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UPDATE: Flames Sign Irving // .....Is Paul Stastny The Best Choice? |
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**Update: Flames have signed Irving to a one year, two way deal. $687,500 at the NHL and $207,500 at the AHL.
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For the most part, the chatter regarding the Flames and their needs has been constant; youth and an upgrade down the middle. Most recently, we discussed possible trade destinations for Jay Bouwmeester based on the needs from each potential suitor and it seems the consensus was by and large focused towards one destination, the Colorado Avalanche.
The Calgary Flames currently sit with nine defenders, and Feaster has stated he is prepared to keep seven while sending two down if he doesn’t get what he wants via trade. While most GMs would state this, it’s safe to say that Feaster would much rather move a vet like Bouwmeester while he still has value. Interestingly enough, the Colorado Avalanche may find themselves in a similar situation in that they have an overpayed asset which they could move for needed upgrades elsewhere.
26 year old Paul Stastny was drafted by the Avalanche in 2005 and was regarded by many as Colorado’s future first line center. Since 2005, the Avalanche have also added 21 year olds Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly who have arguably pushed Stastny down the depth charts. As we approach the 2012-2013 season, there is no longer any debate that these two young centers are the future #1-2 for the club, and that Stastny sits at #3. Having three highly skilled centermen is a problem many GMs would love to have, however at $6.6M for another two years, it’s a high price to pay for a 3rd line centerman.
Paul Stastny is a strong skater who sees the ice very well. He can create plays, make very accurate passes, and also score goals. Although his production has dropped a little over the last two seasons, Stastny has still maintained a 0.875ppg average since entering the league, which is very respectable. This is a young player with plenty of experience who would be a solid option for a team in need of a first line center.
Trading Jay Bouwmeester to the Avalanche for Paul Stastny would not only help out both teams, but their impacts on the respective cap space of each team would not change. There would certainly need to be some additions on both sides to even out any trade, as Stastny currently holds more value than does Bouwmeester. Nonetheless, given the needs of each team and the assets both hold, I strongly believe something could be worked out. The only foreseeable problem is Calgary’s competition, as it is widely known a few GMs are shopping for upgrades down the middle, most notably Brian Burke of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If we were to compare Calgary to Toronto with respect to trading partners for Stastny, both sides have defensemen to offer, and both need a young centerman as bad as the other. Furthermore, Brian Burke and Jay Feaster are very similar GMs, in that both can be stubborn and seemingly hard to deal with. While Toronto may have younger defenders to offer, Calgary could offer the Avalanche some upgrades on the wings. The Leafs and Flames are arguably the two teams who are in most need of upgrades down the middle, preferably by adding a player with youth. Though Stastny may not be the gritty center that Burke may desire, I feel both GMs will strongly consider the option and may find themselves competing against one another.
As things stand, Calgary can afford to move Bouwmeester with the excess of defenseman they currently employ; however by moving him their defensive core may become too weak. Feaster may need to request that a defender come back from Colorado who can aid the team on defense, and may consequently have to add a forward of his own to sweeten the deal.
Aside from the abovementioned potential moves, I do not anticipate much else to happen before the trade deadline. Although many feel the club should move Kiprusoff and/or Iginla as soon as possible, they have yet to sign their prospective goalie Leland Irving and may not have assessed if their prospects are ready to step in. By moving the two without properly assessing the team’s strength, Feaster may find himself competing for a lottery pick with the Edmonton Oilers this upcoming year, something he would rather not do.
Jay Feaster has repeatedly said that he wants to remain competitive. He has set his mind on certain types of players he would like to acquire and has acquired them. As previously discussed in my blogs, Feaster is high on players with hockey sense and Stastny is another player in this league who is considered to have a high hockey IQ.
If the two teams find common ground and follow through with this proposal, adding Stastny to Calgary’s first line, playing alongside Iginla, could certainly move the team into a playoff spot. The outcome of a playoff appearance may also mean Iginla and or Kiprusoff are not moved and rather extended...Whether this is good for the future of the club or not, well that’s a whole other debate.
Thanks for reading!
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