[Signing] Flames sign Grossmann (1 yr, 1way, $575k)

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Bingo

this is all money ...
his AAV is 75k cheaper than Kulak, and 50K cheaper than Wotherspoon, and the Flames are up against it.

About money, about cap space. Unless I'm totally wrong this is also a race to the cap. The closer you are to the cap today the more relief you get from Smid's contract tomorrow. League minimum spent on a depth blueliner to get that relief is good value.

[Cactus Jack]

Beside the fact Grossman skates like Griffin Reinhart, the problem is bigger. It´s easy to say that the kids didn´t push hard enough (Poirier, Klimchuk, Kulak, Culkin and Wotherspoon specifically), but when we say that year after year after year, either we don´t draft as well as we should be or the organization loves signing mediocre vets. Kulak´s not ready? Give him 9 games and find out, he had a good camp. Always earned, never given. I´m sure Grossman didn´t have multiple offers and we could have signed him a month from now if Kulak really stunk up the joint. I don´t get why we invest money, contracts and minutes on players like Diaz, Grossman, Nakladal, etc instead of giving prospects a shot

[Crumpy-Gunt]

I dont mean to be a blatant contrarian but I really dont see whats wrong with this signing. He is slow as #### but he gives us a different kind of dman. Good for the cap. No problem sitting him in the pressbox. He wasnt THAT bad at all in the pre season imo. We can use a big, aggressive, physical veteran d-man. It gives us options and depth. I am reminded of players like Sarich and Hanan who werent popular signings but really grew on fans with their gutsy spirited displays. Not a sexy signing but could be of use to us over 82+ games

[Poe969]

I don't get that argument. The young guys shouldn't be pushing for the #7 spot, the #7 spot should always go to a vet/fringe guy making as little as possible. I want to see the young guys like Kulak and Culkin push for top 6 spots and actually be in the rotation otherwise let them get big minutes and improve in Stockton.

The guys in the press box on a daily basis should be place holders that can step in on occasion and make as little money as possible. This is a good signing.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Beside the fact Grossman skates like Griffin Reinhart, the problem is bigger. It´s easy to say that the kids didn´t push hard enough (Poirier, Klimchuk, Kulak, Culkin and Wotherspoon specifically), but when we say that year after year after year, either we don´t draft as well as we should be or the organization loves signing mediocre vets. Kulak´s not ready? Give him 9 games and find out, he had a good camp. Always earned, never given. I´m sure Grossman didn´t have multiple offers and we could have signed him a month from now if Kulak really stunk up the joint. I don´t get why we invest money, contracts and minutes on players like Diaz, Grossman, Nakladal, etc instead of giving prospects a shot

When 2 dmen inevitably go down to injury that's when guys like Kulak are counted on to step up and show what they've got. Keeping Kulak as the 7th dman isn't ideal, Grossman fills that role just fine. Young prospects really have to shine to unseat 6 veterans. A lot of young players in the NHL get their break through injuries and for Kulak it will likely be no different.

You can never have too many good defencemen. Kulak will definitely get his chance to succeed some point this season

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Like anyone else I wish we would play Jankowski over Stajan. Kulak or Wotherspoon over Grossman. Hathaway over Bollig. etc

The reality is those players, asides from arguably Hathaway or Kulak - havent earned a spot. Also they are way way better suited getting 20mins a night in the AHL where making mistakes is OK and everything is about learning and developing. We're trying to make the playoffs we cant be developing high potential players who havent proven they are ready. This isnt a video game.

Sure we probably have d-men better than Grossman in our system right now but do you want them sitting in the pressbox or getting very little playing time / being targeted by other teams top lines?

None of the forwards not named Tkachuk earned a spot. MAYBE Hathaway did enough to be on the 4th line.

None of the young dmen played well enough to bump out anyone like Wideman/Kevin/Engelland. So do you think they should be in the press box. We have 6 NHL defencemen already!

I'm totally fine with us sending Kulak down. I'd love him to get a look but it makes absolutely no sense to keep one of our best young dmen as a 7th guy in Calgary when he could be a top pairing guy in stockton continuing to develop in a good environment for young players.

Nobody wants to see us play all the high potential kids over the declining vets as much as I do but it isnt realistic. It isnt realistic for the players development - putting guys like Jankowski on the 4th line.. Or Kulak in the pressbox. It isnt realistic for a team trying to make the playoffs. Maybe 3 seasons ago it was but we have a competitive squad now and the AHL is a better place to develop than the 4th line or pressbox.

