The Calgary Flames Of Things To Come: Part Two
By Cait Platt
Earlier, I wrote up something on the situation the Calgary Flames are facing this summer when it comes to free agency, trades, UFA, RFA, and filling in the holes at the center position on the top lines. Unfortunately this is not the only problem the Flames face in the off season. I have a strong dislike of the phrases “rebuild” and “blow it up” when it comes to offseason moves, “restructuring” is equally awful. The Flames are not doing any of those things, the Flames are… ummm…. uhhhhh… the Flames are moving forward after seasons of sitting at center ice watching the seasons go by.
This installment of “The Calgary Flames Of Things To Come” (yeah yeah, I know it’s the “ghosts” but I prefer not to make them ghosts) is all about the wingers.
Wingers:
Compared to the UFA pickings from the center post, the wingers have a bit more variety, options, and depth to them. Most notably is the option of picking up Alexander Semin and Zach Parise. Both of their teams are struggling to keep it together and both might slip through the cracks. Semin is part of the incredibly puzzling mess that is the Washington Capitals. There is no order, not control within the team. Bruce Boudreau tried to keep it together, but in the end, star players won out and Boudreau left. As much as I would love to see the end of Sutters in the Flames organization, I prefer not to have a player like Semin in the locker room. As for Zach Parise? With the New Jersey Devilsstruggling to find financial support and rumors of relocation swirling around, there’s a chance that he might not return to the Devils next season. This would be a pick up I am in favor of, the $6 million cap hit would be a bit much but he is a player worth the money.
The Flames need someone who can really get the puck moving. With Sven Baertschi a few seasons away from actually being NHL ready (a full season of games) a strong first line winger is necessary. Parise would be a good fit for the team. Other options? The aging Ryan Smyth, the even older Brian Rolston, guys like Teemu Selanne and Shane Doan aren’t moving, Sean Avery is retiring to go model or whatever, and I don’t see Jaromir Jagr moving out to Calgary.
As I said before, Rick Nash is available to be picked up, but I don’t see that happening any time soon. Besides, if we are talking about long term contracts that could be moved, I’d much rather have Steven Stamkos than Nash any day.
What about you? Do you think there’s a pick up or a trade the Flames need to make this summer?