[Signing] Flames sign LW David Wolf (1 yr ELC, $925k)

[GreenLantern]

I can only imagine the look on his face when he showed up in Glen Falls expecting NYC. Poor guy.

Seems to have a great attitude though.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

The one thing is - my complaints about Bollig were (until Stajan centred him) that he was terrible defensively, both in his own zone and on the backcheck. I haven't heard anything about Wolf in this regard.

Almost impossible to judge the defensive play of wingers from the one-camera, no replay coverage of the AHL games.

You really need to see players live to judge their positioning.

But I'll say this - Wolf is coachable. If his coach said go jump into the other teams' bench, that is exactly what he would go and do.

[Bownesian]

Shiny toy.

He's an RFA after this year (right?). In the spirit of letting prospects over ripen, I'd rather they wait and see what they have in next year's camp unless they are eliminated from the playoffs early and they can give some of these guys a sniff late in the season.

[GioforPM]

I mostly want to know if he comes back hard, can take or give a pass out of the zone.

And I wouldn't doubt a good German kid follows orders to a T.

" 'ey, Wolfie. Dos Hoilers are buggin' me. Go jump into dare bench".

"Jah, OK Coach".

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

But I'll say this - Wolf is coachable. If his coach said go jump into the other teams' bench, that is exactly what he would go and do.

I want to see this in a Utica game. Badly.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Bownesian

Shiny toy.

He's an RFA after this year (right?). In the spirit of letting prospects over ripen, I'd rather they wait and see what they have in next year's camp unless they are eliminated from the playoffs early and they can give some of these guys a sniff late in the season.

Yes, he's an RFA. He's also going to be 26 in September and has played professionally in Europe for a number of years.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

How can anyone even come close to saying they'd like to swap Wolf for Bollig or they'd take Wolf 9/10 over Bollig when the guy hasn't even played an NHL game? I'd question how much "Wolf" people have even seen at the AHL level to make that call, but even if you've seen a decent amount of his play at the AHL level, how can you even come close to comparing that what you've seen from Bollig against much, much better competition and higher level of the game.

Such a pet peeve of mine how quickly so many fans simply decide based on nothing or at least no relevant comparables that some player down on the farm could not only easily replace their NHL equivalent but best them despite not having seen them play a single shift of NHL action. It's simply not possible for most of us on here to know jack unless we've seen the player play some games in the NHL.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bownesian

Shiny toy.

He's an RFA after this year (right?). In the spirit of letting prospects over ripen, I'd rather they wait and see what they have in next year's camp unless they are eliminated from the playoffs early and they can give some of these guys a sniff late in the season.

I agree that there is no hurry. And he has plenty to work on in GF. But I think there is a real asset there - I won't be surprised if he makes it to the NHL.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

How can anyone even come close to saying they'd like to swap Wolf for Bollig or they'd take Wolf 9/10 over Bollig when the guy hasn't even played an NHL game? I'd question how much "Wolf" people have even seen at the AHL level to make that call, but even if you've seen a decent amount of his play at the AHL level, how can you even come close to comparing that what you've seen from Bollig against much, much better competition and higher level of the game.

Such a pet peeve of mine how quickly so many fans simply decide based on nothing or at least no relevant comparables that some player down on the farm could not only easily replace their NHL equivalent but best them despite not having seen them play a single shift of NHL action. It's simply not possible for most of us on here to know jack unless we've seen the player play some games in the NHL.

One poster said that - is that really worth a rant?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

How can anyone even come close to saying they'd like to swap Wolf for Bollig or they'd take Wolf 9/10 over Bollig when the guy hasn't even played an NHL game? I'd question how much "Wolf" people have even seen at the AHL level to make that call, but even if you've seen a decent amount of his play at the AHL level, how can you even come close to comparing that what you've seen from Bollig against much, much better competition and higher level of the game.

Such a pet peeve of mine how quickly so many fans simply decide based on nothing or at least no relevant comparables that some player down on the farm could not only easily replace their NHL equivalent but best them despite not having seen them play a single shift of NHL action. It's simply not possible for most of us on here to know jack unless we've seen the player play some games in the NHL.

