[Signing] Flames sign Mantha (1 yr, $3.5 mil)

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Fair point, but with a log-jam on Honzek, Pelletier, Coronato, Keirns etc...could you not call up each player for 7-8 games instead of having someone like Mantha on the roster full time. Maybe full-on NHL duties they aren't ready for. But everyone can benefit from a little taste of the sweet life.

I guess they can do that anyways and just keep Mantha in the press box for games at a time.

I think pump and dump projects are a valid part of a re-build, but not without risk. But the risk is minimal if you keep the deals to 1 year. If it works, and you get a 2nd or 3rd for Mantha - great. So I'm comfortable with the overall strategy even if it doesn't pay off.

And I think the state of the pipeline is such that there aren't a lot of guys knocking on the door. My half-ass evaluation would be that:
- I'm not sure Pelletier is an NHLer at all. But he's certainly earning another look with this play and i'm comfortable he'll get at least one more chance
- Honzek I really believe needs to be in the AHl playing high minutes across all situations. He's missed too much development time, and needs playing time more than anything, including in a top 6 role
- I don't think any of the dman are ready. Grush is probably the closest, but Brew and JP need more time.
- Klapka I'm finding having up because his upside is a bottom 6 forward so I don't think you damage him having him move between the pressbo and line-up.
- So that leaves Coranato. That's the tricky one. I see him as a middle six forward, and as such, playing time is also critical. If he's up here - he needs to play every night and in a middle 6 role. If that's not available (and this is where I acknowledge Mantha being an element of this) then he's better off in the AHL.

I liked how things played out last year. Opportunities will present themselves from injury and trades.

But I just don't see this as a prospect base that has a ton of guys ready to go.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Not surprising he was available to the Flames at all. He's another big body that leaves so much on the table with effort level and brain farts.

It's a bit of a shame he's here really, I do agree with Coronato's agents comments to a degree. I'd rather have the younger player gaining valuable playing time in a season that is likely not going to amount to much then hoping for a sell high UFA situation with the older Mantha.

One of the first moves I'm starting to lean towards holding against Conroy in terms of not aligning with the direction. I get it was also another attempt to get Huberdeau going, but it shouldn't be at the expense of a first rounders playing time whether it's Honzek, Coronato, or even Pelletier.

Barrie and Hanley are the others. We have D on the Wranglers who are ready for the big show.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Goriders

And you can see why Huska has given up on him (he finished last game on the 4th line)

That's what I like about Huska - he isn't afraid to use the stick when needed and earned. Mantha better wake up soon, or he may find himself without any offers this coming off-season, other than another 1 year deal at even lower dollars.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Barrie and Hanley are the others. We have D on the Wranglers who are ready for the big show.

Those guys have spent most of the time in the press box. You don't need your young D doing that. They need to play.
So they would need to displace a guy like Pachal.

I'm not sure who is ready. Soloyov perhaps. Kuznetzov? Who else do you have in mind.

[Fire]

Waive Hanley, who cares if he's claimed. Bring up Coronato and make Mantha a healthy scratch.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Fire

Waive Hanley, who cares if he's claimed. Bring up Coronato and make Mantha a healthy scratch.

If he gets claimed by a team then gets an assist against us we will get several posts in the game thread and post game thread bemoaning it just like with Schwindt last night. Guaranteed.

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Hanley is going to get traded to Utah after tomorrow's game.

#boldprediction

Edit...forgot I was in the Mantha thread. On him. So frustrating as others have said.

[dissentowner]

I mean he comes as advertised. Has a few dominant games and then disappears for a while. I wasn't a fan of the signing to start with and I am still not a fan. Just taking up a roster spot.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Not surprising he was available to the Flames at all. He's another big body that leaves so much on the table with effort level and brain farts.

It's a bit of a shame he's here really, I do agree with Coronato's agents comments to a degree. I'd rather have the younger player gaining valuable playing time in a season that is likely not going to amount to much then hoping for a sell high UFA situation with the older Mantha.

One of the first moves I'm starting to lean towards holding against Conroy in terms of not aligning with the direction. I get it was also another attempt to get Huberdeau going, but it shouldn't be at the expense of a first rounders playing time whether it's Honzek, Coronato, or even Pelletier.

Agreed plus I'm kind of tired of the narrative that big AHL minutes are better for said young players than 4th line NHL time. No I think a good 4th line that plays 12 minutes is a better use of Coronato or Pelletier than ~18 min in the goon and journeyman league that we already know they dominate

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Those guys have spent most of the time in the press box. You don't need your young D doing that. They need to play.
So they would need to displace a guy like Pachal.

I'm not sure who is ready. Soloyov perhaps. Kuznetzov? Who else do you have in mind.

I think Grushnikov is the D prospect who is closest to being able to at least make contributions on the bottom pairing. I think we got a good one in him and Conroy deserves more credit for that trade.

I could see him pushing a guy like Bean out of the lineup in due time.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by saillias

Agreed plus I'm kind of tired of the narrative that big AHL minutes are better for said young players than 4th line NHL time. No I think a good 4th line that plays 12 minutes is a better use of Coronato or Pelletier than ~18 min in the goon and journeyman league that we already know they dominate

Maybe for some players but others don't take well to playing 4th line minutes with pluggers as they need to play with talented players to supplement their skills. It certainly never helped Bennett who's shined playing with talented linemates but didn't play well with pluggers.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Fire

Waive Hanley, who cares if he's claimed. Bring up Coronato and make Mantha a healthy scratch.

I think they are worried he won't get claimed and the logjam for the Wrangers on D only gets worse.

Right now Kuznetsov, Brzustwicz, Poirier and Grushnikov are playing regularly while Solovyov is being cycled in and out. Get another tweener dman down like Hanley to go along with Tinordi, I can see another young guy rotating in and out to accommodate.

Pat indicated as much on the fan 960 as well.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Maybe for some players but others don't take well to playing 4th line minutes with pluggers as they need to play with talented players to supplement their skills. It certainly never helped Bennett who's shined playing with talented linemates but didn't play well with pluggers.

The key to that though is not playing them with other pluggers and re-thinking the entire 4th line.

TBH there is a path to the Flames moving away from a "veteran 4th line" to a "Young Offensive 4th Line".

It would mean moving Lomberg to the Backlund line and seeing if that was a fit. But if that would work and Lomberg could handle the defensive responsibilities of that line, then it opens up the idea of a "Young and Sheltered Offensive 4th line".

Zary - Kadri - Kuzmenko
Huberdeau - Sharangovich - Mantha
Lomberg - Backlund - Coleman
Pelletier/Honzek - Pospisil - Coronato
Rooney/Kirkland

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I think they are worried he won't get claimed and the logjam for the Wrangers on D only gets worse.

Right now Kuznetsov, Brzustwicz, Poirier and Grushnikov are playing regularly while Solovyov is being cycled in and out. Get another tweener dman down like Hanley to go along with Tinordi, I can see another young guy rotating in and out to accommodate.

Pat indicated as much on the fan 960 as well.

If you waive him and he clears waivers then you aren't forced to send him down, and it actually might make him more valuable to a team in a trade.

If a team picks him up on waivers then they have to keep him on the NHL roster, which maybe isn't ideal.

But if he clears waivers, then they could trade a late pick for him, it would allow them to send him down to the AHL and stash extra depth for cheap.

For example I doubt Dallas would be sad about being able to bring Hanley back into the organization and stash him in the AHL in case of an injury.

Flames waiving Hanley provides flexibility and is something they should be doing - if they haven't it's more because they don't want to lose him for nothing (which seems a bit silly).