Calgary Flames place Poirier, Shinkaruk, and Wotherspoon on waivers

Early Tuesday morning, the Calgary Flames have announced that they have placed three of their players on waivers today.

Multiple sources earlier today have announced that the Calgary Flames have placed three players on waivers: Emile Poirier, Hunter Shinkaruk, and Tyler Wotherspoon.

Emile Poirier

RW Emile Poirier was the Calgary Flames second pick at the 2013 NHL draft. He was taken at the 22nd overall pick. In the last three years, he has spent most of his time in the AHL with the Flames farm team. In those years, he’s also played eight games in the NHL. He has just one assist in those games.

Poirier’s numbers have somewhat been dropping, and in February, he took a personal leave. It wasn’t revealed as to why until recently when Poirier opened up about problems with alcohol abuse. Even Flames GM Brad Treliving said that seeing his decline in his numbers, there must have been a reason for it.

Related Story: Flames prospect Emile Poirier opens up about alcohol abuse

Via Calgary Herald:

"You say, ‘OK, there must be a reason for this.’ The hockey is never going to work if the life isn’t in order … and, in some ways, it answered those questions about what happened to Emile Poirier."

Poirier had been working with Brian McGrattan and Micheal Ferland. Both who have gone through the same problems. And Ferland also sought help from McGrattan as well. But the reality is, he hasn’t been impressive during the preseason. He’s only played in two exhibition games, but he has no points and no shots on goal in those games.

Hunter Shinkaruk

LW Hunter Shinkaruk was the Vancouver Canucks first-round draft pick, also in 2013. Being a home-grown Calgary Flames fan, he was traded to the Flames last year in February of 2016 for Markus Granlund. Since he was drafted, he’s been spending his time split between the AHL and the NHL. Moreso in the AHL.

Calgary Flames

Since coming to Calgary last season in the second half, he had six goals and 12 points in17 games with the Stockton Heat. And with the Flames, he had two goals and one assist in seven games. This year, with the Heat he had a relatively decent season with 15 goals and 35 points, but in the NHL, he had just one assist in seven games. During the preseason, he had one goal in two games. But the Flames only have so much room for forwards. I don’t think Shinkaruk is necessarily bad, but Granlund > Shinkaruk.

I do understand why the Flames traded Granlund away, though. Right now, he’s excelling with the Canucks. But he’s also on their top-six. Look at who the Flames have on their top-six. There wasn’t quite enough room for Granlund and there wasn’t the potential for him to excel with the team. He’s a hard-worker and he definitely deserved to be on a top-unit, but again, there just wasn’t the spot for him here in Calgary.

And now, there seems to be no more room for Shinkaruk either.

Tyler Wotherspoon

D Tyler Wotherspoon was the Calgary Flames second round pick in 2011. Out of most of the Flames prospects, he’s definitely been with the team the longest. He mainly spends his time down in the AHL. This year, he played in four games with the Flames and had no points, no shots on goal, a -2 rating, and four giveaways. Like the two others here, there just may be no room for him on the roster. So far during preseason, he has no points and a -1 rating in three preseason games.

Right now, it’s basically a battle for the sixth and seventh defenceman. Rasmus Andersson is definitely proving himself and Brett Kulak may be looked at over Wotherspoon. When you think of the Flames defence of the future, you don’t quite think of Wotherspoon. You think of Andersson, Oliver Kylington, maybe Kulak, and now with the Flames first-round draft pick this year, Juuso Valimaki, who has definitely impressed so far during training camp and preseason, Wotherspoon won’t quite make the cut.

Next: 9 days until the season starts - #9 Lanny McDonald

This isn’t to bash these players or say they’re not deserving of a spot. There just may not be a whole lot of room with this Calgary Flames club who’s ready for Cup contention this year.