Treliving: We would like to add a defenceman

[Samonadreau]

What's the point of bringing in Russell as a third pairing guy? We need one more top 4 and have an endless supply of 5/6/7 fringe guys. Stay away from Kris Russell please.

If you go for another depth guy make sure he is 1M for 1 year. There is too much depth in the system to pay up for a depth guy

[bubbsy]

i don't see how we can bring another dman in.

giordano, brodie, hamilton, jokipakka, wideman, engelland, smid.

The fact that wotherspoon was qualified, leads me to believe he will be given a chance to push for a spot, (not to mention some of the usual suspects in the farm like culkin, kulak, etc).

giordano - brodie
hamilton - jokipakka
wideman - engelland
wotherspoon
LTIR (meh, assume as much at this stage): Smid

i don't see how we fit another dman, unless we cut bait with wideman, which i thought was an inevitability this offseason.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i don't see how we can bring another dman in.

giordano, brodie, hamilton, jokipakka, wideman, engelland, smid.

The fact that wotherspoon was qualified, leads me to believe he will be given a chance to push for a spot, (not to mention some of the usual suspects in the farm like culkin, kulak, etc).

giordano - brodie
hamilton - jokipakka
wideman - engelland
wotherspoon
LTIR (meh, assume as much at this stage): Smid

i don't see how we fit another dman, unless we cut bait with wideman, which i thought was an inevitability this offseason.

How is Jokipakka's injury situation? Last blurbs were that while the Flames were glad he was picked for the Team Finland he likely wouldn't be ready for the World cup.

For the expansion draft the Flames have to expose 1 d-man with 40/70 games under contract for 2017-18.... so far the list of candidates is Gio, Hamilton and Brodie.

Jokipakka would be the candidate, provided he plays 2 games AND is extended. Would Wotherspoon play more than 40 games? Look for him getting a 2 year deal, so he would be eligible to be exposed to the draft.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

How is Jokipakka's injury situation? Last blurbs were that while the Flames were glad he was picked for the Team Finland he likely wouldn't be ready for the World cup.

IIRC Treliving said they expect him to be ready or close to ready when training camp starts and that the World Cup is in jeopardy, yeah. Don't think there have been any news about it since then and I doubt there'll be any soon ... really depends on how the rehab goes this summer.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Seeing how desperate Edmonton is for a right-shot D who can play the power play, I don't see how a deal couldn't be worked out for Wideman between the two teams (aside from the No Edmonton Clause Wideman has, I guess!).

[Stay Golden]

In the expansion draft teams can only protect 3 D. Gio, Brodie, Hamilton. GM's this off season are being selective adding that 4th-6th knowing they can get picked off come expansion draft.
I think you will see GM's calling up more 1st-2nd year rookies to fill that role as they would be protected and leaving their 4-6 D men that have 1-2 years left exposed.
Have to move Wideman he has a NTC, and I think under these goofy expansion rules Bettman created for LV, NTC players have to be protected (?) I'm not exactly sure about that. But I know Hamilton and Brodie do not so that is worrysome if one of them would be left exposed because of Wideman.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by Hockey Fan #751

Seeing how desperate Edmonton is for a right-shot D who can play the power play, I don't see how a deal couldn't be worked out for Wideman between the two teams (aside from the No Edmonton Clause Wideman has, I guess!).

I don't understand why Edmonton hasn't signed Nakladal yet. He is a reasonably competent defenceman, shoots right, comes cheap and could probably play on the power play.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Have to move Wideman he has a NTC, and I think under these goofy expansion rules Bettman created for LV, NTC players have to be protected (?) I'm not exactly sure about that. But I know Hamilton and Brodie do not so that is worrysome if one of them would be left exposed because of Wideman.

players with NTC don't have to be protected, no. Only those with an NMC ... and only those who are under contract in 2017-18, so we won't have to protect Wideman because his contract expires next summer. There isn't a single player on the Flames that they HAVE TO protect, which gives them a lot of flexibility.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

In the expansion draft teams can only protect 3 D. Gio, Brodie, Hamilton. GM's this off season are being selective adding that 4th-6th knowing they can get picked off come expansion draft.
I think you will see GM's calling up more 1st-2nd year rookies to fill that role as they would be protected and leaving their 4-6 D men that have 1-2 years left exposed.
Have to move Wideman he has a NTC, and I think under these goofy expansion rules Bettman created for LV, NTC players have to be protected (?) I'm not exactly sure about that. But I know Hamilton and Brodie do not so that is worrysome if one of them would be left exposed because of Wideman.

