Waiver wire Sept 30. UPD: Kulak, Peluso, and Lazar clear. Ducks claim Aberg

[GranteedEV]

Hypothetically, if Kulak gets claimed, Andersson/Stone can't play the left, and Valimaki struggles with real NHL games, how much confidence do we have in Kylington as our third LD? Do we force Valimaki even if it's not working and burn an ELC year? Do we force Andersson and keep his minutes way down? Do we manage to swing a Stone trade for a LD?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Question: is Mangiapane still waiver-exempt?

Yes.

[agulati]

I think Kulak will stay with the team if cleared. Surprised Prout hasn't been waived yet.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by agulati

I think Kulak will stay with the team if cleared. Surprised Prout hasn't been waived yet.

I think now that Peluso and Kulak have been waived Prout is a lock for the 7D spot. You dont need him playing every night and he can drop the mitts with the heavyweights..

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Hypothetically, if Kulak gets claimed, Andersson/Stone can't play the left, and Valimaki struggles with real NHL games, how much confidence do we have in Kylington as our third LD? Do we force Valimaki even if it's not working and burn an ELC year? Do we force Andersson and keep his minutes way down? Do we manage to swing a Stone trade for a LD?

If Valimaki faltered, I would guess that they would go with Prout until Kylington convinced them he was ready.

Personally, I don't think any of the options are notably worse than Kulak.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

He and Bennett should have both worked their way into the NHL. Both were rushed imo.

It's hard to say if Bennett was rushed, or if Gultuzan completely screwed him up.

His 18 goals as a rookie is the same total that Lazar has in his entire professional career of over 250 games though. Honestly, I expect Lazar clears, and it is entirely possible that the only way he sees an NHL roster again is due to multiple injuries forcing a team's hand.

[The Fonz]

This is a good thing for Lazar, and I hope he sees it that way. He needs to be playing 15+ mins a game, and every game at that, if he hopes to have a future in the NHL. If that means playing in Stockton for the year, so be it.

Personally, I don't think he ever sticks on an NHL roster. He seems like a guy with a great motor, but little to no offensive ability.

[Geeoff]

I say Lazar clears but someone will grab Kulak. I hope it's not Edmonton

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

This is a good thing for Lazar, and I hope he sees it that way. He needs to be playing 15+ mins a game, and every game at that, if he hopes to have a future in the NHL. If that means playing in Stockton for the year, so be it.

Personally, I don't think he ever sticks on an NHL roster. He seems like a guy with a great motor, but little to no offensive ability.

he's not a bad passer and he can fly with the puck. The problems with his game are:

- too much safe play from playing a bottom six role. You need to take some risks to make plays and he's had that coahed out of him.

- stone hands

The former could improve with actual AHL icetime in a top role, the latter with time. If he can develop himself into a 6'0", 210lb Paul Byron he will find himself on an NHL roster in three years. Otherwise, c'est la vie.

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I say Lazar clears but someone will grab Kulak. I hope it's not Edmonton

Or Winnipeg. They're looking hard for a #3LD iirc.

I wouldn't mind if Van picked him up though.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If Valimaki faltered, I would guess that they would go with Prout until Kylington convinced them he was ready.

Personally, I don't think any of the options are notably worse than Kulak.

They also have Siemens and Falk as LHS waiting around in Stockton on tryouts. Might turn to one of them too.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

he's not a bad passer and he can fly with the puck. The problems with his game are:

- too much safe play from playing a bottom six role. You need to take some risks to make plays and he's had that coahed out of him.

- stone hands

The former could improve with actual AHL icetime in a top role, the latter with time. If he can develop himself into a 6'0", 210lb Paul Byron he will find himself on an NHL roster in three years. Otherwise, c'est la vie.


Or Winnipeg. They're looking hard for a #3LD iirc.

I wouldn't mind if Van picked him up though.

I don't see it as hands as much as processing speed

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I would rather they both stay up. There will be a forward and a defenseman in the press box most nights, and I would much prefer those players are not one of Valimaki and Anderson, and one of Mangiapane and Dube. One of the young forwards and defensemen needs to play in the AHL.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Long term I agree with you but in the short term I think they can continue to evaluate these guys a bit more and see if any of them take a spot and run with it. Give them all a little more of an opportunity to see who is the most ready.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Bennett proved he was more than ready with an 18 goal rookie season at age 19

Agreed. From there after, I view it more of a failing on the organization’s behalf.

He was ready to play with good players - but he was not ready to carry fringe/non-NHL talent (few players can do that). Simple failing on behalf of the pro-scouts and exposing our horrific depth at forward resulted in poor management of Bennett during the Gulutzan years.

Not saying Bennett is without fault - as his youth/immaturity at the pro level were exposed by his own personal frustrations (bad penalties, missed chances), but those Gulutzan years are a perfect example of how not to handle young developing players. We also saw it with Mangiapane’s short stint up last year.

[sempuki]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

He and Bennett should have both worked their way into the NHL. Both were rushed imo.

Bennett looked good, but there was clear deficiencies in his game (Conroy commented publicly), and spending time in the AHL wouldn't have hurt him. In retrospect not having him spend a year dominating while learning systems was a mistake.

That's why I don't get why people are so eager to rush other prospects given the first sign of talent. Spending a full year in AHL would be just fine for Dube and Valimaki. Anderson and Kylington works be ruined if we had rushed them.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

I hope we can now stop trading for reclamation projects that members of the coaching staff are familiar with.

[Mattman]

That sucks. I remember the day we picked up Lazar, and you could hear in his voice the enthusiasm. He knew this eas a 'one-last-shot' type of scenario and he unfortunately was just passed in the depth charts by younger and hungrier players.

Still a big fan of him and hope that he can take time in Stockton to work hard on getting back to the NHL.

[McG]

As others have noted, waiver wire does not mean AHL.

I’m also not sure why some are in such a hurry to trade players. The globe and mail reports that the average player missed 8.8 games or 15 percent of the season. We need the playing depth.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Kulak is still a serviceable depth defenseman. I can see a team making a claim.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Lazar could REALLY use the offensive confidence that scoring at the AHL level could bring. Hopefully he clears because I think there's untapped potential there.

I'd be somewhat surprised if Kulak cleared. Seems like serviceable defensemen are always valued. Guess we'll see what the league thinks of him by tomorrow.

[Enoch Root]

On a general note, I have to say that I am really impressed with the decisions this year.

I am generally of the view that more seasoning is a good thing, and players should go down unless they are actually better than the vets they're fighting against.

But if the young players are better, then you need to have the cajones to reward them and run with it. And the simple fact of the matter is that:

Dube, Mangiapane, Valimaki and Andersson have been better - clearly better - than

Lazar, Hathaway, Rychel, Kulak, and Prout

so run with it - let them play. They've earned it.