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1) It seems like a good bet Las Vegas will take Matt Stajan in the expansion draft. He is a valuable bottom-6 player, has only one year remaining on his deal (so Vegas won't be attached to that $3.125M salary long-term) and, quite frankly, the Flames don't really have any other options worth taking.
Knowing that many have penciled Mark Jankowski into Stajan's spot on the 4th line next season. If Jankowski's AHL numbers are any indication, he is ready for a bigger role than that.
Jankowski finished 9th among AHL forwards in both points and primary points. As impressive as that is for a 22-year-old in his first year of pro hockey, his rate stats make him look even better.
Jankowski scored 1.49 goals per 60 minutes of even-strength ice, which was good for 5th among AHL forwards (minimum 40 games). Under the same criteria, Jankowski finished 3rd in primary points per 60 and tied for 3rd with a 68.75 Goals For%.
The numbers Jankowski put up were good enough to earn him top spot in the AHL in WAR (wins above replacement).
When Jankowski was drafted it was no secret he'd be a long-term project. Apparently, he may just be worth the wait.
2) Chad Johnson has elected to represent Team Canada at the World Hockey Championships, which is smart for him.
He had a very good first half of the season but his play down the stretch was spotty. That is what will be fresh on the minds of most in the management world (recency bias is real).
Johnson figures to get most of the starts -- I doubt Eric Comrie or Calvin Pickard will be playing in the elimination rounds -- and has a very good team in front of him. If he makes the saves he's supposed to and wins a lot of games, which shouldn't be a problem, he'll be leaving a good impression on the Flames and other potential suitors ahead of contract negotiations.
3) The work week has reached its end and, one way or the other, we still haven't heard anything regarding Brad Treliving's future with the Flames. This whole situation seems fishy and it feels like the longer it drags out, the more likely it is the Flames make a change.
The Flames' Twitter account added a little fuel to the fire on Friday when they shared an article about the impact Craig Conroy, who has been mentioned numerous times as the GM in waiting, and Martin Gelinas are making in the front office.
The timing of an article like that doesn't feel right. That the article was written in in February and dug up from the archives makes it even more suspicious.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it but I feel like the Flames were hinting changes could be coming and/or testing the waters for what is to come.
Hopefully I am wrong because I think Treliving has done enough to warrant a new contract.
Recent posts:
Cloud of uncertainty hovers over Treliving's future with the Flames
Flames expected to expose Brouwer in expansion draft
The Flames should retain Brad Treliving
On Kovalchuk and Conroy
Playoff predictions for the 2nd round
Calgary Flames 2016-17 season awards
Notes on quotes from locker room clean-out day
Setting the table for the Flames' off-season
Stanley Cup predictions
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