[GDT] Kraken @ Flames 7pm MT

[Toonage]

An easy decision for Huska & Conroy is to waive Kirkland.

I just don't get the love for him.

Steinberg on 960 being shocked that Kirkland wasn't signed right away when free agency opened was just as baffling.

He's coming off a pretty major injury and surgery. Not the youngest guy anymore. Sure he's only the 4C, but they have other options who are playing better in what is, admittedly, early in the pre-season.

He's a good story. But there are better options.

[442scotty]

Probably time to move on from Lomberg as much as he brings to the table and sorry but it’s probably time for Coleman to go because someone has to go to make room and who else is there? I’m assuming Farabee takes his place. He’s younger, is going to bounce back hopefully and keeps Frost happy.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I don’t think this is the time to move those guys. If you do you aren’t getting the optimal return
Those are tdl guys

[Bonded]

Honzek back to bust?

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Toonage

An easy decision for Huska & Conroy is to waive Kirkland.

I just don't get the love for him.

Steinberg on 960 being shocked that Kirkland wasn't signed right away when free agency opened was just as baffling.

He's coming off a pretty major injury and surgery. Not the youngest guy anymore. Sure he's only the 4C, but they have other options who are playing better in what is, admittedly, early in the pre-season.

He's a good story. But there are better options.

Kirkland is a PDO bender that never should have been signed. IMO.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Kirkland is a PDO bender that never should have been signed. IMO.

I don’t mind the signing as you need bodies but he’s an AHLer who maybe fills in as the 13th forward if your depth is bad.

I said before, but people penciling him into the lineup seemed crazy to me. He’s going to have to beat some other guys just to make the team, let alone stick in the lineup.

[Tbull8]

If its between Kirkland or Kerins as 13th F and the other goes on waivers, I really hope they keep Kerins up. If Kirkland gets claimed, it would be sad, but replaceable. If he makes it through, it'll be some good depth down the stretch with a guy who would be able to step in right away

[Calgary4LIfe]

I didn't think we would enter this stage until next season, but there are simply too many bodies, and there are going to be a lot of people freaking out when some players hit waivers.


It is still early in the preseason, so we still have to see how things shake out, but thus far:

Players looking like they are ready to take the next step:

Forwards:
Morton
Kerins
Honzek
Gridin
King (though I want to see him in a couple of preseason games)
Suniev is almost there

Defence:
Kuznetsov
Solovyov
Parekh
Brzustewicz
Cicek (older, but he looked good)

That's a lot of bodies, and absolutely no room.

The returning roster (not including prospects):

Huberdeau - Kadri - Coronato
Zary - Frost - Sharangovich
Farabee - Backlund - Coleman
Lomberg - Pospisil - Klapka

Hanley - Weegar
Bahl - Andersson
Bean - Pachal
Miromanov (who Huska was also very complimentary of recently)

Who deserves to be out? Defence - at least on the surface - seems a little easier, but I don't think so. Everyone is going to point at Hanley, but this is going to be a rough season having a rookie D on each pairing to start. You can eventually work some in as they gain experience, but unless the Flames have their sights set on McKenna, they aren't going to start a rookie on each pairing (and this is why I was complaining at the lack of reps for the young D last season). We still haven't really seen Poirier much, and I expect him to put his name in legit contention for a spot as well, to add further confusion.


No point in discussing the goalies. It is Wolf, with Cooley and Prosvetov battling it out for the backup. Again, very early in the preseason, but thus far Prosvetov sits ahead of Cooley.



This is the fantastic problem to have when an organization drafts really well. Flames are going to lose a lot of young players in the next few years, and some vets are going to be pushed out. Quite the interesting battle all over the roster so far.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Toonage

An easy decision for Huska & Conroy is to waive Kirkland.

I just don't get the love for him.

Steinberg on 960 being shocked that Kirkland wasn't signed right away when free agency opened was just as baffling.

He's coming off a pretty major injury and surgery. Not the youngest guy anymore. Sure he's only the 4C, but they have other options who are playing better in what is, admittedly, early in the pre-season.

He's a good story. But there are better options.

Great story for sure but you are right, losing Morton or Kerins would be worse for a rebuilding/retooling team.

At the end of the day, Kirkland is a 29 year old with 2 G and 8 PTS,I would bet that he does not get claimed, which would be great as he would be called up in short order.

Also, has not played a pro game in almost a year, may need some time in the AHL anyways?

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I didn't think we would enter this stage until next season, but there are simply too many bodies, and there are going to be a lot of people freaking out when some players hit waivers.


It is still early in the preseason, so we still have to see how things shake out, but thus far:

Players looking like they are ready to take the next step:

Forwards:
Morton
Kerins
Honzek
Gridin
King (though I want to see him in a couple of preseason games)
Suniev is almost there

Defence:
Kuznetsov
Solovyov
Parekh
Brzustewicz
Cicek (older, but he looked good)

That's a lot of bodies, and absolutely no room.