Absolutely fair comment. At 26 they have to do something with Wolf pretty quick though. Probably lock him up for a while as an RFA, continue get some good feedback from Huska, bring him up on an injury at some point, or else evaluate him heavily next year at camp.

Bollig has been pretty OK the last few games, though I'd like a bit more facewash from him. I'd like to see a goal too.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

On poster said 9/10, multiple have already decided Wolf > Bollig, so IMO, yes it was.

[mhsyyc]

My recollection of seeing Wolf at training camp is that he was big, slow and couldn't skate very well. Kind of like Big Ern without the rep and experience.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

How can anyone even come close to saying they'd like to swap Wolf for Bollig or they'd take Wolf 9/10 over Bollig when the guy hasn't even played an NHL game? I'd question how much "Wolf" people have even seen at the AHL level to make that call, but even if you've seen a decent amount of his play at the AHL level, how can you even come close to comparing that what you've seen from Bollig against much, much better competition and higher level of the game.

What exactly has Bollig done on the NHL level in his 6-7 minutes a game? Even when he's hitting out there, he's still completely overshadowed by guys like Bouma and Byron on our bottom lines. Bollig is okay for what he is - a plug that keeps us at the cap floor - but his biggest assets - fighting/physicality also happen to be Wolf's bigger assets.

If you are gonna focus on an apples to apples comparision though, Bollig at Age 25 had 9 points in 35 games in the AHL and was a -1. Wolf at Age 25 has 18 points in 33 games and is a +7. That has to account for something.

Maybe Wolf doesn't do anything at the NHL level at all. That would effectively tie him with Bollig.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

How can anyone even come close to saying they'd like to swap Wolf for Bollig or they'd take Wolf 9/10 over Bollig when the guy hasn't even played an NHL game? I'd question how much "Wolf" people have even seen at the AHL level to make that call, but even if you've seen a decent amount of his play at the AHL level, how can you even come close to comparing that what you've seen from Bollig against much, much better competition and higher level of the game.

Such a pet peeve of mine how quickly so many fans simply decide based on nothing or at least no relevant comparables that some player down on the farm could not only easily replace their NHL equivalent but best them despite not having seen them play a single shift of NHL action. It's simply not possible for most of us on here to know jack unless we've seen the player play some games in the NHL.

Because the guy who is playing is being healthy scratched regularly, has no goals and doesn't contribute a whole lot overall. Heaven forbid we'd rather try the AHL guy, lol.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by saillias

Because the guy who is playing is being healthy scratched regularly, has no goals and doesn't contribute a whole lot overall. Heaven forbid we'd rather try the AHL guy, lol.

No issues with the desire to "TRY" a different option / see what the AHL guy has got. Declarations that Wolf has already proven to be a "better" NHL option than Bollig before the "try" has even happened is what I have issues with.

[Bownesian]

Originally Posted by Drury18

Yes, he's an RFA. He's also going to be 26 in September and has played professionally in Europe for a number of years.

Yeah, hopefully there is some roster space that shakes free sometime so these guys get a look.

I can't see sending Granlund down or waving the whipping boy of the week so we can give Wolf a try, but if someone from the bottom 3 goes down or something and he's legitimately earned a shot over the other guys, I'm fine with it.

[northcrunk]

I would trade or waive Raymond and bring in Wolf for sure. He has 4g 2a in his last 4 games so it's not like he doesn't have more of a scoring touch than Raymond.

[GioforPM]

I'm pretty sure Raymond would light it up in the AHL.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'm pretty sure Raymond would light it up in the AHL.

Good, he sure isn't doing it here.

[GioforPM]

Point being, as Sven and Ferland found out, scoring in the AHL =/= scoring in the NHL. Even Setoguchi found his touch before he got hurt down there.

So let's not assume Wolf's AHL scoring translates into being better than Bollig up here, even offensively.