The Defence Thread - Discussion, Speculation, and Pairings

[Matty81]

Yeah i think someone would take him at 2.6. Established defence are at a premium on the trade market right now. I like that idea better than buying him out as the hit would be large in year 2... Also having him around taking time from young players or being sour when not playing seems like a bad option.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Just a hunch, but I think we move a d-prospect or two in exchange for some NHL ready young forwards. I wouldn't be shocked if it was Wotherspoon.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I fear one of the hurdles is his NTC and his lack of willingness to waive it. I don't have any proof of this - pure speculation on my part.

In general I think we've seen that players don't usually wanna force themselves to stay when they aren't wanted. If a team is looking to get rid of a guy, the player is usually fine moving on too.

Here are the exceptions. Kiprusoff wouldn't waive his one year near the deadline, same with Sundin. Heatley wouldn't waive to go to EDM. Can't remember many others off the top of my head.

Personally I think Wideman would love to go to a US city where hockey isn't a big deal. This linesman incident is going to haunt him for a while especially with the Canadian media around. He might prefer anonymity right now

[getbak]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I don't think Wideman is movable until maybe at the deadline next season. So I think we are stuck with him. Barf.

I think it really depends on what the free agent market looks like. If the Flames are willing to retain some salary, I think teams could be interested in getting Wideman at $3 million rather than throwing that kind of money at someone else.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Who is going to want to take on Wideman and his five million bucks though? That's a tough pill to swallow, even if he opens his NMC all other 29 teams.

Maybe at the deadline this time next year.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Who is going to want to take on Wideman and his five million bucks though? That's a tough pill to swallow, even if he opens his NMC all other 29 teams.

Maybe at the deadline this time next year.

We could retain 50%. Wideman at 50% for a playoff team at the draft could get us a 2nd-rounder, maybe even more (you never know with BT)

[The Big Chill]

We should sit tight. Wideman, Engelland, and Smid are all much more tradable at next years deadline. Hopefully two or three of them can have decent seasons next time around and we can pick up some decent prospects for them.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Who is going to want to take on Wideman and his five million bucks though? That's a tough pill to swallow, even if he opens his NMC all other 29 teams.

Well its the going rate for a veteran top 4 defensemen so its not that tough to swallow at all if you think he can be a top 4 guy again. GM's love to give 2nd chances. Now with only 1 year left on his deal it isn't even that risky anymore.

I didn't think Phaneuf was moveable. I didn't think Gomez was moveable. I didn't think Clarkson was moveable. Carle, Garrison and Campbell had bad deals when they were moved in the past. It happens. Just need to find the right GM who is short a vet d-man.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by AC

Yeah I agree.

Buying him out would save us $4M next season, but cost us $2M the following year.

Just having him gone would be good enough for me. $2m in two years isn't going to kill us. Get rid of him, it's addition by subtraction at this point. I really don't want to see him stealing Hamilton's PP minutes next year.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I fear one of the hurdles is his NTC and his lack of willingness to waive it. I don't have any proof of this - pure speculation on my part.

One thing to consider however, is Wideman willing to waive his NMC in order to go to a team where he'd have a bigger role?

It's going to be an important year for him, he's going to want to get another decent contract and he'd be better off playing huge minutes (especially on the PP).

Toronto comes to mind.

1. Young defense, lack veterans
2. Lack RH defense
3. He's from the area

[AC]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Just having him gone would be good enough for me. $2m in two years isn't going to kill us. Get rid of him, it's addition by subtraction at this point. I really don't want to see him stealing Hamilton's PP minutes next year.

I agree, though as suggested a 50% retention is probably ideal.

$2.6M hit for next year and then $0 the following obviously.

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

We should sit tight. Wideman, Engelland, and Smid are all much more tradable at next years deadline. Hopefully two or three of them can have decent seasons next time around and we can pick up some decent prospects for them.

I agree that they will have some value if played... My main concern with that is that they would be blocking guys who look ready like Jokipakka and Wotherspoon. I think the team is closer to winning if they give those guys a year of full time nhl tutoring vs getting a 5th for Smid and a 3rd for Engelland next deadline.

Wideman is a different beast, but the way he puts up points someone would take him in the offseason retained.

Issue there is that flames ownership has never retained salary and it seems like it may be an issue potentially and as mentioned, wideman has a ntc... But I think he'd waive in the offseason. He's american and I wouldn't bet on any deep attachment to Calgary

[DJones]

Be rough if we lose Nakladal like we did Schlemko

Don't care how, I want to see Smid for sure and then Engellend or Wideman gone. Preferably Wideman.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by AC

I agree, though as suggested a 50% retention is probably ideal.

$2.6M hit for next year and then $0 the following obviously.

Definitely ideal but I don't want to waste 3/4 of next year waiting for it to happen either. Normally I'm the patient type but I just know Hartley will ride Wideman on the 1st PP unit all year. I would love to see Hamilton / Gio or Brodie tried until it's proven 100% that it won't work. This will be Dougie's second year and he will be 23, it's time to start putting his pedigree to the test. A kid like that needs to be developed into an absolute weapon on the PP.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Burke could always try to convince ownership to buy him out if Treliving thinks the cap hit wouldn't hurt too much for the season after.
http://www.generalfanager.com/buyout...y=15&year=2016

[neo45]

Wideman gone via buyout or retained salary trade

Smid LTIR or if healthy buyout

Raymond buyout to get us more room

Engelland stays

Gio - Hamonic
Brodie - Hamilton
Jokipakka - Engelland
Nakladal as the 7th if he signs

[Galakanokis]

I would like to see Smid and Wideman gone for sure. I'm ok with Engelland sticking around as the 7th by. Reliable veteran that knows his role.

I would like to split Brodie and Giordano but I don't see how. Hamilton is not ready for those #2 minutes maybe in another year. I think we see

Brodie-Giordano
Hamilton-Jokipakka

With Wotherspoon, Nakladal and Engelland rounding out the bottom. I have been very impressed with Nakladal and would love to see him back.

In two years we have to see what we have in Kylington, Anderson and Kulak. The depth is nice as long as they progress.

[JurassicTunga12]

Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie
Jyrki Jokipakka - Dougie Hamilton
Tyler Wotherspoon - Jakub Nakladal
Deryk Engelland

Wideman moved with retention. Not too sure about Smid with his injury situation.
Nak signed to another 1 year deal hopefully? Hope he continues to play well.

[GranteedEV]

I would be happy with any other permutations of:

Gio-Brodie
Schlemko-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Nakladal

Gio-Brodie
Campbell-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Nakladal

Brodie-Demers
Gio-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Wideman

Gio-Brodie
Kulak-Hamilton
Jokipakka-Nakladal

Gio-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Kulak-Engelland

Gio-Brodie
Jokipakka-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Wideman

Brodie-Hamilton
Gio-Nakladal
Kulak-Engelland

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Wideman
Wotherspoon-Nakladal

As our top 6 next year.

This team needs to try something different. Anything.

[MarkGio]

Wideman at the deadline next season is about 2.1 million. So at 50% retained on top of that, most teams could afford him.

Besides, if there's a few extensions of defensemen next season, such as Brent Burns, Del Zotto, Shattenkirk, Kulikov, and Franson, the defensemen available next deadline is a pretty weak class.

http://www.generalfanager.com/freeag...ll&RFA=1&UFA=1