You'll have to find other imaginary things to worry about

[Stay Golden]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

You'll have to find other imaginary things to worry about

Your comment has nothing, zero about this topic. Stick to twitter where you say whatever trash comes out your yap.
Feel better have a Snickers. People like you need to step outside.

[442scotty]

Flames management obviously has some ideas but I don't see the need for another D man... The team is overflowing with D men. Surely they can let a couple learn/improve on the fly... Hope our GM doesn't get hooked on deal making just for the buzz of it lol

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Flames management obviously has some ideas but I don't see the need for another D man...

I do...

We have Gio, Brodie, and Dougie who are great but the second tier of Jokipakka, Wideman, Engellend, and (pending health) Smid wouldn't be difficult to improve upon and one of them would have to be given top 4 minutes absent another addition. I would prefer it be Nakladal but I could see a one year low $$ signing (Barrett Jackman perhaps) being brought in to shore it up some.

[neo45]

Our D men are Gio, Brodie, Dougie, Jokipakka, Engelland, Wideman, Smid, and Wotherspoon.


There is no way to make that into three good pairings. We need someone else


The best we can do right now is:
Gio - Dougie
Brodie - Engelland
Jokipakka - Wideman



Which isn't good. Brodie prefers the right side and Jokipakka should never be the faster skater on any pairing. Gio and Dougie also weren't great together. If there is a smooth skating Dman who plays the left side.....


Gio - Brodie
Jokipakka - Hamilton
New Guy - Engelland

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

For the expansion draft the Flames have to expose 1 d-man with 40/70 games under contract for 2017-18.... so far the list of candidates is Gio, Hamilton and Brodie.

Jokipakka would be the candidate, provided he plays 2 games AND is extended. Would Wotherspoon play more than 40 games? Look for him getting a 2 year deal, so he would be eligible to be exposed to the draft.

Yeah the defense situation is interesting. Much can change but right now, Flames would be forced to expose one of those 3 which they obviously don't want.

Maybe Jokipakka or Engeland get extended and exposed.
Maybe Wotherspoon or Nakladal get signed and play in enough games this year.
Maybe new player gets added this year with at least a 2 year deal.

[Angelino]

Sign Nakadal, that is the defenseman they should "add".

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Angelino

Sign Nakadal, that is the defenseman they should "add".

Absolutely agree. Sometimes the grass isn't greener on the other side, and what you already have is good.

I think Nak can and should be on the bottom pair.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Yeah the defense situation is interesting. Much can change but right now, Flames would be forced to expose one of those 3 which they obviously don't want.

Maybe Jokipakka or Engeland get extended and exposed.
Maybe Wotherspoon or Nakladal get signed and play in enough games this year.
Maybe new player gets added this year with at least a 2 year deal.

I don't know that they can expose Nadakal as he has less than 2 year "Pro" experience. He wouldn't count on their protected list.

[sureLoss]

Engelland probably wouldn't mind being exposed in the expansion draft as he lives in Las Vegas in the off season.

So many people are saying just sign Nakladal. Treliving already says it is not a fit with the way they currently have the defense set up. Nakladal and his agent are no dummies either and probably see it the same way.

on the right hand side, Flames have barring any moves:
Brodie
Hamilton
Wideman
Engelland

comparatively on the left side
Giordano
Jokipakka
Wotherspoon (assuming he gets signed)

Which side needs a defenceman more?

[bubbsy]

given that wideman, engelland gone next season, long term is the answer not 'either'?

[Da_Chief]

Plus Brodie can be easily moved to his strong side to be paired with Hamilton.

By doing that they have spot on the right side instead of left.