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There is a lot of discussion today going around about centers available as free agents and others allegedly available via trade, and I thought I would just chime in with my thoughts on a few of the names being tossed around.
Tyler Seguin
An article came out last week expressing that the Boston Bruins may be looking to move their youngest prospective center in Tyler Seguin after some concerning words released by GM Peter Chiarelli. It appears there are off ice problems with the youngster whose coach and GM have noted that he needs to start taking his profession more seriously and get his act together.
While it seems the club may not be overly impressed with his characteristics, let’s not get crazy in thinking that Seguin is suddenly available on the cheap. He’s not. Tyler is a very well rounded player who can skate, pass, score and play the body and his game is still developing at the ripe age of 21. To think that the Bruins are doing anything more than sending a message to Tyler to smarten up is a little foolish to me, because if you have watched this kid play, he’s got tons of talent. In order for any team to acquire Seguin from the Bruins they would need to offer, as Chiarelli mentioned, an elite prospect or player of their own to get the ball rolling.
With respect to the Calgary Flames, I do not personally feel that they have a single prospect or player who the Bruins would consider – elite. Don’t get me wrong in saying that guys like Baertschi and Gaudreau etc are not great players…but I would not consider them “elite”, personally. Fact of the matter is, when it comes to young centers that have skill and size like Seguin, they don’t come cheap and the Flames are in no position to be bidding if he does become available.
Tyler Bozak
The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled to find their number one center since the departure of Mats Sundin and are currently sitting in a very similar position as the Calgary Flames in that they are still in desperate need of a young or talented first line center. Tyler Bozak, who has played alongside Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupul, has had a great opportunity to showcase his skills due to a lack of true competition for the number one center spot. Don’t let that fool you; Tyler Bozak is not a number one center despite being a strong skating two way center who is good in the faceoff dot.
I would recommend Bozak to any team who need a supportive centerman for their 3rd line, and maybe even 2nd line depending on the wingers made available. Bozak has played with two of the hottest wingers in the last year/two and as such, may have increased his interest league wide. I do not wish this to come across as a Tyler Bozak bashing session because it’s not – I just feel Bozak has been placed in a roll which he does not have all the tools to fully excel. As mentioned, Tyler would be a very useful third line center on just about any team in the NHL and unfortunately for him, he is asking for far too much in terms of a contract right now from the Leafs.
Hopefully the Leafs and Calgary (or anyone interested) is smart enough to realize that they have several options for similar dollar figures such as Stephen Weiss, Derek Roy or even Mike Ribeiro. While I do feel that Calgary should speak with Tyler’s agent about joining the Flames, it should not be a long term deal as a number one center as I’m sure most fans would rather avoid a Matt Stajan 2.0.
There are plenty of options for the Flames aside from the two abovementioned players as short-term solutions to their problems, but I continue to maintain that their best course of action is to throw cash at a guy like Stephen Weiss for a few years and allow their players to develop. Heck, throw cash at Weiss and Bozak and insulate the center depth just a little bit more but for the love of all that is holy the Flames should not be bidding for the likes of Tyler Seguin at this stage in their rebuild.
There is simply no shortcut to rebuilding a franchise and patience is something that must be exercised. Another strong year or two of drafting and continuing to make tweaks to the roster as Jay Feaster has been doing is the right way, in my opinion, to get this team fighting in the playoffs once again.
Thanks for reading.
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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