The Redemption of Ladislav Smid

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

There's still room, especially since only Gaudreau and Monahan are up for new contracts (RFA ones at that).

And both are only one more year after this one (along with Wideman, Raymond and Bollig, none of whom will stick around). With Russell off the books by the end of the year, as well as bigger contracts in Jones and Hudler, neither of whom I expect to be re-signed, unless Jones extends for less money.

I think people are being pretty optimistic about our cap situation next year. If we sign Gaudreau to a contract at $7M per and Monahan to $5.5M, and spend a total of 7M on goalies, that puts us at $67.5M committed for next year to 18 players. That means we would be in a situation where depending on the cap, we could have as little as $4M to spend, and not more than $7M, on 3 wingers and 1 d-man, unless we have rookies step up to fill those spots. With the following coming off the books:

Jones
Hudler
Colborne (RFA)
Jooris (RFA)
Granlund (RFA)
Russell

Before any signings (excluding goalies), this is what we look like:

Gaudreau(7.0)-Monahan(5.5)-OPEN
Bouma(2.2)-Bennett(.925)-Frolik (4.3)
Raymond(3.125)-Backlund(3.75)-OPEN
Ferland(.825)-Stajan(3.125)-OPEN
Bollig(1.25)

Giordano(6.75)-Brodie(4.65)
OPEN-Hamilton(5.75)
Smid(3.5)-Wideman(5.25)
Engelland(2.9)

G1 ($5M)
G2 ($2M)

We may do better on the goalie front, but frankly we have no idea what we'll be able to pull off, this is just a guess, and less than we committed for this year. I think we are in major trouble cap-wise, unless we can shed at least one of and preferably two of Wideman, Smid and Engelland before next season.

[curves2000]

I know at the start of the year in several interviews and news clips the following players were praised for upping their conditioning and fitness.

1) Stajan
2) Bollig
3) Smid

I haven't seen anything really exciting from Bollig or Stajan in any consistent form as opposed last year. Smid for the few games has looked a little quicker though.

Can you imagine the bozo's up north with Smid, Jeff Petry and Devin Dubes as the goalie? Some unreal asset management.

[dino7c]

I highly doubt the Flames will be spending 7M on goal tending next season

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by Madrox

I think people are being pretty optimistic about our cap situation next year. If we sign Gaudreau to a contract at $7M per and Monahan to $5.5M, and spend a total of 7M on goalies, that puts us at $67.5M committed for next year to 18 players. That means we would be in a situation where depending on the cap, we could have as little as $4M to spend, and not more than $7M, on 3 wingers and 1 d-man, unless we have rookies step up to fill those spots. With the following coming off the books:

Jones
Hudler
Colborne (RFA)
Jooris (RFA)
Granlund (RFA)
Russell

Before any signings (excluding goalies), this is what we look like:

Gaudreau(7.0)-Monahan(5.5)-OPEN
Bouma(2.2)-Bennett(.925)-Frolik (4.3)
Raymond(3.125)-Backlund(3.75)-OPEN
Ferland(.825)-Stajan(3.125)-OPEN
Bollig(1.25)

Giordano(6.75)-Brodie(4.65)
OPEN-Hamilton(5.75)
Smid(3.5)-Wideman(5.25)
Engelland(2.9)

G1 ($5M)
G2 ($2M)

We may do better on the goalie front, but frankly we have no idea what we'll be able to pull off, this is just a guess, and less than we committed for this year. I think we are in major trouble cap-wise, unless we can shed at least one of and preferably two of Wideman, Smid and Engelland before next season.

I agree with you that our cap going into next season is definitely an area of concern. I do think we fill some of those holes within the organization tho. Also I think Granlund is up to stay winger or centre to be determined.

