Schlemko, Diaz, Potter; Who do we want to keep?

[PugnaciousIntern]

I can't see us entering the next season without another addition/trade on D.

[Erick Estrada]

I'm okay with giving one of Diaz or Schlemko a contract but I wouldn't want to tie them both up as I would look to free agency for an upgrade first.

[dammage79]

Absolutely nothing against Schlemko or Diaz who've been solid placeholders this year.

But I choose none of them. I really feel like the Flames can upgrade the bottom pairing in the off season. So much so in fact that I feel that they can bring in a legit #4 and have a healthy rotation of minutes for all the top six where the real difference in minutes will be utilization on special teams.

Who know about the kids in camp next year. Kenny Morrison and Tyler Wotherspoon are the two main guys that can fight for a spot but I don't think I'd count out Ramage either.

[Firebot]

Schlemko reminds me a lot of Russell when he first came to the Flames.

A Hartley off season bootcamp could turn him in very good bottom pairing D with good offense.

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Wideman
Engelland - Schlemko


I am not a fan of Potter at all. Wotherspoon is still young, but he has a lot of holes in his game that very visible even with extremely limited minutes.

Diaz is serviceable as a 7th Defenseman, until Wotherspoon steps up his game.

[CroFlames]

Really depends a lot on what happens this summer for trades and signings, but very interesting topic.

We have Smid, Diaz, Engelland & Schelmko all vying for two spots, with Wotherspoon, Potter and perhaps Sieloff in the wings. Smid, Diaz, Engelland & Schelmko are all capable 5/6 guys. A "good" problem to have.

Since we are playing armchair GM right now, we need to consider contracts. For simplicity sake, I'll consider Smid to be 100% by training camp next year.

Engellend and Smid both have multiple years on their deals, so I think you pencil them in as your 5/6 guys next year. Diaz & Schlemko are both FA this summer.

The interesting part is what kind of market is out there for a guy like Smid + prospect. Depending on what the return is, you could trade Smid & sign Schlemko or Diaz. I think I'm more partial to Schlemko because his goal was prettier than Diaz's. It will interesting if Diaz or Schlem even want to sign in Calgary knowing they may not play.

Signing Potter to another 1 year deal doesn't affect the above, since it's a 2 way insurance deal.

[Roof-Daddy]

Adam McQuaid, 6'5, 215lbs, 28 years old shoots right
Jeff Petry, 6'3, 200lbs, 27 years old, shoots right
Matt Irwin, 6'2, 210lbs, 27 years old, shoots left

I like both Diaz and Schlemko, but would take any of the above three UFA's over them if possible

[Itse]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

I can't see us entering the next season without another addition/trade on D.

I can. Finding solid D-men for the right price can be really hard.

[Parallex]

Depends on what else happens. I'm of the opinion that the Flames ought to go after a top 4 d-man in free agency (Franson by preference). If we can do that then I'd be in favor of none-of-the-above... if we can't then I'd keep Diaz.

Don't want Potter back. Coach didn't trust him enough to play him even standard bottom pairing minutes in a meaningless game, really like Schlemko but I'd rather have a RH shot who can spell Wideman on the PP if he's hurt.

[DJones]

I don't want Smid and Engellend back together. I don't expect them to be any better than the disaster they were at the beginning of the year.

Shlemko and Diaz I like. Potter is an injury replacement at best.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Engellend and Smid both have multiple years on their deals, so I think you pencil them in as your 5/6 guys next year.

Not together. They're an awful, awful pairing even if they're adequate individually. You either have to go Schlemko-Engelland or Diaz-Smid, or one of the aformentioned UFAs that can puck-move on a middle-pairing i.e.

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Petry
Wideman-Smid
Engelland

Which, from a cost perspective I don't like as Russell and Gio are due for extensions.

I think Schlemko is an awesome #5 to have beside Engelland, on the other hand. Has a propensity for moving the puck up the ice and creating possession.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Hope they keep one of Schlemko or Diaz and also sign another top 4 guy like Michalek.

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Wideman
Michalek-Engelland
Schlemko/Diaz

[CroFlames]

I think it might be tough to sign Diaz & Schlemko to one year deals like most people here want, if they know they are only on call-up duty.

I'm sure by now there are teams looking to sign them, and basically promise them NHL minutes.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by getbak

It also depends on what happens with Smid. Smid still has two years left on his contract, and he isn't even 30 yet, so I don't see him retiring unless his injury is severe.

If Smid does retire, or the Flames are able to move him, Diaz returning isn't a bad option.

Smid has zero reason to retire. The Flames still owe him around $7M or so (not 100% sure on the number). If he can't play again, he'll just stay on LTIR and get paid until his deal is up.

[Roof-Daddy]

Crazy to think, but since Gio was injured our D on any given night carries a cap hit below $15,000,000. Even with Gio it's only around $17,500,000 million.


The first year we missed the playoffs (2009/10) our top 3 defensemen cost that much (Dion, JBo, Reggie), and weren't nearly as productive or successful.


/random thought

[Imported_Aussie]

Keep Schlemko, set him as the #6D until a kid from the AHL can bump him to #7. He has been a steady presence, which is what you want in a 5-7D

Giordano - Brodie
Russel - Wideman
Schlemko - Engelland

Keep Potter as an AHL veteran, at worst, he can be called up and not disrupt the development of the youth.

Diaz I could go either way - he has been useful, but at the same time, I feel Schlemko is a more steady presence. If the team does want 7 guys excluding any of the current AHL Defensive corps, I would rather see them sign a guy who could deputize in the top 4 (Michalek?) or make a move to bring in a guy who is NHL ready with upside (Petrovic?)

[neo45]

I think we need to re-sign Schlemko and add a guy through free agency that can handle decent minutes. Michalek from St Louis/Phx would be a good short term add. There doesn't seem to be any young guys ready to make the jump. Cody Franson could be good too if he doesn't demand too much money

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm okay with giving one of Diaz or Schlemko a contract but I wouldn't want to tie them both up as I would look to free agency for an upgrade first.

Agree with this. Either pick Diaz or Schlemko if there isn't an upgrade via free agency.

I like both Schlemko and Diaz because they are both mobile defenseman, and we need one to be paired with Engelland.

[Mister Yamoto]

I know we are all in love with this team right now (as we should be) but the Flames still need to get better. 16th out of 30 is average. The Flames are an average team right now.

Engelland, Daiz and Potter replaced Butler, O'Brien and Smith. And you can see the positive results on the ice. Do it again. Keep re building. Keep getting better.

You need 5 top4 and 8 top6 to really compete in this league. Get another top4 and all those other guys could move down a notch. And still look to upgrade on those guys.

[btimbit]

I like Schlemko, like someone said he reminds me of when Russell first got here.

Other than that I have to think there's a change or two in the offseason. I like Diaz but he might not be nessesary, and could prohably find more ice time elsewhere.

Potter is decent vet AHL depth that you could call up of needed.

I bring back Schlemko for sure, the other two depends on what else goes on

[OzSome]

I don't mind Raffa Diaz but we need to start giving some of young d-men a chance to make the team next season. I wouldn't mind signing Schlemko though. With Giordano going back in the lineup, I think Schlemko and Engelland will be good together as the 3rd pairing. Tyle Wotherspoon or even Kenny Morrisson can be the 7th D-men and gets in the lineup replacing Schlemko or Engelland once in awhile. As for Corey Potter, i have no say no and time to let him go.