Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames make another smart, low-risk signing in Josh Leivo

Leivo has experience playing up and down the lineup. He’s nothing special, per se, but he can hang in the top-6 if he is 3rd wheeling with a couple of quality players. He is also capable of producing and taking advantage of the softer matchups that come with playing a depth role.

You'll be surprised with Simon. That's pretty much his description.

Good signing.

Well, if nothing else, training camp in whatever form it takes, will prove to be interesting. If not at least the Heat will have a fairly experienced lineup (should they get to play).

O/T but not really, Covid and 2020 can (frank) right off.

I liked Leivo when he was with the Leafs.
The guy has great hands and can really shoot the puck. He can grind away a little bit too.
What has prevented him from being a top 6 player is his skating which is below average.
But as a third or fourth liner that is a great signing.

Anything else from the Canucks you need? Maybe Fin?

Hey Todd you haven't covered the Nesterov signing yet...



In other news:

Valimaki has 10 points in 9 games with Ilves in Liiga play.

The New goalie Checelev is undefeated in mhl and vhl play with a .943 in mhl, and a .976 in the vhl...

Even knowing Lievo is significantly slower than most players, this contract is risk-free as there will be no cap hit if/when he is relegated to the minors.

Hey Todd you haven't covered the Nesterov signing yet...



In other news:

Valimaki has 10 points in 9 games with Ilves in Liiga play.

The New goalie Checelev is undefeated in mhl and vhl play with a .943 in mhl, and a .976 in the vhl...
- Nomad2112

I believe that Valimaki will be top four before most people beleive. He's been splitting his time with Ilves on both the right and left side. I believe the top four will be Gio, Valimacki, Andersson and Hanifin.

You have to be Joking. Janko was by far the best pick from his draft class and Reider was the reason that Drai played so much better 2 years ago and absolutely disappeared last year.

They made up the best 4th line in hockey and will be severely missed.
- DuranDuran

I like your chances getting him back at trade deadline - for a 5th.

oops

Anything else from the Canucks you need? Maybe Fin?


- NewYorkNuck

You have to be Joking. Janko was by far the best pick from his draft class and Reider was the reason that Drai played so much better 2 years ago and absolutely disappeared last year.

They made up the best 4th line in hockey and will be severely missed.
- DuranDuran

Couple very nice signings from Treliving.

So far I'd say:

Goaltending: Improved
Defense: Even (Tanev brings them down but Valimaki and progress from Andersson evens it out)
Forward top 6: Even
Forward Bottom 6: Improved

I like your chances getting him back at trade deadline - for a 5th.
- VeryModernMan

Mr. Modern Man. How goes? Did Pittsburgh do anything special this off season? Have not been following.

Mr. Modern Man. How goes? Did Pittsburgh do anything special this off season? Have not been following.
- DuranDuran

Buddy, how goes life in ElQuito?

Pens have 6 players (~1/4th roster) from cup win in '17 remaining, the other 3/4th mostly got signed/traded worse year by year.

I like Flames' moves, now trade Johnny and sign Hoff+Granlund(or Haula) for same cap. And careful, the Oil also improved nicely.

Buddy, how goes life in ElQuito?

Pens have 6 players (~1/4th roster) from cup win in '17 remaining, the other 3/4th mostly got signed/traded worse year by year.

I like Flames' moves, now trade Johnny and sign Hoff+Granlund(or Haula) for same cap. And careful, the Oil also improved nicely.
- VeryModernMan

lol wat? how did the Oilers improve? they brought in more players who cant play D and brought back a 38 year old goalie

lol wat? how did the Oilers improve? they brought in more players who cant play D and brought back a 38 year old goalie
- flashfire

Turris and Barrie are both pretty good hockey players that are significant improvements over what they had.

Unless Valimaki can step in and immediately be a stud, the Flames are more or less the same as last year.

That being said, if Rittich can go back to being a phenomenal backup, they should probably win their division.

Turris and Barrie are both pretty good hockey players that are significant improvements over what they had.

Unless Valimaki can step in and immediately be a stud, the Flames are more or less the same as last year.

That being said, if Rittich can go back to being a phenomenal backup, they should probably win their division.
- Hunkulese

AA out Turris in is basically a wash
Barrie is terrible defensively and Klef is out for the season
Smith is another year older

Adding a top 5 goalie is obviously huge for the Flames as is the major upgrade in bottom six depth

Are you suggesting Tanev and Vali in Brodie and Hamonic out is a loss? at worse its a wash

Buddy, how goes life in ElQuito?

Pens have 6 players (~1/4th roster) from cup win in '17 remaining, the other 3/4th mostly got signed/traded worse year by year.

I like Flames' moves, now trade Johnny and sign Hoff+Granlund(or Haula) for same cap. And careful, the Oil also improved nicely.
- VeryModernMan

Hey man, things good down south. Still employed and still alive.

Will be an interesting year in the NHL. I can see a lot more fights if the same teams have to keep playing each other over and over.

We might finally get to see Lucic vs Kassian if there is enough hate.