We will bring up a Stockton guy next year to either play on defence or to push someone into the press box. Kenny Agostino, Emile Poirier, Freddie Hamilton, etc could all step into those bottom 6 wings spots.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Madrox

I think people are being pretty optimistic about our cap situation next year. If we sign Gaudreau to a contract at $7M per and Monahan to $5.5M, and spend a total of 7M on goalies, that puts us at $67.5M committed for next year to 18 players. That means we would be in a situation where depending on the cap, we could have as little as $4M to spend, and not more than $7M, on 3 wingers and 1 d-man, unless we have rookies step up to fill those spots. With the following coming off the books:

Jones
Hudler
Colborne (RFA)
Jooris (RFA)
Granlund (RFA)
Russell

Before any signings (excluding goalies), this is what we look like:

Gaudreau(7.0)-Monahan(5.5)-OPEN
Bouma(2.2)-Bennett(.925)-Frolik (4.3)
Raymond(3.125)-Backlund(3.75)-OPEN
Ferland(.825)-Stajan(3.125)-OPEN
Bollig(1.25)

Giordano(6.75)-Brodie(4.65)
OPEN-Hamilton(5.75)
Smid(3.5)-Wideman(5.25)
Engelland(2.9)

G1 ($5M)
G2 ($2M)

We may do better on the goalie front, but frankly we have no idea what we'll be able to pull off, this is just a guess, and less than we committed for this year. I think we are in major trouble cap-wise, unless we can shed at least one of and preferably two of Wideman, Smid and Engelland before next season.

I doubt $7M will be required for Gaudreau as an RFA (but if he's worth that by the end of the year, it means he had a fantastic year). They will spend about $5-6M on goaltending I bet, noty $7M. And, yes, the bottom 6 and the D will be rounded out by younger guys who already are knocking at the door. Guys like Colborne, Granlund and Jooris (I he's even re-signed) will not be expensive.

Further, like I said, Smid, Engelland and Wideman are only one more year. Then their mid to high salaries are replaced by what Andersen, Kylington, Nakladl, Morrison, Wotherspoon, Kulak, et al will get, which is a lot less.

Finally, now that the Flames have respectable top end talent and are nearing what I expect to be a big leap forward in success in the next few years, I expect them to be near the cap every year. Sure, it means creativity in the lower lines, but that comes with having good players at the top. Look at Chicago, LA, etc. Cap troubles all the time, but also cups.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Madrox

I think people are being pretty optimistic about our cap situation next year. If we sign Gaudreau to a contract at $7M per and Monahan to $5.5M, and spend a total of 7M on goalies, that puts us at $67.5M committed for next year to 18 players. That means we would be in a situation where depending on the cap, we could have as little as $4M to spend, and not more than $7M, on 3 wingers and 1 d-man, unless we have rookies step up to fill those spots. With the following coming off the books:

Jones
Hudler
Colborne (RFA)
Jooris (RFA)
Granlund (RFA)
Russell

Before any signings (excluding goalies), this is what we look like:

Gaudreau(7.0)-Monahan(5.5)-OPEN
Bouma(2.2)-Bennett(.925)-Frolik (4.3)
Raymond(3.125)-Backlund(3.75)-OPEN
Ferland(.825)-Stajan(3.125)-OPEN
Bollig(1.25)

Giordano(6.75)-Brodie(4.65)
OPEN-Hamilton(5.75)
Smid(3.5)-Wideman(5.25)
Engelland(2.9)

G1 ($5M)
G2 ($2M)

We may do better on the goalie front, but frankly we have no idea what we'll be able to pull off, this is just a guess, and less than we committed for this year. I think we are in major trouble cap-wise, unless we can shed at least one of and preferably two of Wideman, Smid and Engelland before next season.

Yeah therein lies the problem. You can't spend $11.65 million on defenseman 5,6 and 7.

I am hoping Flames spend this deadline and next offseason looking 100% to the future (year after next). We are one year closer to so many of these bad contracts coming off the books.

If the Flames accumulate some strong young talent they could really be in a position to make a trade for an impact player.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by curves2000

I know at the start of the year in several interviews and news clips the following players were praised for upping their conditioning and fitness.