The returning roster (not including prospects):

Huberdeau - Kadri - Coronato
Zary - Frost - Sharangovich
Farabee - Backlund - Coleman
Lomberg - Pospisil - Klapka

Hanley - Weegar
Bahl - Andersson
Bean - Pachal
Miromanov (who Huska was also very complimentary of recently)

Who deserves to be out? Defence - at least on the surface - seems a little easier, but I don't think so. Everyone is going to point at Hanley, but this is going to be a rough season having a rookie D on each pairing to start. You can eventually work some in as they gain experience, but unless the Flames have their sights set on McKenna, they aren't going to start a rookie on each pairing (and this is why I was complaining at the lack of reps for the young D last season). We still haven't really seen Poirier much, and I expect him to put his name in legit contention for a spot as well, to add further confusion.


No point in discussing the goalies. It is Wolf, with Cooley and Prosvetov battling it out for the backup. Again, very early in the preseason, but thus far Prosvetov sits ahead of Cooley.



This is the fantastic problem to have when an organization drafts really well. Flames are going to lose a lot of young players in the next few years, and some vets are going to be pushed out. Quite the interesting battle all over the roster so far.

I am all in support of TacoKid but he hasn't shown anything yet. You have only seen him play against kids so far. I am rooting for him of course!

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Kirkland is a PDO bender that never should have been signed. IMO.

Though the numbers do support this argument (and Bingo has posted them last season a few times), Huska seems to really like him. Huska stated just a few days ago how Kirkland is always in the right place and is a very easy player to coach. Though from an asset management point of view it doesn't make sense leave him on the roster, Huska might have a different opinion and fight for him. I expect him to be demoted, but I wouldn't be shocked if he wasn't.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I am all in support of TacoKid but he hasn't shown anything yet. You have only seen him play against kids so far. I am rooting for him of course!

Agreed - I just kept him in the list as players that have shown well. He has been in the right place at the right time on both sides of the puck, so from my completely arbitrary list, he stays on until (or if) he fades and looks like he needs some polishing in the AHL (which I do also expect him to need).

[Redrum]

I really don't get why the Flames had such a deathgrip on all these old bottom 6 players all summer from a not very good team, when they knew they had a boatload of players coming up.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Though the numbers do support this argument (and Bingo has posted them last season a few times), Huska seems to really like him. Huska stated just a few days ago how Kirkland is always in the right place and is a very easy player to coach. Though from an asset management point of view it doesn't make sense leave him on the roster, Huska might have a different opinion and fight for him. I expect him to be demoted, but I wouldn't be shocked if he wasn't.

They have better access to numbers than we have.

The eye test has never been there for me for Kirkland. And when you dug in it was PDO heater, and even on the PK the highest save percentage on the team when on the ice.

Is he so in the right spots that goalies aren't under as much pressure and therefore the heater is justified? That's possible and I'll look for it.

But I'm guessing (just guessing) that if he makes the team his numbers normalize quickly and he's back to the tweener he's always been.

However his contract isn't a problem. Easy to put in the AHL and not count against the cap.

[Vinny01]

Flames have a reasonable amount of depth on the wing in both the NHL and AHL it would be nice to see them capitalize and turn quantity into quality via a trade at some point. Hopefully we do not see talent lost to waivers

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Probably time to move on from Lomberg as much as he brings to the table and sorry but it’s probably time for Coleman to go because someone has to go to make room and who else is there? I’m assuming Farabee takes his place. He’s younger, is going to bounce back hopefully and keeps Frost happy.

Lomberg is a glue guy in the locker room but very replaceable on the ice for the most part which makes for a difficult decision to move on even though the Flames probably should.

As for Coleman he's still a quality 3rd line player and depending on how the Flames season goes, just may be a hot deadline candidate even with a year left on his deal with the cap rising. He could fetch a really good return for a 3rd line winger so it probably has to be considered.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Bingo

They have better access to numbers than we have.

The eye test has never been there for me for Kirkland. And when you dug in it was PDO heater, and even on the PK the highest save percentage on the team when on the ice.

Is he so in the right spots that goalies aren't under as much pressure and therefore the heater is justified? That's possible and I'll look for it.

But I'm guessing (just guessing) that if he makes the team his numbers normalize quickly and he's back to the tweener he's always been.

However his contract isn't a problem. Easy to put in the AHL and not count against the cap.

Just to clarify, I agreed with the stats that you had posted (which is partly why I brought it up), and the eye-test for me showed that Kirkland was getting some lucky goals. He was a great feel-good story, and I am still rooting for this young Steve Buscemi, but I agree with you. My post was just to illustrate that there is a defined history of Kirkland on the Flames, and I found Huska's summary of him interesting because of it. Perhaps the Flames have a larger data-set that shows him being an effective NHLer', or perhaps Huska simply likes him (as some coaches tend to do) undeservedly, or was simply blowing smoke in the media, and nothing more. I expect him to be demoted, but i would not be shocked to see him stick, that's all.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Kuznetsov was the biggest surprise for me. I think he is right there to take a spot.
I wasn't as impressed with Kerins last year, but it does seem like he found another gear and is harder to move off the puck. I hope he makes it as well.

[Canada 02]

Kirkland and Miro are in their late 20s. Kerins and Kuznetsov are 23. If its close, keep the young guys who have longer runway to grow

[Toonage]

If this team keeps Miromanov I'll be stunned. And angry. But mostly stunned.