CALGARY, AB -- Reports out of Calgary suggest Flames general manager Kieran Thomas is looking to restructure the teams left wing. The teams current left wings are Eric Daze, Chris Simon, Martin Gelinas, Dean McAmmond, Krys Oliwa and Ville Nieminen. Sources out of Calgary suggest Thomas is not pleased with the composition of his LW and will focus his attention on rebuilding it.
Thomas had a similar approach with Calgary's right wing, having moved Chuck Kobasew and Chris Clark and replaced them with Scott Walker and Scott Mellanby. The right wing now has Jarome Iginla, Scott Walker, Scott Mellanby and Shean Donovan, a hard hitting and respectable squad.
Hockey experts around the league had always labelled Calgary's center as their weak spot, but Thomas has said he is comfortable with Craig Conroy, Steven Reinprecht, Matthew Lombardi and Stephane Yelle down the middle. "I prefer my centers to pass and play the defensive role on the team rather than being the grinders and the finishers. I believe these four fill in that role" mentioned Thomas.
The Flames seem intent on moving out some of their remaining left wingers (Daze, Gelinas and Simon) along with defenseman Toni Lydman and Mike Commodore to bring in a new squad of left wingers for their top two lines. This comes as a suprise as the Flames have recently aquired Eric Daze from the Chicago Blackhawks.
There are rumours circulating that Dean McAmmond and Krystof Oliwa have been moved for draft picks in the upcoming NHL entry draft, but the Flames refused comment.