Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: Forwards Edition
By Ramina Shlah
![Dec 6, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) and defenseman TJ Brodie (7) and right wing Troy Brouwer (36) and center Sean Monahan (23) and left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrate Monahan's game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Flames defeat the Stars 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports Dec 6, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) and defenseman TJ Brodie (7) and right wing Troy Brouwer (36) and center Sean Monahan (23) and left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) celebrate Monahan's game winning goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. The Flames defeat the Stars 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e6527b7bcd10b4ff3a74e1e12aa43f0300bab6d6e4f0425e3a1cce5296351543.jpg)
Question 5: Matt Stajan – Should he be exposed or protected?
Jonathan Boulanger
This is a really hard one. A great guy in the room, a long-time Flame, an amazing person and a hard-working player. However, I think it’s time to let go of the veteran. He had a great, blue-collar season this past year but he has been on a steady decline for the past few years. I just think there are other guys that the Calgary Flames are better off protecting than Stajan. It also doesn’t help that at 33 he’s not getting any younger.
Alex Hoegler
Expose. Stajan hasn’t been able to score much and is too pricey as a bottom six forward. Leave him exposed and hope Vegas takes him off your hands.
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Dan Raicevich
Expose him. There is enough veterans on this team to expose Stajan. He’s a declining center, and while he has been around the organization for a long time, his days are limited with the Calgary Flames.
Ramina Shlah
I agree with these three here. Stajan is definitely a standup guy like Jonathan said and he’s a veteran guy you like having in your locker room, but I think his time in Calgary may be up. He’s not who he once was and as much as I like his character, character doesn’t win you hockey games. Like Alex said, he’s too expensive for a bottom-six guy. I have the utmost respect for Stajan and I wish him the best of luck wherever he ends up, but I don’t think that place will be Calgary.