[Signing] Flames re-sign Stone (3 yrs, $3.5 mil AAV)

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by Muta

Good lord... if this happens, that top five on the back end has to be one the deepest, if not the deepest, d-core in the NHL.

Has got to be the deepest d-core in the league. If it was Nashville, they'd have the better Top 4.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Would that be a nice bonus on the blueline. I wonder how it would affect the salary structure?

[bax]

The Flames D would be much improved if all they did was re sign stone and have him for a full year. We're doing that and we replaced Wideman with Hamonic? My god!

[FBI]

Come on babyyyyy, let's keep the offseason party going!

[Rubicant]

Unless he comes pretty cheap, I'd rather have that cap space spent on talent up front.

[Two Fivenagame]

Man, if true, it's too bad Chad Johnson won't be a part of this rock solid D....




teehee

[mrdonkey]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Ryan Leslie just hinted the deal is done.

OMG, if that's true this team is going to have one hell of a defense.

[Frequitude]

Can't wait to develop him into Edmonton's next overly paid for too much term 30 year old defenseman.

[CrazyCaper]

Watch out NHL...we're signing all the D!!

[Reggie Dunlop]

Definitely going to be a youngun' on the blue line. One of Wotherspoon or Kulak, and Andersson, Kylington nipping the heels.

[Bunk]

With Stone (a fairly expensive #5) it seems like the strategy is to stack the D and let the forward group grow mostly from within (unless they trade a couple roster players away, not much room for another winger).

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Vertseeg-Bennett-Lazar
Stajan-Jankowski-Brouwer
Hamilton

(Also have Foo potentially knocking at the door)

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Andersson/Kulak-Stone
Bartkowski

Smith
Lack

If the flames get another winger, it seems that might put Jankowski or Lazar the odd man out.

[Strange Brew]

If you don't resign Stone, then you look at the defense now and say the improvement is simply Hamonic over Stone, a minor improvement. Re-sign Stone and the improvement is Hamonic over Engelland. Massive improvement.

Now just don't overpay.

[united]

Stone's agent working the insiders hard this week, holy. Come on, Treliving, don't overpay.

[iggy_oi]

This would give us 5 D-men who would probably be on the oiler's top pairing

[Insane_Flame]

Originally Posted by Rubicant

Unless he comes pretty cheap, I'd rather have that cap space spent on talent up front.

I see what you are saying but if there is 1 or 2 significant injures this will be so valuable. The forwards are more easily replaceable.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Love

Hoping: 3 years x $3.25M
Expecting: 4 years x $4M (or a russell deal)

After 15 pts last year I think you'll see Stone on a one year deal to re-prove himself, something around $2.5 would be fantastic

[Poe969]

What if this meant that one of the other D was being dealt? It wouldn't be Gio or Hamilton so what if this means that Brodie is being dealt for a top line RW?

I'm not saying I want this to happen or even that I think this is happening but how would you feel adding Hamonic and Stone but losing Brodie and gaining a top line RW?

[squirtle]

please don't get my hopes up, please don't get my hopes up, please don't get my hopes up...

[Lanny_McDonald]

There's no guarantee Bartkowski makes this team. I see him getting beat out by several of the kids on the farm. Bartkowski is a good emergency call up, but with that depth in the top five you can afford to have two youngsters on the roster on the back end.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Poe969

What if this meant that one of the other D was being dealt? It wouldn't be Gio or Hamilton so what if this means that Brodie is being dealt for a top line RW?

I'm not saying I want this to happen or even that I think this is happening but how would you feel adding Hamonic and Stone but losing Brodie and gaining a top line RW?

No. For a multitude of reasons.