[Rumour] Spector: Flames are willing to move Hudler and Wideman

[T@T]

Spector is one of the strangest media types ever! Calgary's media like to joke around about the Oilers but Spector actually hates the Flames,the city of Calgary and it's fans.

I was told he left the building in a tiff like a little kid after the 7th goal when the Flames smoked them 8-2.

Best thing he could do for his career is to move to neutral market, the hometown thing doesn't work for his and mostly he just looks like an idiot.

[Erick Estrada]

Don't really care about vets coming or going during the rebuild although Hudler seems to be a good presence for the young guys but if you can sell high why not? As for Wideman since the Flames need to take on money to reach the floor I would rather keep him than sell low because at times he's really not that bad of a defenseman. You still need some good players and while I would love to have the potential to draft McDavid I'd rather not see an Oilers type terrible team over the course of the 80 game season.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I wasn't saying you weren't an optimist.

The Flames are looking to make changes, to upgrade. Hudler is one of our most tradeable commodities. I'm not underrating him, quite the opposite. Recognizing that he's a skilled, good veteran is what makes his trade value solid right now. So we're going to be talking about moving him this summer because Treliving and Burke are likely looking to change things around and try to upgrade the team. Sure we can move him later but then who are we going to move now to change things now? He's one of our most valuable commodities that we can part with long term.

And yes his value could definitely regress. He was the Flames top scorer last year. A bad stretch or some injuries next year and his value could certainly be lower. Look what a bad start to the season did to Cammalleri's value.

Okay, you definitely make some good points. However there's also a chance that he could improve on last season, especially if Cammy doesn't re-sign. He will be option #1 in most offensive situations. Also, we will have a much better idea of whether Johnny or Sven are able to hack it full time at the NHL level by November/December. I just feel it's too early to trade Hudler now unless the return is unbelievable. Let our young guys show that they can step in and fill Hudler's role before deciding to deal him. Handing Sven or Johnny the job before they've earned it, is Oileresque.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Except Giordano as he mentors the young kids and especially the young defensemen, gives our defense stability and shows our kids what hard work and dedication can do.

What I meant by the over 25 club doesn't matter is that if you're getting good value then there shouldn't be a problem moving them. If FLA offered #1 + Hayes for Gio, you should look at it, even though Gio is vital. Similarly, if you're offered full value for Hudler, why wouldn't you. It's not like he is 21 or a star player. He's a smallish 2nd line winger.

You can reassign his $ to someone else (By say signing Cammalleri) and gaining assets.

The Flames need to be in asset hoarding mode and by that extension, anyone over 25 that isn't vital (Gio is the only one that might be on that list) that can be moved for value and replaced via UFA or other, then that's great. All of the guys over 25 are irrelevant for when we are going to be contending, which at best is likely 4 years away (not playoffs, but being a top end team). The players that we will be winning with primarily are mostly not yet on the Flames roster, or organization.

If Hudler gets us a mid 1st or better, then that's great. If he's on the roster, that too is great. Won't know either way unless you kick tires though.

[H2SO4(aq)]

I'd prefer they keep Wideman. He's not nearly as bad as everyone likes to pretend he is.

Hudler should be packaged up for a bigger RW. sell high, despite liking him as a player, he isnt carrying us anywhere.

[Stay Golden]

Wideman I can understand the Flames wanting to move but trading unless he has asked to be traded or they can land a big time player with a package, moving Huddler makes little sense to me.
He is one of the smartest hockey players at forward the Flames have had for sometime.
Not to mention he is a great role model for the several young players.

[OzSome]

Don't you guys think Spector been trolling CP? Remember some posters here been talking about trading Hudler and Wideman.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Red Vinyl

Maybe I'm on my own thinking this, but I get really nervous when I hear about trades like this. To me, Hudler was one of those key guys that helped start the rebuild last year. He was one of those veterans that embraced the new philosophy and winning attitude, and passed it onto the young kids. He seems like a great mentor for all the young talent we had coming up (Monahan), and all the talent coming this year.

Agreed - There are pros and cons to selling high on Hudler now and there are pros and cons to keeping him a little longer, perhaps until the trade deadline.

It's easy to say what he brings to the team can be easily replaced by a free agent signing or a younger player but I question if the player Hudler would replaced with (Or maybe it will be Cammalleri) will embrace the new philosophy with the same passion and enthusiasm Hudler has brought. The familiarity he has with the culture and direction could be extremely valuable for helping young players (ie. Gaudreau) feel comfortable quickly at the start of this season. If someone like Gaudreau makes the team, I want him to have as much support as he can have because it is extremely important long-term that he enjoys it here and wants to stay here - and you achieve that by filling the room with passionate players who want to win and mentor, not free agent mercenaries who are only signing here because they are getting paid.

With that being said, that's just it - I think what Hudler brings to our team is extremely valuable for just this coming year, I don't see room for him in the lineup by time the Flames contend again.

This should come as no surprise that the Flames are willing to move Hudler and Wideman - they should be willing to move almost everyone (Except for Monahan and Giordano) if the price is right.

