Your wish list

[SportsJunky]

I agree with Itse, I wish for patience. The rebuild isn't over so I'd hate to see Treliving/Burke move youth or prospects for another shot at the playoffs next year. I believe in this management team and I'm fairly confident that the plan is to stay the course and let this happen more organically than some teams would allow.

In terms of need, I'd say a big strong 3-4 D man is needed and a face-off man. Monahan needs to keep working on that aspect of his game, Backs too although I think he'll get moved soon.

[chedder]

I think upgrades on Raymond and a d-man should keep us on the right path. This young core is good for the long term.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

Why does Seabrook's name come up so often? He's got 1 year left on his contract. I sure hope nobody is wanting to trade for him, as that'd likely cost our 1st rounders in 2016, 2017, and a decent roster player. Coburn and Sekera got a ransom this past deadline, and neither of them a close to the player Seabrook is.

Seabrook is overrated, hanging onto the coattails of Duncan Keith and an overall strong Blackhawks team to make him look much better than he really is. I'm not saying he is trash, he is just overrated. He could be a good addition to the Flames blueline, but people will expect too much from him.

[SportsJunky]

Although I do believe that used to be the case in Chicago, I've heard that Seabrook has really upped his game over the last couple of seasons. I think he is a more complete player now and I wouldn't call him overrated any longer.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by kirant

Most of these desires are of the mind "at the right price". The Flames need to keep in mind that they're a rebuilding team and that they currently need to keep cap space available to re-sign their future core.

That being said though, I think the Flames should focus on these:
1) A large and mobile defenceman who can handle large power forwards. This was the Flames' biggest weakness against the Ducks and the Getzlaf line was proof.
2) A juggernaut of a forward to assist with gaining the zone. The other major issue the Flames had was the inability to penetrate the Ducks' defence when they stood them up at the blue line...backed up enough to prevent a dump and chase system but big to really skate past. Maybe Hunter Smith might become this in the future?
3) A 2nd line RW. Jones or Colborne seem like the possible options here and that's quite a restriction.
4) A right handed puck moving defenceman. Diaz was the Flames' only option in this regard and getting a bit of depth in this regard probably will assist the Flames in their quick transition going forward. This would also assist with the fairly awful 2nd PP
5) A centre with strong face-off credentials. This is more of a stretch goal than anything else but the Flames were dominated in the face-off circle.

These are good items IMO. The only thing I'd say is that Monahan is improving and faceoffs are a learned skill. Stajan is still pretty good too. I wonder how Bennett is?

[Buff]

My wishlist is to come into money and get season tickets, selling off games that I can't make the trek from Lethbridge to go see. I want to keep seeing this team grow and develop. In a few years we're going to be spoiled with a strong team.

[sa226]

I don't see how you can get rid of Backlund until you are damned sure you have a replacement for him. Sure he could be better, but you absoluo need depth at centre and I don't see anybody better than Backlund waiting in the wings.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Lol, what? Reimer?

I'm not saying that I would want Reimer but I think the Flames did kick the tires on him once as he's one of Burke's guys.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sa226

I don't see how you can get rid of Backlund until you are damned sure you have a replacement for him. Sure he could be better, but you absoluo need depth at centre and I don't see anybody better than Backlund waiting in the wings.

Well Backlund isn't going anywhere for at least one more season so I could see the team doing a wait and see on him as he's not a guy you want to overpay long term given some of the younger players will soon be in line for raises and Giordano as well. That cap space they have now could disappear in a hurry with a few big contracts. I don't think Backlund has showed that he's a guy you try and keep at all costs as I could see a guy like Shore working himself into the 3rd line center role.

[Roof-Daddy]

We have a lot of depth at forward with more coming.

My wish is that management doesn't squander that depth, and is able to recycle some of it (Baertschi trade) or is able pull off quantity for quality trades that improve our size and toughness.

Biggest wish is that management doesn't get impatient and make mistakes that cost us long term. The deadline decisions they made this year give me hope that they will stay the course and see this rebuild through properly.

[ScorchyScorch]

our defenders couldn't physically muscle guys like Maroon and Getzlaf off the puck. We need someone big and strong enough that can.

[killer_carlson]

I wish people would stop trying to push Dennis Wideman onto the third pairing after he scores 56 points in the season, adds 7 points in 11 playoff games, is included by opposing coaches for praise after the series for the amount of work the big 3 d have put in since Gio went down, and wore a letter at times this season. The guy had his career best season and was well worth the contract. He had a season that puts him as a #1 defender on at least 10 teams.

