The Flames have twenty free agents to sign. Which ones do you bring back?

[Caged Great]

Gaudreau (6.75) - Monahan (6.375) - UFA
Tkachuk (1.775) - Backlund (3.575) - Frolik (4.3)
UFA - Bennett (2.25 guess) - Ferland (1.5 guess)
Hathaway (0.750) - Jankowski (1.494) - Lazar (1.0 guess)
Hamilton (.613)

Total: 25.632 for actual contracts + 4.75 for guesses = 30.382

Stuff up in the air. Brouwer (4.5) Stajan (3.125) Bouma (2.2)

Defense

Giordano (6.75) - Hamilton (5.75)
Brodie (4.65) - Stone or replacement (4.0 Guess)
Andersson (.894) - Kylington (.894)

Total - 18.938 in actual + 4 estimate = 22.938

UFA
Gillies (0.925)

Total - 0.925

Raymond Buyout 1.05

Overall - that leaves us with a total of 55.295 million and the Brouwer/Stajan/Bouma questions. The cap could increase to 76 million next year, leaving about 20 million for 1 top 6 RW, 1 3rd line LW, 1 Goalie, 1 7th defenseman, and the contracts of Stajan/Bouma/Brouwer to contend with.

Personally I think they should target a younger/cheaper goalie like Grubauer/Pickard/Korpisalo. That allows you to either continue to eat a bad contract for the year or to be able to spend on a legit 1st line RW.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Versteeg
Stone

RFA's

Chaisson
Bennett
Lazar
Ferland
Rittich
Gillies
Hathaway
Maybe Kulak


If there was a way to keep Engelland for like, 1.75 for 2 years max, I'd do it. But there's no way that gets it done.

Kulak and Wotherspoon, I've rooted for both of them for a long time, and they each looked 'close' for a while. Just the next in the line of Billins and Cundari that were good but not good enough, except these two have been with the organisation for a long time now so it hurts a tad more to come to the realisation. Kulak I could give one more year for cheap if he's interested, but The Spoon? Sorry buddy, thanks for everything and hope you make it big somewhere, but it won't be here

Culkin, I'll be honest, don't know enough about. Not sure I've watched him once

Kulak and Wotherspoon vs Billins and Cundari. Fairly weak comparison as both Billins and Cundari were severely undersized defencemen and that was always going to be a major barrier for them becoming NHLers.

Frankly I don't see any similarities in your comparison except that all 4 play defense and all 4 were owned by the Flames at some point. Kulak and Wotherspoon have a much higher chance of developing into NHLers than Billins or Cundari ever had.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Kulak and Wotherspoon vs Billins and Cundari. Fairly weak comparison as both Billins and Cundari were severely undersized defencemen and that was always going to be a major barrier for them becoming NHLers.

Frankly I don't see any similarities in your comparison except that all 4 play defense and all 4 were owned by the Flames at some point. Kulak and Wotherspoon have a much higher chance of developing into NHLers than Billins or Cundari ever had.

Meh, you're just reading too much into the comparison. I simply see them in the same group as guys that just won't make it despite flashes of solid play

[tsquared1967]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

He made $800k this year and scored 12 goals.

He's got size, speed and is a right shot. If I'm the Flames I offer him 3 years $1,000,000 per give or take.

That's a great deal for a fast, heavy 4th liner who can provide some depth scoring. If he wants to be here he takes that and runs.

This was the guy on the top line and on the powerplay that had one goal in October, three goals in November and one in December. He was good at punching Alex Cramarossa's fist with his face as well. The Flames need some toughness not just a heavy dead weight. A pass for me. Promote someone from Stockton for half the price.

[getbak]

For reference, here are the minimum qualifying offers required for each of the RFAs...

