In their first "big" moves of the summer, the Calgary Flames announced on Wednesday afternoon that the club has acquired pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Dennis Wideman. Headed to the Washington Capitals in return are blueliner Jordan Henry (himself a pending UFA) and a fifth round pick in 2013.
The Flames also announced that Wideman has been signed to a five-year contract worth $5.25 million per year. Sportsnet 960 The Fan’s Pat Steinberg is reporting that the deal also includes a full no movement clause.
A native of Kitchener, Ontario, the 29-year-old Wideman had a strong season with the Capitals, posting 11 goals and 46 points. In 535 career NHL games with St. Louis, Boston, Florida and Washington, Wideman has 251 points.
He immediately becomes the highest paid Flames blueliner not named Jay Bouwmeester. Based on the amount of money being spent on Wideman, Bouwmeester, Mark Giordano and Anton Babchuk, this perhaps adds fuel to the fire of the Bouwmeester trade rumours.
The Flames have ALSO re-signed winger Blake Comeau to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.
UPDATE: Notes from the Feaster media availability:
-Flames were at 50 contracts prior to the Wideman signing, so they got the Capitals to take back an expiring UFA contract to get the deal done. No further deals are necessarily coming, as the Flames can fit under the cap with their many defenders, but Feaster noted that he’s willing to discuss any deal that’ll make his team better.
-Comeau was offered a two-year deal, but turned it down in favour of a single year term. He wants to prove that last year’s under-performance was a fluke and that his 20+ goal campaign was not.
-The Flames are looking to add a top-six forward and possibly bottom-six guys that make the team more difficult to play against. Not necessarily guys that are "boxers," but guys who finish checks and make teams work hard to get points out of Calgary.
Oh The banter!
Whelp, it’s pricey. But the guy is not a sieve 5 on 5, and can put up some points. And has a history with Bouwmeester. I don’t hate it, but I don’t particulary like the length.
Correct me if im wrong, but did we just give up assets to sign a free agent and pay him open market money?
I was under the impression that Henry is a pending UFA, so it’s basically the rights to Wideman for the rights to Henry and a late-round pick.
haha. oh my.
emir: kinda. henry wasn’t really a prospect, and 5th rounders are nothing
Finally something that makes sense. A solid, under thirty, proven performer. We still need a boatload of change but this is a good one. Welcome Wideman.
Not really surprised at the money they doled out to get Wideman but that 5 year term leaves me wondering a bit.
Is there any word on any NTC or NMC attached?
I like the signing because it helps solidify the Flames defence corps, but if and only if Jay-Bo stays.
Does this signing mean the end of Jay-Bo’s time in Calgary? My fear of this five year contract is that it could turn into a Cory Sarich situation. Who knows what Wideman will be in years 4 and 5 of the contract.
The money for Comeau is pretty low, which is pretty good.
with #4
Jay-Bo/Butler(yikes)
Giordano/Wideman
Brodie/Smith/Babchcuk(double yikes)
without #4
no number #1 d-man
Gio/Wideman
Brodie/Smith
Is Brodie ready to be elevated to higher pairing?
Term is too long. But that is pretty much what you pay for a top 3 guy.
Afraid to ask but… can anyone confirm whether or not he has a NTC/NMC?
I was just going to say that I suspect that the “term and money” issues will be the ones continually brought up in this deal.
I know we’re talking two very different players, but the moment I heard this deal the words “Sheldon Souray” popped into my head.
Bouwmeester to St. Louis? Seems likely, but did Wideman pick Calgary because of his relationship with Bouwmeester? Then perhaps not?
@Emir
Sure… if you want to be pessimistic about it. You could just as easily say that we traded virtually nothing to get the guy that probably becomes the 3rd best defenseman on the team.
Anyhoo… that’s a lotta scratch for a lotta years. Not sure I approve of the deal but we definetly needed help on the blueline and this is help. Bottom line is the team is better now then it was an hour ago so there’s that.
Also means that we put the pie in the sky dreams away with regards to Suter.
According to the press release, there’s no NMC/NTC. That doesn’t mean there isn’t one, but the Flames have been very transparent with these things in the recent past. If it’s not on the press release, it probably doesn’t exist.
EDIT: I was mistaken, press releases generally don’t have anything but cap hit and one-way/two-way details.
Wideman is a top 4 right handed Dman. Something severly lacking on this team for the last 5 years.
I like this deal. simply because i doubt we could have signed him if he went to free agency. there is alot of competition. i expect to hear more from jay in the next few days
I’d like this deal a lot if it meant it was Wideman and JBo as the top pairing.
But it means we are missing our 2nd and 5th for next year’s draft.
NO man it just means we are trading down our top ten pick for next year for #30 or so and picking up a 2nd rd and 5rd 😉
Yeah but feaster will just have to trade down twice next year or trade with the nyi lol
if jbo goes because of this, there is literally no way this deal is not a straight up loss.
Again, I don’t like the term, but I am surprised at how angry some people are….
@jeremywilhelm
I’m angry about everything jw.
You know, I’m a fan of the signing. Sure, the term is a little long, but it gives us something that lacks big time in our D, a right-hand shot. Wideman is no slouch, I’m not sure how great his corsi numbers are, but I know from watching him play in Washington he was useful on the PP and should help us there as well.
The Comeau deal is a good one, one year at a roughly half the price of his last deal. Good job Feaster.
IF Bouwmeester is gone because of Wideman, I WILL be upset.
Wideman/JayBo 1st pair, Gio/Butler 2nd pair. I can live with that assuming we don’t unload Jay. Quick question, can anyone share what ‘history’ Wideman and JayBo have playing together? I don’t see it…
@Vintage Flame
Or Gio and JBo as the top pairing. I like Butler a lot more as the #4 D-man then as the #2 D-man.
This moves Butler off the top pairing (thank goodness, good kid, over his head) and helps Gio on the back end move the puck out, Brodie gets to stay as a #5, which is good, and find a fill in #6.
The team is better, no matter how you swing it.
Assuming Bouwmeester isn’t dealt
The Flames now have EIGHT guys signed to one-ways (Bouwmeester, Wideman, Giordano, Smith, Wilson, Babchuk, Butler, Carson) plus T.J. Brodie, who has to be on the opening-day roster.
So…yeah.
Shoes dropping and whatnots.