Flames Acquire Blair Jones
Kent Wilson
January 06 2012 10:57AM
Reports coming down today that the Flames have dealt Brendan Mikkelson to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Blair Jones.
Mikkelson was acquired on waivers from the Ducks last season, but never really got a foothold in the Calgary organization. He spent most of his time as healthy scratch last year and has been plying his trade for the Abbotsford Heat this season.
Blair Jones is a 25-year old center with 78 NHL games under his belt. Mostly a 4th liner to this point in his career, Jones has scored just four goals and 10 points. This year, Jones has appeared in 21 games for Tampa.
The potentially good news is Jones has been absolutely buried by Guy Boucher so far with an offensive zone start of just ratio 34%. His possession rate in light of that tough assignment isn't terrible (-6.41/60), so he could another high functioning depth player in the Tim Jackman mold. He's also a big dude (6'2", 215 pounds) who can bang bodies and forecheck hard. Unfortunately, he's not going to help the NHL's worst face-off team. His win rate this season so far is just 40.3%
Im guessing this acquisition was in response to Sutter's recent lamentations about the size and toughness of his center crew. Jones brings both down the middle. He's also young, cheap and was had for an asset the team didn't really value any more.
That said, Jones isn't going to change the current fortunes of the Flames that much. He's a fourth line player and the fourth line isn't really the problem.
Feaster needs to slow down on his plans to build a Stanely Cup contender! So far so good, also, don't change the Dome Foam(beer) at the Saddledome! Cause rite now the fans might as well drink and create there own entertainment in the stands!
On a completely unrelated note I was SO close to meeting Peter Loubardias today. He was calling the Hurricanes-Tigers game at the Enmax Centre for Shaw, and I saw him just before he left down the stairs. Man, I would've been so happy to meet him. I wanted to say, "Yo loubo, some kinda game there eh?". hahahaha just thought I would share this to try and lighten the mood.
Oh! So what are you sayin? Jay Feaster might have made a move that was, is , might turn out to be beneficial to the team now and/or in the future and only gave up someone who will never play for the Flames. Sounds like a positive to me. But then again what do I know since I don't think "played in the NHL for Blah Blah Blah number of seasons proving I'm a hockey guy" is a necessary asset on every GM's resume before they can have any success in the NHL. What a huge pile of BS that is.
If Jones becomes a serviceable depth player I'll be happy with that. Anything extra is a bonus.
You guys are not thinking ahead at all. Try looking beyond this season, would ya?
At the end of this season Jackman, Kostopolous, Ivanans, Morrison, and Moss all come off the payroll. This is a cheap, and younger, player to fill one of those spots.
It's not going to set the world on fire but I highly doubt they got this RFA to not qualify next year.
Consider the message sent that contracts are up for competition.
Bingo!
My god, another d-man on IR, this time Scott Hannan placed on it with an upper-body injury. Our D corps is looking more and more like the Oilers...*facepalm*
Nail Yakupov, here we come!
The Battle of Alberta has officially become a race for last place.
For the record, Captain... I have never been a fan of Feaster, and have posted the same here often.
If Comeau and Jones do well... Feaster should still be replaced.
My guess is, if both teams stay the course, the Oilers are drafting in the 3/4 range and the Flames draft in the 6/7 range. So not quite a race for bottom, but pretty close. A lot of it may depend on what Feaster does at the deadline and the performance of the replacement-level talent, if any trades come to pass.