That's the thing. It is highly unlikely the Flames can get a decent top six center going forward and they may not have a better chance to get one other than right now in Grabovski.
I do see this as the only sure shot they have at locking up a replacement for Stajan as an insurance policy in the event that one or two of the young centers do not work out in the next few years.
I'm not saying Grabovski is the answer but he is the best option I see in the next two-three years. We've been down this road before in searching for centers and in the worst case scenario he ends up being trade bait at a trade deadline in the next few years.
What are the odds with the cap going up every year after now that another serviceable top six center will become available through trade or free agency? Again, the Flames have traveled this road before with little success.
I have incredibly high hopes for Monahan, Knight, Granlund and Janko. But to bank on their success right now without a decent contingency plan is dangerous and could hurt the Flames in the short term. Like I said before. He is a good insurance policy.
Last edited by dammage79; 07-26-2013 at 02:19 AM.
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They would have to trade Stajan this summer. Next year they are going to want one veteran center in the mix. I doubt they want Monahan, Backlund, Knight and Reinhart ( all being young) as their center group for 2014-2015.
I personally feel that they should wait and see if Backlund can be that true #2 center. If after this year he does not look like he can do it, they can spend money on a UFA veteran center. Granted i have no idea who is available next ufa market. I do not see Stajan in the flames plans past the trade deadline.
Grabovski >> Stajan
He's not very physical, but he's much quicker than Stajan & has better offensive instincts. It would be a major upgrade.
I would rather have centre depth like this at the start of the season:
Grabo
Backlund
Monahan
Knight
... and then possibly send Monahan back to junior after 9 games depending on how he looks & if OHL play seems more beneficial.
Stajan can't go anywhere right now. Only proven 2-way center we have. If Stajan goes (before the deadline) then we would be sending either Monahan or Backlund out there against Thornton, Getzlaf, or Kopitar every night. They would get lit up something fierce
A Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak line is pretty much all we have to play against the other team's stars
I wouldn't look at Grabovski as a potential Stajan replacement, more like a potential Cammaleri replacement but cheaper and grittier.
@NHLCanes: NEWS: #Canes agree to terms with winger Nathan Gerbe on one-year, two-way contract. Details: http://m.carhur.com/0qCT
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That's the thing. It is highly unlikely the Flames can get a decent top six center going forward and they may not have a better chance to get one other than right now in Grabovski.
I do see this as the only sure shot they have at locking up a replacement for Stajan as an insurance policy in the event that one or two of the young centers do not work out in the next few years.
I'm not saying Grabovski is the answer but he is the best option I see in the next two-three years. We've been down this road before in searching for centers and in the worst case scenario he ends up being trade bait at a trade deadline in the next few years.
What are the odds with the cap going up every year after now that another serviceable top six center will become available through trade or free agency? Again, the Flames have traveled this road before with little success.
I have incredibly high hopes for Monahan, Knight, Granlund and Janko. But to bank on their success right now without a decent contingency plan is dangerous and could hurt the Flames in the short term. Like I said before. He is a good insurance policy.
Part of me feels that if we were gung ho on Grabovski we would have claimed him off of waivers as we had the room to do so and it would avoid us bidding against other teams. Believe management doesn't believe he would be a good fit in the room otherwise the deal would have been done.
Part of me feels that if we were gung ho on Grabovski we would have claimed him off of waivers as we had the room to do so and it would avoid us bidding against other teams. Believe management doesn't believe he would be a good fit in the room otherwise the deal would have been done.
Why claim a player off waivers, and end up paying his big contract, if you think you have a shot at getting him for less as a free agent?
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Why claim a player off waivers, and end up paying his big contract, if you think you have a shot at getting him for less as a free agent?
Because you are guaranteed to get him. I don't know much about Grabo's priorities, but after playing through the Toronto limelight, places like Nashville, Phoenix, Florida probably look more appealing than Calgary.
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Yeah, I think he's worth at least what he was being paid in Toronto. The fact that he hasn't been signed yet leads me to think he may already have a crazy big offer from the KHL, and he's waiting to see if any NHL teams match it.
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Yeah, I think he's worth at least what he was being paid in Toronto. The fact that he hasn't been signed yet leads me to think he may already have a crazy big offer from the KHL, and he's waiting to see if any NHL teams match it.
I think the fact he was getting married and then off on honeymoon was his priority at the start of the summer (rigthly or wrongly) and now he is working on the deal. If stories are true he has 3 offers on the table in the NHL, and if I am him, I am working out if I am going to get screwed and dumped on the third line again like he was in Toronto.
Why claim a player off waivers, and end up paying his big contract, if you think you have a shot at getting him for less as a free agent?
Because we are not exactly a preferred destination for ufas. Guaranteed to get him instead of bidding against teams (who are probably in a more attractive situation ie. Contending) than us.
Still big on one of Mueller and Grabovski coming to Calgary. Mueller would be the better fit with his age and familiarity with some of his ex-avs team mates.
Somehow I think though that Feaster is done and is going to roll with what they have.
Still big on one of Mueller and Grabovski coming to Calgary. Mueller would be the better fit with his age and familiarity with some of his ex-avs team mates.
Somehow I think though that Feaster is done and is going to roll with what they have.
I agree Dammage79; while I'd like Mueller to join ship, I too think Feaster pretty much done, for now.
Why is Brunner still an FA? He was all that Detroit and fans talked about last season (chemistry with Zetterberg, etc). Likely that Brunner wants to go back with Detroit.And they don't have Nyquist signed either. I can't see Cleary not returning there either. Obviously there is a cap space issue.
It all kind of adds up to waiting on a trade to free up room. Could be one of those "take my festering turd of a contract and I'll throw in some value" type trades finally.
Would love to see Brendan Smith here even if it means taking on Samuellson or Quincey.