1) Stajan
2) Bollig
3) Smid

I haven't seen anything really exciting from Bollig or Stajan in any consistent form as opposed last year. Smid for the few games has looked a little quicker though.

Can you imagine the bozo's up north with Smid, Jeff Petry and Devin Dubes as the goalie? Some unreal asset management.

Stajan has been a bit snake bitten in point production, and has been given inconsistent line mates all year, but in his role, he's performed as well as most Flames night in and night out.

Bollig just hasn't been useful enough to stick long enough to actually show anything IMO.

[Chingas]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Stajan has been a bit snake bitten in point production, and has been given inconsistent line mates all year, but in his role, he's performed as well as most Flames night in and night out.

Bollig just hasn't been useful enough to stick long enough to actually show anything IMO.

Cue the he was good enough to play on Chicago posts.

Sorry but I feel like i have read this thread a hundred times with different titles in the last couple of months. Oh look, a thread about Smid cool, I will check that out... Nope same thread rehashed.

[CSharp]

I have to admit Smid plays a lot bigger on the ice than he was before. I like the new Smid. It gives the team more truculence than before. Time to ship Wideman out.

[flamesrule14]

I've loved Smid's game so far since he has come back. Just been very solid and he's been really good at pinching in and keeping plays alive in the zone. He's moved the puck a lot better then I remember too. That third pairing with engelland has been so solid.

[FlameZilla]

Smid looked excellent when he first arrived from Mulletville. He added much-needed grit to a defense corps that looked very weak (Butler – nuff said). He made Shane O'Brien redundant which was a massive positive in the long run. Picking up Smid looked like a very shrewd move.

Then last season he look gawdawful. He seemed a step behind & made a lot of blunders. The grit was gone. It looked like he wanted to use his strength, but it just wasn't available to him.

Any ideas why this might have been the case? It seemed like he lost a gear, but he's only 29 years old. Was it injury, illness, personal stuff?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Smid looked excellent when he first arrived from Mulletville. He added much-needed grit to a defense corps that looked very weak (Butler – nuff said). He made Shane O'Brien redundant which was a massive positive in the long run. Picking up Smid looked like a very shrewd move.

Then last season he look gawdawful. He seemed a step behind & made a lot of blunders. The grit was gone. It looked like he wanted to use his strength, but it just wasn't available to him.

Any ideas why this might have been the case? It seemed like he lost a gear, but he's only 29 years old. Was it injury, illness, personal stuff?

I think the neck injury was a nagging issue prior to the Depres hit. The Hit that knocked him out for so long really screwed up the previous neck repair job.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I think the neck injury was a nagging issue prior to the Depres hit. The Hit that knocked him out for so long really screwed up the previous neck repair job.

I'm glad he's back. I has completely written him off, to be honest.

He's much more mobile & strong now. He even gets the odd shot on goal. It's like having a new signing.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Russell In, Smid out. Always given never earned!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Smid looked excellent when he first arrived from Mulletville. He added much-needed grit to a defense corps that looked very weak (Butler – nuff said). He made Shane O'Brien redundant which was a massive positive in the long run. Picking up Smid looked like a very shrewd move.

Then last season he look gawdawful. He seemed a step behind & made a lot of blunders. The grit was gone. It looked like he wanted to use his strength, but it just wasn't available to him.

Any ideas why this might have been the case? It seemed like he lost a gear, but he's only 29 years old. Was it injury, illness, personal stuff?

As previously stated, this is the first we've ever seen of 'healthy Smid.'

The Oilers figured he was healthy but their opinion, as everything else, was no good.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

Russell In, Smid out. Always given never earned!

In what way?

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

In what way?

The way Smid has played compared to our other D last few games he should be in before... Russell, Wideman, Engelland IMO.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

Russell In, Smid out. Always given never earned!

Well you got egg on your face. nhl.com lists Engelland scratched

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Well you got egg on your face. nhl.com lists Engelland scratched

well...

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

well...

Ya, that was oilerish.