Wade Flaherty, Speculation of a Call-Up Options

[Southern_Canuck]

Well this ought to be interesting:

Winnipeg Free Press

excerpt:
Word is circulating in Vancouver that Canucks head coach Marc Crawford, feeling considerable heat in the media these days, has tired of the goaltending tandem of Alex Auld and Maxime Ouellet and wants to have a look at Flaherty.

Canucks GM Dave Nonis isn't in the habit of sharing his plans with the media, but told the Vancouver Province last night Flaherty is on his radar.

"I wouldn't rule out at some point giving Wade a shot," said Nonis, in his best Party Poker pose.

and.....
Vancouver has been reluctant to file recall papers on Flaherty because of his status in the new NHL collective bargaining agreement. Flaherty makes more than $75,000 US in the AHL and as such is subject to waivers on the way up to and the way down from the NHL.

Should the Canucks recall Flaherty, who was too ill to attend last night's game with the Toronto Marlies, they run the risk of losing him on the waiver wire before he even boards a plane for Vancouver.

"We've been hoping Vancouver would recall Flaherty all year," said Atlanta Thrashers scout Peter Mahovlich in a recent interview with CJOB's Kelly Moore, while discussing the rash of injuries his club has had at the goalie position. "We'd grab him so fast he'd forget he was Irish."

For Manitoba, losing Flaherty to the Canucks for a period of time would take its toll. Losing him altogether to another club would have to be classified as a heartbreaker.


...forget he was Irish? Maybe he's thinking of Gerry O'Flaherty...

S_C

[Southern_Canuck]

And Spector's Rumours mentions the Flaherty callup as well:

Spector's

excerpt:
VANCOUVER PROVINCE: Ben Kuzma reports Canucks GM Dave Nonis may call up veteran goalie Wade Flaherty for his club's upcoming stretch where 14 of their next 18 games will be played on the road. Flaherty would have to pass through waivers but Nonis may gamble that at this point in the season rival clubs may not pick him up. There are rumours of Nonis having interest in Buffalo's Martin Biron and Minnesota's Dwayne Roloson but he says what's currently available isn't better than what he's currently got.

Spector's Note: Nonis sent down Maxime Oullett yesterday (see below) so the call up of Flaherty appears certain. While he does have cap space to pick up either Biron or Roloson, Nonis would then have to address what to do with Dan Cloutier, presently sidelined for the season with an injury.


SPECTOR'S MAILBAG.

My thanks to Thomas Pratt for the following: "On the Fan 590, the talking heads were suggesting the Vancouver Canucks were after Mikka Noronen, not Martin Biron as is commonly thought."

...for what it's worth

S_C

[redsunz]

mika noronen... the next kipprusoff?
nah...

i think mika at best would be a sideways move from auld, maybe a bit better, the guy has hardly played the past 2 nhl seasons... it would be a temp patch job imo... i would perfer roloson myself but meh

[nucksin7]

so Flaherty has to clear waivers just to call him up ?!?!?!?!?

what kind of dumb-ass rule is that.

i could see a guy needing to clear waivers before being sent down, but if a team is calling him up to the NHL to play why should they risk loosing him all-together.

that rule has got to go. theres so many guys that could be in the NHL getting overlooked for guys that shouldnt be in the NHL, simply because of having to clear waivers.

is it just me, or does anybody else think that Alex Auld wont finish the season in Vancouver or Winnipeg. can you say TRADE BAIT.

i'd like to see Wade get in there for a few, hopefully Nonis can pull it off.
but even more impressive would be if Nonis could pull something even bigger off.

Nonis would then have to address what to do with Dan Cloutier, presently sidelined for the season with an injury.

keep Clouts. hes not going against the Cap. lets have a goaltending controversy to deal with in the summer... the good kind... not the everybody sucks kind.

[Canuckle Head]

NORONEN CALLING FOR A TRADE.

TORONTO SUN: Mike Zeisberger reports Buffalo Sabres goaltender Mika Noronen has grown frustrated over his lack of playing time with this club this season and is calling on management to do something to alleviate what Zeisberger calls "the glut of bodies between the pipes". Noronen is also considering a move to Europe in the near future if this situation isn't addressed soon, but Zeisberger notes he'd have to find a way to get out of his contract with the club.

