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

[David Struch]

I would bring back the following 8 RFA's no doubt

Bennett
Lazar
Ferland
Hathaway
Kulak
Wotherspoon
Gillies
Rittich

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
_____ - Bennett - _____
Hamilton - Lazar - Brouwer
Bouma - Stajan

It would be great if two of Jankowski, Klimchuk, Shinkaruk, Mangiapane, Hathaway or Lomberg made Versteeg & Chiasson obsolete.

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - _____
Bartkowski - _____

On D, is it possible for two of Andersson, Kylington, Kulak, Wotherspoon, Healey or Ollas-Mattsson to replace Stone & Engelland?

In goal, I would like to see the soon to be 25 year old Rittich earn a job in Calgary but a new starter & back-up will likely be needed as our prospects are not yet experienced enough.

Gillies
Parsons
McDonald
Schneider

[savardandjokinen]

UFA
Kris Versteeg- Yes
Dennis Wideman- No
Deryk Engelland- Yes
Michael Stone- Yes
Brandon Bollig- No
Brian Elliott- one of the two if they dont want too much, likely johnson
Chad Johnson- one of the two if they dont want too much, likely johnson
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- No
Garnet Hathaway- Yes
Ryan Culkin- No
Brett Kulak- Yes
Tyler Wotherspoon- Yes, but try and trade if possible

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Interesting.

Seems to me most defensive Dmen don't have great Corsi or possession stats. Is it just the style they play or are their some non point getting defensive Dmen out there that actually have great possession stats?

Also, you look around to find a good top 4 right shot Dman to pair with Brodie that would be an upgrade on Stone and it's like looking for a needle in a hay stack.

I'd love to get Manson but I can't see that ever happening. Who else is really out there?

Good question. I think you try to find a good 3rd pairing guy who could play up with Brodie, and hope that Andersson can sink his teeth into that role instead.
That's probably too big a gamble.
I'm just not interested in 4.5 per for a boat anchor possession player. Nashville or even Anaheim's D is delicious. I expect those two will meet in conference final, and not by accident.

[FlamesAddiction]

UFA

Kris Versteeg - YES (for the right price)

Dennis Wideman - NO

Deryk Engelland - NO (I think he will cost too much and it is time to graduate a prospect).

Michael Stone - YES (depending on cost)

Brandon Bollig - NO

Brian Elliott - MAYBE (depending who we sign to be our starter, he would be a good back-up or 1B for the right price)

Chad Johnson - NO

Mike Kostka - NO (minor league offer maybe)

RFA

Sam Bennett - YES

Curtis Lazar - YES

Micheal Ferland - YES

Alex Chiasson - MAYBE (for the right price and term)

David Rittich - YES

Kenney Morrison - NO (for his own sake)

Jon Gillies - YES

Linden Vey - NO (minor league offer maybe)

Garnet Hathaway - YES

Ryan Culkin - YES

Brett Kulak - YES

Tyler Wotherspoon - NO (for his own sake)

[TheIronMaiden]

The Flames Projected cap space for next season is: $21,824,600.

That doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room after signing presumably 2 goalies, 2 or 3 defence, Bennett and Ferland. I can imagine more RFAs than not will be cut loose.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flames

[Coach]

Surprised at the amount of people who want Chiasson back. He wasn't bad, but I'd rather see our own prospects start to take up those spots.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Michael Stone is the only true yes in the UFA's or me. I'd like to see Versteeg and Engellend brought back at good value deals if possible but won't be too upset if we lose out. Stone is a legitimate top four blueliner that really cements a fantastic core of Gio, Hamilton, Brodie and him. This is the top priority.

The Versteeg contract is hard to predict, but I'd be careful going anywhere past 1.5 at 2 years. Engellend is in the same boat. One year/1.9 would be lots but two years at 1.5 might work too.

Would rather Johnson is cut loose with Elliott but there has been rumbling he'll be back. The 1.7 he got last year should be cut. Under one million and a two-way contract will suffice IMO. Don't see a market for him elsewhere at all.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Surprised at the amount of people who want Chiasson back. He wasn't bad, but I'd rather see our own prospects start to take up those spots.

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.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Surprised at the amount of people who want Chiasson back. He wasn't bad, but I'd rather see our own prospects start to take up those spots.

Yeah, the Flames will have to play some prospects, especially if they plan on finding a starter in net from the UFA class. I can imagine that one goalie is going to take up the lions share of the available cap space.

Does anyone think Gillies is ready for an NHL contract?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Does anyone think Gillies is ready for an NHL contract?

