Building The Flames Defense For 2013/14

[Roof-Daddy]

Flames Top 4 Defensemen Options

These three are IMO, established 20-25 minute per game guys. At this point the only three D-men we have, that we can consider as real deal top 4 guys.

1. TJ Brodie (22) (Left) (RFA)
2. Dennis Wideman (30) (Right) (Signed)
3. Mark Giordano (29) (Left) (Signed)

Flames Bottom Pairing Defensemen Options

A couple of these guys may be able to step up into a top 4 role at times, but IMO if they are put into a consistent top 4 role, it likely won't yield positive results for the player or team. I will say however, that Cundari looked fantastic in his first game, so hopefully he will end up being a solid, young top 4 option going forward.

4. Chris Butler (26) (Left) (RFA)
5. Cory Sarich (34) (Right) (Signed)
6. Mark Cundari (23) (Left) (RFA)
7. Chris Breen (23) (Left) (RFA)
8. Derek Smith (28) (Left) (Signed)

Long Shot Options As NHL Defensemen For Next Season (Most likely AHL bound)

Young players can surprise from time to time, but barring an unbelievable camp next fall, I don't see any of these guys playing a full time NHL role next season.

9. Brett Carson (27) (Right) (UFA)
10. John Ramage (22) (Right) (Signed)
11. Brady Lamb (24) (Right) (RFA)
12. Tyler Wotherspoon (20) (Left) (Signed)
13. James Martin (21) (Left) (Signed)


Sieloff, Kulak and Culkin will all most likely be back in junior next season.

So that's it, other than the ATO defensemen in Abbotsford, and any D-men we might pick in the upcoming entry draft, that's all the D-men in our system at the moment.

---------------------------------------------------------


How would you like the Flames management to build the D next season?

Do you want them to just simply bring back the RFA's, and have the above group duke it out for roster spots/ice time, given that it's a rebuilding year anyways?

Are you hoping they make a major splash or two via trade or UFA?

Just some minor tweaking via trade/UFA?

[moon]

The UFA market is a who's who of crap bottom pairing defensemen and RFA is always a terrible way to go so I think it is either trade or go with the guys you have.

If the team is fine with the rebuild I think they should go with:

Brodie-Gio
Sarich-Trade
Cundari-UFA/Smith
Breen

I would like to see Butler and Wideman moved for anything. Late pick, crap prospect get off the team.

It would be nice to pick up a defenseman to move into the second pairing as Smith/Cundari probably aren't really ready for that and Sarich is a warrior but better to play select minutes at this point.

Depending on the contract they would want if you could get a Leopold/Lydman/Scuderi type on a 2 year deal as a stop gap I would look at that as an option.

Basically time to let some guys sink or swim and deal with the learning curves now while the team is going to struggle.

[StrykerSteve]

Brodie and Cundari
Wideman and Giordano
Breen and Ramage

Obviously not realistic, unless Cundari steps up and proves his first game wasn't just adrenalin.

Either way, I'd love to see Butler, Sarich and Smith moved for picks. Babchuk and Carson walk at end of season.

[Sakari]

Meh. We need a 6' 6" 250 pound defenseman with a 100 mph slapshot and ridiculous skating ability before we're playoff bound. Nevermind a whole new lineup down the middle, because with the ####ty centermen we have we aren't going anywhere.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I hope the Flames can target atleast one aging blueliner and sign him to a one year deal at a higher price for deadline trade bait.

Douglas Murray, Robyn Regehr, Jordan Leopold, Mark Streight. Let them play in our top four for the season then flip him at the deadline for a pick or two.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I hope the Flames can target atleast one aging blueliner and sign him to a one year deal at a higher price for deadline trade bait.

Douglas Murray, Robyn Regehr, Jordan Leopold, Mark Streight. Let them play in our top four for the season then flip him at the deadline for a pick or two.

Sergei Gonchar would be a decent option for this strategy as well.

We have cap space, and could pay a premium for 60ish games of mentorship, and an asset at next years deadline if the Flames are sellers (which is likely).

[Joker]

Originally Posted by Sakari

Meh. We need a 6' 6" 250 pound defenseman with a 100 mph slapshot and ridiculous skating ability before we're playoff bound. Nevermind a whole new lineup down the middle, because with the ####ty centermen we have we aren't going anywhere.

Sadly,Seth Jones wont be available where the flames are drafting.

