To be honest, I haven't really been that impressed with Wotherspoon so far anyway. Not to say he hasn't played OK. But I don't think he's anywhere near ready.
- The-O-G

I think he's been great. Not overly flashy, not a huge hitter, but very good positionally and he's moved the puck well.

Compared to how Breen did during his stint with the big club, Wotherspoon's been fantastic.

I think he's been great. Not overly flashy, not a huge hitter, but very good positionally and he's moved the puck well.

Compared to how Breen did during his stint with the big club, Wotherspoon's been fantastic.
- jtommyt

LOL....can't argue with that!

I didn't mean he has been horrible, what I was trying to say was that I don't think he's ready to play a full year in the NHL next year.

Yeah, I'm with you here... and I was kidding about my edit above.

Wotherspoon has been a very pleasant surprise so far, but it's way too soon to start comparing him to a guy like Gardiner.
- jtommyt

I think you guys are doing a great job stockpiling young talent. I really love the Granlund pick for example. Things are on their way for sure for you guys.

I think you guys are doing a great job stockpiling young talent. I really love the Granlund pick for example. Things are on their way for sure for you guys.
- mykokes

Thanks bro.

I think you guys are doing a great job stockpiling young talent. I really love the Granlund pick for example. Things are on their way for sure for you guys.
- mykokes

We appreciate that dude!

Now go on the Oiler thread and tell them how much talent we have coming.

LOL....can't argue with that!

I didn't mean he has been horrible, what I was trying to say was that I don't think he's ready to play a full year in the NHL next year.
- The-O-G

I think Him and selloff will be ready after another year in the AHL.

The D corps I don't think is to big of an immediate concern.

I think Him and selloff will be ready after another year in the AHL.

The D corps I don't think is to big of an immediate concern.
- numbear

We need to get someone with top pairing potential in our system very soon. Gio will only be around for so long and D men take a while to develop properly. I don't think anyone else in our system has that potential.

We need to get someone with top pairing potential in our system very soon. Gio will only be around for so long and D men take a while to develop properly. I don't think anyone else in our system has that potential.
- TandA4Flames

wotherspoon, seiloff have that potential.

But yes after that its thin. Smid and butler are a good 4/5/6 type player. stepping up when needed in top 4.

Ekblad would solve that . And bringing all 3 reinharts together of course

wotherspoon, seiloff have that potential.

But yes after that its thin. Smid and butler are a good 4/5/6 type player. stepping up when needed in top 4.

Ekblad would solve that . And bringing all 3 reinharts together of course
- numbear

Sorry,I disagree. I really like both Wotherspoon and Sieloff as prospects, but if they are to be considered top pairing guys, they had better find an offensive game that has eluded them so far in their hockey lives.

Sorry,I disagree. I really like both Wotherspoon and Sieloff as prospects, but if they are to be considered top pairing guys, they had better find an offensive game that has eluded them so far in their hockey lives.
- TandA4Flames

100% Agree.

Just at a quick glance this is what I would like to see next year.
Sign
Cammalleri (1-2 yr contract) $5.0mil
Stastny (5-6 yr deal) $7.0
Downie (2-3 yr deal) $4.0

Then I would try trade into the RFA market and try getting:
Buf - Chris Stewart (RW) (TRADE: 2014 Colorado's 2nd rnd pick + David Jones)
And
Min - Nino Niederreiter (RW/LW) + Min 2014 3rd round pick (TRADE: Curtis Glencross + 7th round pick)
and
SJ- Tennyson (RH D-man) (TRADE:Galiardi or Byron + 6th round pick)
or
FLA - Kulikov (LH D-man) + 2015 3rd round pick (TRADE: Hudler + Hanowski)
or
FLA - Gudbranson (RH D-man) (TRADE: Hudler + Cundari + 2014 2rd round pick)

Yes I realise that all these RFA's maybe tough or almost impossible to get but these are who I would try target to get. If Minny is going after Vanek it might make Nino available for a trade.

I also think that Hudler gets traded at the draft for picks/prospects.

2014-15 Lines

Baertschi, Stastny, Stewart
Cammalleri, Monahan, Niederreiter
Colborne, Backlund, Downie
Bouma, Stajan, McGratten

Brodie, Giordano
Wideman, Tennyson
Russel, Smid

Ramo
Ortio

If 1st/2nd line gets hurt I would call up Gadreau, Poirier, Granlund
If 3rd/4th line gets hurt I would call up Rienhart, Ferland, Knight, MacDermid
If a defenceman goes down I would call up Wotherspoon, Sieloff, Kanzig

Just at a quick glance this is what I would like to see next year.
Sign
Cammalleri (1-2 yr contract) $5.0mil
Stastny (5-6 yr deal) $7.0
Downie (2-3 yr deal) $4.0

