Four Ice veterans who were away at NHL camps will be back for the club's season-opener on the road in Red Deer Friday.
Joe Antilla returned from San Jose over the weekend while Nathan Lieuwen (Buffalo)was back yesterday. D Joey Leach should be back in time for Friday and the same with Drew Czerwonka from Edmonton while it looks as though both Max Reinhart and James Martin will stay with the Flames for an exhibition game or two.
Trevor at the Daily Townsman has a piece here.
Reinhart will almost assuredly return being 19 and only able to play either in Calgary or Kootenay but in Martin's case, his return is anything but assured.
The Flames are impressed with Martin, who is 20 and is scheduled to anchor the Ice blueline this season. The Winnipeg product has other ideas though and is bent on earning a contract and sticking with the Flames organization.
Not to put the cart before horse but Martin was as sure thing as one could get to be one of the club's three, 20-year-olds. If he's signed by the Flames and doesn't return it throws a rather large wrench into the club's plan for the blueline.
Meaning the group becomes somewhat younger and that the deal to trade Hayden Rintoul in June might have been a little hasty, obviously with the 20/20 hind-site glasses on. Neibrandt, Leach and Paulsen are 19 while Dirk is 18 as the club's top four minus Martin with Simpson, Hubic - both 17 - and Wand likely to stick with the club in this scenario. With all three to be leaned on heavily in that case.
Then again, Martin hasn't made pro yet, just a lot of Ice fans really nervous.
Shaw announced the TV Schedule for the upcoming season it's here. The Ice are featured twice, both on the road, in Red Deer and Moose Jaw, respectively, in January.
5 comments:
If Martin sticks, it looks to me like there are some big decisions to be made. An overload of forwards, not enough depth on defense.
Could this mean that some of the guys sent home may be called back or just trades?
Martin was sent down to the Abbotsford Heat (AHL) to continue his tryout.
I think it'll mean trades but that depends on the club's early season fortunes. They were looking for secondary scoring and not depth on the blueline. The loss of Martin means they could use both.
James Martin is gone. Just signed NHL contract with Flames! http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=589454
I am really going to miss Martin. All through last year he was so consistent. Was really excited when we had the propect of both Martin and Lieuwen. Big shoes to fill.
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