Please do absolutely nothing.

[Dajazz]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

We have a lot of depth at forward. It wouldn't surprise me if Treliving was looking at packaging a couple of young, waiver-eligible forwards with Hiller or Raymond to acquire a goalie or RW upgrade.

This I like. Quality for Quantity is always going to be a hard sell, but if we take on salary, who knows?

As for Wideman. He is the perfect #4 defenseman. Can handle 25 min if needed and PP specialist. Even at .50ppg he's up there in D scoring. Let him play third pairing and rotate in with others as well as getting PP and PK time. Not high on trading him at all, he's very valuable to us.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Dajazz

This I like. Quality for Quantity is always going to be a hard sell, but if we take on salary, who knows?

As for Wideman. He is the perfect #4 defenseman. Can handle 25 min if needed and PP specialist. Even at .50ppg he's up there in D scoring. Let him play third pairing and rotate in with others as well as getting PP and PK time. Not high on trading him at all, he's very valuable to us.

As long as we pair him with a partner who is a good skater, I think he'd be fine. Suggestions that he be paired with Smid or Engelland would have Flames fans hating him in no time.

[King Theo]

I can't believe that people are still wanting us to sign Schlemko. I did not think we would sign him before we traded for Hamilton.

[Da_Chief]

For Engelland doubters, remember he's exactly the type of depth dman playoff teams look to acquire at the trade deadline and overpay to do so. We already have him.

He absolutely won me over in the playoffs, the guy is a warrior.

[icarus]

Free agency is a chance to add assets without giving up any. In that sense they can potentially be converted into draft picks or traded for other players in the future. So I think adding UFAs is good asset management.

For instance, look at Curtis Glencross. Calgary's own 1st and 2nd would have been insufficient to land Dougie Hamilton, and our 3rd would have been insufficient to get the Kylington pick. Both trades were supplemented by picks we got by trading Glencross, who had been signed without the need to give up a capital asset.

Obviously there are cap space and contract number implications, not mention the actual money being paid as salary, but from a capital asset point of view, free agency is a chance to supplement the 'balance sheet' if you will.

So I do hope the Flames add a couple guys that could have value now and later around the league.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by King Theo

I can't believe that people are still wanting us to sign Schlemko. I did not think we would sign him before we traded for Hamilton.

Look at Anaheim's defense. That's how deep you want to be. Then look at Chicago and how they would have loved a Sclemko at the end there. Their cup run came pretty close to being derailed by a lack of defensive depth. Having an 8th d-man who can log 10 minutes plus of ice time without you having to worry is required.

[Poe969]

It's not that simple though, you can't just say "we're going to sign Odya and Stewart" because other teams are going to be interested too and if it gets into a bidding war, you could end up with a terrible contract that holds your team back in the future. This year there really aren't many guys I'd like the Flames to pursue and there are no "star players" that are available so teams are going to go crazy over "average" guys. This is a great year to pick up some depth or character guys in free agency but I think it's a perfect time to make trades for help up front. Teams are going to be in cap trouble and we need to take advantage and try to get good players that way.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by GGG

Look at Anaheim's defense. That's how deep you want to be. Then look at Chicago and how they would have loved a Sclemko at the end there. Their cup run came pretty close to being derailed by a lack of defensive depth. Having an 8th d-man who can log 10 minutes plus of ice time without you having to worry is required.

So what you're saying is that you really only need 4 defensemen to win the cup. The hawks had no depth on D...none. They have an all star pairing and 2 solid guys and then nothing. They won the cup with no depth on D. Sure they would have loved to have more depth but they really didn't need it. The Flames have a pretty solid 6 without Schlemko and they still might have to make room if a rookie forces their hand.

Schlemko is a great insurance policy but nothing more. If he's signed for a year at under 2 mil, perfect. Anything more is too much.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Cap space is an asset and free agency is a chance to waste it. It's not a problem yet, but in 3 or 4 years it will be.

I would agree with the notion of short term deals. Nothing more than 2 years, ideally.

