[Signing] Flames sign Deryk Engelland (3yrs, $2.9M AAV)

[formulate]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

He brings a physical edge that Butler didn't. The thing I'm confused about is who is actually going to play hockey when Bollig, Big Ern and Engelland are on the ice?

He got heavily sheltered minutes in Pittsburgh, as did the other two. There's only so many sheltered minutes to go around. One of these guys will be playing in over their head

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Someone posted that Bollig actually had the majority of his zone starts in the defensive zone, and against tough competition. Not the type of guy it seems that needs sheltering, though I haven't checked the advanced stats for myself.

McGrattan is the only one of the 3 who played sheltered minutes. Engelland faced middling competition and actually started more often in the d-zone. Bollig saw tough-ish competition and was 4 times as likely to be deployed in the d-zone as the offensive zone. Quenneville placed some serious trust in his ability as a hockey player, which is a great sign in my mind.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What?

The Flames have all of $20 m committed to 6 players in the final year of Engelland's contract. Hudler, Jones, Glencross, Russell, Hiller and Ramo will all be on new deals, or else playing elsewhere. That same year will see Gaudreau, Monahan, Brodie, Baertschi, Wotherspoon, Granlund and Ferland on new RFA deals, and Giordano requiring a new contract. Poirier, Sieloff, Klimchuk, Kulak will be in the final years of their ELC deals, and Bennett will still have another year left on top of that.

In all likelihood, the decision about what to do with Engelland will be a minor one.

Flames line up I would hope will look dramatically different when Engelland's contract is in its last season.

Remember, last season with the Penguins he was a 6th/7th type of dman.

This player in my view, in year 3 of his contract will not be able to make the roster. Flames will need to Waive him and place him within their AHL team.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by getbak

Gilbert has played 7 full seasons in the NHL and has played in 5 playoff games. Over the last five seasons, he has played on the 30th overall team twice, and the 29th overall team twice (he got traded from the Oilers at the deadline, but played most of the season in Edmonton).

I don't understand the relevance here. Are you saying that because he played on two bad teams he must be a bad player?

[calumniate]

Honestly we did need to get bigger, and to that end we were successful.

Cost us a 3rd round pick and a 3X3 contract, but I think we got the 'good guys' in terms of the rough and tumble. This team is going to feel 10 inches taller this year!

[sun]

Comical contract.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

that sounds hilarous

got a link?

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/hocke...ing-slump.html

When I look for what Bollig should bring to us, this article pretty much demonstrates my expectations: Hit people, wear them down, create space. Anything he does beyond that is gravy.

Engelland is the same.

[flamesfever]

I think it sets a bad precedent to overpay to that extent. "He's a great guy in the room". How much hockey is played in the room?

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

I think it sets a bad precedent to overpay to that extent. "He's a great guy in the room". How much hockey is played in the room?

Well, according to Yogi Berra, for baseball "90% of the game is half mental"

So I'd guess that in hockey, 90% of the game is half played in the room.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Plett25

Well, according to Yogi Berra, for baseball "90% of the game is half mental"

So I'd guess that in hockey, 90% of the game is half played in the room.

Does that mean that 45% of the game is played in the room?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

I don't understand the relevance here. Are you saying that because he played on two bad teams he must be a bad player?

No, I was talking about Gilbert's likely mindset when choosing between the Habs and the Flames.

If you've played your whole career on crappy teams that have finished at or near the bottom of the league, and you have to choose between a team that went to the Conference Finals last season and one that's likely to finish at or near the bottom of the league, I would bet you're more likely going to choose the one that went to the Conference Finals. Playing on one of the worst teams in the league can't be fun. Doing it for four of the last five seasons must be excruciating.

It's not enough to say "the Flames should have signed Gilbert for the same money they gave to Engelland." For that to work, Gilbert had to be willing to sign with the Flames, which he likely wasn't.

[united]

From Jonathan Willis, Engelland's teammate's possession % when paired with him and not paired with him:

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by flambers

Flames line up I would hope will look dramatically different when Engelland's contract is in its last season.

Remember, last season with the Penguins he was a 6th/7th type of dman.

This player in my view, in year 3 of his contract will not be able to make the roster. Flames will need to Waive him and place him within their AHL team.

That would be great - I hope that happens (and that's not a slight at him at all)

[wingmaker]

Oh my lord, big deal! Even if this ends up being a terrible signing that they need to buy out or waive to the minors next year, who cares? People are acting like the Flames are a cap team and that an overpayment for a depth player will impact the team. They aren't. This doesn't. On a three year term, there really is zero downside to overpaying this guy, especially when the other two free agent signings have decent cap value. Either he will come in and become a good character guy who shields the youth and earns his spot, or he won't. Treliving tried to address a need, it will work out or it won't. Hardly worth moaning and wailing about.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by flambers

This player in my view, in year 3 of his contract will not be able to make the roster. Flames will need to Waive him and place him within their AHL team.

That might be the case, but it is still very unlikely it would prevent the Flames from signing a player in year 3. I would be surprised if the Flames were right up against the cap.

[Zee]

Did someone accidentally offer 2.9 per for 3 when they were supposed to offer 2.9 over 3.

I know all the cap arguments, but still... $2.9 million a year?

[flamesfever]

The big drawback IMO will be in the future when it comes to resigning our best performing players. Their agent will say, "If you can take a guy making $575,000. and pay him $2.9 million for doing this, then you can afford to pay this for player x who has done this".

[saintjohnflames]

I don't have anything wrong with this signing at all! All this means is we have more goons to beat the #### out of edmonton with lol

[photon]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Put me in the category with Treliving that doesn't think Engelland is nearly as bad as he's being made out to be.

He pretty much said this, talking about expanded roles and such.

He's trying to fill a need, the kids in the pipe aren't ready yet, and to get it via trade would cost assets we don't want to give up. This way we at least get what he is and have a chance of him being what Treliving envisions, and if he doesn't, then nothing is lost.

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by united

From Jonathan Willis, Engelland's teammate's possession % when paired with him and not paired with him:

Good god...

I get the arguments for bringing him in and hopefully he proves to be a useful mentor and his presence discourages opposing teams from trying to play an intimidation game against a young team.

I doubt that his salary will factor very heavily into future negotiations either. The thing I don't like about the signing is that I don't really like watching hockey players who struggle to handle the puck and make breakout passes. I'd prefer that the Flames didn't go down this route, but it isn't an overly important move. I liked the other signings though.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by united

From Jonathan Willis, Engelland's teammate's possession % when paired with him and not paired with him:

would have been easier to just post a picture of a giant boat anchor.