Flames bring back Douglas Murray and Aaron Johnson on PTOs

[getbak]

It looks like he signed with them in late January when they only had 11 games left in their season. They didn't make the playoffs, so he was done in Germany in early March, which is when he came to Calgary.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

That's great if rookies can step up and provide more in the NHL than these old veteran defense men. Treliving can rest easier having Wotherspoon up here as the 7th defenseman/first call-up without worrying about the AHL team tanking due to having 0 veteran D experience on the farm.

One question is whether Wotherspoon is better off practicing and sitting in the NHL or playing in the AHL. Legit opinions on both sides.

[Muta]

I think it's time Wotherspoon started playing some NHL games. He really should be our sixth defenseman by now, he's ready for the show. I'm not sure why he's being continually passed over.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Muta

I think it's time Wotherspoon started playing some NHL games. He really should be our sixth defenseman by now, he's ready for the show. I'm not sure why he's being continually passed over.

I agree. Its time to get him some NHL time.

Time to fish or cut bait, just like Potter.

[JiriHrdina]

If he's ready - he'll show he's ready. He hasn't yet.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

If he's ready - he'll show he's ready. He hasn't yet.

I thought he played really well two seasons ago for that time he spent with the Flames, I actually thought he was ready back then.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Muta

I thought he played really well two seasons ago for that time he spent with the Flames, I actually thought he was ready back then.

He's not very solid yet, and Hartley sees things in his game that keeps him to very low minutes when he does play.

I also believe it was Brad Treliving who hinted that he wasn't fully committed to improving his game and that they expected that to change for this season. If that is true than I can see why he hasn't been able to make the jump, as not fully committing to earning your spot in this organization is a career killer for yourself.

[savardandjokinen]

All these defenseman (gio, Hamilton, Brodie, Russell, wideman, Engelland, smid, nakladal, Murray, Johnson, wotherspoon, Wilson, Morrison etc) would have a chance at making it if we are talking 2012-2013 2013-2014 flames. It shows how we have improved so much

[GioforPM]

I think there's a lot of CPers who got married to the notion of Wotherspoon as an up and coming Flame back when he was really the only solid D prospect. Sort of like those that were married to the notion of Sven being the future star of the Flames. But Sven was supplanted by Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett and Ferland, not to mention guys like Jooris. Wotherspoon risks being supplanted by Anderson, Kylington, Morrison, and even a guy like Nakladl.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Locke

I agree. Its time to get him some NHL time.

Time to fish or cut bait, just like Potter.

Potter is 31, Wotherspoon is 22. Let's give the kid a couple more years to learn how to play NHL defence before we cut him loose.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think there's a lot of CPers who got married to the notion of Wotherspoon as an up and coming Flame back when he was really the only solid D prospect. Sort of like those that were married to the notion of Sven being the future star of the Flames. But Sven was supplanted by Monahan, Gaudreau, Bennett and Ferland, not to mention guys like Jooris. Wotherspoon risks being supplanted by Anderson, Kylington, Morrison, and even a guy like Nakladl.

Baertschi stopped progressing and those other prospects passed him.

Wotherspoon is still on track and none of those other prospects have passed him.

Just because people have a different view of a prospect than you, doesn't mean they are married to some idea that you created in your head.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Baertschi stopped progressing and those other prospects passed him.

Wotherspoon is still on track and none of those other prospects have passed him.

Just because people have a different view of a prospect than you, doesn't mean they are married to some idea that you created in your head.

Erixon has been declared off track at 23-24. Gromley off track at 23. This is Wotherspoon's make or break year.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Locke

I agree. Its time to get him some NHL time.

Time to fish or cut bait, just like Potter.

Potter? Corey Potter?

He was never expected to be anything more than he was last season: a veteran with some NHL experience who could easily clear waivers to go to the AHL and be available for a call-up to sit in the press box if a d-man got hurt.

It would not have benefitted Wotherspoon's development to be in that position last season.