AA out Turris in is basically a wash
Barrie is terrible defensively and Klef is out for the season
Smith is another year older

Adding a top 5 goalie is obviously huge for the Flames as is the major upgrade in bottom six depth

Are you suggesting Tanev and Vali in Brodie and Hamonic out is a loss? at worse its a wash
- flashfire

Calling Markstrom a top five goalie is a bit of a stretch. He was great last year, but was pretty mediocre before that. Is he better than Talbot? Maybe? People are down on Talbot, but he really only had one bad year, and he bounced back last year. He was also a top five goalie for a year just a few years ago. What kind of contract would he have now if he was a UFA in 2017? If you compare Talbot's first three years as a starter and Markstrom's, you'd probably pick Talbot. Even if Markstom is better, it's not a significant enough improvement to make much of a difference. Goaltending hasn't been the problem for the past few years.

Not really sure how anyone could make the argument that the Flames made a major upgrade in their bottom six. The third line is staying the same and they added three fringe NHLers that no one else wanted. Call it lateral moves if you want, but I'd much rather have what Rieder brings than putting a guy who can't skate but has a great shot on the fourth line.

And like I said, defence could go either way. We still have no idea what Valimaki will look like in the NHL. He wasn't great his first go around. He can come in as a stud and challenge for the Calder (is he still eligible) or it could take him a few years to figure the NHL out. Is Tanev a better addition than Hamonic was? Maybe? Hamonic sure didn't make the Flames better when they brought him in to be the defensive guy.

Calling Markstrom a top five goalie is a bit of a stretch. He was great last year, but was pretty mediocre before that. Is he better than Talbot? Maybe? People are down on Talbot, but he really only had one bad year, and he bounced back last year. He was also a top five goalie for a year just a few years ago. What kind of contract would he have now if he was a UFA in 2017? If you compare Talbot's first three years as a starter and Markstrom's, you'd probably pick Talbot. Even if Markstom is better, it's not a significant enough improvement to make much of a difference. Goaltending hasn't been the problem for the past few years.

Not really sure how anyone could make the argument that the Flames made a major upgrade in their bottom six. The third line is staying the same and they added three fringe NHLers that no one else wanted. Call it lateral moves if you want, but I'd much rather have what Rieder brings than putting a guy who can't skate but has a great shot on the fourth line.

And like I said, defence could go either way. We still have no idea what Valimaki will look like in the NHL. He wasn't great his first go around. He can come in as a stud and challenge for the Calder (is he still eligible) or it could take him a few years to figure the NHL out. Is Tanev a better addition than Hamonic was? Maybe? Hamonic sure didn't make the Flames better when they brought him in to be the defensive guy.
- Hunkulese

Agreed 100%. Goaltending has been absolutely rock solid the last couple years. I have not looked at the stats but I am pretty sure we have been top 5 with the amazing goaltenders which have gone on to have long careers with other teams ie, Karri Ramo, Hiller, and Smith. I am sure that Edmonton re signing Smith made Tre panic and sign Markstrom as after Smith, there was not much on the goaltender market this year.

I agree 100% the defense could go either way. Ras has not shown he is anything more than a 3rd pairing defenseman and Valimaki has yet to show that he is better defensively than Schilington. Losing Hamonic who was Flames best defenseman last year is going to hurt.

I could see Dube and Bennet being put on waivers after the pre season as they will probably lose their spots on the 4th line to the new guys who were brought in. All in all not much of an improvement.

Agreed 100%. Goaltending has been absolutely rock solid the last couple years. I have not looked at the stats but I am pretty sure we have been top 5 with the amazing goaltenders which have gone on to have long careers with other teams ie, Karri Ramo, Hiller, and Smith. I am sure that Edmonton re signing Smith made Tre panic and sign Markstrom as after Smith, there was not much on the goaltender market this year.

I agree 100% the defense could go either way. Ras has not shown he is anything more than a 3rd pairing defenseman and Valimaki has yet to show that he is better defensively than Schilington. Losing Hamonic who was Flames best defenseman last year is going to hurt.

I could see Dube and Bennet being put on waivers after the pre season as they will probably lose their spots on the 4th line to the new guys who were brought in. All in all not much of an improvement.
- DuranDuran

You're not very good at this.

It sure would be nice if there were some people here who could actually hold a conversation or construct an argument.

You're not very good at this.

It sure would be nice if there were some people here who could actually hold a conversation or construct an argument.
- Hunkulese

You're not much fun to argue or hold a conversation with, sorry.

Even though you're right on your last take in my opinion.

You're not very good at this.

It sure would be nice if there were some people here who could actually hold a conversation or construct an argument.
- Hunkulese

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. We agree on the points listed. You might want to read my post before you reply in a negative fashion.

Agreed 100%. Goaltending has been absolutely rock solid the last couple years. I have not looked at the stats but I am pretty sure we have been top 5 with the amazing goaltenders which have gone on to have long careers with other teams ie, Karri Ramo, Hiller, and Smith. I am sure that Edmonton re signing Smith made Tre panic and sign Markstrom as after Smith, there was not much on the goaltender market this year.

I agree 100% the defense could go either way. Ras has not shown he is anything more than a 3rd pairing defenseman and Valimaki has yet to show that he is better defensively than Schilington. Losing Hamonic who was Flames best defenseman last year is going to hurt.

I could see Dube and Bennet being put on waivers after the pre season as they will probably lose their spots on the 4th line to the new guys who were brought in. All in all not much of an improvement.



Terrible take on this team sounds more like an Oilers fan here.
Calgary may lose Bennet to Seattle, Dube is not going anywhere.
Smith signing causing Tre to panic? He was signed after Markstrom...
Guessing you're trolling so not going to bother with anything else, have fun watching your top heavy Oilers...