Wish Gaudreau had a better game but that was a great showing
He played pretty well! Drew some penalties with his nifty skating, had some nice feeds that didn't end up in the back of the net but were grade A chances, one was a beauty where Mony almost got his first hatty. Johnny didn't fill up the stat sheet but he was a force. The whole team was! Chaisson had a strong game too, that line with him, Steeg and Bennett was great. I thought Versteeg was quietly one of the best players on the ice.
Somewhat ironic that the only line that didn't score was the 3M line but they still played well.
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Most comfortable I have been all year watching Elliot in net. You just got the sense that he wasn't going to crumble after a crappy goal. Plus the team kept there foot down and stayed aggressive. Amazing what playing with confidence can do fr you.
Doubt it. I don't think anybody would want Wideman given he's got nothing left to offer at an NHL level anymore, oh, and his god damned NMC.
Don't get your hopes up for that happening or you guys will likely end up being disappointed even if Wideman's play is disappointing in of itself.
Just ride him out and hope that we (or anybody else) don't offer him another NHL contract.
Actually given the demand (no defensemen available with expansion draft chaos, and only two teams acting as sellers) I think he may actually fetch a 2nd round pick.
However, the Flames don't really have a replacement for him either, so they really can't make that move if they're in the hunt.
The stones on Treliving if he does it though?
Would love to see all of the UFAs assigned sell value by the team and head into the deadline with an open mind. If someone comes up to it, let them go, if not keep them and make the playoffs.
Actually given the demand (no defensemen available with expansion draft chaos, and only two teams acting as sellers) I think he may actually fetch a 2nd round pick.
However, the Flames don't really have a replacement for him either, so they really can't make that move if they're in the hunt.
The stones on Treliving if he does it though?
Would love to see all of the UFAs assigned sell value by the team and head into the deadline with an open mind. If someone comes up to it, let them go, if not keep them and make the playoffs.
This is a weird argument to me. There's nobody to replace Wideman? He's so bad. I would be happy with Wotherspoon or Kulak or hell, Kylington taking all his minutes.
This is a weird argument to me. There's nobody to replace Wideman? He's so bad. I would be happy with Wotherspoon or Kulak or hell, Kylington taking all his minutes.
I think he's a weak link in the upper half of the roster (top 9 forwards, top 4 defenseman, top goaltender), but that's not to say there is anyone ready to actually best him.
It's worth trying Kulak though. But that means all Jyrki all the time, which has been a bit of an adventure too.
Actually given the demand (no defensemen available with expansion draft chaos, and only two teams acting as sellers) I think he may actually fetch a 2nd round pick.
However, the Flames don't really have a replacement for him either, so they really can't make that move if they're in the hunt.
The stones on Treliving if he does it though?
Would love to see all of the UFAs assigned sell value by the team and head into the deadline with an open mind. If someone comes up to it, let them go, if not keep them and make the playoffs.
I agree with the poster above, this is a strange argument. How can the Flames expect anyone to step in and replace a guy like Wideman if they're not given the opportunity to do so? Specifically because Wideman is given all sorts of minutes he doesn't deserve.
The reality is this team is still rebuilding. I don't understand the appeal of a rebuilding team overplaying a depreciating asset like Wideman, who besides not being any more of a current #4 defenseman as any other player in the organization, almost certainly does not figure into this team's picture a few months from now. A player like Kulak could conceivably one day develop into a cost-controlled second pairing guy if given more of an opportunity, but we'll never know unless the coach actually sticks with one of these players past a few games. Almost certainly anyone put in that #4 spot will struggle to keep up, so it might as well be someone who can learn and develop through the experience.
The chances of anyone in the AHL stepping straight into the second pairing are extremely slim, and this is one area where I think Brad and GG are being a bit too conservative. Playoffs are great and all but even if the Flames make it, they won't get far. Use these years to develop players properly, not bury them in the minors so that you can maybe showcase a bum like Wideman for a 3rd round pick or whatever.
