Jan 18 Practice - Shore likely scratched tomorrow. Ortio starts again.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Personally I wohld want to sign both Johnny and Monahan to 2-4 year bridge deals so they are still RFA after those deals expire then lock them up for full 8

Yup.

People talk about teams making a mistake not locking up young guys early but I would rather pay more to keep a good player for 2-3 years longer before UFA, then giving him a full 8 to get him to UFA at a cheaper rate.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Jooris hasn't been a healthy scratch - he's been an unhealthy one.

And it partly was when Jooris was centering the 4th line that they had big issues. Jooris is good at faceoffs, good at forechecking, not as good at defensive zone coverage.

And you need older guys throughout the lineup, including the 4th line. Who cares how much they are paid as long as the team can afford it and they aren't hurting the team cap-wise?

I'm not saying Stajan is hurting the team, but he wouldn't be missed as much as some people would think. The Flames were 12W - 4L when Stajan was injured this season. Somehow the Flames survived the missed leadership and great defensive play.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Fire

I'm not saying Stajan is hurting the team, but he wouldn't be missed as much as some people would think. The Flames were 12W - 4L when Stajan was injured this season. Somehow the Flames survived the missed leadership and great defensive play.

That was when Hiller, Gio and Brodie were all on fire. Hiller has dropped way off and Brodie has cooled. The 4th line was still a nightmare back then.

[GioforPM]

In that list, you can probably knock out Glencross, who will want too much money and term for his age. If you don't like Stajan's $3M, you may not like Glencross' $4.5 and 4 year ask.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That was when Hiller, Gio and Brodie were all on fire. Hiller has dropped way off and Brodie has cooled. The 4th line was still a nightmare back then.

Can you provide evidence that the 4th line was a "nightmare"?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Fire

I'm a bit surprised with all the support that Stajan gets by some people. I admit he has been fine as the 4th line player, but Hartley puts him on the 4th line (and the occasional healthy scratch) and hardly on the top 3 lines for a reason.

Because he's not the fastest skater, and he makes the other 4th liners perform better with his defense, forecheck, and passing.

I'm not saying Stajan is hurting the team, but he wouldn't be missed as much as some people would think. The Flames were 12W - 4L when Stajan was injured this season. Somehow the Flames survived the missed leadership and great defensive play.

It's about having intelligent veteran players to learn from as the young'uns go forward. Just as Gio learned from Sarich, Boowmester etc, guys like Jooris, Bennett, Monahan, Colborne etc are only going to improve playing with Matt Stajan and competing with his example for playing time.

The worst thing you can do is put young guys' development on intellectual paralysis and just let them go wild. Works for a short while of adrenaline, but eventually catches up to you. See: Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov, Jordan Eberle, Justin Schultz etc.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

The worst thing you can do is put young guys' development on intellectual paralysis and just let them go wild. Works for a short while of adrenaline, but eventually catches up to you. See: Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov, Jordan Eberle, Justin Schultz etc.

Moving out Stajan makes the Flames the Oilers? Only if Lowe knew, he would have traded for him and the Oilers would be in the playoffs right now.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Fire

Moving out Stajan makes the Flames the Oilers? Only if Lowe knew, he would have traded for him and the Oilers would be in the playoffs right now.

It would be an Oileresque move for sure. What vet do they have to mentor the kids?