[News] Flames recall Wotherspoon

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Everyone seems to be talking like he is going to play... Has it been announced or suggested by Hartley/treliving that Wotherspoon is actually going to play? Just asking cause I know he's been called up a few times this year but hasn't dressed for a game once. Plus potter has been up with the team the whole time.

The one thing he has going for him is that Potter hasn't played a game in ages. But yeah... who knows if he actually plays or that Diaz is even out.

[sureLoss]

Potter draws in for Diaz

Derek Wills @Fan960Wills
Corey Potter will replace Rapha Diaz on #Flames third pairing vs. #Oilers tonight. #CGYvsEDM

[Blarg]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Potter draws in for Diaz



Derek Wills @Fan960Wills

Corey Potter will replace Rapha Diaz on #Flames third pairing vs. #Oilers tonight. #CGYvsEDM

Grrr... What's the point of calling wotherspoon up if you're not going to play him?

[Vinny01]

I don't get the reluctance to play Spoon this year? He was great in his 14 games lat year and made Smid look decent down the stretch. Is Potter a RH shot? If soaybe that's why?

[Francis's Hairpiece]

So we call up Spoon, using our final call up in the process, and he isn't going to play? Hmmm.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Francis's Hairpiece

So we call up Spoon, using our final call up in the process, and he isn't going to play? Hmmm.

there are more games after today

also, he is here as insurance, with Diaz hurt

you always want at least 7 D around because, what if someone gets hurt in warmups? or walks into a wall in the dark and hurts their nose?

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I just hope they don't play Potter like they did last time Wotherspoon got called up. My heart can't take that again lol.

How's that ol' heavy heart Jack?... I'm disappointed too but if Bennett ends up playing I will prob be too stoked to care about Potters 5 mins played tonight.

GFG

[buyakasha]

I don't follow AHL so i'm not sure how good Wotherspoon actually is.

Is he actually all the hype you all are making him to be and better than Diaz, Potter, Smid, etc.? Or is there just a major overreaction with him not playing?

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by buyakasha

I don't follow AHL so i'm not sure how good Wotherspoon actually is.

Is he actually all the hype you all are making him to be and better than Diaz, Potter, Smid, etc.? Or is there just a major overreaction with him not playing?

I haven' t watched many games but listening to interviews it sounds like he has had an up and down season - though has been better in the 2nd half than in the first.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by buyakasha

I don't follow AHL so i'm not sure how good Wotherspoon actually is.

Is he actually all the hype you all are making him to be and better than Diaz, Potter, Smid, etc.? Or is there just a major overreaction with him not playing?

Im not sure how much better than a Smid, Potter or Diaz he is, but hes probably no worse either. At that point, why not play the young guy that should have a future here over a bunch of older guys that likely wont be with the team when it starts to make a run.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by buyakasha

I don't follow AHL so i'm not sure how good Wotherspoon actually is.

Is he actually all the hype you all are making him to be and better than Diaz, Potter, Smid, etc.? Or is there just a major overreaction with him not playing?

I think Wootherspoon gets a lot of attention, because he is the furthest developed defenceman with top 4 potential. From what we say from him last year, he actually looked pretty good. Not a lot of offensive potential, but he's steady and has a pretty good all around game. I think this year has had a few up and downs, but as long as he hasn't regressed since last year, I think he should be fine in the bottom pairing.

Maybe they just wanting him watching a game against Edmonton, so he can practice and prepare for the Arizona, LA, and Winnipeg games.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Im not sure how much better than a Smid, Potter or Diaz he is, but hes probably no worse either. At that point, why not play the young guy that should have a future here over a bunch of older guys that likely wont be with the team when it starts to make a run.

It's mostly about winning three more hockey games this week.
They called him up for a reason (but we don't know exactly what that reason is), and the Flames will use him if they they think it gives them the best chance to win. If he is not in, I guess they don't think he does, given today's circumstances. We don't know how banged up some of these guys are, who may or may not play.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Im not sure how much better than a Smid, Potter or Diaz he is, but hes probably no worse either. At that point, why not play the young guy that should have a future here over a bunch of older guys that likely wont be with the team when it starts to make a run.

I remember coming across a quote from Babcock about how if a vet and a young guy are tied, in his eyes, then the tie breaker always goes to the vet. It's just the way it is and I think that is the mentality of most NHL coaches.

It shined alot of light onto the Sven situation too because originally I was frustrated with his treatment but when you consider this concept it makes a lot more sense.

The young guys haven't proved themselves yet so if they are tied with a vet then they are the odd man out and will have to step up to prove they are better than the vet(s) who they are tied with.

After processing this logic I think I wholeheartedly agree and realize when players have a tough time sticking in the lineup its because they are at a point in their development where they can bring an equal amount to the table as a vet. They need to take that next step and consistently show they are better and steal a spot.

This is how Johnny, Jooris and soon to be Bennett got roster spots on this team and when you stop and think about it, it makes a lot of sense.

Thanks for reading!

[dammage79]

Is there a contractual reason Wotherspoon hasn't drawn into a game? Like Waiver eligibility if he plays past a certain amount of games? I don't think there, just confounded as to why Hartley will not play him. Makes zero sense when his NHL body of work was so positive. Potters not better.

[jiginla12]

Originally Posted by Blarg

Grrr... What's the point of calling wotherspoon up if you're not going to play him?

They call up Wotherspoon because they need another roster player. The organization knows that Wotherspoon is going to be more than a 6/7 d-man. Potter also has NHL experience and is fit for the role.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Blarg

Grrr... What's the point of calling wotherspoon up if you're not going to play him?

It's already happened once this season.

[FBI]

More than that. At least twice.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by buyakasha

I don't follow AHL so i'm not sure how good Wotherspoon actually is.

Is he actually all the hype you all are making him to be and better than Diaz, Potter, Smid, etc.? Or is there just a major overreaction with him not playing?

His trial run last year reminded me of Jordan Leopold in his early years in a lot of ways.... I'm really bullish on Wotherspoon, I think he'll be a top 4 guy.

[mile]

Originally Posted by buyakasha

I don't follow AHL so i'm not sure how good Wotherspoon actually is.

Is he actually all the hype you all are making him to be and better than Diaz, Potter, Smid, etc.? Or is there just a major overreaction with him not playing?

IMO it's a major overreaction, especially with the talk in this thread of the "treatment" he's supposedly getting and how not playing him tonight makes no sense. He didn't look NHL ready last year, and he's reportedly had an up and down season this year in the AHL.

He was called up as insurance, and to make sure the Flames weren't short on numbers with defensemen. Can't just expect him to play right away, and I like to think Hartley has a pretty good idea of when he should play.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by mile

IMO it's a major overreaction, especially with the talk in this thread of the "treatment" he's supposedly getting and how not playing him tonight makes no sense. He didn't look NHL ready last year, and he's reportedly had an up and down season this year in the AHL.

He was called up as insurance, and to make sure the Flames weren't short on numbers with defensemen. Can't just expect him to play right away, and I like to think Hartley has a pretty good idea of when he should play.

why do you say he didn't look NHL ready last year? I thought most comments here was that he looked NHL ready (or close)

and if you mean by "up and down" it was "down then upward as the season went on, after coming back from major shoulder surgery" then yes... from Conroy's mouth