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

[TheScorpion]

Of the following:

UFA
Kris Versteeg
Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland
Michael Stone
Brandon Bollig
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Mike Kostka

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
Alex Chiasson
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison
Jon Gillies
Linden Vey
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Culkin
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon

Who do you bring back?

(I've excluded Smid)

[Roof-Daddy]

Bold for sure
Green if we can't find an upgrade

UFA
Kris Versteeg
Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland
Michael Stone
Brandon Bollig
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Mike Kostka

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
Alex Chiasson
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison
Jon Gillies
Linden Vey
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Culkin
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon



Wotherspoon I think we might still be able to trade, if so qualify him and deal him ala Sieloff last summer

Culkin just can't stay healthy. Such a shame because he started out fantastic his 1st year pro until his season ended to injury.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Of the following:

UFA
Kris Versteeg YES
Dennis Wideman NO
Deryk Engelland YES
Michael Stone YES
Brandon Bollig NO
Brian Elliott - ONE OF THE TWO GOALIES- DEPENDING ON PRICE
Chad Johnson
Mike Kostka NO

RFA
Sam Bennett YES
Curtis Lazar YES
Micheal Ferland YES
Alex Chiasson SURE
David Rittich IS THERE ROOM?
Kenney Morrison NO
Jon Gillies YES
Linden Vey NO
Garnet Hathaway YES
Ryan Culkin WHATEVER
Brett Kulak YES
Tyler Wotherspoon YES

Who do you bring back?

(I've excluded Smid)

The goalies are the biggest question mark. I think you probably end up bringing one of them back, but let's see how the summer free agency plays out first

[AC]

Versteeg, Stone, Johnson maybe.

Bennett, Lazar, Ferland, Gillies, Hathaway, Kulak, Chiasson maybe (thought he was a good 4th line player near the end of the season, but depends Hathaway needs to be on this team next year first).

[Roof-Daddy]

Chiasson and Ferland I'd like to see signed to multi year deals. Chiasson about $1 million per and Ferland around $1.5 per. Good depth players, with size, speed, can play defense and chip in offensively from time to time. They both seem to want to be here too.

[bigrangy]

Stealing this color scheme

Bold for sure
Green if we can't find an upgrade

UFA
Kris Versteeg
Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland
Michael Stone
Brandon Bollig
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Mike Kostka

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
Alex Chiasson
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison
Jon Gillies
Linden Vey
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Culkin
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon

I want to bring Chiasson back but I don't know if there will be a 3/4 RW spot available for him. Lazar will be one of those spots and Hathaway/Hamilton deserve shots at the other one. Chiasson is an absolutely excellent 4th liner though and the team will be worse without him.

I want to bring Stone back but the price and term has to be right. No more than 3 years, no more than 4 million.

Kulak absolutely must be retained.

I wouldn't be opposed to use any of the non-Bennett/Ferland players to take a swing at a big fish to solidify the top 6, top 4 or starting goalie spot.

[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

[sureLoss]

Noteworthy:

The following RFAs have arbitration rights and Treliving et al. have been known to not qualify players if they think they might get stuck with an arbitration award that screws up the salary structure.

Ferland
Chiasson
Rittich
Morrison
Vey
Hathaway
Wotherspoon

For the 2016-2017 season the walk away number for player elected salary arbitration was just above $3.9 million. Meaning that if the arbitrator awards a player a salary of $3.9 million or less the team must accept the award and the player is signed to the arbitrator's award (the player is still tradeable). The walk away number is linked to the salary cap so it will go up/down/stay the same once next season's cap numbers are known.


Bennett
Lazar
Gillies
Culkin
Kulak

do not have arbitration rights

[Matty81]

UFA
Michael Stone

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison
Jon Gillies
Garnet Hathaway
Brett Kulak

I like Engelland but I think you can get a guy who can fight and play a 4th line role with much less damage to the team than being hemmed in your zone 5 times a game because your enforcer is a dman.

Versteeg was great but with all the young talent in Stockton he can be replaced by younger legs and higher upside.

Chiasson should be jettisoned into the sun.

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

UFA- Stone, maybe Versteeg although I don't know if there will be a spot for him.

RFA- Bennett, Lazar, Ferland, Chiasson (maybe), Rittich, Gillies, Hathaway, Kulak, Wotherspoon. Vey for Stockton.

A lot will depend on the goalie situation - can Gillies or Rittich back-up someone next year? Whether we bring in a RWer- Oshie? Targeted through trade? And if we upgrade on Stone at the 2nd pairing, moving him down to the third pairing.

I agree with AC, Hathaway needs to be a permanent fixture on the team next year.

[edn88]

UFA (assuming the price is right)
Kris Versteeg
Deryk Engelland
Michael Stone
Chad Johnson

RFA - none of these guys has a case to break the bank...
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
Alex Chiasson
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison
Jon Gillies
Garnet Hathaway
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Of the following:

UFA
Kris Versteeg If under 2.5 million for each of 2 seasons
Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland
Michael Stone Under 4.25 is perfect.
Brandon Bollig
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Mike Kostka

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
Alex Chiasson Depends if Brouwer is taken in the expansion draft. If yes, resign. If not, don't.
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison
Jon Gillies
Linden Vey
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Culkin
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon

Who do you bring back?