NHL

• Ferland - $945,000 (one-way)
• Lazar - $874,125/$70,000
• Bennett - $874,125/$70,000
• Chiasson - $840,000 (one-way)

AHL

• Culkin - $660,000/$70,000
• Kulak - $660,000/$70,000
• Wotherspoon - $687,500/$125,000
• Hathaway - $715,000/$70,000
• Vey - $735,000/$325,000
• Gillies - $874,125/$70,000
• Morrison - $874,125/$70,000
• Rittich - $874,125/$92,500

In order to qualify for a one-way QO, a player must meet all three of these requirements:

1. Played in at least 180 NHL games in the previous 3 NHL seasons
2. Played in at least 60 NHL games in the last NHL season
3. Did not clear waivers during the last NHL season

The CBA defines an NHL game as any regular season or playoff game. As a result, Ferland barely hits the 180 games threshold with 173 regular season and 13 playoff games over the last three seasons. Bennett doesn't quite make it with 159 regular season and 15 playoff games. Lazar has more than 180 games over three seasons, but didn't make it into 60 games this past season. This shouldn't be an issue for either Bennett or Lazar because neither are in danger of being sent to the AHL.

For players who don't qualify for a one-way QO, the AHL portion of their QO must be at least equal to the AHL portion of their contract for the previous season.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think the humane thing to do is let Wotherspoon go. He fell into the depth. At this point, there are probably other prospects we should be focusing on graduating either to the AHL from lower levels, or to the NHL from the AHL.

There may be NHL teams out there that he could possibly make out of camp.

[Yanda]

We should resign Kulak but let Wotherspoon, Morrison and Culkin go to make room for the next crop.

[DeluxeMoustache]

UFA
Kris Versteeg - Yes, for 1.5-2 range
Dennis Wideman - No
Deryk Engelland - Yes, but not if he wants a raise
Michael Stone - Yes, ~4M per
Brandon Bollig - No
Brian Elliott - No
Chad Johnson - Yes
Mike Kostka - No

RFA
Sam Bennett - Yes
Curtis Lazar - Yes
Micheal Ferland - Yes
Alex Chiasson - Yes, for bottom 6 duty
David Rittich - Yes
Kenney Morrison - No
Jon Gillies - Yes
Linden Vey - Yes
Garnet Hathaway - Yes
Ryan Culkin - No
Brett Kulak - Yes
Tyler Wotherspoon - No. Give him a chance somewhere new.

[dammage79]

Ufa:
Stone
Versteeg

Rfa:
Gillies
Lazar
Bennett
Hathaway
Kenny Morrison
Ryan Cullin
Linden Vey

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Oh, I agree for sure. However a 2 year deal with year 2 being 1 way wouldn't be overly shocking IMO.

Sort of like the Ortio deal? Yeah I could see that

[bax]

Drouin-Monahan-Gaudreau
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Oshie
Hathaway-Lazar-Stajan

Bouma, Hamilton

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Stone
Andersson-Engelland

Bartkowski

Fleury
Johnson

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by bax

Drouin-Monahan-Gaudreau
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Oshie
Hathaway-Lazar-Stajan

Bouma, Hamilton

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Stone
Andersson-Engelland

Bartkowski

Fleury
Johnson

TJ Oshie is only good enough to play on our 3rd line?

[flambers]

UFA
Kris Versteeg - Yes
Dennis Wideman - No
Deryk Engelland - No
Michael Stone - Yes
Brandon Bollig - No
Brian Elliott - No
Chad Johnson - Yes
Mike Kostka - No

RFA
Sam Bennett - Yes
Curtis Lazar - Yes
Micheal Ferland - Yes
Alex Chiasson - Yes
David Rittich - Yes
Kenney Morrison - No
Jon Gillies - Yes
Linden Vey - Yes
Garnet Hathaway - Yes
Ryan Culkin - No
Brett Kulak - Yes
Tyler Wotherspoon - No

[bax]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

TJ Oshie is only good enough to play on our 3rd line?

The way I see it, the top 3 lines are all fairly even- just different. They would all get relatively similar ice time.

No different than Ovechkin playing on the "third line" these days.

