2018/2019 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

No thanks to DSP. I'd rather see what we have in the younger players.

[Poe969]

I"d rather they get overly skilled guys who put up lots of points instead of "grit" guys like DSP. The team needs to score more, not...do whatever he does.

[GranteedEV]

Honestly, if he's healthy, Versteeg looks like a really good insurance policy.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Honestly, if he's healthy, Versteeg looks like a really good insurance policy.

Even last year his powerplay efficiency was still at the level of Monahan. The Flames could do far worse as a depth option, and they need as many RHS as they can get.

Edit: very true, Toonage, and he was often played on the top line in Carolina as well.

[Toonage]

Was a Hurricane under Peters as well, so there is that familiarity

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Honestly, if he's healthy, Versteeg looks like a really good insurance policy.

Where does he fit 5v5? He’s not very good during 5v5 play, and he’s not a shooter, which leads me to believe his PP role will be filled by better players (Lindholm, free agent signing, whoever).

I just don’t see the fit anymore.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Where does he fit 5v5? He’s not very good during 5v5 play, and he’s not a shooter, which leads me to believe his PP role will be filled by better players (Lindholm, free agent signing, whoever).

I just don’t see the fit anymore.

Is he better than Brouwer? Is he better than Lazar? Personally, I think the answer to both of those is a resounding "yes".

I bring him in on a PTO, see how he skates. There's history with the coach, history with the GM.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well yeah people are speculating because he refused to go to the white house, is black, and didn't get qualified. I have to think it's simply coincidence as teams are too aware to carry themselves in this manner you would think.

Agreed. It's far more likely they just don't want to overpay because he had a good playoffs

[TheScorpion]

Canucks did not qualify Derrick Pouliot. Intriguing.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Where does he fit 5v5? He’s not very good during 5v5 play, and he’s not a shooter, which leads me to believe his PP role will be filled by better players (Lindholm, free agent signing, whoever).

I just don’t see the fit anymore.

What's wrong with his 5v5 play? He's always been a solid 5v5 player as long as you're not expecting him to play on your top line and grind for Gaudreau/Monahan. There's room on the third line for him.

Last year he played bad, but I imagine his injury had more to do with it. He and Bennett were arguably our best 5v5 players in the 2017 playoffs, too - he competes defensively, he has soft skill, and he's got a solid shooting touch. His only issue 5v5 in 2016-17 was, as with Bennett, that they were dragged down by Brouwer's lack of any usefulness and Chiasson fixed that.

Even if he's not our go-to on the 1st PP, the second unit could always used a skilled RHS. I feel more comfortable with him than Vanek, and I'm not ready to pay out for Perron, JVR, or Neal. That pretty much in my eyes leaves Versteeg and Czarnik, and Czarnik, while I have advocated for him, is pretty unproven. Ideally I'd like us to sign both and roll something like:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Mangiapane
Tkachuk-Backlund-Lindholm
Jankowski-Bennett-Versteeg
Frolik-Shore-Czarnik
Lazar
Brouwer

This contingency plan would still leave room for Czarnik and even Foo and Lazar to step up if Versteeg isn't able to get back to the level of play he is capable of.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Is he better than Brouwer? Is he better than Lazar? Personally, I think the answer to both of those is a resounding "yes".

I bring him in on a PTO, see how he skates. There's history with the coach, history with the GM.

He has posted 47.0 and 47.8 CF% during his time as a Flame when the Flames were pretty much all about CF% (thanks Glen).

I would much sooner continue to work on developing Lazar than see Versteeg (or Brouwer) play on a nightly basis. Lazar showed improvement last year once he actually started to get into the line-up consistently. Lazar pushes the pace on the forecheck and can skate - and with the Flames likely moving to a much faster brand of hockey next year, Versteeg (...and Brouwer) just don't fit in my opinion.

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Gaudreau-Monahan-Mangiapane
Tkachuk-Backlund-Lindholm
Jankowski-Bennett-Versteeg
Frolik-Shore-Czarnik
Lazar
Brouwer

I just don't see how the Flames go into a season with THAT line-up and expect to be better. Bennett and Jankowski, if they play together, need a better player than Versteeg to help them contribute offensively while being strong defensively.

Eatbread on the first line doesn't make sense to me. That looks like a line-up built to fail the moment a single injury occurs.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

He has posted 47.0 and 47.8 CF% during his time as a Flame when the Flames were pretty much all about CF% (thanks Glen).

I would much sooner continue to work on developing Lazar than see Versteeg (or Brouwer) play on a nightly basis. Lazar showed improvement last year once he actually started to get into the line-up consistently. Lazar pushes the pace on the forecheck and can skate - and with the Flames likely moving to a much faster brand of hockey next year, Versteeg (...and Brouwer) just don't fit in my opinion.

Versteeg is a strong forechecker, and historically has been a strong possession player with the only blip being his ice time as a Flame when Troy Brouwer was his linemate (Versteeg-Bennett-Chiasson were in fact a 56.98% CF% line and no one is confusing Chiasson for a top 9F). He may not be a burner like Lazar but he's an average skater and doesn't suffer from Lazar's Stone Hands Syndrome.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ouch. Now people are speculating that DSP was not qualified because he refused to go to White House.

Caps are still negotiating with DSP

https://twitter.com/CapitalsPR/statu...53193765376000

[Saqe]

DSP is nothing special. Good wheels but that's about it. Takes stupid penalties time to time.



Having said that, I do value players that have shown to be effective in the playoffs.

[sureLoss]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1011361158786404354

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Saqe

DSP is nothing special. Good wheels but that's about it. Takes stupid penalties time to time.



Having said that, I do value players that have shown to be effective in the playoffs.

This sort of separates him from other (recent) playoff overachievers. He did some of his best work in the actual cup final. The Bergenheim's & Beleskey's of the world petered off before they hit that mark. I'm intrigued by a player that chose the toughest games of his career to find the next level. But I do understand the hesitation or the reluctance to give him a look as he'll likely be looking at a decent, but not cap busting, raise.

[dissentowner]

Don't know if mentioned yet but Frk is signed with Detroit.

[AC]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Don't know if mentioned yet but Frk is signed with Detroit.

There's a thread for it.

[btimbit]

Yeah depending on what happens in free agency I wouldn't object to having Versteeg back as a plan b

[oldschoolcalgary]

if you can sign DSP for a reasonable contract, i think he's a good piece.

talented guy, but inconsistent, needs to play with a better motor...

he's not overly old at 26