Calgary Flames Sign Jamie Lundmark, UPDATED Grant Stevenson
Posted 10:28 PM ET | Comments 8
In what can only be described as an incredibly surprising move, Daryl Sutter has signed free agent forward Jamie Lundmark.
Lundmark had spent parts of two seasons with the Flames, his first of which after being acquired in the deal with the Coyotes for a fourth round pick. He was expected to add depth to our forwards for a playoff run and add some scoring. He did just that, racking up 10 points in 12 games leading into the playoffs. He was great on the faceoffs and sound in his own end.
The future seemed bright for Lundmark and the Flames. But a new season brought upon expectations of the young centre; he was considered a shoe-in for 15 goals after being so productive in his first 12 games with Calgary. However, he proved to be a disappointment and was a throw-in chip in the deal that brought Craig Conroy back to Calgary. Increased ice time and a chance to prove himself on a young LA squad did nothing to help him improve his stock and he fled to Russia for the 07-08 season.
Lundmark would return to North American hockey before long, playing with Lake Erie of the AHL.
I can only assume (hope... that's what I mean... hope) that this is a two-way deal meant to replace the loss of Krys Kolanos in Quad Cities. Kolanos scored over 30 goals and was a veteran presence for the minor-league.
It's been argued that the New York Rangers were to blame for Lundmark not developing. A 9th overall pick and scoring centre, he seemed a lock to be a 30 goal scorer in the NHL. The Rangers called him up after a couple productive seasons in Hartford and promptly placed him into a checking role, not allowing him the opportunity to score goals.
Sure, that probably never helped him with his scoring confidence but he's been given ample opportunity to prove he can score at the NHL level. He can't. It's just that simple.
I can't argue with Sutter wanting to see if a scorer can find his hands again. And if he doesn't take up an NHL roster spot, then I think it's a nice addition to a minor-league team in Quad Cities that could really use some success and a taste of the post-season. Surely Lundmark could provide veteran leadership for the flaming QC.
Anything more than that and we're dreaming.
http://flames.nhl.com/tea...Page&articleid=368588
And yes, with the off-season slowing down somewhat throughout the league, I've been dying for some Flames news to banter about...
**************************************************************
Yes, saneopinion in the comments section is right, it is a two-way deal, giving Lundmark a chance to prove himself. Which as you will read in this article from Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald, is exactly what Lundmark plans to do.
http://www.canada.com/cal...22-468f-864a-3891d5c82b4f
In many of my blogs in the past few months I've expressed my desire for Daryl Sutter to give Grant Stevenson a shot in the NHL. However, Stevenson was an RFA this off-season and was signed on July 9th, along with Junior Lessard, by the Atlanta Thrashers. I was unaware of this move as it fell by the wayside. I felt I should include this just in case other Flames fans were hoping he would challenge for a roster spot after finishing 10th in the AHL in scoring.
It's likely Stevenson will compete for a roster spot in the A-T-L. On a personal standpoint, it was probably a stronger move for Grant. This, along with the Krys Kolanos signing in Minny, was a precursor to the Lundmark signing.
Lundmark had spent parts of two seasons with the Flames, his first of which after being acquired in the deal with the Coyotes for a fourth round pick. He was expected to add depth to our forwards for a playoff run and add some scoring. He did just that, racking up 10 points in 12 games leading into the playoffs. He was great on the faceoffs and sound in his own end.
The future seemed bright for Lundmark and the Flames. But a new season brought upon expectations of the young centre; he was considered a shoe-in for 15 goals after being so productive in his first 12 games with Calgary. However, he proved to be a disappointment and was a throw-in chip in the deal that brought Craig Conroy back to Calgary. Increased ice time and a chance to prove himself on a young LA squad did nothing to help him improve his stock and he fled to Russia for the 07-08 season.
Lundmark would return to North American hockey before long, playing with Lake Erie of the AHL.
I can only assume (hope... that's what I mean... hope) that this is a two-way deal meant to replace the loss of Krys Kolanos in Quad Cities. Kolanos scored over 30 goals and was a veteran presence for the minor-league.
It's been argued that the New York Rangers were to blame for Lundmark not developing. A 9th overall pick and scoring centre, he seemed a lock to be a 30 goal scorer in the NHL. The Rangers called him up after a couple productive seasons in Hartford and promptly placed him into a checking role, not allowing him the opportunity to score goals.
Sure, that probably never helped him with his scoring confidence but he's been given ample opportunity to prove he can score at the NHL level. He can't. It's just that simple.
I can't argue with Sutter wanting to see if a scorer can find his hands again. And if he doesn't take up an NHL roster spot, then I think it's a nice addition to a minor-league team in Quad Cities that could really use some success and a taste of the post-season. Surely Lundmark could provide veteran leadership for the flaming QC.
Anything more than that and we're dreaming.
http://flames.nhl.com/tea...Page&articleid=368588
And yes, with the off-season slowing down somewhat throughout the league, I've been dying for some Flames news to banter about...
