Calgary Flames 4 Best Options To Replace Wideman

It seems inevitable that Dennis Wideman will miss time in the latter half of the season for the Calgary Flames.

Luckily for the Calgary Flames, there is some defensive depth in their system that will provide either a first-team ready replacement or a guy currently playing in the American Hockey league can make the step-up.

Or a combination of both options, as a Wideman suspension will open up the ‘healthy scratch’ spot for another defenseman, provided injuries keep occurring back-to-back.

Should the Calgary Flames lose Dennis Wideman for twenty-plus games, you’d assume they’ll go with the safest option of moving a defenseman up from the Stockton Heat, even if it’s just to take a spot when they’re on the road.

Related Story: Calgary Flames Should Expect Dennis Wideman Suspension

At this stage in what has been a somewhat disappointing season, actually giving one of the younger guys ice-time in a Calgary Flames jersey wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

There are both obvious answers and some more interesting options and what Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley actually decides upon will shape our thoughts on where the Calgary Flames will look to finish this year.

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Using the strongest possible guy is a clear indication that Hartley still believes the play-offs aren’t just a pipe dream.

Using one of the younger guys in the system suggest that he has given up on the play-off chase somewhat and wants to use the time to blood some new talent.

Using an older hand from the Stockton Heat points out that he doesn’t yet trust the youngsters in the Calgary Flames system.

Alternate to those options is the potential to seek a defensive asset on the trade market, but the prices right now seem steep and there are limited options to fill the Wideman role.

The Calgary Flames could look at someone like Roman Polak from the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it seems unlikely they’ll be any sort of trade unless there is a much bigger overall deal on the table.

Here are four options already in the Calgary Flames system.

Next: The Newer Option: Jakub Nakladal