Flames trade Kyle Greentree for Aaron Johnson
by Kent Wilson on Oct 7, 2009 4:32 PM PDT
49 comments
It's been announced that the Calgary Flames have moved minor league scorer Kyle Greentree to the Chicago Blackhawks for 26 year old defenseman Aaron Johnson. Greentree led the QC Flames in scoring with 39 goals last year (good for 2nd in the AHL) while Johnson appeared in 38 games for the Blackhawks, scoring 3 goals and 5 points.
I gotta say, I'm confused as hell by this trade. The Flames had a similar player (in terms of impact, cost) in Anton Stralman a couple of weeks ago. In fact, one could argue he has a higher ceiling than Johnson given his age and the fact that Aaron has done little more than bounce between the minor and big leagues for the last 5 years or so.
Anyways, traded Stralman, after a stellar pre-season, for a nominal return (3rd round pick) only to turn around and pick-up Johnson some 2 weeks later for an actual player who has at least proven he can kick ass at the AHL level.
The deal clearly indicates 2 things:
1.) Cory Sarich is badly hurt and the organization wants to (further!) shore up it's depth should someone else go down in the mean time. That or Staffan Kronwall looks as awkward to the men in charge as he does to me and he's on his way to Abbotsford.
2.) Sutter and company didn't have any faith in Greentree being able to take the next step to the NHL.
That said, I still find the deal curious. The Flames are relatively thin on scoring forwards at the organizational level, but are bursting at the seams with young defenders (although they saw fit to move one of them for magic beans recently). Perhaps the fact Johnson has 184 games of NHL experience makes him more attractive than the likes of Stralman and the various kids laboring on the farm, but...yeah, no I still don't really get it.
On the other hand, good news for Kris Chucko I'd say.
UPDATE - Sam from 2nd City Hockey provide this insight on Johnson:
The consensus here is that Johnson got caught hitting on Quenneville's wife or something. During the fall last year, he was leading the league in +/- and Behind The Net Rating, but got hurt against San Jose at Thanksgiving (American version). After he came back two months later, he could not displace Matt Walker for reasons unknown. He's been passed over for Sopel and Jordan Hendry now, and the Hawks are not thrilled with his agent, Alan Walsh, for flaming the RFA fiasco. Still, as a #6 or #7 he'll hardly let you down, plays a very simple game that he doesn't stray from. But don't you guys have like four of those already?
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this really confuses me. i have quarter seasons tickets for the brand spankin’ new Abbotsford Heat, and let me tell you. One game in and I know for sure Chucko won’t fair well after this trade. Backlund could have used the veteran scorer support to boost his game as well.
sigh
This better be some sort of sick joke.
by jessnbrown on Oct 7, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I see Chucko has added another fan to his fan club.
by Kent Wilson on Oct 7, 2009 4:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
i do sortof understand the strålman deal: had he been placed on waivers, he would have been picked up (by cbj, for one) and then calgary would have been on the hook for half his salary…. it’s my understanding that perhaps there was a gentleman’s deal of sorts (howson straight up told daz that he was gonna take strålman, thereby creating a deal).
this, however, i don’t get.
does kronwall have to clear waivers to head to abbotsford ? i would think no.
by walkinvisible on Oct 7, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
calgary is only on the hook for half of a players salary if the player is picked up on re-entry waivers.
by shep_ on Oct 8, 2009 3:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
are they on the hook for half his salary if he gets pick up on re-entry waivers?
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
by KingJafi on Oct 8, 2009 7:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
*aren’t
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
by KingJafi on Oct 8, 2009 7:07 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
yes, on re-entry.
example: dallas is paying half of sean averys salary trough 2012
by shep_ on Oct 8, 2009 7:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats what i thought, so the Flames wouldn’t of had to pay half of Stralman’s contract if he had been picked up by Columbus on the way down.
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
by KingJafi on Oct 8, 2009 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
kindof a moot point…. cause they would have picked up half his salary upon his way back up when he was needed…. the way i see it, howson told daz that strålman would be a bluejacket if he was demoted by the flames, so darryl got something in return for him…. that’s the way i’d LIKE to see it, anyways….
by walkinvisible on Oct 8, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Sarich is hurt more than the team has let on? He didn’t skate today. Is it possible that they traded Stralman, then were caught by surprise by the extent of Sarich’s injury and felt like they had to backfill? I can’t come up with any talent-related reasons off the top of my head.
by Robert Cleave on Oct 7, 2009 5:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
this makes sense to me…. though i might also suggest that (at this time of year) perhaps a pelech would fit the hole adequately. y’know, with jaybouw playing 1/2 games anyways.
