Flames back on track with win over Flyers
There’s Hamilton, Giordano and Brodie ... then a big drop-off to Wideman and Co.
Understandably, a Dennis Wideman demotion doesn’t attract the same sort of front-page attention as Johnny Gaudreau’s.
It is, however, representative of one of the biggest problems the Calgary Flames have faced all season long.
This team is devoid of a quality no. 4 defenceman.
It’s part of the reason T.J. Brodie has struggled to regain the scoring touch and effectiveness he enjoyed last year while he was paired on the top line with Mark Giordano.
And it’s one of the biggest roadblocks threatening to derail the team’s chances of making the playoffs or making any sort of run this spring.
There’s simply no semblance of defensive depth on a blue line spearheaded by studs Dougie Hamilton, Giordano and Brodie. After that, the pickins are slim.
Anyone who saw the Flyers’ first goal Wednesday night — and the comedy of errors by Brett Kulak and Wideman that preceded it — knows the gravity of the problem.
And it’s highly unlikely the Flames will be able to meaningfully address the situation until the summer due to the costs involved in such acquisitions and the threat of potentially losing any newcomers in the expansion draft.
Wideman’s glaring miscue on the Coyotes’ third goal Monday seems to have been the last straw in another disappointing season, prompting a move to the third pairing Wednesday against Philadelphia alongside young Brett Kulak.
That promoted Deryk Engelland to the second unit with Brodie, rewarding the veteran tough guy for yet another solid season as much as it was reminding Wideman he needs to be more engaged. He needs to be better, especially if the 33-year-old has any dreams of prolonging his NHL career past this spring.
Fact is, Engelland provides exemplary penalty killing and a toughness no one else on the team possesses, making him a valuable third-pairing defenceman the Flames hope to keep around next year. More on that later.
Despite his uninspired play, Wideman is averaging the thirdmost ice time on the team this year at almost 21 minutes. It’s a telling stat.
Clearly the Flames — like every other team in the league — are looking to bolster their back end this time of year.
Had anyone been willing to take on even part of Wideman’s $5.25-million cap hit this year or last he would have been moved long ago.
Sorry, Flames fans, but with a $6 million salary this year, he isn’t going anywhere at the deadline.
Vancouver Canuck-turned minor leaguer Matt Bartkowski was signed to a professional tryout by the Flames Wednesday but under no circumstances should anyone misconstrue this as part of this year’s solution.
The Bart-man arrived for the morning skate without a cape or a clue as to whether he’ll sign or see NHL action with the Flames anytime soon.
Because he played under Canucks’ then-assistant coach Glen Gulutzan last season, the slick-skating 28-year-old will likely get a chance to prove he deserves a look-see.
However, he was largely brought in with an eye on satisfying requirements for the Vegas expansion draft as teams have to expose at least one defenceman who is a) under contract in 2017-18 and b) played in 40 NHL games last year or 70 or more NHL games in the prior two seasons.
Bartkowski, who has played 34 games with Providence of the AHL this year, played 80 with the Canucks last year, scoring six goals and adding 12 assists. At this point he’s the only defenceman the Flames will expose.
He was a fourth defenceman with the lowly Canucks last year but received no offers as a free agent last summer.
In terms of next season, the Flames would like to bring Engelland back and the feeling is mutual. The 34-year-old is an unrestricted free agent and knows he’s in for a significant pay decrease from the $2.9 million he made each of the last three years to provide grit.
It would be foolish for the Flames to sign him before the June 20 expansion draft and risk losing him, which is why they’ll revisit him later this summer.
Sixth defenceman Brett Kulak is a work in progress, as is Tyler Wotherspoon and Jyrki Jokipakka. None are under contract for next season.
Second round prospects Rasmus Andersson and Oliver Kylington are progressing in Stockton but few in the organization expect them to start next season in the NHL, meaning one of Brad Treliving’s off-season priorities will be adding an impact defenceman. Or two.
It’s his priority now, but adding any defenceman of significance at the trade deadline would not only be costly but would have to be a player who isn’t under contract after this season.
Rentals are pricey and don’t necessarily make sense with a rebuilding organization that still needs to re-stock its cupboards. Don’t expect much to change in terms of personnel this season, meaning Wideman will eventually be put back on the second pairing and the depth issue will persist.