And some of you want him to be on our 3rd pairing!?!?!? Because 55+ point players are so easy to find? Let alone 55+ point defencemen?

If this crap continues after that quality of a season, then I hope for Wideman's sake he is traded.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm not saying that I would want Reimer but I think the Flames did kick the tires on him once as he's one of Burke's guys.

Just don't like Reimer, he isn't that good.

Would much rather see if Ortio can develop into a #1 in a few years, or even see if Gillies can take the reins later on in the future.

Surely we can find a #1 in one of Ortio, Gillies or McDonald.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I wish people would stop trying to push Dennis Wideman onto the third pairing after he scores 56 points in the season, adds 7 points in 11 playoff games, is included by opposing coaches for praise after the series for the amount of work the big 3 d have put in since Gio went down, and wore a letter at times this season. The guy had his career best season and was well worth the contract. He had a season that puts him as a #1 defender on at least 10 teams.

And some of you want him to be on our 3rd pairing!?!?!? Because 55+ point players are so easy to find? Let alone 55+ point defencemen?

If this crap continues after that quality of a season, then I hope for Wideman's sake he is traded.

Glad I'm not the only one... if we're acquiring a D to push Wideman down the roster, we might as well trade Wideman.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I wish people would stop trying to push Dennis Wideman onto the third pairing after he scores 56 points in the season, adds 7 points in 11 playoff games, is included by opposing coaches for praise after the series for the amount of work the big 3 d have put in since Gio went down, and wore a letter at times this season. The guy had his career best season and was well worth the contract. He had a season that puts him as a #1 defender on at least 10 teams.

And some of you want him to be on our 3rd pairing!?!?!? Because 55+ point players are so easy to find? Let alone 55+ point defencemen?

If this crap continues after that quality of a season, then I hope for Wideman's sake he is traded.

It's not some personal attack or trying to ship him off the team... Just ice time management and an acknowledgement that we need a different kind of defenseman back there eating minutes. The Ducks hardly have a discrepancy in skill between their 1st and 3rd pairing.

[Enoch Root]

I wish for patience as well.

re: top 4 D are good / we need to trade for Seabrook...

No to both. The top 4 are not great, they are actually a bit weak. If we can get a solid #3, with Russell as #4, and then having Wideman getting specialized minutes THEN we have a good D.

Which brings me to Seabrook. As badly as we need another top 4, trade a ton of assets to get someone like Seabrook would be a huge mistake IMO. It goes against everything they have said about remaining focused on the rebuild.

It won't be easy getting another top 4 D this year, but we have to be patient.

My other wish (probably #1) is a big, scoring RW. Hudler was awesome this year but he's small and he is 31. The rebuild will be looking good when we have a big RW for Monahan, and have Poirier with Bennett.

[Canada 02]

Is Belesky really as good as his last 5 games, or even as good as this seasons production might lead you to believe? Really good numbers with Kesler as his center man. What happens if he has Backlund as his center? Probably similar production to previous seasons when Bonino or Winnik centered him

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I wish people would stop trying to push Dennis Wideman onto the third pairing after he scores 56 points in the season, adds 7 points in 11 playoff games, is included by opposing coaches for praise after the series for the amount of work the big 3 d have put in since Gio went down, and wore a letter at times this season. The guy had his career best season and was well worth the contract. He had a season that puts him as a #1 defender on at least 10 teams.

And some of you want him to be on our 3rd pairing!?!?!? Because 55+ point players are so easy to find? Let alone 55+ point defencemen?

If this crap continues after that quality of a season, then I hope for Wideman's sake he is traded.

Wideman was fantastic this year.

But the Flames would be a far better team if they could utilize him for specialized, offensive minutes and reduce his defensive responsibilities.

Also, Russell is awesome - one of the most under-rated players in the league - but if you could pair him with a big, physical puck mover, he would be that much better.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Is Belesky really as good as his last 5 games, or even as good as this seasons production might lead you to believe? Really good numbers with Kesler as his center man. What happens if he has Backlund as his center? Probably similar production to previous seasons when Bonino or Winnik centered him

Every year, some bottom 6 winger has a hot playoffs and his stock rises to stupid levels.

[The Fonz]

You don't drop Wideman to the 3rd pairing after the season he just gave us. You plant him on the 2nd pairing, playing 20-22 mins/game, and expose the other teams lesser players while Gio/Brodie take on the top lines.