**************************************************************
Yes, saneopinion in the comments section is right, it is a two-way deal, giving Lundmark a chance to prove himself. Which as you will read in this article from Scott Cruickshank of the Calgary Herald, is exactly what Lundmark plans to do.
http://www.canada.com/cal...22-468f-864a-3891d5c82b4f
In many of my blogs in the past few months I've expressed my desire for Daryl Sutter to give Grant Stevenson a shot in the NHL. However, Stevenson was an RFA this off-season and was signed on July 9th, along with Junior Lessard, by the Atlanta Thrashers. I was unaware of this move as it fell by the wayside. I felt I should include this just in case other Flames fans were hoping he would challenge for a roster spot after finishing 10th in the AHL in scoring.
It's likely Stevenson will compete for a roster spot in the A-T-L. On a personal standpoint, it was probably a stronger move for Grant. This, along with the Krys Kolanos signing in Minny, was a precursor to the Lundmark signing.
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24 The Rise of Dion Phaneuf... Norris Trophy Candidate
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04 Flames Back Into the Playoffs + small Flames rumour.
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10 Night One Recap...
13 Questionable Officiating and The Wings Achilles Heel
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23 Hard to Swallow, Flames Tank at the Tank
24 2nd Round Predictions Recap
04 Flames Back Into the Playoffs + small Flames rumour.
08 Playoff Predictions... with Cup Winner
10 Night One Recap...
13 Questionable Officiating and The Wings Achilles Heel
14 "
16 The Momentum Roller-coaster, Big Joe Makes an Appearance
22 Two Game 7's, Flames Carry Momentum
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17 Calgary Flames, Pre-draft Off-season Outlook
24 Calgary Flames; UPDATED to Include Darcy Tucker
26 Eriksson, Warrener and Nilson: UPDATED, Vandermeer
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04 Flames Roster: A New-Look Flashback, Post UFA
07 Bertuzzi in... Nolan Out... Sutter Keeps Busy
16 Calgary Flames Sign Jamie Lundmark, UPDATED Grant Stevenson
28 Calgary Flames: 2+ Over and Sutter's Done?
04 Flames Roster: A New-Look Flashback, Post UFA
07 Bertuzzi in... Nolan Out... Sutter Keeps Busy
16 Calgary Flames Sign Jamie Lundmark, UPDATED Grant Stevenson
28 Calgary Flames: 2+ Over and Sutter's Done?
12 Flames/Leafs Trade Thread: The Gilmour Deal
28 Quick Look Ahead, Oilers and Flames, Battle for the NW?
29 Meszaros to the Bolts... Beneficial to Both Teams
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What was Sutter thinking when he signed this bum. Yeah add some scoring for the other team. Whats next Zyuzin. Lundmark sucks.
You have GOT to be kidding me...again? Like we have room for another over the hill center...where's he going to play? If the answer isn't Quad Cities I'll puke.
Yeah it's a two way, the organization just needs to fill Kris Kolanos' spot down there (and prust's) I'd expect another couple of these before it's all over. We do not have enough legit prospects to fill out a team in the A at this point.
Nice blog! I am going to have to agree with you that the Rangers truly stunted this kid's growth. At the time when he was drafted and put into the line-up, the Rangers were always concerned with the biggest name free-agents being on their squad and simply placing their young talent into a checking-line position. Although the Rangers have grown into a great team now, they still put some talent into positions they shouldn't be in (Ex- Prucha, Sjostrom). I think if Lundmark is given the opportunity to get his confidence back up, he may be able to surprise some people and turn some heads that thought he was way past his time. The Flames just need to remember they did not sign a checking-line center or a hitter, they signed a player who needs to have some time on the ice to perform and given some more responsibility (3rd line center possibly?).
One thing's for sure... unless Sutter is priming for another big move (which is highly possible and I will discuss in a future blog - soon) ... training camp is going to be extremely exciting in Cowtown. With the Flames being over the cap right now and having to be under before the puck drops on the regular season, there's room for a lot of tinkering on Sutter's part. Safe to say the off-season is not yet over in Calgary... are the Sutter's going to get a holiday this year?
It's too bad that Kolanos and Stevenson are gone...both are 30 goal men in the AHL and you would think that either of them would be capable of playing in a third line offensive role on the big club. Lundmark will definitely have an oppoortunity in QC to produce offensively, although he has never had difficulty scoring at that level. His problem is that he seems to not be able to make that jump to he NHL and produce consistently. Who knows, maybe he will gain some confidence this year and be brought up later on in the season. The two way deal is a good one, since there isn't much offense left in QC.
With Ryder back Lundmark might fit nicely with him on the top line in Q.C., Mslepp refered to sutter working on something which Ek refered to as well, who knows what it is if anything but I agree... I'm dying for flames news, c'mon Oct 9th!!!
A minor league deal, nothing else. And I can't ~possibly~ imagine that this is some "cog" of some other bigger deal in the works. The Flames only goal from here is to dump salary - nothing more - and that doesn't lend it self to getting any quality players in return. I would think that what you see now is what you get come Oct. 9. (Minus some bottom rung players that get bought out, sent to the minors, or traded for picks.)