Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell …‹ - One of the biggest items on Brad Treliving's off-season to do list is to find a capable defenseman to skate alongside T.J. Brodie on the 2nd pairing.
There's been talk Michael Stone could be re-signed but I don't think he's the answer, especially given the expected cost (I doubt he'd take much of a pay cut, if any, from the $4 million he made this past season).
The guy I'd really be targeting, assuming he makes it to free agency, is Brendan Smith. He can skate, he's physical, he's an excellent shot suppressor, he can kill penalties and he's a left-handed shot.
If the Flames were to sign Smith, Brodie would have to switch to his off-side but he has played quite well there throughout his career.
Should Smith end up elsewhere, or the Flames simply elect to go with a more cost effective option, I think Cody Franson would be a guy worth considering.
He's not at all flashy and sometimes he doesn't look very good but, at the end of the day, he gets results.
Franson can chip in offensively and historically has been good at driving possession and suppressing shots. He could be a nice, low-budget signing that may not seem big at the time but ends up really paying off (think Matt Irwin in Nashville this year).
- Sticking with the theme of free agent defensemen, there are a lot of player with higher perceived value than actual value.
One guy, in particular, who fits the bill is Karl Alzner. He is Washington's worst regular defender in terms of producing points at 5v5 as well as driving possession (the Capitals control 7% more of the shot attempts without him). Basically, he is the defense version of Troy Brouwer in this year's free agent crop.
I continue to see people mention Alzner as a good target for any team looking for defense help but I really don't see it. I have a feeling he is going to get way too much term and money this summer
Recent posts: On Brouwer's struggles and Bennett's next contract