Top 15 UFAs of 2015

[PeteMoss]

I'd want a defenseman (although not sure about the UFA defensemen). I suspect next year Treliving would be on the Leddy/Boychuk type trades. I think he stayed out this year because he thought the team would suck.

You have to improve the last pairing next year. Nothing against Smid/Engelland/Diaz... but they should all be 6/7 guys.

[Camronius]

The pipe dream is to get another top 4 to push wideman down into the 3rd pairing and make him a pp specialist.

[Roof-Daddy]

I was hoping for Green, as I think his offensive style would fit the Flames like a glove, but with our top six signed next year (all with fairly large contracts) and our top 4 being quite solid, I'm now more hoping one of Wotherspoon, Culkin or Kulak force their way into Smids spot next year.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Camronius

The pipe dream is to get another top 4 to push wideman down into the 3rd pairing and make him a pp specialist.

Why? Wideman is effective playing lots of minutes, there is no point marginalizing his role on the team. I'd be happy if they'd bring in an good #5 though, even a player like Brad Stuart or Ian Cole would be a significant upgrade on Engelland/Smid.

[GioforPM]

Wideman seems to be better with more minutes. I don't think the Flames should overreach trying to improve the third pairing rather than having 2 really solid guys who won't hurt the team and can exit the zone with few icings and giveaways. That includes giving some rookies a chance to do play. I'm not looking for points from a bottom pairing, so Wideman would be an ill-fit.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I don't think we really need to go UFA hunting. I think Wotherspoon will be ready next year imo

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by neo45

Thank you. We need depth defensemen on short deals that can push guys like Engelland out of the lineup.


Gio - Brodie needs to stay as the #1 pairing and we need to bring in guys to solidify the second and third. Our third pairing has bled goals for us all season

Well as much as we would love to have Shea Weber or Chara on our 3rd pairing so we don't bleed goals, is there a any team that has a 3rd pairing that is that solid?

Are there any defenseman (UFA I assume, since thats the string of this thread) that are better than Engelland that would take short term deals?

I don't know this for certain, but I bet when Engelland was signed, the intention was him to play on the top 6 and not to push him out of the lineup.

[Da_Chief]

I don't think we'll be UFA hunting for a Dman. The prices will be too much. I can see one of the extra 2nds being used to obtain a dman who can play 2nd or 3rd pair. That's all we really need right now. Gio, Brodie, Russell, Wideman are all top 4 dman and should be played like one. Get another guy and pair him with DE or Wotherspoon and that should be our 7.

Smid, Schlemko, Diaz move on.

[dino7c]

Wideman is having a pretty good year but I think they are going to try and upgrade the 2nd pairing

[FlamesAddiction]

I know, post-apex and all that, but Marek Zidlicky still looks like he has some game left in him. I'd throw him a 1-year deal rather than have to go crazy on a long term with one of the higher profile defenseman free agents.

[cral12]

Not that much of an inspiring group...

I would be doubtful he lands here, but I'm admittedly intrigued (as others are) with Mike Green - native of Calgary has put together a real solid year and is still only 29 yo.