With very little in the defensive prospect cupboard until recently, there was really only one guy to get excited about: Tyler Wotherspoon. The 6'2, 210 lb. defender had been a key member of WHL champion and Memorial Cup finalist Portland Winterhawks squads, and is only just now starting to break through to the professional level.
However, professionally, things just haven't quite gone his way. Despite strong growth over the past few seasons, he has just not been seen as a competent enough player to replace the decaying bottom end defenders, of which the Flames have several.