[News] Flames place DeSimone and Ruzicka on waivers; Both claimed

[GreenLantern2814]

Both players are blocking better options.

They needed the cap space now - they got it.

[gilligans_off]

Much rather have Kylington and Pelletier in the lineup than these two. I’m not losing sleep over it.

[Geeoff]

losing two players to waivers does put the Flames in a good spot to go after college UFAs. Are there any good ones?

[just_tim]

What I have never understood is the fascination with always needing to get an asset in return. Simple fact is in a cap area, especially for a cap-adjacent team, cap space IS an asset and in many ways a more valuable asset as it can be used as best needed. The fact that Treliving ”messed” the bed using Gaudreau’s cap space is irrelevant. Losing a couple of replacement-level players and gaining their cap space at some point will be very useful.

[Fourteen FTW]

Originally Posted by iggyloob12

How much room, really? The guy is 29.

I didn’t realize he was 29. Great point. I just ment that he hadn’t had much time in the nhl and that exposure at that level takes some time and games before you know what you’ve got. At 29 he’ll be lucky to make 100+ games. You never know, but less concern from me.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Conroy may swing a minor league deal or two to load up for the Wranglers playoff run.

[Burning Beard]

Ruzicka had many chances and always looked disinterested. I'm all for bringing in a young player who is playing hard and looks like they want to be there.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by gilligans_off

Much rather have Kylington and Pelletier in the lineup than these two. I’m not losing sleep over it.

Always good to have depth but I don’t think either of them were going to become impact players. IMO Ruzicka got too comfortable

[Southside403]

Good luck Adam thanks for your time good luck new venture.

[Kipper_3434]

Not surprised both were picked up. It's the time of year where many teams are struggling with depth due to injuries. Would be nice to have added some late picks, also would've preferred to dump Oesterle, but not losing sleep over this. Ruzicka was a player I had high hopes for but, he never turned it on, think I will keep an eye on him anyways.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by HighLifeMan

His icetime and production are a direct result of the role he's given.

He was scratched for an entire month to begin last season before he scored 17 points in 19 games in the top six. He didn't "earn" that opportunity. He was given it due to an injury and ran with it. Milan Lucic then took his spot for some ridiculous reason.

Additionally this year he had a short stint in the top six to begin the year and then got hurt. He didn't get an opportunity after that.

Outside of those two stints he has been stuck on the 4th line, where again, he is simply just not an effective hockey player.

As for the numbers, they have to be close. I went through his game logs a few times.

Do you really think two different GMs and two different coaches willfully ignored Ruzicka’s ability just to saddle him on the 4th line for reasons unknown?

He’s been given a lot of opportunity, and it’s great he did well in one stint. But he could never do it consistently. And (this is an important part) when given the opportunity he made the players he was playing with worse.

He didn’t add anything to the Lindholm/Toffoli line. He produced points, sure, but Toffoli/Lindholm were both better away from Ruzicka defensively and offensively. Earning your place is not just about putting up points if those points just come at the expense of other guys getting points and being worse defensively.

You mention Lucic. Toffoli/Lindholm played with Lucic less than half the amount they played with Ruzicka at even strength, were far better defensively, and combined for a whopping 2 less points. They generated more shots and gave up less.

He also made the power play worse.

I’m not saying he won’t ever figure out the consistency part of his game, but there’s nobody to blame but Ruzicka for where he is and I don’t think any suggestion that the Flames didn’t give him a proper shot or that he wasn’t deployed correctly is anywhere close to reality.

Good players can play in the bottom six, too. They may not produce the same, which is fine, but Ruzicka didn’t do anything. And ice time is no excuse for poor play in general. If he wants to play in the NHL he needs to play like he belongs, period.

[FlamingHomer]

Not sure if he's going to be back this season but Poirier could slot in for a tryout as well.

[Bingo]

Highlifemen has always been a Ruzicka guy so I get his frustration and it's genuine.

Some of the others rushing to pass judgement on an inconsequential move like this just make me shake my head. Do you want to hate the team you cheer for?

Personally I'm glad the Ruzicka phase is over ... couldn't stand the player.

[Stormchaser]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Highlifemen has always been a Ruzicka guy so I get his frustration and it's genuine.

Some of the others rushing to pass judgement on an inconsequential move like this just make me shake my head. Do you want to hate the team you cheer for?

Personally I'm glad the Ruzicka phase is over ... couldn't stand the player.

That's interesting to hear you say that. What makes you say that you couldn't stand him? I can get it if its a bit of frustration over what seemed to be a lack of drive / effort in the past while.

Perhaps i'm always a little too optimistic that the player will eventually figure it out between the ears and he will take a step forward...so in that fact I'm sad to lose out on the player figuring it out here.

[SuperMatt18]

The only issue I have with the Ruzicka thing is timing.

If you move Lindholm it opens up a top 9 Center hole and unless they shift Zary to C then I think Ruzicka is the best fit and gives him the top 9 role he's better suited for.

If he fails with that then you move on from him.

[Strange Brew]

I bet Ruzicka pops in his first few games, and maybe even produces through the end of the season. But we’ve seen he can’t sustain it and his play this year was worse than replacement.

I really don’t know what else the team could have done.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

The only issue I have with the Ruzicka thing is timing.

If you move Lindholm it opens up a top 9 Center hole and unless they shift Zary to C then I think Ruzicka is the best fit and gives him the top 9 role he's better suited for.

If he fails with that then you move on from him.

He’d definitely fail as a top 9 centre because he doesn’t play D or hustle. Maybe a top 9 winger

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I bet Ruzicka pops in his first few games, and maybe even produces through the end of the season. But we’ve seen he can’t sustain it and his play this year was worse than replacement.

I really don’t know what else the team could have done.

Gift him top 6 wing time

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Gift him top 6 wing time

Which of Huberdeau, Sharangovich, Zary, Pospisil, Mangiapane or Coleman are you demoting to the 4th line?

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Which of Huberdeau, Sharangovich, Zary, Pospisil, Mangiapane or Coleman are you demoting to the 4th line?

None. It’s the only thing they didn’t try but he didn’t really earn it