Confirmed with Link: Flames sign Nicklas Grossmann [1 yr, $575k]

[JurassicTunga]

Click to read more...

 

[DCDM]

Uhhh okay

 

[Lunatik]

Sounds like Kulak will b headed down

 

[Lunatik]

Uhhh okay

I'd rather Kulak play top minutes in Stockton than be the #7

 

[InfinityIggy]

Do we have to?

 

[QcFlames12]

Stockton is going to have a serious D corps down there. Wotherspoon and Kulak are both NHL capable defenders. I dont really get this move but i guess i trust my GM.

 

[DCDM]

I'd rather Kulak play top minutes in Stockton than be the #7

Oh that's fair. Wasn't entirely sure what the defense situation looked like.

Is he better than Smid was?

 

[InfinityIggy]

Giordano - Wideman
Brodie - Engelland
Grossmann - Hamilton

Wooooooooow, so good.

 

[FlamerForLife]

Rather have Grossman sit in the press box than kulak

 

[Anglesmith]

Yesterday, everyone's hopes and dreams came true.

Today, everybody's worst fears are coming true.

I'm just happy that everyone can feel a little bit of the heartbreak associated with Paul Byron last year for some of us.

 

[Calculon]

And they were doing so well

Would have rather had Kulak/Wideman/Jokipakka/Engelland rotating in and out of the lineup instead of relying on slower than a sloth Grossmann. And heaven help if Grossmann and Wideman ever see the ice together. Flames still find a way to be the leagues worst developmental system. That's quite a feat.

Only silver lining is maybe Kulak escapes under the radar for the expansion draft. Given his disappointment, his play will likely suffer in the shortterm, which would also help, I guess.

 

[BigRangy]

can't win em all.

I'm surprised this happened before the roster needed to be set.

 

[Lunatik]

Giordano - Wideman
Brodie - Engelland
Grossmann - Hamilton

Wooooooooow, so good.

Jokipakka?

 

[tmurfin]

Depth I guess, doesn't hurt to have the vet option.

 

[InfinityIggy]

Jokipakka?

Oh right. He is just so forgettable.

 

[MonyontheMoney]

Kulak, and to a lesser extent Wotherspoon are better served playing every game in Stockton, than receiving sporadic playing time in the NHL, I kind of saw this coming when Gulutzan said he'd prefer the extras not be young guys.

 

[Pirate King Luffy]

Gross.

 

[Lunatik]

Gross.

Mann

 

[Anglesmith]

Oh right. He is just so forgettable.

As is the tall red-head, apparently.

EDIT: Oh wait, you have him on the third pairing.

 

[InfinityIggy]

As is the tall red-head, apparently.

I would never forget about you Anglesmith.

 

[Kahvi]

Based on what I saw at WCoH, I'm not sold on Jokipakka.

 

[Bounces R Way]

I liked what I saw from Grossmann in the preseason. Clears the front of the net, ox along the boards, very sound positionally, and should help the PK. Put him with a decent puck mover and he'll probably be an even player. There's a reason he's been in this league for a long time.

All that being said he probably just gains another 15lbs in the pressbox.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

Kulak should be given a chance as a top 6 defencemen in the NHL. Owell.

 

[Turning Mangiapanese]

Based on what I saw at WCoH, I'm not sold on Jokipakka.

He was an adequate 3rd pair guy for that ~20 game stretch for us last season I think. Played a low-risk, boring defensive game. Most importantly he was better than Kulak or Wotherspoon.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Hate this signing. He's not an NHL defenseman. Would have rather just nabbed someone from waivers over signing him as a #7.