[Signing] Flames re-sign Stone (3 yrs, $3.5 mil AAV)

[Samonadreau]

Silver lining on this one is its for the remainder of Hamonics contract. get your 4/5 done (and a good 4/5) for 6.25 per. Could be worse.

[dino7c]

Some of you really think the flames are gonna go an entire year with no injuries on D?

[burnitdown]

Originally Posted by Muta

In what world is this an awful signing? We started winning once Stone was acquired and really solidified that backend. Dude is a legit top four defenseman. And we have him AS OUR FIFTH.

Even factoring in the big win streak that happened when he got here, we were 13-10 with him in the lineup. That's essentially the same winning percentage as the rest of our season.

[SOMBRI2]

I was hoping 3.25...but sounds like the market will pull that $500k...(bouma cap)

[getbak]

Won't have to buy new clothes for his kids.

[btimbit]

For the people saying it's an overpayment, he made 4 mil last year after having injury trouble for the last 2 years. Also Gulutzan said this morning he'd love for the 3rd pairing to be able to play more minutes than a regular third pairing so having a 4/5 tweener like Stone back there allows that to happen.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Muta

In what world is this an awful signing? We started winning once Stone was acquired and really solidified that backend. Dude is a legit top four defenceman. And we have him AS OUR FIFTH.

Yeah, all of this is why it's an awful signing. Flames started winning once Stone was acquired and people correlated his acquisition with the winning streak as if he was the reason. He was actually pretty bad.

https://flamesnation.ca/2017/03/18/m...-being-better/

So, no, he's not a legit top four defenceman. He's a legit bottom pairing defenceman. Which is fine. But he's being paid like a legit top four defenceman, and there are other guys who are better who could have been had for less. They finally got Deryk Engelland off the books and signed someone who's not really any better for more money and three years, and it costs them a draft pick.

Again, this is to the Flames as Kris Russell is to the Oilers, just for less money. It's not a crippling, team-destroying contract, nor is he a non-NHL defenceman being paid NHL money (a la Luca Sbisa for Vegas)... but it's a bad way to use cap space and with Brouwer already eating cap he doesn't deserve, you really would rather not have two of those guys on your team at the same time.

Originally Posted by united

Jesus Christ, Treliving. A week of excellent work then you overpay a third-pairing defenceman by at least 1 million/year.

Yup. Exactly this.

[Poe969]

I don't understand how some are mad saying they're overpaying for a #5 guy, the way I look at it, they have 2 #4 guys. Heck, maybe Hamonic and Stone develop insane chemistry together and Brodie is the #5 guy... The more I think about it, the Flames have a legit top pairing and 3 #3 guys in Brodie, Hamonic and Stone. If anyone is injured or has to sit out or can't play then there's a revolving door on D and I mean that in a really good way.

[flamesfan1297]

I really like this signing. Stone at 3.5 million is a good deal. Came in cheaper than j figured it would and was rumored

[Crumpy-Gunt]

If we move gio for a top line rw i will get a boston pizza tattoo

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by New Era

Holy crap, what a blueline! This is almost too good to be true. Does Treliving think about moving Gio or Brodie for help up front? This is some serious flexibility on the backend, and you have a glut of prospects back there with high potential. Great situation to be in, that is for certain.

I no realistic world is Treliving thinking of that. Messes up the depth, leadership, favourable contract structures, LH-RH pairing, unlikely to receive adequate value, etc, etc, etc.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

Awful, awful signing.

Though silver lining: it's nowhere near as bad as Russell's deal.

Please Canuck fan, enlighten us with statistics you've compiled on a player you've almost never watched.

[frodo_t_baggins]

Engelland got the same contract to be our #5 dman 3 years ago and I think most people thought of that to be a positive contract at the end of it. The cap hit and term certainly didn't hurt the team. I think Stone is better dman and he is younger. I don't really understand the negativity...

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Rather have this guy than Warrener, Sarich or Engelland. Basically replaces what they do and more

Absolutely love our depth on defense

[1qqaaz]

Number 5 guys will spend a lot of time in the top 4. Defensive depth often wins championships.

But I'm not sure if there's enough cap space to sign a decent RW, even with the buyouts

[Since1984]

Sooooo if the rumored McDavid Deal is true and rumors on Draisaitl are accurate.

McDavid $13.25m
Draisaitl $7-9m

Total ~$21-23m

Calgary's Defence core will cost roughly 2-3 million more:

Giordano $6.750m
Hamilton $5.750m
Brodie $4.650m
Hamonic $3.857m
Stone $3.500m

Total $24.507m

Treliving is Wizard

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

tomorrow is going to be soooooo boring for us. All the work is essentially done.

I think there's room for trades up front when you add Vegas to the equation (Neal?).

And if not, then I still think there's a chance a FA winger is signed with the waiving of Bouma.

Marleau and Williams are probably out given what we've heard, but Sharp, Doan and hell Jagr could be inexpensive additions that add offense and leadership.

[btimbit]

Same money as Engelland

Some people around here will never be happy though

[Reign of Fire]

To put things in perspective for people who are hating this contract. Calgary is paying a 26 year old D 3.5 million dollars for 3 years, compared to Edmonton paying a 30 year old D 4 million dollars over 4 years.

Stone >>>>> Russell

[mrdonkey]

Sure it's more than you want to pay for your #5 but we're also paying Hamonic much less than you want to pay your #4. That's the kind of flexibility Hamonic's deal allows the Flames to capitalize on. And Stone is a very, very good #5.

I'm certainly not going to lose any sleep over paying for Stone if it means the Flames enter the season with a blueline that's right up there with Anaheim and Nashville.