Then I would try trade into the RFA market and try getting:
Buf - Chris Stewart (RW) (TRADE: 2014 Colorado's 2nd rnd pick + David Jones)
And
Min - Nino Niederreiter (RW/LW) + Min 2014 3rd round pick (TRADE: Curtis Glencross + 7th round pick)
and
SJ- Tennyson (RH D-man) (TRADE:Galiardi or Byron + 6th round pick)
or
FLA - Kulikov (LH D-man) + 2015 3rd round pick (TRADE: Hudler + Hanowski)
or
FLA - Gudbranson (RH D-man) (TRADE: Hudler + Cundari + 2014 2rd round pick)

Yes I realise that all these RFA's maybe tough or almost impossible to get but these are who I would try target to get. If Minny is going after Vanek it might make Nino available for a trade.

I also think that Hudler gets traded at the draft for picks/prospects.

2014-15 Lines

Baertschi, Stastny, Stewart
Cammalleri, Monahan, Niederreiter
Colborne, Backlund, Downie
Bouma, Stajan, McGratten

Brodie, Giordano
Wideman, Tennyson
Russel, Smid

Ramo
Ortio

If 1st/2nd line gets hurt I would call up Gadreau, Poirier, Granlund
If 3rd/4th line gets hurt I would call up Rienhart, Ferland, Knight, MacDermid
If a defenceman goes down I would call up Wotherspoon, Sieloff, Kanzig
- buddy_doug

I'm not a huge fan of Stewart. My only issue with going after Statsny is; Would he put us back in the race for 9th place? If we pull the trigger to early we could end up back where we were- to good to get a good draft pick, not good enough to make/make a run in the playoffs.

I am more than willing to wait until after next season to pull the trigger on moves like this, McDavid or Eichel could signal the end of attempting the rebuild, and time to start making moves to compete.

Sorry,I disagree. I really like both Wotherspoon and Sieloff as prospects, but if they are to be considered top pairing guys, they had better find an offensive game that has eluded them so far in their hockey lives.
- TandA4Flames

While I agree those 2 guys probably aren't destined to be top pairing guys, a good rotation of Six d-men requires less variation in ice time between #1 and #6.

For example:

1 & 2 play 25 minutes per game
3 & 4 play 20 minutes per game
5 & 6 play 15 minutes per game

Gio, Brodie, Russell, Wideman can provide enough offense IMO. Between Seiloff, Wotherspoon and Smid we just need them to be solid defensively while being able to eat 15-20 minutes consistently without being overwhelmed.

I'm not a huge fan of Stewart. My only issue with going after Statsny is; Would he put us back in the race for 9th place? If we pull the trigger to early we could end up back where we were- to good to get a good draft pick, not good enough to make/make a run in the playoffs.

I am more than willing to wait until after next season to pull the trigger on moves like this, McDavid or Eichel could signal the end of attempting the rebuild, and time to start making moves to compete.
- Saskabush

Agreed....no reason to sign Statsny IMO....we have enough C's I believe, especially if we draft a C this year i.e. Reinhart (also with Jankowski coming down the pipe too hahaha).

Agreed....no reason to sign Statsny IMO....we have enough C's I believe, especially if we draft a C this year i.e. Reinhart (also with Jankowski coming down the pipe too hahaha).
- The-O-G

Hey, they just did a write-up on him on the flames site ....I haven't given up on the kid yet, he has until his college eligibility runs out to prove himself to me.

Ya it looks like we have really good odds of drafting two top notch centres over the next two drafts (If we take Reinhart), and we have plenty of centres in the pipeline. I don't want to get tied in to a big contract for a guy we might not need in a few years. The Stajan signing still puzzles me, we have way to many guys that can play the 3c with a higher ceiling.

I'm not a huge fan of Stewart. My only issue with going after Statsny is; Would he put us back in the race for 9th place? If we pull the trigger to early we could end up back where we were- to good to get a good draft pick, not good enough to make/make a run in the playoffs.

I am more than willing to wait until after next season to pull the trigger on moves like this, McDavid or Eichel could signal the end of attempting the rebuild, and time to start making moves to compete.
- Saskabush

Yup, I agree. It is too early to make moves like that although I dont mind the look of those lines. But we have fully stock 4th cupboards. Both with the big club as well as at the AHL level and still have prospects in lower levels developing. This is how we would maintain a strong and steady pipeline of talent that keeps us competitive for decades.

Drafting McD or Eichel next year would certainly end the drafting part of the rebuild I think. Then we can look to add FAs to fill gaps.

Hey, they just did a write-up on him on the flames site ....I haven't given up on the kid yet, he has until his college eligibility runs out to prove himself to me.

