Was claiming John Beecher off waivers the right move?

This isn’t an unfamiliar struggle with the Calgary Flames. Fans watched Matt Coronato, Zayne Parekh, and Connor Zary be scratched several times before the 20-game mark.

Rory Kerins is another forward looking to make it in the NHL. He has been one of the top scorers in the AHL for the last two seasons. Kerins had 4 points in his first 5 NHL games. Kerins was recently reassigned to the Calgary Wranglers after two games with the Flames. 

Beecher was claimed 24 hours after Kerins was re-signed to the AHL.

Adding to the problem

Beecher has one goal in six games this season. If Strum was concerned about him seeing consistent ice time, that dark cloud is going to linger in Calgary. 

The Flames have a logjam within their forward group, and they continue to add to the problem. Even with Martin Pospisil and Sam Honzek on injured reserve, the Flames still have too many forwards. Nazem Kadri and Blake Coleman are two names that have been circulating in trade rumours. If one or both of them are trading, you may finally be able to integrate younger players on a more consistent basis. 

Realistically, the Flames just brought in another fourth liner.

Beecher would often slot in for Sean Kuraly’s spot. It’s the same old “earned, not given” song and dance. However, there is a slight upside to Beecher here. He is solid on the PK, speedy, steady in his skates and is solid at the faceoff dot. He has a 53% average at the dot. Due to a limited sample size, there isn’t much data to go off for this season. 

Beecher does add some size down the middle as he is 6’0ft 220 pounds. This is reportedly an attribute the Flames found attractive. He would add some much-needed muscle to the younger forward group. 

Is Beecher an everyday NHLer? His time in Boston says no. Is there a plan to integrate him into this forward group as they move players out? That’s something we will see unfold. 

The Flames have a lot of fires burning, and there’s a real concern about asset mismanagement. Is Zary on his way to being the next Sam Bennett? Is refusing to move on from your established veterans hindering prospects’ development? There are a lot of questions and not nearly enough answers. 

This isn’t a needle-moving transaction by any means. It throws another roadblock in Kerins’ path to the NHL, which will likely lead to him moving on from the club. 

Did the Flames need to do this?

The Flames’ move to claim Beecher makes little to no sense unless there is a trade on the horizon. Even then, do you not have faith in Kerins, a player you drafted and developed to succeed? 

Due to the aforementioned injuries, there has been a bit of shuffling. None of the changes really scream, “This will help.” 

The Flames have done all they can to patch the holes in a leaky boat, with Beecher yet another patch. Unfortunately for them, the ship is sinking. No more “quick fixes” are going to save you.

Maybe Ryan Huska will see Beecher as a shiny new toy and allow him those consistent NHL reps that players like him and Kerins need. If all goes well, Beecher will bring a boost to the offence and be an asset to the PK. 

Ultimately, this move adds another chef in the kitchen, and unfortunately, no one is cooking with the right ingredients.