MacKenzie Weegar rocks

[The Yen Man]

So far so good! Weegar is who I was hoping Hamonic would have been for us. Obviously it's still just one game, but there's nothing in Weegar's game that indicates he won't be a good dman. So I'm very bullish in him as a Flame. I was honestly almost even happier that we got Weegar than Huberdeau when that trade went down.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Was Weegar the dman that pinched on the Mackinnon goal? I honestly don't remember but I thought I saw that.

Originally Posted by Macho0978

He was. That wasn't a great decision but overall, he was the best player last night. But if the game wasn't 5 to 1 that pinch would be getting more press

Yes, as I was saying before, he makes high risk attempts to disrupt plays and push the puck toward the attacking end. That works out well 99% of the time, but the odd time he'll give up a glorious chance like that one. On the whole, he's going to add a lot to the team.

You guys are going to love Weegar. The only players on the Panthers that I liked more than him were Barkov, Ekblad, and Huberdeau...and we got the last guy along with him!

[Winsor_Pilates]

Amazing debut.
I was definitely most excited by his play out of the new guys.

Out defence cam really be the best in the image this year.
I don't see the offense being as explosive but thos team will win differently and may be more suited for playoff hockey.

[Roof-Daddy]

Yep, as others have mentioned he really reminds me of Gio, and if he performs the way Gio did from ages 28-36 that contract is going to an absolute steal.

[dino7c]

It's not like the Flames have never allowed a breakaway before...it wasn't an egregious pinch it was kinda an odd play with the goalie making a good pass up the boards. (Which should have been covered by the forward getting to the wall)

Nate probably gets a breakaway every single game

[devo22]

folks will understandably focus on the forward additions (e.g. headline "Flames top Avalanche in Kadri, Huberdeau debut" on NHL.com), but it can't be overstated how big the addition of Weegar is for this team. This was already a really good blueline, but adding such a smart two-defender to the mix really is a gamechanger. Off to an exciting start and looking forward to seeing him build on this ... going to be a fan favourite quickly.

[Flamesfan05]

May turn out to be the best value on the trade

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Nate probably gets a breakaway every single game

No he doesn’t lol

They did a good job containing him last night . If the team is going to win it all, they have to figure out how to defend McDavid and Mackinnon.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

No he doesn’t lol

They did a good job containing him last night . If the team is going to win it all, they have to figure out how to defend McDavid and Mackinnon.

Always have one of Lindholm, Backlund or Kadri on the ice with one of the top-2 pairings against a superstar.

That’s how you do it.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by DylanScores

I think we should not boo Tkachuck when he comes back. He helped this franchise out by saying no to signing long term. Wouldn’t have Huberdeau and Weegar, plus Schwidnt and a first round if he wishy washied the franchise around compared to the other guy that left!

Oh agreed, and I'm 100% in the "boo Johnny" camp too. I still like Tkachuk, no hard feelings there and frankly it worked out for the best. I'd cheer for his return game here.

[red sky]

I am even more excited as I thought he was fighting the puck early on in the game and had made a few ill timed aggressive plays that could have resulted in a goal against. It was clear he was fighting nerves so I expect he will only get better.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Huberdeau for Tkachuk would have been a pretty even swap. Huberdeau + Weegar makes it a very lobsided trade. Huberdeau + Weegar + 1st round pick + prospect for Tkachuk may just be the most ridiculous trade I've seen since I started watching hockey 20 years ago. Certainly has to be the most lobsided trade in Flames favor in franchise history

I love this trade too. However, it sticks Calgary with a massive Huberdeau contract into his late 30s. You really have to look at it as, Tkachuk for Huberdeau plus 3-4 years of cap crippling Huberdeau contract. Look what it took to move 1 year of Monahan. Now think about 3 years of Huberdeau. That's where the rub comes in.

/Debbie Downer

Yeah Weegar is incredible. Just a great all around player. The Flames looked like legit contenders last night. They got one monkey off their back by winning a home opener. Hopefully, they smack down the Oilers and avenge that playoffs loss.

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah it's a bit unlucky too. I'd wager that with a goalie making that ring around the glass that the puck doesn't get through Weegar 9/10 times.

But looks like puck might have been perfectly on the dasher and snuck through his body and the glass/boards.

Probably not a pinch you need to make in a 5-1 game either, but I'm okay with them playing aggressive

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by blankall

I love this trade too. However, it sticks Calgary with a massive Huberdeau contract into his late 30s. You really have to look at it as, Tkachuk for Huberdeau plus 3-4 years of cap crippling Huberdeau contract. Look what it took to move 1 year of Monahan. Now think about 3 years of Huberdeau. That's where the rub comes in.



/Debbie Downer



Yeah Weegar is incredible. Just a great all around player. The Flames looked like legit contenders last night. They got one monkey off their back by winning a home opener. Hopefully, they smack down the Oilers and avenge that playoffs loss.

Except you don't know how that contract will age. Playmakers age more gracefully and the cap is going to be at least 100m in 5 years. By then, he's 10% of the cap. Only way that's an anchor is if he's a 45-55 point player at that point. That is not a bet I'd be willing to take. He's much more likely to age like Ray Whitney than anything IMO

[GioforPM]

People saying Weegar is found money from that trade and that Huberdeau (plus prospect/pick) for Tkachuk would have been fine are right.

But I'm starting to think that the trade would have been good even without Huberdeau. Weegar is going to make as big an impact as Huberdeau, possibly.

Oh, and he makes $3.25M this year. That's just stupid. After the deal kicks in, he is paid less than 25 defencemen and he's better than 2/3 of them I bet.

[bax]

Weegar was the most impressive out of the new comers for me. He’s so solid.

Thought Kadri had a really good game as well.

Huberdeau needs a little more time to settle in, but there were flashes of brilliance.

Feels weird watching a team that isn’t relying on a single line for offense. Great start to the season!

[SebC]

A wee gar is a small fish. But he seems like a pretty big fish to me.

[cannon7]

When Tkachuk returns we should chant, "Thanks for Weegar. *clap* *clap* *clap* Thanks for Huberdeau. *clap* *clap* *clap*"

[blankall]

Originally Posted by bax

Weegar was the most impressive out of the new comers for me. He’s so solid.

Thought Kadri had a really good game as well.

Huberdeau needs a little more time to settle in, but there were flashes of brilliance.

Feels weird watching a team that isn’t relying on a single line for offense. Great start to the season!

Huberdeau really transformed the PP. He made two little passes that led to both PP goals. Having a reliable PP and a solid defence will be enough to win most games.

And Kadri just looked like a consistent play driver. If the Flames can get two top lines with at least one consistent play driver, plus continue to get jam out of their bottom 6, things will go great this year.

[Jay Random]

52 was…

*removes shades*

…a nice pickup.

*YEEEEAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!*