[Signing] Flames sign Grossmann (1 yr, 1way, $575k)

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I won't be upset unless this means Kulak is going down.

Grossman looked serviceable most of the time he was playing. I hope he becomes our alternative to Bollig for press box duties.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Kulak and Wotherspoon are going to hate Treliving so much, unless Wideman and/or Engelland is traded.

Also, what makes Grossman better than Nakladal, who was just begging the Flames to sign him a couple of weeks ago for league minimum?

Wotherspoon passed through waivers and they don't want Kulak rotting in the press box. Engelland brings a certain dimension that the team would otherwise lack and they aren't benching Wideman because they are probably still trying to trade him.

You need to give young D regular minutes, at least 15 per game unless you want them to stagnate. He wasn't ever going to get those minutes this year, there's just no room. Next year will be his big shot and I could still see him suiting up for the Flames if injuries strike.

[Geeoff]

This is gonna be exactly like the Rafael Diaz signing. Depth guy. Wouldn't surprise me if he even spends some time in the AHL.

[getbak]

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Did you follow the forwards in training camp the past couple weeks? So many opportunities, no one really stepped up. Kulak will get his chance, it's a long season.

I realize nobody in the forward group stepped up but Kulak did and I just don't see the upside in playing a declining vet over a young player from their system. Maybe it's just a case of a new head coach wanting a player or two he's familiar with but it has to be a little demoralizing for some prospects that have put their time into the AHL.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I'm not sure why Kulak is viewed as the 7th defenseman. He looks like our best #4 option to me.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I won't be upset unless this means Kulak is going down.

Grossman looked serviceable most of the time he was playing. I hope he becomes our alternative to Bollig for press box duties.

Unless somebody is hurt this very likely means Kulak is going down.

It's OK. He'll get huge minutes in Stockton and continue developing rather than eating popcorn in the press box with the Flames.

[underGRADFlame]

The $$$ makes this very palatable. I still hope that Wideman finds his way outta town via trade.

I've always liked Grossman, not fleet of foot but serviceable for sure.

[Strange Brew]

More seasoning for Kulak I guess. This might have been his best chance to make the team out of camp ever.

[Jore]

kulak lead our team in preseason scoring. he's looked better at every facet than grossman. he's also been 'seasoning' in the minors for the past 3 years. at a certain point you have to make room for young players to play and get big league experience and improve or else you're going to be signing engellands and widemans into perpetuity and waiving pulkkinens and frks.

bt's had a good streak the last few days but this is brutal. also the fact that it's only 25k more than nakladal really sours it

[Cali Panthers Fan]

The Versteeg signing was good. Filled a hole with a very cheap and serviceable option.

I have no idea why this signing occurred. Not my favorite Treliving decision. However, that's a ridiculously cheap contract.

What is the league minimum again? This seems like it's below what I've seen guys sign for in the past at the NHL level?

[Poe969]

I don't mind this one bit, he isn't terrible and won't be playing on a regular basis. He's insurance but more importantly he's a big guy who isn't terrible.

[Flash Walken]

Re: Kulak

Maybe the most important thing for a rookie defenseman is not leading the team in preseason scoring?

[Hockey-and_stuff]

What does the cap look like now with Grossman and Versteeg signed? Will the Flames have to assign anyone to yo the minors?

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

This is gonna be exactly like the Rafael Diaz signing. Depth guy. Wouldn't surprise me if he even spends some time in the AHL.

IMO Nakladal was like the Diaz move

This is more like the Douglas Murray or Ryan Wilson PTOs. Except we kept him.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I don't mind this one bit, he isn't terrible and won't be playing on a regular basis. He's insurance but more importantly he's a big guy who isn't terrible.

I dunno, his footspeed is glacial. He's gonna make Engelland look like Brodie out there.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Jore

kulak lead our team in preseason scoring. he's looked better at every facet than grossman. he's also been 'seasoning' in the minors for the past 3 years. at a certain point you have to make room for young players to play and get big league experience and improve or else you're going to be signing engellands and widemans into perpetuity.

bt's had a good streak the last few days but this is brutal

Kulak had to beat out a lefty.

Apparently Brodie is moving to the left side, that means Kulak had to beat out:

Brodie
Giordano
Jokipakka

...for a starting spot.

Grossman is the 7th Dman. I'd rather Kulak playing lots in Stockton as opposed to sitting out in Calgary.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Looks like it's going to be:

Giordano - Wideman
Brodie - Engelland
Jokipakka - Hamilton
Grossman

This first pairing scares me! As for Grossman, I hope he's worth it, I just don't see it yet.

[joejoe3]

and Nakladal signed for 1yr @ 600k with the canes, would prefer that option if it was available than this.

[868904]

If you consider Kulak an NHL defenseman, the Flames now have 8 of them:

Gio
Brodie
Hamilton
Jokipakka
Engelland
Wideman (although I don't consider him one)
Grossman
Kulak

Teams will tell you, that you need 8 to 9 NHL defensemen.

Wotherspoon is not an NHL defenseman.
Kylington might become one, but he's not there yet. Needs at least another year in the AHL
Morrison is not an NHL defenseman.
Andersson might become one, but he's not even close right now.
Culkin might be one by the end of the year.

Seems pretty logical that the Flames needed to add another defenseman to group. Especially if Wideman proves to be completely useless, which I think he will by the quartermark.