Ya it looks like we have really good odds of drafting two top notch centres over the next two drafts (If we take Reinhart), and we have plenty of centres in the pipeline. I don't want to get tied in to a big contract for a guy we might not need in a few years. The Stajan signing still puzzles me, we have way to many guys that can play the 3c with a higher ceiling.
- Saskabush

Haha I know, me neither!! He's on a 4 game point streak heading into College playoffs too (which starts tonight).

It's just funny, that's all.

While I agree those 2 guys probably aren't destined to be top pairing guys, a good rotation of Six d-men requires less variation in ice time between #1 and #6.

For example:

1 & 2 play 25 minutes per game
3 & 4 play 20 minutes per game
5 & 6 play 15 minutes per game

Gio, Brodie, Russell, Wideman can provide enough offense IMO. Between Seiloff, Wotherspoon and Smid we just need them to be solid defensively while being able to eat 15-20 minutes consistently without being overwhelmed.
- The-O-G

I dont disagree. But Gio and Wides only have a few years left and Dmen take 3-5 years to properly develop. So getting those types in our pool now ensures they are ready to take on the top role when the time comes. Otherwise we end up like EDM who have some good D prospects, the timeline for readiness doesn't align with the forwards contracts to be contenders for years.

I dont disagree. But Gio and Wides only have a few years left and Dmen take 3-5 years to properly develop. So getting those types in our pool now ensures they are ready to take on the top role when the time comes. Otherwise we end up like EDM who have some good D prospects, the timeline for readiness doesn't align with the forwards contracts to be contenders for years.
- TandA4Flames

Ahhh. I see. I was talking more in the next 1-3 years. You're thinking more like 5 years down the road, when they are ready to contend.

Haha I know, me neither!! He's on a 4 game point streak heading into College playoffs too (which starts tonight).

It's just funny, that's all.
- The-O-G

I might have to watch the NCAA playoffs this year, haven't had anything to cheer for in the NHL playoffs for awhile

I think the useless Sabres will get McDavid and it'll be a fight between Calgary, Florida and of course the almighty Oil for Eichel.

I think the useless Sabres will get McDavid and it'll be a fight between Calgary, Florida and of course the almighty Oil for Eichel.
- whipper334

I have a feeling we are gonna finish 10th in the west next year.

Just at a quick glance this is what I would like to see next year.
Sign
Cammalleri (1-2 yr contract) $5.0mil
Stastny (5-6 yr deal) $7.0
Downie (2-3 yr deal) $4.0

Then I would try trade into the RFA market and try getting:
Buf - Chris Stewart (RW) (TRADE: 2014 Colorado's 2nd rnd pick + David Jones)
And
Min - Nino Niederreiter (RW/LW) + Min 2014 3rd round pick (TRADE: Curtis Glencross + 7th round pick)
and
SJ- Tennyson (RH D-man) (TRADE:Galiardi or Byron + 6th round pick)
or
FLA - Kulikov (LH D-man) + 2015 3rd round pick (TRADE: Hudler + Hanowski)
or
FLA - Gudbranson (RH D-man) (TRADE: Hudler + Cundari + 2014 2rd round pick)

Yes I realise that all these RFA's maybe tough or almost impossible to get but these are who I would try target to get. If Minny is going after Vanek it might make Nino available for a trade.

I also think that Hudler gets traded at the draft for picks/prospects.

2014-15 Lines

Baertschi, Stastny, Stewart
Cammalleri, Monahan, Niederreiter
Colborne, Backlund, Downie
Bouma, Stajan, McGratten

Brodie, Giordano
Wideman, Tennyson
Russel, Smid

Ramo
Ortio

If 1st/2nd line gets hurt I would call up Gadreau, Poirier, Granlund
If 3rd/4th line gets hurt I would call up Rienhart, Ferland, Knight, MacDermid
If a defenceman goes down I would call up Wotherspoon, Sieloff, Kanzig
- buddy_doug

good looking if all stars align type of roster, but I cant see Stastny heading to you guys if he doesnt resign with the Avs (which we have an offer on the table already, apparnetly they just want to wait till after the season to negoiate it, since he hasnt turned it down is a good sign he sticks around, same goes with O'Reilly)

But if he is a UFA and signs else where, I think he goes to cup contender hunting, Chicago, St Louis, who apparently have been craving for a 2nd line center for a few seasons now

Sorry,I disagree. I really like both Wotherspoon and Sieloff as prospects, but if they are to be considered top pairing guys, they had better find an offensive game that has eluded them so far in their hockey lives.
- TandA4Flames

Until this year, you could have said that about Gio too though.

Until this year, you could have said that about Gio too though.
- jtommyt

Sure its possible they become more than what theyre projected for but I I dont you can plan for that. They appear that they will be solid shut down guys, good for #3-#6 Dmen. We could see a Robin Regher type player who plays the top pairing along with a high offensive type, but I'm not sure that is an ideal situation in today's NHL.

What do ya think?