What do you mean.. he has one! He's still got a year left on his two-way ELC.

Ideally I'd like to see the Flames sign Bishop then rotate Gillies and Rittich as his backups next season.

[Coach]

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.

I think it's reasonable to expect that players we've drafted can attain similar results. While remaining onside

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

What do you mean.. he has one! He's still got a year left on his two-way ELC.

Ideally I'd like to see the Flames sign Bishop then rotate Gillies and Rittich as his backups next season.

Gillies is an RFA this summer

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The Flames Projected cap space for next season is: $21,824,600.

That doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room after signing presumably 2 goalies, 2 or 3 defence, Bennett and Ferland. I can imagine more RFAs than not will be cut loose.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flames

Two Goalies - $7.0
Stone or #4 D - $4.0
Bennett - $2.0
Ferland - $1.5
Lazar - $1.0
#5 & #6 D - $2.0

That leaves about $3-5 million to add 1 or 2 more forwards and doesn't take into account that we probably lose one of Brouwer, Stajan or Bouma in expansion or maybe more than one if BT can make a trade or two.

Cap space is not really an issue.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Gillies is an RFA this summer

oops! That's right.. had forgotten he burned a year when he signed.

Regardless though he hasn't earned a one-way deal. Signing him will be rather easy.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by MattyC

I think it's reasonable to expect that players we've drafted can attain similar results. While remaining onside

Hmm, well we don't have any 6'4" 215lb right shot wingers in the system capable of double digit goals in the NHL, at least not as far as I can see.

[-TC-]

UFA
Kris Versteeg
Deryk Engelland
Michael Stone
Chad Johnson


RFA
Sam Bennett
Curtis Lazar
Micheal Ferland
Alex Chiasson
David Rittich
Jon Gillies
Garnet Hathaway
Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Hmm, well we don't have any 6'4" 215lb right shot wingers in the system capable of double digit goals in the NHL, at least not as far as I can see.

Yes I suppose that's true.

Really, Chiasson isn't a problem and I'd be happy to keep him (with zero top 6 time please). I'd just like to see our system start to produce players, rather than always flying in some mercs. I'd like to see where guys like Jankowski, Mangiapagne, Klimchuk, etc.. land before offering 3 year deals to guys like Chiasson.

Guys like Brouwer, Bouma and Stajan are the ones who should be getting replaced. I think Stajan has been great, but he is overpaid and younger guys can do his job I think. Bouma was meh at best and Brouwer just didn't show up.

Other than them I really like our team. I think we were unlucky to not be up 2-1 on the ducks after 3 games, but alas thems the breaks.

[N-E-B]

UFA
Kris Versteeg - Yes
Dennis Wideman - No
Deryk Engelland - Yes
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 - No
Garnet Hathaway - Yes
Ryan Culkin - No
Brett Kulak - Yes
Tyler Wotherspoon - No

[Jore]

UFA
Kris Versteeg - yes, at a reasonable cost and term
Dennis Wideman - no, for all the obvious reasons
Deryk Engelland - no, i understand the sentimental reasons for bringing him back, but he was brutal during the season and worse in the playoffs. he and bartkowski were the worst pairing in the playoffs in the league. -8, 0 points, <40% corsi, scoring chances, and expected goals for%. pinned in their own zone whenever they took the ice. he also might cost too much and will definitely block a prospect. appreciate everything you've done engelland, and best of luck elsewhere
Michael Stone - maybe, if paid like a number 5
Brandon Bollig - no
Brian Elliott - no
Chad Johnson - maybe, isn't a bad backup
Mike Kostka - no

RFA
Sam Bennett - yes, definitely. sign him to a long contract. he had the lowest on ice shooting percentage on the team this year. nowhere to go but up
Curtis Lazar - yes
Micheal Ferland - yes, would appreciate a longer contract here too
Alex Chiasson - yes
David Rittich - yes
Kenney Morrison - no
Jon Gillies - yes, had a good rookie season as a pro
Linden Vey - maybe, he seemed to contribute to the ahl team
Garnet Hathaway - maybe
Ryan Culkin - don't know enough about him to say
Brett Kulak - yes, he's made the team out of camp 2 years in a row and been sat despite his on-ice performance because of the flames' glut of horrible 7th defensemen. give him a chance and he'll do well.
Tyler Wotherspoon - maybe, he's been ok when he's played but the organization doesn't seem to like him much at all

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

oops! That's right.. had forgotten he burned a year when he signed.

Regardless though he hasn't earned a one-way deal. Signing him will be rather easy.

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