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

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

1 year at league minimum pretty much ensures this signing is zero risk.

And the reward is what?

[DJones]

Would prefer Nakladal or Wotherspoon be our #7.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Kulaks will get his chances. In the offseason we often make the mistake of analyzing moves while thinking of a fully healthy roster. A move like this is not made for when we're healthy. This depth is for when we inevitably lose 1-2 defence men to injury.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Taken with the Versteeg signing, this has the whiff of the Sutter years, when the depth positions were all stuffed with marginal veterans. At some point our development system is going to have to start providing 2-3 roster players a season to fill out the lineup.

Much like the Sutter years, there will be a delay of a couple of years due to the previous administration.

These are problems that come out 3-5 years after the fact. The Flames system I believe is starting to rebound a bit with the potential of some guys like Kylington, but the Flames still definitely need more bullets in the chamber in the next 2 drafts.

[Parallex]

Kristen Odland @Kristen_Odland
Gulutzan said Brodie will start the season on the left side with Engelland. Giordano will be with Wideman.

Wow... that is a really really really bad idea. Either bad players are going to be playing far more then they should or good players are going to playing far less. Neither is desirable.

[neo45]

1. Pair him with Wideman
2. Makes Wideman look fast
3. Trade Wideman
4. Send Grossman down


Genius

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Taken with the Versteeg signing, this has the whiff of the Sutter years, when the depth positions were all stuffed with marginal veterans. At some point our development system is going to have to start providing 2-3 roster players a season to fill out the lineup.

I think that's fair, but look at when these signings occurred versus the Sutter era. Maybe it's simply because the JG situation didn't allow for pre-planning, but to me at least the developing players were given a chance at camp to earn those roles before the vets were brought in to sure things up.

Agreed, ideally we need to start filling the gaps with the young bucks, but I also don't think any org. will every get away from needing to fill some gaps with journey men vets. At least our core is super young right now, which is most important.

[868904]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Taken with the Versteeg signing, this has the whiff of the Sutter years, when the depth positions were all stuffed with marginal veterans. At some point our development system is going to have to start providing 2-3 roster players a season to fill out the lineup.

Except the big difference is that our core is not "stuffed with veterans". Our core now is "stuffed" with young kids and that's why it makes sense to fill the depth positions with veterans.

Also, Bouma, Ferland and Hamilton are currently in depth positions and are all young.

I think people on this board are so use to complaining about veteran laden lineups during the Sutter years that they don't realize the Flames have a really really young team right now, which is why they add guys like Engelland, Brouwer, Versteeg, and Grossman.

[neo45]

Splitting up Brodie and Gio is so incredibly stupid

[getbak]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Would Kulak not have to be protected if he plays too many NHL games and does this allow BT to protect some guys from the expansion draft by not having them play? So this is potentially the perfect signing in case of injury + Expansion draft protection?

Kulak will have to be protected (or exposed since he won't be protected ahead of Gio, Brodie, and Hamilton) for the expansion draft, no matter how many games he plays.

There could be some thinking that limiting his NHL experience might dissuade Vegas from taking him, but I doubt that's a big factor in the decision.

[GioforPM]

I'm "meh" about the signing if he sits. I get the splitting of Brodie and Gio to try and spread out the points from the D, but don't like giving Wideman or Engelland the top 4 minutes this indicates (though I didn't actually mind either in preseason).

Really it's Kevin and Hamilton that get the least out of this.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by neo45

Splitting up Brodie and Gio is so incredibly stupid

Worse, they're splitting up Brodie and Gio and not putting either of them with Dougie.

[djsFlames]

Bollig-esque in terms of what the player will bring.

I just hope he plays stay at home when he's out there and crunches some bodies, at least.

[Young_Guns]

Wideman with Gio to help lift Wideman's trade value?

[djsFlames]

So Kulak goes down or can we carry 8 d-men?

[Strange Brew]

So Hamilton is on the 3rd pairing? There's a problem somewhere if that is the long term answer.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I will say, the best hockey this team has played in the last 2 years was when Brodie and Engelland were a pair, and Wideman was getting top pair minutes...................

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

So Hamilton is on the 3rd pairing? There's a problem somewhere if that is the long term answer.

I doubt it is long term. Could be as simple as looking to get Wideman making a contribution, then next season you have Hamilton with one of Giordano or Brodie.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Worse, they're splitting up Brodie and Gio and not putting either of them with Dougie.

Look at it this way, no matter what one of Gio, Brodie, or Hamilton will be on the ice at all times.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Do not like. Grossmann looked slow and disinterested to me during camp, but maybe management sees something I don't.

I guess if I had to say one good thing, it's that I would rather see him sitting in the pressbox over Kulak.

People say that but I did not see that at all, I saw a veteran defensive D man with good positioning and he was absolutely stapling guys into the boards. I don't want Kulak sitting in the presser most nights, let him go down and get lots of ice time in Stockton. Grossman brings a physical defensive element this team can use imo. I like it.