[Trade] Flames acquire RW Alex Chiasson and sign him to 1 yr deal ($800k)

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

What do you hope to accomplish with idiotic things like this?

Relax a little buddy.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by MJK

Where is news on Alex Chiasson? Am I in the wrong thread?

Lesson here for Chiasson is learn which one of your team mates is Mikael Backlund and don't hit him in practice. Do that and the trade is a win.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Liking the Chiasson pickup.

Reminds me a bit of the Craig Conroy trade. Under-utilized asset of former team who blossoms and plays a bigger role in Calgary.

Even better than the Conroy/Stillman swap from my perspective that it was for a marginal prospect. If Chiasson produces on the Gaudreau/Monahan line that's a flat-out genius steal.

Hope I'm not getting ahead of myself here.

Yeah, he is my pick to have a surprise season this year. Especially if he ends up slotting in the Bennett and Brouwer.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Yeah, he is my pick to have a surprise season this year. Especially if he ends up slotting in the Bennett and Brouwer.

Isn't Brouwer the RW though?

I bet if Chiasson has a half decent camp, he starts on the top line. Based on reports, Gulutzan won't split up Brouwer/Bennett, and Backlund/Frolik are good together.

[Enoch Root]

Chiasson is a RW. And the top line spot is his to lose.

Another comment I would make is in reference to those that have been watching camp and described him as a 3rd liner... IMO, that is kind of irrelevant.

The fact that he looks like a 3rd liner, when playing with other mediocre players, doesn't matter because his job on the 1st line would not be to drive the offense. We don't need him to be a playmaker, we just need him to do his job.

His job will be to forecheck, create space, and go to the net. That's all he needs to do. Oh, and pot a few when the opportunity arises.

The fact that nothing is happening when he is out there with plugs has no impact on whether or not he can handle the said role with the top line.

[Strange Brew]

If Alex Chiasson plays on your top line, with all the even strength minutes that go with it, you have to be a little concerned. I will keep an open mind but the guy is a fringe NHLer isn't he?

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Chiasson is a RW. And the top line spot is his to lose.

This seems like a huge leap. He's definitely going to have to "win" / earn that spot, should he get it.

[Lord Carnage]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If Alex Chiasson plays on your top line, with all the even strength minutes that go with it, you have to be a little concerned. I will keep an open mind but the guy is a fringe NHLer isn't he?

Personally I don't think so. He really seemed to be developing VERY nicely while in Dallas... it's more his time in Ottawa that just seemed to go badly for him.

I believe the fresh start will do him good, and also believe that 1st line RW spot is where he is 'penciled' for now (especially with his Dallas connection with Gulutzan).

[Caged Great]

If Chaisson is on the first line for any stretch of time, the Flames will be in the Nolan Patrick Sweepstakes. He's a marginal 4th liner. I'd actually prefer Garnet Hathaway on the first line because at least he's feisty.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Chiasson is a RW. And the top line spot is his to lose.

Another comment I would make is in reference to those that have been watching camp and described him as a 3rd liner... IMO, that is kind of irrelevant.

The fact that he looks like a 3rd liner, when playing with other mediocre players, doesn't matter because his job on the 1st line would not be to drive the offense. We don't need him to be a playmaker, we just need him to do his job.

His job will be to forecheck, create space, and go to the net. That's all he needs to do. Oh, and pot a few when the opportunity arises.

The fact that nothing is happening when he is out there with plugs has no impact on whether or not he can handle the said role with the top line.

Just because Chiasson is a RW does not mean he deserves to be on the top line. I'm not sure where all this talk about him playing with Johnny and Mony started, but it baffles me. Chiasson is a bottom 6 player. He has been for a while. There is a reason the flames only had to trade Seiloff for him and then pay him under $800,000. Don't get me wrong i think there is a fit for Chiasson on this team on the 3rd line. Chiasson is good in his own end and the puck does not die on his stick. I know most people think that Backlund and Frolik should not be split up, but i think we are in the process of getting a real 2nd line together in Bennett and Brouwer , thus making the Backlund line a true 3rd line checking line. Frolik has way more skill than Chiasson and is good in both ends of the ice. I see it as:

Johnny-Mony-Frolik
?(Tkachuk)-Bennett-Brouwer
Bouma- Backlund-Chiasson
Ferland-?(stajan)- ?(Hathaway)

If Tkachuk does not make it i see Hunter in his spot.
4th line is a real mystery to me, other than Ferland.

[cam_wmh]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Bennett - Brouwer
Bouma - Backlund - Frolik
Shinkaruk - Stajan - Chiasson

[Reggie Dunlop]

Chiasson, Gaudreau and Monahan have not played together as a unit, so it's all speculative at this point. It's just been suggested in certain quarters.

A little more grit on the top line would be a good thing though.

The Flames, in addition to home-run mid-round draft picks (like Gaudreau) and smart first-rounders (like Monahan) also have to completely rip off other teams on seemingly minor deals.

Just sayin'

[ComixZone]

I find it odd, that despite year after year after year of watching teams win the Stanley cup while rolling 3 scoring lines, people still label guys as top 6 and bottom 6. Lines are built on tandems that generally have a 3rd guy on the line who isn't much by himself, but can play a role and capitalize on what chances his superior line mates can generate for him.

I never knew Phil Kessel was a 3rd line shutdown player.