Last edited by mrdonkey; 02-02-2017 at 11:55 AM.
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Actually given the demand (no defensemen available with expansion draft chaos, and only two teams acting as sellers) I think he may actually fetch a 2nd round pick.
However, the Flames don't really have a replacement for him either, so they really can't make that move if they're in the hunt.
The stones on Treliving if he does it though?
Would love to see all of the UFAs assigned sell value by the team and head into the deadline with an open mind. If someone comes up to it, let them go, if not keep them and make the playoffs.
IMO it would take far bigger stones to turn down a 2nd round pick for Wideman. I don't believe he's that hard to replace, but I also don't believe his market value is that high. Not sure they will be able to move him at all.
Wideman is very hard to replace. Hard to find someone who turns the puck over as much as him and is as slow as him.
Don't see how anyone can be even worse than him. All they have to do is play slightly above average defensively while adding nothing offensively and they're an upgrade on Wideman.
A 2nd for Wideman would be a miracle. Don't expect anyone to even want him but if anyone did I doubt it's anything more than a 4th with us retaining salary.
Doubt it. I don't think anybody would want Wideman given he's got nothing left to offer at an NHL level anymore, oh, and his god damned NMC.
Don't get your hopes up for that happening or you guys will likely end up being disappointed even if Wideman's play is disappointing in of itself.
Just ride him out and hope that we (or anybody else) don't offer him another NHL contract.
I've been thinking that Treliving has given instructions to GG to play Wideman as a top 4 for the purpose of showcasing him which is why he's been paired with Brodie for 2/3 of the season.
I think GG realized recently that he is only hurting himself by doing this and switched to the Brodie/Engelland pairing which he actually praised back in the pre-season when discussing how effective they were against the Canucks in the playoffs.
It just makes no sense that they have been playing Wideman so much. Brodie hasn't been great and he should blame himself first, but when I watch him, I get the sense that he does not have much confidence in this partner. Brodie makes very uncharacteristic and high risk decisions that he would not do if he trusted Wideman.
I'm hoping that once the trade deadline comes and goes, that whether they find a taker for Wideman or not, he is no longer in the top 6 for the Flames. Sit him as the 7th or ask him to go down to the AHL to work on his game and showcase himself for another contract next season with another team.
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Calgary Flames, PLEASE GO TO THE NET! AND SHOOT THE PUCK! GENERATING OFFENSE IS NOT DIFFICULT! SKATE HARD, SHOOT HARD, CRASH THE NET HARD!
Actually given the demand (no defensemen available with expansion draft chaos, and only two teams acting as sellers) I think he may actually fetch a 2nd round pick.
However, the Flames don't really have a replacement for him either, so they really can't make that move if they're in the hunt.
The stones on Treliving if he does it though?
Would love to see all of the UFAs assigned sell value by the team and head into the deadline with an open mind. If someone comes up to it, let them go, if not keep them and make the playoffs.
Regarding the bolded part. What??? With all due respect, that seems far fetched to me at best. Way too far fetched.
I mean, why would (or should) anyone want to give us a 2nd rounder for a guy who looks done, unless we're talking about a GM taking stupid pills or living in the past and thinking Wideman's still more than what he is right now?? Try more like a 5th or 6th rounder, if that.
Wideman has about as much NHL game left as David Jones at this point and Jones is nowhere to be seen in any league anywhere as we speak. I'll be shocked if Wideman gets anything more than a PTO and survives that.
I'd say it's way more likely Wideman ends up like Jones next year than getting a 2nd round pick at the TDL.
I am perfectly fine with Engelland moving up with Brodie and riding the crap out of the top 4 for the remainder of the season. Can a Kulak/Wotherspoon - Jokipokka hold down 8 or less a minutes a night?
I am perfectly fine with Engelland moving up with Brodie and riding the crap out of the top 4 for the remainder of the season. Can a Kulak/Wotherspoon - Jokipokka hold down 8 or less a minutes a night?