(I've excluded Smid)

Cut bait with a bunch of players. Cycle new guys in. Rinse repeat.

[Vinny01]

UFA
Kris Versteeg - yes at the right price short term
Dennis Wideman - no under any circumstance
Deryk Engelland - possibly for a cheap deal but likely let him go
Michael Stone - yes I would like him to be our third pair RHD 3 year $9M if he wants more term and money be prepared to move on
Brandon Bollig - no
Brian Elliott- no
Chad Johnson- potentially on another 1 year deal
Mike Kostka- no

RFA
Sam Bennett- absolutely bridge deal
Curtis Lazar- absolutely bridge deal
Micheal Ferland- yes
Alex Chiasson - no
David Rittich- maybe
Kenney Morrison- no
Jon Gillies - yes
Linden Vey - no
Garnet Hathaway - yes 2 way would be nice but one way if wehave to
Ryan Culkin - yes
Brett Kulak - yes
Tyler Wotherspoon - yes

[combustiblefuel]

holy ####. I forgot Bollig was still under contract this year.

[Mass_nerder]

UFA
Kris Versteeg
Deryk Engelland (if he's willing to sign under $2 for 2 years).
Brian Elliott

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
David Rittich
Jon Gillies
Garnet Hathaway
Brett Kulak

[FireGilbert]

For the UFAs, Versteeg is a no brainer and Stone and Engelland should be considered if the price is right.

For the RFAs, everyone but Morrison, Vey and Culkin.

[TheScorpion]

For those saying 'no' to Vey... he might be a nice insurance guy to keep on another dirt-cheap two-way deal in the AHL. He led Stockton in scoring this year (p/gp)

[mrdonkey]

I guess I'll continue the trend of bold for sure, green for 'only if nobody better is available'

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Of the following:

UFA
Kris Versteeg - Good depth guy, but would need to take a one or two year deal for 1-2 million
Dennis Wideman - LOL
Deryk Engelland - Really don't think the Flames will be able to compete with Vegas in a bidding war here, and even if they can, they shouldn't
Michael Stone - 3 years, 3 million hopefully. He's important
Brandon Bollig
Brian Elliott - sorry guy, would rather have the 3rd rounder. Think the Flames will sign Bishop instead
Chad Johnson - Maybe? Held the fort for a while, but doesn't have the consistency. Would rather see Gillies step up and take that spot
Mike Kostka

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland - bridge all three
Alex Chiasson - Great bottom 6 player, awful top line RW. Would like to see him back if Tre can find some way to bail out of the Brouwer contract
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison - sure
Jon Gillies
Linden Vey - I guess I'm biased, but I think having some veteran firepower in the AHL is important, and I like to see guys get rewarded after stories like his
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Culkin
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon - meh. All these guys are replaceable IMO

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Of the following:

UFA
Kris Versteeg
Dennis Wideman
Deryk Engelland
Michael Stone
Brandon Bollig
Brian Elliott
Chad Johnson
Mike Kostka

RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
Alex Chiasson
David Rittich
Kenney Morrison
Jon Gillies
Linden Vey
Garnet Hathaway
Ryan Culkin
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon

Who do you bring back?

(I've excluded Smid)

UFAs - Versteeg and Stone
RFAs - Bennett, Lazar, Ferland, Gillies, Rittich, Hathaway and Wotherspoon (seems to have fallen out of favour with the Flames, but still won best defenceman award this season for Stockton).

Maybe some AHL deals for some others, but I'm indifferent.

Hoping Calgary takes a shot at Alzner and Oshie.

[Savvy27]

UFAs:
Versteeg - produced fairly well and just seems like a good veteran player who has championship experience. Loved his game in the playoffs.
Johnson - Had a great run when the team needed it. Unimpressive second half but he's been a pretty strong backup in other settings and I think he'll be better next season.
Stone - fit well with Brodie. Assuming he signs for a reasonable amount, it allows the Flames to avoid paying big money for a comparable 2nd pair D man.

RFAs:
Bennett - no brainer
Lazar - obviously the plan is to keep him around
Ferland - took another step this year. Not sure I like him as a first liner, but he's a good player
Gillies - was pencilling him in as the backup, but after checking out Bishop's career progression, I am now thinking that another year in Stockton will only help. Plus the competition he is sure to get from Parsons will be interesting to watch.
Vey - seems like he will stick to being a tweener, but he seems like a pretty good one.
Hathaway - surpassed Bouma in my mind and had a positive effect on the team more than other 4 liners have. Helped Stockton turn their season around.
Kulak - will probably be in the mix for a third pairning spot
Wotherspoon - Similar to Vey in that he might never get a full-time spot, but is a good player for Stockton.

Notable omissions:
Chiasson - improved by the end of the season but prefer Hathaway and Lazar -- also don't want him anywhere near Gaudreau's wing or even Bennett's for that matter.
Engelland - heard from a friendly source that Engelland will be seeking a raise and I want the Flames to decrease the number of bloated contracts on the bottom end of the roster. Flames will miss his toughness, to be sure, but they will probably spend a lot less time in their zone too.
Elliott - it was a worthwhile experiment that didn't turn out well enough to try again. As mentioned by Roof-Daddy above, there are alternative options that are better suited to the role of starter. Bishop would be a solid addition.