contend for a cup.

[handgroen]

nm

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

I'm waiting for a$$grabberSteve to confirm.

Sorry to say I'm not at YYC until tomorrow morning. Flying home on Thursday night though, I'll keep my eyes open for ya.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by bax

I'm assuming lots of players fly economy. I once sat in front of Scott Hartnell on a flight from Calgary to LA. Unfortunately, we were traveling there for opposite reasons :-(

Gio and Johnny flew economy to the all-star game. They sat in front of a couple of my buddies.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I have said from Day 1 that both were worth their contracts and eventually will become steals as the cap goes up. Here we are.

Wideman had a good year and was extremely useful to the team. But I can't quite get to "steal". Worth his contract? I can't quite get there either. Highest paid player on the team last year and in the top 30 of dmen salaries going into this year.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Wideman had a good year and was extremely useful to the team. But I can't quite get to "steal". Worth his contract? I can't quite get there either. Highest paid player on the team last year and in the top 30 of dmen salaries going into this year.

Flames don't make the playoffs last season without Wideman. He more than earned that salary, IMO.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Wideman had a good year and was extremely useful to the team. But I can't quite get to "steal". Worth his contract? I can't quite get there either. Highest paid player on the team last year and in the top 30 of dmen salaries going into this year.

Wasn't he #5 in the league in d-man scoring? He led the Flames down the stretch to their first playoff birth in 5 years after their captain and best d-man went down. And was a point per game player over the last 25 games or so, averaging almost 30 mins per night while doing so. Then he led them to a series victory over their arch rivals.

And you don't think he's worth his contract? I do not concur. Not one bit.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Flames don't make the playoffs last season without Wideman. He more than earned that salary, IMO.

Fair point but I am not sure you can measure it that way. Yeah they don't make the playoffs if he is replaced by thin air. But if you spend the $5.25 million on another player (s)?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by heep223

Wasn't he #5 in the league in d-man scoring? He led the Flames down the stretch to their first playoff birth in 5 years after their captain and best d-man went down. And was a point per game player over the last 25 games or so, averaging almost 30 mins per night while doing so. Then he led them to a series victory over their arch rivals.

And you don't think he's worth his contract? I do not concur. Not one bit.

Was he worth his pay last year? I will listen to arguments on that. Although I would have to be convinced that if our 3rd or 4th defenseman was a steal at $5.25 million then we must have iced the NHL's best defense.

Has he been worth the pay over his contract? I have not seen an argument that supports it.

I don't want to turn this into a Dennis Wideman criticism thread. I just believe in a league with a $70 million salary cap you can't pay that kind of money to a guy who going into the season, looks to be your 4th or 5th best man.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Was he worth his pay last year? I will listen to arguments on that. Although I would have to be convinced that if our 3rd or 4th defenseman was a steal at $5.25 million then we must have iced the NHL's best defense.

Has he been worth the pay over his contract? I have not seen an argument that supports it.

I don't want to turn this into a Dennis Wideman criticism thread. I just believe in a league with a $70 million salary cap you can't pay that kind of money to a guy who going into the season, looks to be your 4th or 5th best man.

You're doing what Moon used to do. Taking an argumentative, negative stance and turning the thread into everyone needing to convince you of something.

Wideman was great last season, and regardless of where we have him slotted on the depth chart, he makes our d-core better this coming season.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

Just say no to separating Brodie and Gio.

Never say never. Brodie has shown that he can elevate the play of whoever he is partnered with, he could be a great fit with Wideman on the second pairing. For all we know Gio-Hamilton Brodie-Wideman might make an amazing 1a/1b setup eating 25 minutes each. Russell would be a pretty damn good #5. I'm sure Hartley will try a few combinations.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Was he worth his pay last year? I will listen to arguments on that. Although I would have to be convinced that if our 3rd or 4th defenseman was a steal at $5.25 million then we must have iced the NHL's best defense.

An argument could be made that the Flames did indeed ice the NHL's best defence last season. They were the only team with three defencemen in the top 25 in league scoring and they were very good defensively -- a big reason why such a young team got into the playoffs. Wideman was 4th in scoring and in terms of points per game, Giordano was 2nd and a Norris Trophy finalist.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

You're doing what Moon used to do. Taking an argumentative, negative stance and turning the thread into everyone needing to convince you of something.

Wideman was great last season, and regardless of where we have him slotted on the depth chart, he makes our d-core better this coming season.

I am not Moon nor am I taking a negative stance. Can't we just debate the topic without commenting on the poster?

I 100% agree with your statement that Wideman played great and makes our d-core better. That is not the same as saying he is a steal for his salary. If there were no salary cap or budget constraints, then maybe it would not matter.