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The Calgary Flames should benefit from cutting dead weight up front |
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Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
The Calgary Flames have been fairly productive this off-season.
Even if, like myself, you're not sold on the blockbuster trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, they made a lot of other moves to improve the team.
They signed
one of the league's most consistent goal scorers in James Neal. They added a versatile, and productive, depth forward in Derek Ryan. They took a chance on someone with very encouraging underlying numbers in Austin Czarnik. They also cleared room for AHL standout Andrew Mangiapane.
It's not just about adding those talented players to the fold. It's cutting dead weight in the process.
The Flames walked away from Matt Stajan in free agency.
They bought out the disaster that was Troy Brouwer. Garnet Hathaway and Curtis Lazar, who somehow combined to play in 124 games last season, will be rotational forwards if they crack the roster at all.
Over the last two seasons, those have been the Flames' four most inefficient point producers up front. Each of them has also negatively impacted the team's possession numbers.
Depth players are really important in today's NHL and none of those guys were providing much value to the team. It could be argued each player actually did more harm than good so cutting their minutes, or replacing them entirely, is addition by subtraction.
I expect that to show come October.
Recent posts:
On Troy Brouwer's disatrous tenure in Calgary
On Noah Hanifin and his next contract
On Mark Jankowski's bridge deal with the Flames
There were positives in Sam Bennett's disappointing campaign
Flames sign Elias Lindholm to a six-year extension
A closer look at the Derek Ryan and Austin Czarnik signings
James Neal a necessary signing for the Flames
Dynamite U21 seasons from Andersson + Kylington put them in good company
Calgary Flames Blogger • 
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