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
Jakub Nakladal came to the Calgary Flames with experience in the KHL so clearly has the pedigree, it’s whether they are willing to test him in the NHL yet that is the big question.
When he was acquired as a free agent in the summer, it was a reasonable safe assumption that Jakub was being signed for Calgary Flames roster time.
That hasn’t quite been the case as he has found himself with the Calgary Flames affiliate, the Stockton Heat in the AHL. In his 34 games thus far this year, he has put up 2 goals and 12 assists; nothing ground-breaking but stronger than his previous career totals with the likes of Lev Prague and Spartak Moscow in the KHL.
It’s safe to say that he has a steady pair of hands and is probably deserving of some time with the Calgary Flames in the NHL.
Using Wideman’s NHL numbers this year as a comparison; Nakladal is only 5 points behind, albeit in the American Hockey League. Not exactly a fair comparison, but one that suggests he brings similar offence to Dennis.
Nakladal hasn’t yet seen Calgary Flames ice-time, but this could prove to be the ideal chance. Even if it’s only a five game stint, it’ll help the coaching staff determine whether he is talented enough to succeed as an NHL player.
Next: The Intriguing Option: Tyler Wotherspoon
Tyler Wotherspoon has already seen ice-time in the past for the Calgary Flames. Maybe it’s time to give him another shot in the NHL.
In a September Calgary Sun interview with Randy Sportak, Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley had the following to say of Wotherspoon.
“If you want to steal a jersey or you want to be part of an NHL team, you’ll have to step on toes.” said Hartley, suggesting that Tyler shows too much respect to the players currently manning the Calgary Flames blue line.
Call it respect, call it youthful inexperience, call it whatever; it suggests that Hartley does have Wotherspoon in mind for a role, but wants the player to truly earn his place. With Wideman’s expected suspension, this is that perfect opportunity for Tyler to get back onto the Calgary Flames roster and prove himself to the head coach.
As a 2011 second round draft pick, the clock is ticking to become an NHL regular; several other defensemen from his draft class are already regulars in the ‘big league’, including none other than Dougie Hamilton.
Whether the twenty-one year old will see ice-time with the Calgary Flames this season is anyone’s guess, but he certainly has an appetite for it given his appearances in last year’s play-off run.
Next: The Rookie Option: Oliver Kylington
Oliver Kylington didn’t make the roster this year, which given his youth was no surprise. However, he did impress during the Calgary Flames pre-season and would be a great youngster to promote.
The Calgary Flames clearly saw something in Kylington, as they traded to move up the draft order to ensure they took him in last year’s NHL Entry Draft.
Related Story: Calgary Flames Move Up To Pick Oliver Kylington
In analyzing his talent, Hockey’s Future has this to say about the young Swede:
Defensively Kylington remains a work in progress and doesn’t care to be brought to a standstill while defending in his own zone. Heads up and very forward-thinking, much of his progress will be determined by how quickly he manages to hone his skills while gaining a stronger mental focus in the tasks at hand.
Based on that analysis alone, he’s probably not quite ready for NHL ice-time. However, that isn’t the whole story as Oliver has been quietly impressing people with the improvements in his game with the Stockton Heat.
In a Calgary Herald article, Stockton Heat head coach Ryan Huska remarked “I think he’s come a long way early in the season.” This alone suggests that the improvement is visible and that sort of visible improvement is sometimes deserving of reward.
Should the Calgary Flames really want to go their prospects something to aim for, they should look to reward Oliver for improving his game this year, even if it’s a few road-trips to be around the team and maybe a couple of games so as not to burn his rookie year.
Kylington is clearly a bit of an outsider, a wildcard if you like to move up to the Calgary Flames blueline, but stranger things have happened.
Next: The Obvious Option: Ladislav Smid
Ladislav Smid has spent much of the season as the go-to ‘healthy scratch’ defenseman for the Calgary Flames. Why would anyone else be considered for the spot in the line-up?
The obvious answer to the question of replacing Dennis Wideman for ten to twenty games is the guy that has been travelling with the team all year, Ladislav Smid.
Since his conditioning stint with the Stockton Heat earlier in the season, Smid has only seen limited ice-time for the Calgary Flames, but has stepped in on occasion.
Related Story: Calgary Flames Send Smid For Conditioning Stint
His limited game time this year is possibly the only thing not going for him with the pending Wideman suspension. He’s been around the Calgary Flames team all year and thus wouldn’t need to adjust to new teammates and coaches and most importantly has actually already cracked the line-up even if he is the seventh of six defensemen right now.
To my thinking, the Calgary Flames should be rewarding Smid for his patience up in the press box this season, though should also look to bring someone up from their AHL affiliate if only for the experience with the NHL team.
Next: Calgary Flames Defenseman Suspended Indefinitely
What do you think? Are these the only possible options and which one do you reckon would slot into the Calgary Flames line-up most comfortably? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.