Obviously, this is a big year for Wotherspoon because his ELC will be expiring and he'll require waivers in 2016-17, but there's still a lot of hockey to be played before it gets to that point.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Muta

I thought he played really well two seasons ago for that time he spent with the Flames, I actually thought he was ready back then.

Me too. But I think he took a step back last year.
That's OK - development is rarely smooth. But it is a critical year. At minimum, he should be making the decisions tougher coming out of camp.
He doesn't have to make the team - but he has to get them thinking he can play at this level. If we enter camp next year having the same conversation - then it truly is make or break.

[SebC]

If I'm a GM and an NHL veteran asks me for a PTO, I'd be tempted to look at it as a low-cost opportunity to generate some goodwill that might get paid back later if that player becomes an agent or GM or coach or scout or whatever (not necessarily at the NHL level)...

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Baertschi stopped progressing and those other prospects passed him.

Wotherspoon is still on track and none of those other prospects have passed him.

Just because people have a different view of a prospect than you, doesn't mean they are married to some idea that you created in your head.

I don't have any particular view of Wotherspoon except that he has a lot of competition this year that was absent even a year ago. I still think he has a good shot at making the team very soon. I was hoping he'd make the jump last year. What I actually just said was that, if he hasn't been passed yet, he's in danger of having it happen this year. How is that untrue? Morrison has impressed people, as has Nakladl and Anderson. They could easily leapfrog him, just like prospects leapfrogged Sven.

Anyway, I didn't "create" anything - it's an observation of posters demanding a callup for Wotherspoon when management and the coaches on both teams didn't think it was warranted. So why were they asking for this? It can't be because he was obviously ready.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't have any particular view of Wotherspoon except that he has a lot of competition this year that was absent even a year ago. I still think he has a good shot at making the team very soon. I was hoping he'd make the jump last year. What I actually just said was that, if he hasn't been passed yet, he's in danger of having it happen this year. How is that untrue? Morrison has impressed people, as has Nakladl and Anderson. They could easily leapfrog him, just like prospects leapfrogged Sven.

Anyway, I didn't "create" anything - it's an observation of posters demanding a callup for Wotherspoon when management and the coaches on both teams didn't think it was warranted. So why were they asking for this? It can't be because he was obviously ready.

Not sure where you're going here.

I don't recall any posters 'demanding' he be called up

Also, he WAS called up (more than once). And he dressed in the playoffs

Other players may pass him, time will tell. Suggesting posters are 'married' to some idea is what I challenged.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Not sure where you're going here.

I don't recall any posters 'demanding' he be called up

Also, he WAS called up (more than once). And he dressed in the playoffs

Other players may pass him, time will tell. Suggesting posters are 'married' to some idea is what I challenged.

There certainly were posters who repeatedly said he should be called up. You are obviously correct, we was called up (twice as I recall). When that happened the same posters questioned why he wasn't playing.

My suggestion on posters' attitudes stems from from those, and the present posts questioning his placement among D prospects, without recognizing that he either took a step back or didn't progress as hoped.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

There certainly were posters who repeatedly said he should be called up. You are obviously correct, we was called up (twice as I recall). When that happened the same posters questioned why he wasn't playing.

My suggestion on posters' attitudes stems from from those, and the present posts questioning his placement among D prospects, without recognizing that he either took a step back or didn't progress as hoped.

Well, a few things...

- he's 21... defenseman take longer to develop

- he was injured to start the year last year, took some time to get back up to speed with no training camp

- better for him to play minutes in the AHL then sit in the press box

- again, he's 21.

Doubt he's getting "passed over" because a few guys looked good in a young stars tournament

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Well, a few things...

- he's 21... defenseman take longer to develop

- he was injured to start the year last year, took some time to get back up to speed with no training camp

- better for him to play minutes in the AHL then sit in the press box

- again, he's 21.

Doubt he's getting "passed over" because a few guys looked good in a young stars tournament

I agree with all that. But I never said he was being passed over. Posters who want him on the roste now have said so.

I said his spot was in danger, and it is.