[GranteedEV]

I won't complain too much as Kulak needed to play ahead of Jokipakka to make the team if Brodie is playing left side and Engelland/Wideman are being showcased for deadline auction.. My only reservation is the one-way. No way did he show enough, 5v5 or PK to earn a one-way. I thought both Wotherspoon and Kulak outplayed him in the zone that is supposed to be his forte.

Ah well.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Beside the fact Grossman skates like Griffin Reinhart, the problem is bigger. It´s easy to say that the kids didn´t push hard enough (Poirier, Klimchuk, Kulak, Culkin and Wotherspoon specifically), but when we say that year after year after year, either we don´t draft as well as we should be or the organization loves signing mediocre vets. Kulak´s not ready? Give him 9 games and find out, he had a good camp. Always earned, never given. I´m sure Grossman didn´t have multiple offers and we could have signed him a month from now if Kulak really stunk up the joint. I don´t get why we invest money, contracts and minutes on players like Diaz, Grossman, Nakladal, etc instead of giving prospects a shot

Its easy to say, because it's true. This is multiple GM and coaches that have come to the same conclusion about some of these guys. Are they all wrong?

As far as keeping Kulak as the 7th Dman...thats a horrible idea. You want young guys playing regularly, not watching from the rafters.

This signing makes all the sense in the world and particularly at that salary.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I won't complain too much as Kulak needed to play ahead of Jokipakka to make the team if Brodie is playing left side and Engelland/Wideman are being showcased for deadline auction.. My only reservation is the one-way. No way did he show enough, 5v5 or PK to earn a one-way. I thought both Wotherspoon and Kulak outplayed him in the zone that is supposed to be his forte.

Ah well.

Why do you care if Grossman gets to make $575k even if he gets demoted?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by TheoFleury

Why do you care if Grossman gets to make $575k even if he gets demoted?

I "care" because between Bollig, Grossmann, Raymond, Smid, the team whose ownership detests dead salary has 7.89M in dead salary. Last time we had bad dead salary was Kotalik and it cost us a 2nd round pick. That affected us, the fans.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Don't see how signing a vet for league minimum could be considered dead salary. Grossman is literally the cheapest option possible. and if he was ever demoted he'd be off the cap completely.

Raymond is dead salary.
Smid is somewhat irrelevant salary due to injury
Bollig will have about 300k dead salary if demoted, not worth worrying about
Grossman is making league minimum, he's the cheapest possible option so that's the opposite of dead salary.

[kyuss275]

Going to be a tough discussion for Bt with Kulak. I get how he can spin that its better for him to be down than sitting in the pressbox like Grossman. How does he spin Wideman not only making the team over him, but getting first line pairing? If i was Kulak that's what i would be most pissed about.

That said he still has not been sent down , but i think its just a matter of time

[Toonage]

Do we know if Jokipakka is sitting tomorrow night for sure?

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I "care" because between Bollig, Grossmann, Raymond, Smid, the team whose ownership detests dead salary has 7.388M in dead salary. Last time we had bad dead salary was Kotalik and it cost us a 2nd round pick. That affected us, the fans.

We're talking about half a million for one year. There is no chance of any dead salary or any other problems imo. Maybe some Heat teammates get jealous but I think that's the extent of it.

In the end, it really doesn't matter because I doubt he plays a second in the AHL.

[868904]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I "care" because between Bollig, Grossmann, Raymond, Smid, the team whose ownership detests dead salary has 7.89M in dead salary. Last time we had bad dead salary was Kotalik and it cost us a 2nd round pick. That affected us, the fans.

Well it's a good thing all of those contracts expire at the end of this year so no 2nd round picks will be traded.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

How does he spin Wideman not only making the team over him, but getting first line pairing? If i was Kulak that's what i would be most pissed about

He spins it with 3 letters, NMC. I'm sure Wideman would've been dealt or waived if Feaster did not give him the clause.

And as much as I dislike Wideman since we're stuck with him for now it makes more sense to try and help him rebound so that he may be worth something at the trade deadline or may help us on our playoff push

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Cactus Jack

Kulak´s not ready? Give him 9 games and find out, he had a good camp. Always earned, never given.

[AC]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Do we know if Jokipakka is sitting tomorrow night for sure?

Who said that? He's been paired with Dougie.

[Toonage]

He was skating with Grossmann this morning so I was curious.

[gilligans_off]

Wearing number 8 reminds me of this guy...



Let's hope he plays better lol

Both Swedish too