This years starting lineup

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

What the heck, let's give this a try. Assuming that Burke will sign at least 2 free agents, he will likely go for some size to help balance out the lineup:

Matt Moulson-Backlund-Hudler
Granlund-Monahan-Colborne
Glencross-Stajan-D. Jones
Bouma-Knight-McGrattan
Byron, Van Brabant

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Smid
Wideman-Matt Greene
Wotherspoon

Ramo-Brian Elliott

As per someone else's suggestion I decided to make sure it worked with the armchair G.M. on cap geek. I did a little more than the qualifying offer for the RFAs. Byron got $1M, Bouma got $1M, and Colborne got $1.5M. Matt Moulson was signed for $5.75 million, Matt Greene was given 3.2 million, and Brian Elliott was given $2.5 million. It put this roster at $56.625 million with roughly $14.5 million in cap space against a $71 million cap.

[neo45]

Props on the Matt Greene and Radim Vrbata suggestions. I could see both players being here on 3years x4mil salaries. Especially Matt Greene who is truculent and knows how to win. I would almost bank on him getting a call from the Flames

[moon]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

Kane - Stastny - Byron
Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne
Glencross - Stajan - Jones
Bouma - Knight - McGrattan
Van Brabant

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Ekblad
Smid - Wideman
Wotherspoon

Ramo
MacDonald

Off-season optimism (I'd miss Backlund though)

We are making all those big moves and ending up with Byron the top line?

That seems pretty pointless.

[Geeoff]

This is basically impossible. I would be very disappointed if we come into next season with largely the same roster.

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by moon

We are making all those big moves and ending up with Byron the top line?

That seems pretty pointless.

They could throw Colborne or Jones there, but I don't think either would be improvements on Byron. Of course, if you could lock down another good winger or re-sign Cammalleri, those options would be preferable, I was just trying to somewhat limit myself after awarding the Flames the number 1 pick, one of the top free agent forwards, and a 22 year old winger who has scored over 30 goals.

I guess I still disagree that Byron would be a bad fit on a line like that. I wouldn't use him on the powerplay, but he's useful and has pretty good offensive skills.

[moon]

I think Byron is 50/50 to make the team next year and should be gone when we are ready to compete so obviously a difference of opinions there.

If doing that I would sign another UFA to play RW on that line.

[codynw]

Vanek / O'Reilly / Jagr
Moulson / Monahan / Iginla
Glencross / Stajan / Hudler
Bouma / Colborne / McGrattan

Giordano / Brodie
Greene / Niskanen
Smid / Wideman

Miller
Ramo

[Jacks]

If we overpay a bit maybe we can get a couple good UFA's?

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Jiri Hudler ($4.000m) / Mikael Backlund ($1.500m) / Jaromir Jagr ($5.000m)
Curtis Glencross ($2.550m) / Matt Stajan ($3.125m) / David Jones ($4.000m)
Sven Baertschi ($0.894m) / Sean Monahan ($0.925m) / Joe Colborne ($1.250m)
Lance Bouma ($0.800m) / Corban Knight ($0.900m) / Brian McGrattan ($0.750m)
Bryce Van Brabant ($0.913m) / Markus Granlund ($0.768m) /
DEFENSEMEN
T.J. Brodie ($2.125m) / Mark Giordano ($4.020m)
Dennis Wideman ($5.250m) / Kris Russell ($2.600m)
Ladislav Smid ($3.500m) / Matt Greene ($4.250m)
Tyler Wotherspoon ($0.925m) /
GOALTENDERS
Karri Ramo ($2.750m)
Joni Ortio ($1.500m)
BURIED
Shane O'Brien ($1.075m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $55,369,167; BONUSES: $4,826,250
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $15,730,833

[codynw]

My post was a complete joke, but I actually think Jagr could be realistic. He's said before that he wants to play in Canada, so pay him something like $5 million and promise to trade him if the Flames aren't in a playoff position at the deadline.

Is that crazy? Or is it a possibility?

[moon]

A lot of people have Van Brabant as an extra guy, he looked pretty useless in his short time here any reason people see him on the team?

Is is because better others play in AHL while he eats popcorn?

[moon]

Originally Posted by codynw

My post was a complete joke, but I actually think Jagr could be realistic. He's said before that he wants to play in Canada, so pay him something like $5 million and promise to trade him if the Flames aren't in a playoff position at the deadline.

Is that crazy? Or is it a possibility?

I think it is nuts.

Maybe if we overpay at a. 5 million dollar deal so he can gamble at will but seems unlikely Calgary would be near the top of his list.

[Jacks]

I don't think Jagr is out of the question.

He wants to play regular shift, he would be our best RW.
He would be expensive, we have tons of cap room.
He wants a chance at another cup, we can trade him wherever he wants at the deadline and we can retain salary.

Get it done Burke, please.

Originally Posted by moon

A lot of people have Van Brabant as an extra guy, he looked pretty useless in his short time here any reason people see him on the team?

Is is because better others play in AHL while he eats popcorn?