by walkinvisible on Oct 7, 2009 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think I’d have a problem with Pelech, but it looks like they want him to play big minutes without interruption in the A, rather than 8-12 minutes a night when he dresses in Calgary. That isn’t entirely wrong, because he’s still a developmental player in the organization. Johnson can play some or sit, because he’s about as good as he’s likely to get.
by Robert Cleave on Oct 7, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i would like to offer adam pardy’s 08/09 season as an example here.
by walkinvisible on Oct 7, 2009 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure, but Matt Pelech just turned 22. Adam Pardy was 24 last year. As I said, he would likely be fine, but I think the team feels that they don’t need him now, so they can be very patient. He isn’t likely to be a lot better than Johnson right now, because he wasn’t exactly beating up the AHL last year. Ask me the same question after Abbotsford plays 40-50 games, and I might well answer differently.
by Robert Cleave on Oct 7, 2009 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m scratching my head trying to make some sense of this, and aside from the theories already presented here, I’m wondering if they aren’t possibly setting the table for another trade to pick up someone for the top 6 or something.
Throws hands up Who knows!
by Andrew S. on Oct 7, 2009 6:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I doubt Sutter makes a major move after a 3 and 0 start, even with the big boys struggling.
by Kent Wilson on Oct 7, 2009 6:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The way I look at this is that it tells me Sarich is available. He may be injured, he may not be playing/practicing because hes not expected to be with the team in a week. They have won on the backs of great goal tending and the 4th line. The top 6 looks pretty mediocre.
I wouldnt be surprised at all if Sutter were looking to replace Dawes in the top 6. He looks the worst of all top 6 players to me.
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Maybe im hoping more than anything but I think Sarich is completely unnecessary to have on this team and pardy, gio, kronwall, or Pelech have proven to be more valuable (especially per $)
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:29 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That seems pretty sensible, but we all know how Sutter loves his defensemen.
by Kent Wilson on Oct 7, 2009 6:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually forget top 6 player
Maybe Sarich is being shopped for a back up goalie? I dont think Mcelhinny really instilled any confidence in anybody based off his play last year and definitely not in the preseason. That seems more likely to me than anything.
I get that he likes his defensemen but he literally has like 7 that could have the 6th/7th spot and handle it to varying degrees of capability.
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s a pile of cap space to spend on a goalie, but I could see a move for one more forward if Pelech looks like he’s ready midway through the year. If they need a goalie, they’ll likely be in the Marty Biron sweepstakes, along with a few other teams.
by Robert Cleave on Oct 7, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
What you to think a Halak would cost? I mean Montreal is desperate enough to sign Bergeron to some contract you gotta think Sarich isnt looking too bad to Montreal eh?
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think they want all the extra years on the contract, Brent, and once Markov comes back they won’t have any cap space.
by Robert Cleave on Oct 7, 2009 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
They’re gonna want a more offensive d-man than Sarich, I would think.
by RossCreek on Oct 7, 2009 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Halak was just an example. What about Minnesota for Harding? I assume it would take a little more than just Sarich but its possible. I dont think anyone can deny their need for a back up goalie and sarich does have some value…
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:40 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okey so possible explanations…
1: Sarich is hurt bad, Flames need a passable NHL level d-man for depth.
2: Cole is apparently hurt so this move is for the Heat (Of course why not just use the ECHL guy… Meyers?)
3: A Flames d-man (Sarich?) is getting traded soonish.
Not a bad trade, puzzling given the recent movement of Stralman, it’d have been nice for the Abbotsford to have a 39 goal scorer on the roster but they’ve got plenty of guys who can produce at the AHL level.
by Parallex on Oct 7, 2009 6:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I like Sarich, but if I could move him & Dawes for a $3.5mil top 6 forward (Marco Sturm?), I wouldn’t hesitate. Sturm would be nice, but i doubt there’s a trade-match with Boston. Who else is of interest?
by RossCreek on Oct 7, 2009 6:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Id like to think they would get someone better than Sturm in return for that trade. I wonder if maybe they might trade with NJ for someone. Maybe Brent has a little influence here and really wants someone from that team?
Im just being fecitious now but they have many options.