As far as trading Wideman, I would say that's a good plan. Given that cap space isn't currently a problem for the Flames but it is for everyone else, Wideman -1.5M would probably be an incredibly valuable asset.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by GGG

Look at Anaheim's defense. That's how deep you want to be. Then look at Chicago and how they would have loved a Sclemko at the end there. Their cup run came pretty close to being derailed by a lack of defensive depth. Having an 8th d-man who can log 10 minutes plus of ice time without you having to worry is required.

We are that deep. Smid or Engelland will be #7 depending on the day and Wotherspoon is #8.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So what you're saying is that you really only need 4 defensemen to win the cup. The hawks had no depth on D...none. They have an all star pairing and 2 solid guys and then nothing. They won the cup with no depth on D. Sure they would have loved to have more depth but they really didn't need it. The Flames have a pretty solid 6 without Schlemko and they still might have to make room if a rookie forces their hand.

Schlemko is a great insurance policy but nothing more. If he's signed for a year at under 2 mil, perfect. Anything more is too much.

Agree with you on price and term.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by saillias

We are that deep. Smid or Engelland will be #7 depending on the day and Wotherspoon is #8.

Presuming Smid can still play at an NHL level, and presuming Worherspoon can be trusted to play 10 minutes per night in the playoffs. Both of which are big question marks going in.

We have 7 defensemen and then question marks. Create some competition for those last spots.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by AC

I can't recall, are Granlund and Wotherspoon our only 2 from the end of last season that wouldn't have to clear waivers?

Correct. Neither have met the years of service or games-played caps for specific situations yet.

[bax]

Originally Posted by squirtle

Sure he had a difficult time transitioning to the AHL last year but he still has top 6 potential and some qualities that you can't teach.



1) he's 6'5 and further addresses the size issue

2) he's fits in with the future age of the young core

3) he's a RW prospect

4) he can actually finish

None of those points matter if you don't think the guy will be able to contribute at the NHL level, which I don't.

Detroit ripping a first year pro in the media is unheard of and pretty telling. He has a great shot and can finish, but I'm not willing to give up much for him. If he falls into our lap sure, give him a shot, but I'm not trading a top 4 d man for him

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by King Theo

I can't believe that people are still wanting us to sign Schlemko. I did not think we would sign him before we traded for Hamilton.

I don't really want to re-sign Schlemko now that Hamilton has been acquired. We already have Smid as the 7th defenseman, but I don't even know if he's healthy enough to play again.

[flambers]

GMs job is to always look to find ways to improve the team. I am sure they have some players they are looking at...

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by GGG

Presuming Smid can still play at an NHL level, and presuming Worherspoon can be trusted to play 10 minutes per night in the playoffs. Both of which are big question marks going in.

We have 7 defensemen and then question marks. Create some competition for those last spots.

Wotherspoon, Morrison, Hickey, Nakladal(sp?) etc. and the long shot prospects seems like great competition to me. Maybe not next year as most are still lots of time(there's still trade deadline if we need for the coming year) but in a few years when we seriously content, I'm sure they'll be fine competition.

That being said, I'm sure we'll acquire some good pieces at later dates too.

IMO, Smid is done. LTIR till retirement. But if I am wrong, he's not bad as a depth piece or sending him out in a trade is ok too. (I am leaning towards him retiring)

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I don't really want to re-sign Schlemko now that Hamilton has been acquired. We already have Smid as the 7th defenseman, but I don't even know if he's healthy enough to play again.

I think Schelmko will get the same treatment as Byron as a purely wild guess.

1. No contract
2. Cheap contract with the understanding they are boosting their trade value and try to stay in NHL in new team.

I'm hoping for #2.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Agree on not wanting to see any big deals for UFA's, but disagree on doing nothing at all. If Treliving could somehow find a way to unload Raymond and his contract that would be the cherry on top of a fantastic offseason sundae

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Agree on not wanting to see any big deals for UFA's, but disagree on doing nothing at all. If Treliving could somehow find a way to unload Raymond and his contract that would be the cherry on top of a fantastic offseason sundae

And replace him with whom?
Flames are looking to get better. Raymond will be off the books before his cap hit space will be necessary. There is no value in moving him at this point.