The Flames weren’t in a position to spend assets at the trade deadline. At the same time, they weren’t really in a position to sell, either. To that end, might as well do the next best thing: pick up a right winger on waivers and hope he’ll work out.
The Flames’ season was lost soon after, and none of that was Chris Stewart’s fault, but things didn’t exactly work out.
2017-18 season summary
Placed on waivers on Feb. 25, the Flames picked Stewart up the following day. Of the 19 games they had remaining, he played in just seven of them, registering two secondary assists and scoring a goal in the final minute of what ended up being a 5-1 blowout loss.
All numbers are with the Flames only.
| Games played | Goals | Assists | Points | TOI/GP | 5v5 CF% | 5v5 CF% rel | OZS% | PDO |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10:55 | 54.43 | -2.94 | 51.11 | .948 |
It’s not as though the Wild unfairly waived Stewart. In 47 games with them, he scored just 13 points, all while playing roughly the same amount per game. His corsi was significantly lower: a 40.37% at 5v5, and relatively, he was a -7.41%. He just wasn’t very good, and every positive stat he may have registered with the Flames kind of becomes nullified due to most of his ice time with them being meaningless.
Stewart’s most common linemates in Calgary were Mark Jankowski and Micheal Ferland, playing 37:43 and 29:21 5v5 minutes with them, respectively. They all played better away from one another.
Compared to last season
Stewart played his entire 2016-17 with the Wild, scoring 13 goals and 21 points over 79 games. He has averaged under 11 minutes of ice time per game since the 2015-16 season. He did have 94 penalty minutes in 2016-17; in 2017-18, he had 27, and none for the Flames.
Stewart is basically a very big, if mostly unremarkable, body who sometimes puts up points and is generally below average for his team.
What about next season?
Stewart turns 31 in late October. The Flames may not have much in the way of right wingers – particularly of the top six variety (maybe Spencer Foo can be that? We hope?) – but his best days are definitely behind him.
Stewart could likely be retained for relatively cheap, but one of the Flames’ main problems over the past season was having too many low-impact subpar bottom six players, and Stewart would only add to that. It simply doesn’t make sense to bring him back.
| #5 – Mark Giordano | #7 – TJ Brodie |
Today’s game is play fast and Stewart is too slow . Foo would be better and we can only hope Gawdin can upgrade the right side.
Nothing to evaluate here.
Bye, Chris. Best of luck to ya.
“This”.
This article had more words than I was expecting.
was actually pleasantly surprised by Stewart in the few games he was in (after reading comments about him when he was picked up).
saw some jump out of him, and while not the fastest player did look like the fastest in some shifts with a decent back check and defensive awareness.
Would not be my top priority BUT if can get him cheap on 1-2 year contract (he might want 1 to prove it and go UFA) as long as he would slot in decently (depends who else is retained) i could see him bringing benefit.
All depends on what he is looking for in contract, and what shake-up is done to the roster on if even room for him.
Is this years Chiasson i think
Interesting, I thought he actually looked really lost in the first few games.
Chaisson was consistent in pushing play forward, and was actually relatively quick. He was a bit stone handed, but didn’t deserve to be compared to Stewart at all.
As mentioned, no need for more mediocre/poor players in the bottom six.
Chiasson would make my lineup, over Stewart, each and every day.
Can’t remember him having one fight as a Flame. If he wanted to prove himself, he could of dropped the mitts at least once. To show a little commitment to the team
One of his quotes when he came here was :I have nothing to prove”
At that point, he would have been my 14th forward with no hesitation.
Please just get rid of him. He’s in the way. Do you think a team like Vegas or Tampa Bay would have a guy like this on their roster?
Actually, Vegas had Engelland and traded for Ryan Reaves anyway. Pittsburgh dealt Reaves and went with 6’7 Jamie Oleksiak instead. Nobody on the Flames filled departed Deryk Engelland’s enforcer role last year. It was a team problem, especially down the stretch.
Boston has Chara. Big Buff and Myers on Winnipeg. Tampa has Hedman to settle things down if necessary. Since Engelland left there is no intimidation factor any more on the Flames.
All is not lost though. Rebar is going to turn T.J. Brodie into a lean, mean, fighting machine!
Reaves is a FA and I would be okay with him as #14.
I agree Mickey. I honestly think we are missing an decent player to fill the role of a no nonsense enforcer.
Stewart didn’t do anything in the way of intimidation. He was a ghost.
Brodie the Barbarian? Has a nice ring to it..
Wow….I cant wait for the next article on Luke Gazdic or Tanner Glass…..
They’re going numerically so the next one’s Versteeg, then Backlund.
Hey FN writers, any chance on an article regarding the worlds (ie update on our players and new coach)? Cheers…
More importantly an article outlining any possible FA playing at the worlds.
“Up next, an evaluation on season ticket holder in section 103″… Chris Stewart? Save the keystrokes.
Nice picture of Stewart Ari.
Where did you find that one?
Also, is it photoshop’d because I don’t EVER remember him being physical.
Stewart is yet another middling fill in nothing special player BT seems to sign too many of IMO.