QOTD: What do do with Ryan Wilson

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by getbak

They do not.


Right now, the Flames have 49 players under contract, but 4 of them (Andersson, Kylington, McDonald, and Schneider) will slide this year unless the player plays in a minimum of 10 NHL games (AHL games don't count). So, they effectively have 45 contracts on the books for this season.

I forgot that Kylington's would also slide, even though he's playing pro hockey this season (at least to start). Thanks!

[Lanny_McDonald]

Don't sign him. Better options on the farm and it shows the players in the system there is some meritocracy worthy of believing in. Wilson is old and slow and has been out performed by several younger, hungrier players. They earn the position. The Flames don't need any more veteran experience. They should be finding new homes for some of their other veterans as well. They last thing this team needs is another retread that holds the youth back.

[442scotty]

Don't sign him... whats the point seriously? The young guys need a chance to play up and develop... He will slow down the process... we already have nakladahl or whatever his name is... You have to think long term... Hickey, Anderson, Kylington etc.. Kulak and spoon need a chance to develop ... The flames have enough low end defencemen already geez!!!

[Bingo]

Another reason not to sign him is space and ice time in the AHL.

If say Wotherspoon is in Calgary more ice time for Kylington, Kanzig, Morrison, Sieloff etc in the AHL

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Another reason not to sign him is space and ice time in the AHL.

If say Wotherspoon is in Calgary more ice time for Kylington, Kanzig, Morrison, Sieloff etc in the AHL

I just figure that if you have him available, if the Flames make the playoffs and someone goes down and Wotherspoon is already on the big club you can slot a guy like Wilson in to stabilize things a little.

[sureLoss]

Sign then flip him for Jordan Leopold

[Red Menace]

sign him to a one way if he insists; even if you want to demote him later it is no great loss if someone else claims him.

[D as in David]

I wonder how many people selecting the two-way deal option are still under the impression that a player on a one-way deal can't be assigned to the AHL. It comes up so often in other threads.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by New Era

Don't sign him. Better options on the farm and it shows the players in the system there is some meritocracy worthy of believing in. Wilson is old and slow and has been out performed by several younger, hungrier players. They earn the position. The Flames don't need any more veteran experience. They should be finding new homes for some of their other veterans as well. They last thing this team needs is another retread that holds the youth back.

I think he should be signed, based on meritocracy. They need to see him in the last couple of games with more NHL-ready teams, but I think he and Nakladal were most ready to fill the 6/7 spot. I just don't see how the other guys necessarily "earned the position". Close competition to be sure, and Kulak in particular impressed me, but I do think Wilson earned the spot and is probably best suited for that spot at this time.

[druetetective]

This guys underrated. I was searching through old Avs threads on HFboards and he was a very good 5-6 dman for them only 2 years ago.

He's not the best skater but lays big hits and can man the PP.
I say sign him 1-way 900k. If he's sent down it won't count against the cap. Flames ownership aren't cheap. If they were willing to spend millions on some draft picks (Ribeiro, Ward, Semin deals that fell through) I bet they'll pay the 900k for the extra depth.

[foshizzle11]

let the kids run with it. I picked the third choice. Has he really been that much better than Kulak or Wotherspoon or Engelland in training camp? In my opinion, no and I would like to see more games for these young guys, I know they shouldn't be given anything and they won't be considering Brodie will be back close to when the season begins.

[GioforPM]

I'd sign him. He has experience, can sit when necessary without worrying about losing development, came to camp in shape and has played a solid game.

[YYC in LAX]

Lying in bed, just like Brian Wilson did.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by YYC in LAX

Lying in bed, just like Brian Wilson did.

I don't want to sign Ryan Wilson for this reason. It escapes my lips literally every time his name comes up

[Imported_Aussie]

Let's break down the depth chart without Wilson, to see where he would fit, including current injuries

Giordano - Hamilton
Russell - Wideman
Smid (inj) - Brodie (inj)
Engelland

This means 2 guys need to start on the NHL roster until injuries clear

The rest:

Wotherspoon - Nakladal (inj?)
Kulak - Johnson (AHL)
Kylington - Morrison
Kanzig - Sieloff
Culkin (inj?) - Stevenson (AHL)

With this depth in mind, consider the impact of signing Wilson.
Currently 10 guys to place - lets say 2 of them (Kulak, Nakladal) take those spots, that leaves an 8 man set of D in Stockton, 7 until Culkin is fit. When those 2 bodies go down, they could move guys to the ECHL or make a trade, or send Kylington to Brandon to make sure guys get enough icetime. Otherwise, you end up with a logjam and guys who you want to develop not seeing enough ice.

However, if Nakladal will be out longer, then it may be worth it.

IMO unless he is clearly ahead of at least one of Wotherspoon or Kulak I wouldn't sign him. To me, Kulak has won Brodie's spot until he recovers, and it is time for Wotherspoon to stay with the NHL team - he needs to take a step up, and the guys in Stockton need minutes too

[YYC in LAX]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I don't want to sign Ryan Wilson for this reason. It escapes my lips literally every time his name comes up

So you were probably happy when Bill Arnold was cut hey?

[FlamesFanFromBC]

I don't think he signs a two-way contract. But I would still sign him on a 1 year one way contract, he's payed well enough to warrant that.

And if a young prospect steps up we should have to problem trading him for draft pick/future considerations or someone picks him up on waivers.

[neo45]

I think it depends on how well Kulak and Wotherspoon do in the next couple of days

[azzarish]

Smid is going to be back in a few weeks, and I think Nakladal is going to be better than what we're thinking. Then there's Wotherspoon. At most we would give him a 2-way, but would he accept that?

Had a nice camp, but I don't think we really need him.

[FlamesAddiction]

Just going by the evaluation of others, I think you sign him to the league minimum on a one-way. Worst case scenario is that you pay him that in the minors, but some veteran AHL players are close to that anyway.

If he played well enough to earn it, then I think it sends a bad message to other players in the future that may try out. It would basically say that there was never an intention to sign him and he may have wasted his time with them.