I don't think the Flames are actively shopping Hudler and looking to unload him - but if Hudler draws a premium return that improves the team's future then they should trade him.

[mile]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Don't really care about vets coming or going during the rebuild although Hudler seems to be a good presence for the young guys but if you can sell high why not? As for Wideman since the Flames need to take on money to reach the floor I would rather keep him than sell low because at times he's really not that bad of a defenseman. You still need some good players and while I would love to have the potential to draft McDavid I'd rather not see an Oilers type terrible team over the course of the 80 game season.

Yep - I think our prospects on defense need more time to develop which is why I have no problem with keeping Wideman either and give him a chance to improve, possibly raising his value by the deadline next year.

Even without our good players, I doubt we would finish below the Oilers.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by OzSome

Don't you guys think Spector been trolling CP? Remember some posters here been talking about trading Hudler and Wideman.

Nope. There were rumours both were available at the trade deadline. I think Hudler is traded only if Cammi re-signs. That said I'd be amazed if Hudler plays out his contract with the flames.

As for Wideman his defensive play is not that good. Butler gets a lot of hate but Wideman in his own zone is no better. Right now the best thing that Wideman offers is a good cap hit. As far as I'm concerned that is not a good reason to keep a player.

[TorqueDog]

If we're losing Cammy, I don't think there's any way we should be parting ways with Hudler. Plus I like Hudler.

I don't think Wideman got a fair shake this past season with the injuries he's had.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Nope. There were rumours both were available at the trade deadline. I think Hudler is traded only if Cammi re-signs. That said I'd be amazed if Hudler plays out his contract with the flames.

As for Wideman his defensive play is not that good. Butler gets a lot of hate but Wideman in his own zone is no better. Right now the best thing that Wideman offers is a good cap hit. As far as I'm concerned that is not a good reason to keep a player.

Hmmm...that's the first time I heard of it.
As I recall Wideman was signed because of offensive talent (power play, ability to get rid of puck right away and his passing skill) not because he is a defensive specialist. I thought he delivered pre-injury.

[Buff]

Hudler for a prospect or younger player and a salary dump and maybe a pick depending on who that young player/prospect is. Eitherway, the Flames time to sell Hudler could be now. He isn't the guy the Flames need to make the team a success. They need guys like Monohan and Gaudreau to develop. Hudler is just stop gap until the younger guys are ready. So, he isn't imperative to the team. Get a prospect or pick for him and take on salary to help stay above the salary floor.

[Robbob]

Spector known jack about the flames. He recently tweeted that there was no contract offer to cammy when it is public knowledge the flames have an offer on the table, just not at the term Cammalleri wants.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by T@T

Spector is one of the strangest media types ever! Calgary's media like to joke around about the Oilers but Spector actually hates the Flames,the city of Calgary and it's fans.

I was told he left the building in a tiff like a little kid after the 7th goal when the Flames smoked them 8-2.

Best thing he could do for his career is to move to neutral market, the hometown thing doesn't work for his and mostly he just looks like an idiot.

Yeah let's not forget before RSN the guy ran an Eklund style website where he took any tidbit he could find on the web from local media of the 30 teams and listed them as rumours. That's it in a nutshell as he was the Western Canadian version of Eklund. Only reason he's on TV is because RSN seeks out cheap talent as he has no connections across the league and barely even gets Oilers inside info.

[Trumbull]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Spector known jack about the flames. He recently tweeted that there was no contract offer to cammy when it is public knowledge the flames have an offer on the table, just not at the term Cammalleri wants.

You dare criticize the omniscience of Mark Spector?

[Drury18]

While I agree that Hudler's price and return is probably highest now, my hesitation in trading him is that he is a Cup winner, Detroit had a strong winning culture and right now there isn't anyone in the Flames room that really has that sort of background.

Not trying to rip the entire team, but the Flames locker room is missing guys who have been on Cup runs, playoff runs and in a winning culture at the NHL level. Hudler has. Wideman is the other guy with the most playoff and winning experience and he is the other name coming up as willing to be moved. We really can't afford to lose both of those players.

My preference would be to see Wideman moved and Hudler kept at least a couple more years. He is valuable during this rebuild for his points production, his rookie interactions and I'm sure his insight to having a winning culture like Detroit did. Even if we keep him until the end of his contract, he's only going to be 32 and barring any catastrophic injury, should be able to move for a good return.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

I'm very optimistic about our prospects especially Johnny and Sven, but thinking they can easily replace Hudler when they've accomplished almost nothing at an NHL level is crazy. Hudler is a bona fide top 6 NHLer and none of our prospects outside of Monahan have shown that they are bona fide NHLers yet. Pump the brakes a little.

If the Flames haven't developed a top 6 forward by two years from now, this will be a long, long rebuild.

[DoubleF]

I don't mind moving Hudler, but I would hope that we keep him a year or two before moving him. =/ I like having him on the team on ice and off ice.

I would definitely sad face if he was moved in the off season.

[Fire]

If the Flames move Hudler and lose Cammalleri the Flames would most likely be last in the league for goals next season. I doubt the Flames would be able to completely replace the scoring of Cammy and Hudler through trade or UFA.