The NHL is all about having a balanced attack now. The days of having 2 scoring lines and 2 grinding lines is over.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by bax

Drouin-Monahan-Gaudreau
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Versteeg-Bennett-Oshie
Hathaway-Lazar-Stajan

Bouma, Hamilton

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Stone
Andersson-Engelland

Bartkowski

Fleury
Johnson

So Oshie, Drouin, Stone, Engelland, Versteeg and Johnson are all signing for the league minimum?
Flames don't have to give up anything to get Fleury and Drouin?

[bax]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

So Oshie, Drouin, Stone, Engelland, Versteeg and Johnson are all signing for the league minimum?

Flames don't have to give up anything to get Fleury and Drouin?

Haha it's a pipe dream I know, just having some fun.

For Drouin I was thinking something like 1st + Ferland and for Fleury I was thinking something based around one of our better prospects.

And is the money that far off? My train of thinking was Fleury replaces Wideman, Drouin replaces Brouwer, Engelland signs for less, Stone signs for similar, Versteeg and Johnson sign for similar.

Then pray to hockey gods they can fit Oshie somehow

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by bax

Haha it's a pipe dream I know, just having some fun.

For Drouin I was thinking something like 1st + Ferland and for Fleury I was thinking something based around one of our better prospects.

Well, if that's the case, why not sign Shatty and Bishop for league min instead of Engelland and Johnson...

[Flamefan1]

UFAs

Stone

RFAs

Bennett
Lazar
Ferland
Gillies
Hathaway
Kulak
Wotherspoon - Flames will regret letting this guy go - under appreciated

Note: please no Chiasson, fast and big, but nothing else. Hathaway much better option. Flames must make room for Jankowski and one and hopefully two of Wotherspoon, Kulak, Andersson and Kylington on opening day line-up. Please no more retreads like Wideman or Grossman.

[David Struch]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

So Oshie, Drouin, Stone, Engelland, Versteeg and Johnson are all signing for the league minimum?

bax's pipe dream could hypothetically fit under the salary cap, would need a minor tweek for some elbow room though.

Drouin (4,500,000) - Monahan (6,375,000) - Gaudreau (6,750,000)
Tkachuk (925,000) - Backlund (3,575,000) - Frolik (4,300,000)
Versteeg (1,500,000) - Bennett (3,000,000) - Oshie (4,500,000)
Hathaway (715,000) - Lazar (874,125) - Stajan (3,125,000)
Bouma (2,200,000) - Hamilton (612,500)

Giordano (6,750,000) - Hamilton (5,750,000)
Brodie (4,650,400) - Stone (3,500,000)
Andersson (650,400) - Engelland (2,916,667)
Bartkowski (612,500)

Fleury (5,750,000)
Johnson (1,700,000)

Salary Cap: $76,000,000 million
Bonuses/Buyout (Raymond) $1,570,000
Total Cap Hit: $75,917,859
Cap Space Available: $82,141

[TheScorpion]

No way in hell Oshie signs here for $4.5 unless the league extends the maximum deal length to 35 years.

The solution: put Freddie in the AHL and do it like this:

Jonathan Drouin ($4,500,000) - Sean Monahan ($6,375,000) - Johnny Gaudreau ($6,750,000)
Matthew Tkachuk ($925,000) - Mikael Backlund ($3,575,000) - Michael Frolik ($4,300,000)
Kris Versteeg ($1,500,000) - Sam Bennett ($2,500,000) - T.J. Oshie ($5,500,000)
Garnet Hathaway ($715,000) - Curtis Lazar ($874,125) - Matt Stajan ($3,125,000)
Lance Bouma ($2,200,000)

Mark Giordano ($6,750,000) - Dougie Hamilton ($5,750,000)
T.J. Brodie ($4,650,400) - Michael Stone ($3,625,000)
Rasmus Andersson ($650,400) - Deryk Engelland ($2,100,000)
Matt Bartkowski ($612,500)

Marc-Andre Fleury ($5,750,000)
Chad Johnson ($1,700,000)

Mason Raymond's buyout: $1,570,000

Salary Cap: $76,000,000
Total Cap Hit: $75,997,425
Total Cap Space: $2,575

Not bad, eh?