Spector's Note: If Noronen were to follow through on going to Europe and seeks a contract buyout, that would pretty much kill the rumours of Martin Biron being shopped. It would also rob Sabres GM Darcy Regier of an opportunity to use his best bargaining chip in Biron to further bolster his roster. There's now some talk the Vancouver Canucks might be interested in Noronen (see below), so perhaps a trade of Noronen might be something to watch for.


Interesting. I dont think I want to see what the Canucks will give up to get Noronen. Whatever the Sabres ask for they'll likely get, knowing that there are at least 5 other teams (3 within our division ) looking to upgrade in goal.

[UWSaint]

Well this ought to be interesting:

Winnipeg Free Press
"We've been hoping Vancouver would recall Flaherty all year," said Atlanta Thrashers scout Peter Mahovlich in a recent interview with CJOB's Kelly Moore, while discussing the rash of injuries his club has had at the goalie position. "We'd grab him so fast he'd forget he was Irish."

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Sure.... And you have Lehtonen now back from injury, Dunham almost back, Garnett stringing together a few good games, Shields ready to return..... Just where on the NHL roster are you going to put him?

If a player is claimed on a call-up, doesn't he have to stick with the NHL club?

[Southern_Canuck]

Tim Campbell article about what Flaherty thinks of the callup rumours:

Winnipeg Free Press

excerpt:
Flaherty, who's 12-7-2 with four shutouts for the Moose this season, may start this afternoon at MTS Centre against Toronto (4 p.m.) if he's recovered sufficiently from the flu. He conceded that a recall, whether he's lost on waivers or not, would be a win-win situation for him.

"It is, because what's everybody's ultimate goal -- to play in the NHL, right?" the 37-year-old goalie said.


You know - I don't know if anyone would claim him or not - I forgot that if a team does claim him, he HAS to play in the NHL...

S_C

[Skyo]

yeah that rule bites then the nucks pay half his salary, weak, anyways I say go for it, take the risk, Ouellet would be best suited for the AHL right now. But Im liking all the names for goalies pop up the more the better, supply and demand. I have a erie feeling Fernandez or Roloson is on his way here.

[Todd Bersnoozi]

I wouldn't mind giving Flaherty a shot. After all, Caryle had more faith in Flaherty than Auld last year in the playoffs. He is a solid veteran and he has some good years as a NHL backup. A veteran like that would really help a young guy like Auld who is carrying the load right now. I remember when we gave up on Essensa, Cloutier really wished the Nucks would of kept Sideshow Bob or gotten a solid veteran to guide him along. I think something like this should be done to help Auld.

[THENORTHVANMAN]

Sure....  And you have Lehtonen now back from injury, Dunham almost back, Garnett stringing together a few good games, Shields ready to return..... Just where on the NHL roster are you going to put him? 

If a player is claimed on a call-up, doesn't he have to stick with the NHL club?

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Yes he does have to stay on the roster. And the other team ( meaning us ) have to pick up half his salary. Why this stupid rule is in place is beyond me.

[Southern_Canuck]

Flaherty blasts Union, NHL

Tim Campbell, Winnipeg Free Press

Article

excerpt:
And Flaherty, who has played 120 NHL games over the course of 10 seasons, accused the NHL of going way too far in imposing the salary cap it got in the most recent CBA. "The NHL, they're trying to salary-cap the minor leagues," Flaherty said. "That's exactly what they're doing. Are you kidding me? That's a plain-as-day salary cap. The way I see it, it's got nothing to do with calling a guy up. What will end up happening if it stays the way it is that you'll have a glorified junior league. Guys will hit three or four years on their contract and they're gone, Europe or wherever."

S_C

[Boston Canucker]

Flaherty blasts Union, NHL

Tim Campbell, Winnipeg Free Press

Article

excerpt:
And Flaherty, who has played 120 NHL games over the course of 10 seasons, accused the NHL of going way too far in imposing the salary cap it got in the most recent CBA. "The NHL, they're trying to salary-cap the minor leagues," Flaherty said. "That's exactly what they're doing. Are you kidding me? That's a plain-as-day salary cap. The way I see it, it's got nothing to do with calling a guy up. What will end up happening if it stays the way it is that you'll have a glorified junior league. Guys will hit three or four years on their contract and they're gone, Europe or wherever."