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sutter won’t be moving a useful player for a guy who might play 15 games a year. The only time he’ll do something like that is if Kipper goes down for the count.
by Kent Wilson on Oct 7, 2009 6:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
With a more than capable back up though I dont think they would only play 15 games. I could see a good back up goalie getting 30 games
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kiprusoff makes 5.833M/year and 7M in real dollars this season. What’s more, the organization swears he’s one of the best goalies in the league. Unless he starts to stink even more than he did last year, there’s no way Kipper is playing anything less than 65 games.
by Kent Wilson on Oct 7, 2009 6:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That be so sweet if they traded him to phoenix for one of their young top 6 forwards. I doubt they will because any team who shuts out Pittsburgh doesnt need a lot of help but i dare to dream
by Brent G. on Oct 7, 2009 6:57 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
A little insight on Johnson as he’s from my hometown… he’s had a couple rough injuries each of the last two seasons. One that took him out of the NYI lineup for a while… and he got off to a very hot start last year in Chicago before getting injured and not getting a chance to redeem himself once he returned.
If nothing else, this is a solid pickup of a bottom pair/#7 D who plays a solid game in his own end and has some offensive upside (look at his numbers from junior). He’s also a great guy to talk to, interviewed him a couple of times… seems like he’d be a positive dressing room influence. Dual position as well; he was skating as a forward for the Islanders and I actually read that he was possibly going to be dresssed as a forward for the Hawks tomorrow night before the deal was done.
Good all around utility guy and I’m glad to see him in Canada… a lot more opportunity to watch him play now.
by Cameron17 on Oct 7, 2009 7:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Only cheap, which thankfully isn’t like Vandermeer at all.
by Robert Cleave on Oct 7, 2009 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, yes…there is that important distinction.
by Kent Wilson on Oct 7, 2009 7:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Listening to Flames at 5 the rumblings were that Sarich’s injury is worse then expected and a trade is possible down the road.
We won’t see him tomorrow night but the possible back to back against Chicago or Columbus is possible.
Home of the NHL's Best Defense.
by CofRed on Oct 7, 2009 10:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Dang did anyone see vandermeer with that sick stick block on that malkin one-timer? Nice one yimmy veee
by Dustin Timberlake on Oct 8, 2009 1:01 AM PDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
Let's just make a trade for the sake of making a trade.
I was pretty much indifferent to the Stralman trade but now, I’m pissed. What is going on here? Is Sutter hoping to find some 4th line gems…that must be his gameplan now. Leave it up to the 3rd and 4th lines to get the job done…“don’t worry guys…I’m gonna go out and get ourselves some more 4th line help…actually im gonna go out and get a player i know for sure won’t ever make it past the 4th line!” To add insult to injury, Johnson couldn’t cut it for the NHL’s flavor of the week team. I hate the Blackhawks.
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
by KingJafi on Oct 8, 2009 7:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The talk above about Jim Vandermeer has me thinking… if Johnson can also play forward as some have said I can actually see a rational behind this trade. Jaffray has already cleared waivers so the Flames can just send him down to the Heat without him having to clear again. Jaffray would essentially provide the Heat with close to the same offensive production that Greentree would have provided and the Flames would have more versitile depth on the main roster. I mean that was the whole rational behind keeping Jaffray as the spare forward (in lieu of, say, Jamie Lundmark) right? that he was a more versitile player.
by Parallex on Oct 8, 2009 7:34 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Simple...
Who helps the Flames closer to the organizational goal of winning a cup?
a) Kyle Greentree – who has shown he can excel in the AHL, but can’t keep up in the NHL.
b) Aaron Johnson – a versatile if not flashy 6/7 veteran defender who adds depth to the back end.
(the answer’s really easy!!!)
Not sure why anybody is pooh-poohing this trade.
"It's a great day for hockey" - BBJ
by jealous broadcaster on Oct 8, 2009 9:22 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Neither, in the grand scheme of things, would be my answer – unless Johnson is somehow markedly better than Kronwall/Pelech/Palin and Sarich is out long, long term that is.
by Kent Wilson on Oct 8, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
the guy is on a league minimum contract that ends this year, and we all know greentree was never gonna make it to the big club with this franchise…. so it’s kindof a “meh” for me, unless it’s a sign of something bigger….
by walkinvisible on Oct 8, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I didnt think Greentree lacked that much promise. He showed some nice flashes of talent in his time in the NHL last season, so you never know he could of been an effective player for the Flames at some point.
Spreading that Calgary Flames, Montreal Expos, The U, and Orlando Magic love.
by KingJafi on Oct 8, 2009 1:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
i never said he wasn’t GOOD. i said he wasn’t gonna make it with the big club… look at last year; he got two games with the big club while retreads like lundmark and 4th liners like peters were getting far more playing time….
i would say the exact same thing about DVDG, who i think is one of the best players in abbotsford.
by walkinvisible on Oct 8, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
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