[Rumour] Flames meeting with Ryan Reaves

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

A sign of what? This keeps getting repeated, but free agency is full of players that teams “aren’t trying to keep.” JVR, Neal, etc.

You can add Tavares to that list as well. Maybe they don't want him back bad enough... hmm maybe that's a sign?

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Red

I kind of disagree with this line of thinking. There is no gradual way of improving in the playoffs, 1 round win year one, 3 round wins a year later etc. You get in and fight tooth and nail to beat your opponent. There is a surprising story every year. Vegas, Nashville, Ottawa, Calgary in 04, Oilers in 06 and on and on....you build to win it all, not just a round or two and wait to go all out at some point.



And yes, the Flames are still one of if not the softest teams in the NHL. They'd get crushed in a playoff battle. Sadly we haven't had a playoff battle in years.

I think it’s important to take note that the one playoff series we actually won in the last 10 years, our most effective player was a 4th liner who hit, fought, played physical, and got in the other team’s heads.

Not saying Reaves is Ferland because the skill is not there, but I have no doubt he can positively impact an NHL game because I have seen it happen extremely recently against Winnipeg.

It all comes down to dollar amount and term for me (as it really should for most FA rumors)

[Red]

Intimidation is part of the game no matter how much people try to deny it. I'd rather have a good fighter than anothere soft speedy 4th liner that scores a goal every other month and contributes nothing else. Like Lazar etc. Waste of a roster spot.
The Flames are very soft and their best player happens to be very small. The other good players have 0 desire to get dirty. 19 being the exception. We then plug holes with guys like Foo, Lazar, Magipane etc. This team will continue to get bullied.
I believe a team needs to have some swagger. In a caped world we cant afford goal scorers on every line. It's the reality. So we can choose a guy like Lazar or a Reaves type. I take Reaves.

[ComixZone]

Matthew Tkachuk pisses the opposition off, and he also sustained a concussion this past season. If I'm Brad Treliving, I'm telling Tkachuk that he can no longer fight and stressing that he's much more important to have on the ice than off it.

With that in mind, I'd actually be overjoyed to have Reaves join the team. Reaves isn't just a goon, as he can effectively forecheck and lay big hits - but he'd also be there as insulation. If someone has to fight, Reaves will step up - and that's a way better scenario than having Tkachuk do it.

[Heavy Jack]

I look at Reaves and I think he will most likely get a 3 year deal around 2 million per; then I think about the games in which we need a guy like him especially being in the west and the pacific division. The two California trips would be guaranteed deployment for Reaves, Edmonton/Vancouver matchups a must as well making most western conference matchups a good environment for Reaves. Against pest teams from the east who have annoying/edgy players like Boston (Marchand, Chara) Philadelphia (Gudas) Washington (Wilson, Orpik) and Florida (Haley, Petrovic) to me with the more skilled lineup we plan to run through-out having a deterrent like Reaves is almost a must.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I look at Reaves and I think he will most likely get a 3 year deal around 2 million per; then I think about the games in which we need a guy like him especially being in the west and the pacific division. The two California trips would be guaranteed deployment for Reaves, Edmonton/Vancouver matchups a must as well making most western conference matchups a good environment for Reaves...

Would these games against the Canucks just be for the purpose of bolstering Reaves's confidence and scoring statistics?

[sureLoss]

Friedman says Reaves visited NYR, Flames, and Canucks

https://twitter.com/user/status/1012795454654779392

[sureLoss]

Now Friedman says Reaves might go back to Vegas:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1012796424528916481

[alan21]

Just when they get rid of everyone I hate in Vancouver they think about adding Reaves.
I say sign him just so we won't have him beat up on us 5 times a season.

[Buff]

I question Reaves and how he he there to hit hard and fight. I'm not a fan of that style anymore and I wouldn't mind if huge hits and fights are taken out of the game. That's not to say I enjoy those moments when they happen... I'm just getting old and soft.

I'd like for a player like Reaves to not have a role in hockey anymore. Reaves can play in his limited role and he can be a difference maker though. So I wouldn't be upset if Calgary signs him. I'd be somewhat excited. I know, I'm contradicting myself a bit.

He seems like a good dude, he just plays on the edge, and his part of the game is slowly going away. I'm at that point where I wouldn't be upset if the process was sped up.

But if you're going to have Tkachuk who stirs the pot, and Smith who has a temper, you'll always have use for a policeman. Reaves doesn't hurt the team with his general on ice play, as long as he doesn't get too much ice time.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by alan21

Just when they get rid of everyone I hate in Vancouver they think about adding Reaves.
I say sign him just so we won't have him beat up on us 5 times a season.

They way the game is going, the teams who sign a guy like that are doing it partly for this reason.

[Toonage]

Sounds like if the Flames have their heart set on him it will be an overpay. NYR, Vegas, Vancouver all after him too? Either too high a contract too much term or both.

Edit - and he's back to Vegas. Overpay? Not our problem.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Now Friedman says Reaves might go back to Vegas:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1012796424528916481

https://twitter.com/user/status/1012800106205069312


Looks like a done deal

[Heavy Jack]

Damn was really wanting him here; oh well.

[AC]

Oh god we're going to bring back Tanner Glass now as a result, aren't we?

Any interest in Antoine Roussel then as a similar type of agitator/role player, but with way more offensive upside? He had a bad year last season, but the 4 prior seasons were 12, 13, 13, and 14 goal totals.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by AC

Oh god we're going to bring back Tanner Glass now as a result, aren't we?

Any interest in Antoine Roussel then as a similar type of agitator/role player, but with way more offensive upside? He had a bad year last season, but the 4 prior seasons were 12, 13, 13, and 14 goal totals.

He has been linked to the Habs, but that might just be because he is a Francophone.

[Heavy Jack]

He would be a great option - 3 to 4 years x 2.5 ?

[AC]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

He has been linked to the Habs, but that might just be because he is a Francophone.

Yeah, I feel like every French speaking player gets linked to Montreal automatically.

Xavier Ouellet is another.

[sureLoss]

Guessing Kurtis Gabriel is the Flames new tough guy... (which will trigger many Flames fans)

960 guys speculating that Calvert might be a target.

[ComixZone]

With Reaves I wouldn't have minded had he gone out there every night for a regular 4th line shift.

Now that he's off the market, screw it. I don't want any of these other one-punch/one-note goons.