S_C

[snapback]31830[/snapback]

He's right, this is just Bettman's way of controlling costs to the nth degree so that lazy owners are guaranteed a profit. It's a stupid rule and hopefully can get amended. Here's one idea for getting Flaherty to the big club, and I know it's a little nuts and Bettman would probably nix it, but I wonder if Nonis could find a friendly GM (say an old running buddy like McPhee in DC) who would take Flaherty in a trade for say a 7th round pick and then trade him back to the Canucks for 4th/5th pick. If this is even legal/doable, it would get Flaherty to the Canucks without going through the waiver wire, the Caps would get a slightly higher draft pick for doing little more than filling out some paper work, and the Nucks don't really give up that much to get a vet and affordable back up goalie. Anyway, there's my wacky plan contrived on a long walk to the library. If this happens in the next little while, then we will know for sure that Nonis reads this board and that I should really be the GM of the Canucks...

[donlever]

He's right, this is just Bettman's way of controlling costs to the nth degree so that lazy owners are guaranteed a profit. It's a stupid rule and hopefully can get amended. Here's one idea for getting Flaherty to the big club, and I know it's a little nuts and Bettman would probably nix it, but I wonder if Nonis could find a friendly GM (say an old running buddy like McPhee in DC) who would take Flaherty in a trade for say a 7th round pick and then trade him back to the Canucks for 4th/5th pick. If this is even legal/doable, it would get Flaherty to the Canucks without going through the waiver wire, the Caps would get a slightly higher draft pick for doing little more than filling out some paper work, and the Nucks don't really give up that much to get a vet and affordable back up goalie. Anyway, there's my wacky plan contrived on a long walk to the library. If this happens in the next little while, then we will know for sure that Nonis reads this board and that I should really be the GM of the Canucks...

[snapback]31831[/snapback]

As far as I can tell we can't get him back for one full year in a situation where we lose him on waivers. Obviously a rule implemented to avoid scenarios like you suggest BC.

This post has been edited by donlever: Jan 19 2006, 12:29 PM

[tantalum]

No offence but there is no way the canucks should even be calling Flaherty up. Sorry but it's the truth. The guy has never ever been an NHL goaltender and at 37 years of age he isn't going to be one now. For goodness sakes the guy hasn't even been anything other than a poor NHL backup.

The only thing this points out is Nonis' complete failure to bring in a 1B or veteran backup. Something that should have been done within days of finding out Cloutier MAY be done for the season (it didn't even need to be official and nonis should have had something on the go). It's been over a month since the announcement was officially made and the team is reverting to calling up Flaherty because Crow doesn't want to put Oullette between the pipes? Yeesh. There is no excuse that Nonis has essentially forced his coach to play the kid 23 out of 25 games...with little hope of a rest in the near future.

This post has been edited by tantalum: Jan 19 2006, 12:30 PM

[donlever]

No offence but there is no way the canucks should even be calling Flaherty up.  Sorry but it's the truth.  The guy has never ever been an NHL goaltender and at 37 years of age he isn't going to be one now.  For goodness sakes the guy hasn't even been anything other than a poor NHL backup.

The only thing this points out is Nonis' complete failure to bring in a 1B or veteran backup.  Something that should have been done within days of finding out Cloutier MAY be done for the season (it didn't even need to be official and nonis should have had something on the go).  It's been over a month since the announcement was officially made and the team is reverting to calling up Flaherty because Crow doesn't want to put Oullette between the pipes?  Yeesh.  There is no excuse that Nonis has essentially forced his coach to play the kid 23 out of 25 games...with little hope of a rest in the near future.

[snapback]31834[/snapback]

You're right of course.

Another example of a Nuck GM fucking up the netminding position. Really it is amazing if you think about it.

Buuuttttt....

Aren't you tired of talking about goalies tant?



I don't know where you find the strength. Every time I think about it my head feels like it may explode.