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On Sunday
Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet 960 did a Calgary Flames AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit and answered questions on several interesting topics.
Here are a few of Steinberg's notable quotes/answers with some thoughts on each:
On Matthew Tkachuk:
I think he starts with the team, play 9 or fewer games, and then goes back to London. And I think he gets a real shot with Monahan and Gaudreau.
I think Tkachuk needs another year in London to work on his skating, 200-foot game and bulk up a bit but I would have absolutely no problem with this.
Tkachuk is a very talented player and the long-term plan appears to be playing him on a line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau. Why not give him a taste and show what he'll be working towards?
If he struggles early on - or in the preseason - the Flames can send him back early. There's no harm in taking a look, though, as it'd be a good measuring stick to see just how far away Tkachuk is from full-time duties.
On which player the Flames will most likely lose in the expansion draft:
Jokipakka is the guy for me. The Flames can't protect him if they're also going to protect Giordano, Brodie, and Hamilton. Jokipakka is a youngish NHL defender who looks to have top four potential. Ferland is a potential option too, but right now I'd put Jokipakka at the front of the line. A solid season from Ferland, though, could make that more interesting.
I'm with Steinberg here. I don't think Jokipakka is anything special but at the time of expansion he'll be a 6'3', 215 pound defenseman who has three years of experience under his belt at 24. That will be appealing.
As for Ferland I think he will be probably be the 7th forward kept barring an excellent season from Hunter Shinkaruk, but I'm not sure we're going to see that.
On how the Flames should tweak their defense:
The biggest thing I would do on the blueline is trade Wideman. I know, I know, that's not the easiest thing in the world, but I do think it's a real possibility. Wideman puts up PP points at one of the highest rate among d-men in this league and if the Flames were willing to eat half of his salary for one more year, then I honestly believe they will be able to find a taker.
Again, I agree with Steinberg. Wideman is a possession anchor and more bad than good tends to happen when he is on the ice at 5 v 5. In saying that he has 75 points in his last 131 regular season games, is a veteran - teams love experience! - and has just one-year left on his deal.
If the Flames trade Wideman they'd open up a spot for someone like Jakub Nakladal, James Wisniewski or Barret Jackman, all of whom I would rather have. They could almost certainly afford any of those guys even if they eat half of Wideman's salary.
On why it is taking so long to get Gaudreau and Monahan signed:
As for the delay on 13 and 23, I do think Treliving is trying to play hardball, but he comes at it from a less than enviable bargaining position. The Flames need Monahan and Gaudreau, they can't not sign them.
My main read on this is the length of contract. From how I understand it, the Flames are pushing for an eight year term while the players' camps are looking for a shorter term. I think that is the biggest holdup right now.
Treliving is smart to push for a long, long-term deal.
Both players have proven to be elite scorers/point producers at the NHL level and at a young age. Monahan is 21 and Gaudreau is 22. Neither player has entered their prime yet so there's reason to believe both players have more to give than they have already shown - and they have shown a lot.
If they sign for, say, five years, and need new contracts after having their best season or two in the NHL the asking price will be even higher; especially if the cap goes up.
Taking care of these two for the long haul sooner than later is definitely ideal.
Recent posts:
On Kulak, Andersson & Kylington
Flames deserve credit for finding cheap, quality solutions in goal
Losing Jooris hurts more than most realize
Flames continue adding possession anchors
MacKinnon, Scheifele set market for Monahan's next deal
The Flames should have stayed away from Troy Brouwer
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