[Signing] Devils sign Schlemko 1 year 1 way deal

[Goodlad]

Tom Gulitti ‏@TGfireandice 3m3 minutes ago
Was in the car on the way home from arena when Devils announced they signed D David Schlemko to one-year, one-way contract for $625,000.

Pretty reasonable amount

[Huntingwhale]

Best of luck to Schlemko. His shootout goal will go down in Flames history as one the most important and most impressive in team history. I thought he did quite well in the role he was put in. I would have loved him back, but there just wasn't enough room.

He's done quite well for a guy who was waived twice last season, only to help the Flames make the playoffs and 2nd round. Now he earns a 1 way contract. I'm very happy for him.

[Yanda]

Would have prefered having Schlemko over Widemen for the next 2 years

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Would have prefered having Schlemko over Widemen for the next 2 years

Peculiar stance. You'd prefer a waiver bait D man to a 56 point D man? I get cap savings maybe. But Wideman is the better player.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Would have prefered having Schlemko over Widemen for the next 2 years

You understand Wides had over 50 points last year and greatly improved his defensive game as well right?

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Would have prefered having Schlemko over Widemen for the next 2 years

I will say I 100% disagree with this. Sure, Wideman has a higher cap hit but he puts up way more points then Schlemko has or will. He has great chemistry with Russell and Johnny and he's been a great team guy. Schlemko was a solid bottom pairing guy, I don't see how you could want him over Wideman and what he brings...unless you're Cheerio.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I will say I 100% disagree with this. Sure, Wideman has a higher cap hit but he puts up way more points then Schlemko has or will

Wideman also put up way more points than Marc Staal or Chris Tanev or Niklas Hjalmarson.... There're elements Schlemko contributed toward that Wideman doesn't. Both are good defensemen with different skillsets.

[Poe969]

Sure, they have different skill sets but what is Schlemko as good at as Wideman is at putting up points? If he was as good or better than Wideman, who scored over 50 points, wouldn't teams be willing to take a chance on him for more than what he got?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Would have prefered having Schlemko over Widemen for the next 2 years

Yeah....no.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Sure, they have different skill sets but what is Schlemko as good at as Wideman is at putting up points?

Schlemko is as good at driving possession as Wideman is good at putting up points but on CP this is treated as a useless ability even though the Flames' own GM points out constantly the importance of not always being caught defending. As he drives possession the Flames forwards are able to generate scoring chances instead of blocking shots and dumping pucks for line changes, which makes those forwards more useful players even if Schlemko is not on the stat sheet.

If he was as good or better than Wideman, who scored over 50 points, wouldn't teams be willing to take a chance on him for more than what he got?

In a perfect world, maybe - but there are things that limit that like:

- Pro Scouting (Whose pro scouts have actually paid attention to what Schlemko does)

- Size (There's an irrational bias that gets ineffective plugs like Engelland and Smid eating up a combined 6.4 million dollars / 2 years because they're big)

- Age (at 28, Schlemko might be ten times better than a Gormley or Wotherspoon, but teams are still going to favor the younger player. Every team has prospects like this).

Really, you need to be either

A) An "established" top 4 guy
B) Already on a bad contract

To be guaranteed a spot the next year.

Don't forget that Mark Giordano once went to Russia to play hockey because the Flames were lowballing him. Knowing what you know now, would you ever let the Flames lowball him so they can pay a guy like Aucoin?

Don't forget that the Flames once had Anton Stralman and then swapped him for a draft pick that ended up being Max Reinhart. Seriously, think about that for a second. The 2015 SCF runner up's #2 defenseman was traded for Max Reinhart at a point where he had 88 NHL Games Played.

We can only judge Schlemko based on what he did on the ice, and what he did was overwhelmingly positive.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Wideman also put up way more points than Marc Staal or Chris Tanev or Niklas Hjalmarson.... There're elements Schlemko contributed toward that Wideman doesn't. Both are good defensemen with different skillsets.

I'm really confused. Are you saying Schlemko is as good as Staal, Tanev, or Hjalmarrson? I don't think Schlemko is enough better in any area to make him a better option than Wideman. Considering how far into free-agency he was before he finally got a contract offer I think most GM's view him the same way.

[Erick Estrada]

He did a fine job filling in last season but I'm glad the Flames never pursued him as he's not very good.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

Are you saying Schlemko is as good as Staal, Tanev, or Hjalmarrson?

No.

I don't think Schlemko is enough better in any area to make him a better option than Wideman.

I see them as being comparable options that bring different elements. Wideman isn't nearly as good as people think and Schlemko isn't as replacement-level as people think.

Considering how far into free-agency he was before he finally got a contract offer I think most GM's view him the same way.

He plays a quiet game that goes pretty unnoticed, and doesn't put up much stats. I wouldn't put it past 70%+ of GMs in the league to not have watched any real tape on the guy.

[SportsJunky]

I will miss Schlemko's beard more than I'll miss him. He wasn't good.

[Strange Brew]

Glad to see he got a 1 way deal. He really saved the team's bacon last year and played some important minutes in the playoffs.

Would I prefer Schlemko as the 6/7 defenseman at this salary over Engelland or Smid as the 6/7 at their salaries? Yeah probably.

The Schlemko vs. Wideman comparison is kind of off base. In that case you are really just saying you want Wideman's salary off the team so you can spend it elsewhere. Fair point but nothing to do with Schlemko.

[Enoch Root]

I liked Schlemko - glad he got a gig.

Comparing Schlemko to Wideman... just stop. That does more dis-service to possession numbers than Ryan Lambert ever could.

[Yanda]

Wideman put up 50+ Points as a #3 defensemen. As a #5 Defensemen in an Anton Babchuk role the difference between Schlemko and Wideman is not worth the contract and in addition you can move Wideman for another asset or upgrade elsewhere and cap space to retain players like Russell and Colborne while we transition Monahan and Gaudreau on bridge contracts.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

I would like to see Schlemko double shifted and playing 25+ minutes a night like Wideman while against the other team's best players. His possession numbers are good because he plays against the other team's bottom lines, lets get some perspective here.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Yanda

Wideman put up 50+ Points as a #3 defensemen. As a #5 Defensemen in an Anton Babchuk role the difference between Schlemko and Wideman is not worth the contract and in addition you can move Wideman for another asset or upgrade elsewhere and cap space to retain players like Russell and Colborne while we transition Monahan and Gaudreau on bridge contracts.

He'll still be good for 10 goals and 40 points as the 4/5, while improving his possession numbers drastically. Wideman is a much better player and the team is better having him over Schlemko IMO.

[btimbit]

Wouldn't have minded him back if there was a spot for him, but their isn't. Glad he found a home next year