I just put him and Granlund in as space fillers, whichever rookies are playing best are going to be about the same salary.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I don't think Jagr is out of the question.

He wants to play regular shift, he would be our best RW.
He would be expensive, we have tons of cap room.
He wants a chance at another cup, we can trade him wherever he wants at the deadline and we can retain salary.

Get it done Burke, please.

If Cammalleri doesn't return and they feel they need to replace his veteran scoring presence, and cap hit, then they should go for Jagr.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I really don't think Jagr has any interest of being on our team. That's why I went with Vrbata.

[The Professor]

FORWARDS
Sven Baertschi ($0.894m) / Mikael Backlund ($1.500m) / Curtis Glencross ($2.550m)
Johnny Gaudreau ($0.925m) / Sean Monahan ($0.925m) / Joe Colborne ($0.660m)
Jiri Hudler ($4.000m) / Matt Stajan ($3.125m) / Paul Byron ($0.708m)
Lance Bouma ($0.635m) / Corban Knight ($0.900m) / Brian McGrattan ($0.750m)
David Jones ($4.000m)
DEFENSEMEN
T.J. Brodie ($2.125m) / Mark Giordano ($4.020m)
Ladislav Smid ($3.500m) / Dennis Wideman ($5.250m)
Kris Russell ($2.600m) / Chris Butler ($1.700m)
Tyler Wotherspoon ($0.925m) / Christopher Breen ($0.578m)
GOALTENDERS
Karri Ramo ($2.750m)
Anton Khudobin ($2.250m)
BURIED
Shane O'Brien ($1.075m)

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by moon

A lot of people have Van Brabant as an extra guy, he looked pretty useless in his short time here any reason people see him on the team?

Is is because better others play in AHL while he eats popcorn?

Pretty much. Better to have a guy who has limited upside in a sub role and when he's in the lineup he adds physicality and youthful enthusiasm. I don't think he's entirely useless, but I don't want any real prospect making the team just to sit and not develop. Van Brabant will likely be a good bottom 6th sub and I have Byron as a top 6 sub in lieu of any high end prospect call ups.

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by moon

A lot of people have Van Brabant as an extra guy, he looked pretty useless in his short time here any reason people see him on the team?

Is is because better others play in AHL while he eats popcorn?

That's pretty much why I slotted him in there.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by moon

A lot of people have Van Brabant as an extra guy, he looked pretty useless in his short time here any reason people see him on the team?

Is is because better others play in AHL while he eats popcorn?

He didn't look amazing, but he showed a couple of flashes of potential. I was impressed with his puck-protection against the boards and his physical play. He made one major defensive mistake against LA (giveaway which led to a goal against) but in general I thought he provided energy, size and the T word during his short stint here. Perfect LWer for the 4th line and pressbox role IMO. Perfect player to bang around on the forecheck and make room for the more skilled bottom 6 players we have.

I would want him on the roster over Westgarth for sure, mainly based on potential. I would, however, take just about any player at all over Westgarth next season.

The big gamble for me will be which skilled, diminutive rookie makes the Flames on opening day. It'll be Gaudreau versus Baertschi in my eyes; I doubt both make the team (if Hudler and Byron are both on the roster).

[indes]

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Curtis Glencross ($2.550m) / Matt Stajan ($3.125m) / Jaromir Jagr ($5.000m)
Johnny Gaudreau ($0.925m) / Sean Monahan ($0.925m) / Joe Colborne ($1.660m)
Sven Baertschi ($0.894m) / Mikael Backlund ($1.500m) / Jiri Hudler ($4.000m)
Lance Bouma ($1.635m) / Bill Arnold ($0.888m) / Brian McGrattan ($0.750m)
T.J. Galiardi ($1.250m) / Paul Byron ($0.708m) /
DEFENSEMEN
T.J. Brodie ($2.125m) / Mark Giordano ($4.020m)
Dennis Wideman ($5.250m) / Kris Russell ($2.600m)
Ladislav Smid ($3.500m) / Chris Butler ($1.700m)
Tyler Wotherspoon ($0.925m) /
GOALTENDERS
Karri Ramo ($2.750m)
Joey MacDonald ($0.925m)
BURIED
David Jones ($3.075m)
Shane O'Brien ($1.075m)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $53,754,767; BONUSES: $2,318,750
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $17,345,233

[FBI]

Potential points for Cali Flames Fan submission:
Matt Moulson (8)-Backlund (2)-Hudler (2)
Granlund(4)-Monahan (2)-Colborne (2)
Glencross(2)-Stajan(2)-D. Jones(2)
Bouma(2)-Knight(4)-McGrattan(2)
Byron(2), Van Brabant (5),

Giordano(2)-Brodie(2)
Russell(2)-Smid(2)
Wideman(2)-Matt Greene(8)
Wotherspoon(4)

Ramo(2)-Brian Elliott(8)
Potential = 73 points

For the equalizer I'm thinking of just having a winner for each month, April, May, June, July, August, September and you can make a submission every month.