[ricardodw]

Here is the Flames Defense:

7 T.J. Brodie 6-1 185
44 Chris Butler 6-1 200

42 Mark Cundari 5-10 200
5 Mark Giordano 6-0 203
6 Cory Sarich 6-4 207
27 Derek Smith 6-2 200
26 Dennis Wideman 6-0 196


well Modelling after the current NHL SC Champs the LA Kings ..... they dominated the playoffs with this defense:

8 Drew Doughty 23 6-0 212
2 Matt Greene 29 6-3 232
27 Alec Martinez 25 6-1 206
7 Rob Scuderi 34 6-1 219
26 Slava Voynov 23 5-11 199

and Willie Mitchell 6-3 209 who has missed this year....... do you replace Mitchel with ????? Regehr 6-3 225

The spare parts on the Kings D...Muzzin 6-2 217 and Ellerby 6-4 200



Almost all of the playoff teams have team defence that is 2 inches taller and 10-15 lbs heavier than the Flames currently are.


The Flames need to have 2 more d-men who are bigger than the guys they currently have.....

[Husky]

Flames continue to rebuild next year. Play Sarich in the top 4 (regardless) and hopefully he improves his value for a deadline deal.

1a/b Giordano - Sarich
1a/b Brodie - Wideman
Butler - Cundari/Breen

Nothing great but a bandaid for now. Move Sarich at the deadline. And if Butler is surpassed by Cundari/Breen by the deadline, you move him as depth too.

[ramizle]

In light of his recent flash of brilliance, how much do you think Brodie will command as an RFA? Sorry if this is in other threads.

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by ramizle

In light of his recent flash of brilliance, how much do you think Brodie will command as an RFA? Sorry if this is in other threads.

I'd say 3 years 10 million.

[ramizle]

Do you know if there is a contract length limit for RFAs?

[PeteLFan]

Originally Posted by ramizle

Do you know if there is a contract length limit for RFAs?

I would assume its 8 years for them as well with us and 7 with another team. Unless they got July 5 then we can only offer 7.

[Mattman]

I think he will help this team out by not charging us too much
4 years 10 million

[TurnedTheCorner]

The mix has seemed wrong on the blueline all season. We need someone like Sarich from 5 years ago to bring some grit and stability on the bottom pairings and PK IMO. Ideally someone faster than him too. Not sure how the club goes about acquiring that kind of player.

I liked what I saw from Cundari last game obviously, and I'm hopeful Ramage turns some heads in camp and fights hard for a spot.

[The Swedish Flame]

Originally Posted by Husky

Flames continue to rebuild next year. Play Sarich in the top 4 (regardless) and hopefully he improves his value for a deadline deal.

1a/b Giordano - Sarich
1a/b Brodie - Wideman
Butler - Cundari/Breen

Nothing great but a bandaid for now. Move Sarich at the deadline. And if Butler is surpassed by Cundari/Breen by the deadline, you move him as depth too.

I'd go with something like this, except for the fact that I wouldn't mind throwing a contract at a UFA (to later be used as tradeline bait).

[dammage79]

Would like to see Smith and Butler replaced with Breen and Cundari. With Brodie Gio and Wideman all being able to move the puck that would leave Breen, Sarich and Cundari left to do all the hitting. Something that looks very appealing to me. Am I missing someone from the current roster?

Gio and Sarich make a good pairing and If Brodie and Cundari show great promise, keep them together. Leaving Breen to pair up with Wideman. We're rebuilding, no need to go out and spend money on more D and see what we got with some of these young guys from the farm.

Mmm maybe keep smith as seventh D?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I hope the Flames can target atleast one aging blueliner and sign him to a one year deal at a higher price for deadline trade bait.

Douglas Murray, Robyn Regehr, Jordan Leopold, Mark Streight. Let them play in our top four for the season then flip him at the deadline for a pick or two.

I might target Doug Murray. I bet Regehr stays with LA, old Darryl favourite and I think Willie Mitchells injury is getting complicated and confusing. After the first 2 games, he has been consistantly getting 20+ minutes.

Not a fan of Strait... Leopold, maybe at one time, but just doesn´t excite me anymore.

[schteve_d]

Originally Posted by moon

I would like to see Butler and Wideman moved for anything. Late pick, crap prospect get off the team.

Really? Why? I was pretty anti-Wideman when we signed him and even I think he's been alright. At the very, very least I think he's been better than dumping for garbage.

[Phanuthier]

Oh and since we are guessing line combos:

Brodie Wideman
Gio Butler/UFA
Smith Sarich
Cundari

to start...