Chiasson gets brought up as a potential player on Monahan and Gaudreau's line because we don't want to split up other tandems.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ?
? - Bennett - Brouwer
? - Backlund - Frolik

It's up to the GM to fill in those questions marks with bargain contracts, rookie/players on ELC, veterans willing to take a discount to perhaps win, or role players who have enough ability to finish the chances their superior line mates generate for them.

Right now, we lack the depth to fill all of those spots. Tkachuk may fill one, and Ferland will most likely fill one. That still leaves one spot, Chiassion as a reclamation project seems like one worth trying in my eyes.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If Chaisson is on the first line for any stretch of time, the Flames will be in the Nolan Patrick Sweepstakes. He's a marginal 4th liner. I'd actually prefer Garnet Hathaway on the first line because at least he's feisty.

From what I saw tonight, I disagree with this assessment.

[Calgary4LIfe]

People are writing Chiasson off a bit prematurely. He isn't just a 4th liner/scrub/tweener. Remember, he was the main piece going back to Ottawa in the Spezza trade.

Chiasson was great in Dallas - I remember watching him and thinking: "I wish the Flames would somehow be able to pry him away." He is a big body that was (IMO) really great around the net. I don't remember watching him in Ottawa much TBH, but he was memorable in Dallas. From what I have read, he may have been misused in Ottawa. Maybe he was just really lucky in Dallas. All I know is that when I saw him play early, he was memorable and had an impact on the ice, not just on the scoresheet.

Whatever reason why the wheels fell off in Ottawa, who knows. Hopefully they will come back on, and probably needs a bit of time to find his role on the team and maybe even get some confidence going after a few terrible seasons in Ottawa. If he finds his game - and it is an if - he is going to be an impact player in Calgary. If not, then I think he will at least be a decent support player on the 4th line. Not great, but passable. I don't think there is reason to complain. I thought he was 'fine' tonight, but will just wait and see where he ends up in a month or two. He might be 'meh', or he might actually become an impact forward.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

People are writing Chiasson off a bit prematurely. He isn't just a 4th liner/scrub/tweener. Remember, he was the main piece going back to Ottawa in the Spezza trade.

Chiasson was great in Dallas - I remember watching him and thinking: "I wish the Flames would somehow be able to pry him away." He is a big body that was (IMO) really great around the net. I don't remember watching him in Ottawa much TBH, but he was memorable in Dallas. From what I have read, he may have been misused in Ottawa. Maybe he was just really lucky in Dallas. All I know is that when I saw him play early, he was memorable and had an impact on the ice, not just on the scoresheet.

Whatever reason why the wheels fell off in Ottawa, who knows. Hopefully they will come back on, and probably needs a bit of time to find his role on the team and maybe even get some confidence going after a few terrible seasons in Ottawa. If he finds his game - and it is an if - he is going to be an impact player in Calgary. If not, then I think he will at least be a decent support player on the 4th line. Not great, but passable. I don't think there is reason to complain. I thought he was 'fine' tonight, but will just wait and see where he ends up in a month or two. He might be 'meh', or he might actually become an impact forward.

I liked Chaisson too when he was in Dallas. Don't know what the heck happened to him in Ottawa. The wheels fell off. I'm hoping he picks it up, but outside of that happening you're looking at an 11th/12th/13th forward type of player.

[the-rasta-masta]

I thought Chiasson played well last night. Noticed he had pretty soft hands and held on to the puck well, and was in position all night. I was focusing on him every time he was on the ice, so I'm not sure what people are harping on him about. He played steady.

[Toonage]

Not only has Chiasson not been looked at in camp as a top line winger, even Conroy this morning said his name isn't coming up first when discussing that #1 RW spot. Its up for grabs to whoever wants it, definitely not Chiasson's to lose.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Chiasson's spot to lose is a little too strong, but I do think he will get a long look. I mean what are the alternatives at this point? Looks like the plan for Brouwer is to combo with Bennett. Ferland wasn't great in that roll last year. Shinkaruk and a bunch of kids seem to be the other options.

So long as he doesn't get in the way of Johnny/Mony, the fact that he might play on the first line doesn't mean the Flames are destined for Nolan Patrick. They need a guy to fit on what could be a very strong first line.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I find it odd, that despite year after year after year of watching teams win the Stanley cup while rolling 3 scoring lines, people still label guys as top 6 and bottom 6. Lines are built on tandems that generally have a 3rd guy on the line who isn't much by himself, but can play a role and capitalize on what chances his superior line mates can generate for him.

I never knew Phil Kessel was a 3rd line shutdown player.

Chiasson gets brought up as a potential player on Monahan and Gaudreau's line because we don't want to split up other tandems.

Gaudreau - Monahan - ?
? - Bennett - Brouwer
? - Backlund - Frolik

It's up to the GM to fill in those questions marks with bargain contracts, rookie/players on ELC, veterans willing to take a discount to perhaps win, or role players who have enough ability to finish the chances their superior line mates generate for them.

Right now, we lack the depth to fill all of those spots. Tkachuk may fill one, and Ferland will most likely fill one. That still leaves one spot, Chiassion as a reclamation project seems like one worth trying in my eyes.

True stuff. Dustin Penner was a 3rd/4rth line calibre guy, except he gelled well with Perry/Getzlaf and obviously didn't hurt that line at all. Gretzky and Kurri had Semenko on their line from time to time.