Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Offseason - strategy of exploiting teams in cap trouble

DeluxeMoustache · 04-10-2013, 01:44 PM

So we know that Feaster has cleared a whole pile of cap space and the Flames have to ice a team next year. There also was the idea put out there that they may be able to take advantage of teams that have to shed salary to be cap compliant. Ideally this means picking up guys who are coming off their ELCs and are no longer affordable. I am sure that the Flames will be looking at every roster and seeing what the implications are.

Philly are right up against the cap. They are at 62.6M with 20 roster contracts. Not sure what happens with Pronger's contract if he is on the IR, I assume it disappears (but admittedly don't know how it fits in to off season compliance). If so, this would leave them about 5.6 M to fill 4 spots. They may well have to make a move in terms of trade of one of their roster players to free up space. RFAs are Zac Rinaldo, Erik Gustaffson, and Oliver Lauridson. Not too tantalizing. Interestingly, next year is the last on the contracts for Giroux, Schenn, Couturier and Read, all of whom would be up for raises, but then again Timonen and Meszaros and their combined 10M drop off.

Vancouver has obviously loaded up for one last kick at the can this year. They will have an interesting off season. They have 62.9M tied up in 15 contracts. leaving $1.4M to sign about 8 guys (!) They have a few RFAs, guys like Weise and Sestito, and fortunately for them Tanev hasn't made a huge step forward to warrant a huge raise on his 900K. Derek Roy is obviously a rental who will be looking for a new home. Mason Raymond and Max Lapierre are UFAs. They will obviously have to bite the bullet and drop the ridiculous demands for Luongo.

Toronto has 12 players signed for 45 million with 19 M in projected cap space. If they re-sign their RFAs Kadri, Gunnarson and Franson, that number may go down by about 5-6 M. Bozak will probably command a raise from his $1.5. Kostka and Fraser are playing big minutes for 2 guys making $600K. They could be at around 18 players with maybe 10M cap space. Will they bring back MacArthur? I don't necessarily see a raise from his $3.25.

Chicago has $58M tied up in 16 players with average $/opening $839K. Stalberg (875K) and Bickell (541K) are UFAs. Marcus Kruger (900K) and Nick Leddy (1.1M) are RFAs coming off ELCs.

Boston has about 7M in cap space available with 6 spots to fill. Problem for them is that Rask and Khudobin are both up for renewals, and Rask's 3.5 or raise eats up a lot of that space. I suppose Savard if his contract is off the books due to being on IR would make another 4M available as well. Horton would likely be on the move as a UFA, as well as perhaps post apex Ference. RFAs are Caron and Daugavins, neither who have played enough to demonstrate their ceiling and warrant a significant raise (pricing themselves out of Boston's cost structure).

San Jose has 8.6 M in cap space and 8 roster spots to fill. RFAs are TJ Galiardi, James Sheppard and Andrew Desjardins on F and Jason Demers on D.

Carolina has 8.2 in cap space with 7 spots to fill. RFAs Riley Nash and Zac Delpe.

Tampa has 62M committed and 3 spots available. RFA F Benoit Pouliot, plus Gudas and Aulie on D, and Ben Bishop.

Not a lot of sexy RFAs that seem to have begun to demonstrate upside and positioned themselves to earn raises and price themselves out of their owning teams' structures.

Those are the teams that for the most part seem to be in a bit of trouble. As well positioned as the Flames are, I am curious as to whether management will actually be able to exploit this situation.

In terms of UFAs that are the right age, you have a few left wingers such as Latendresse, Bickell, Raymond, Stalberg, Wolski, MacArthur, Filppula

On RW, there are Horton, Brunner, Fehr, Yip, Bouchard, then getting up to 30 year old guys, Clarkson and Boyes

Centers include Bozak, Chipchura, Lapierre, Roy, Boyd Gordon

Benn, Clitsome and Kostka play pretty decent D minutes on their teams. Dallas will most likely re-sign Benn.

Detroit has lots of room for Filppula and Brunner. Maybe some of the Leafs, Bruins and Blackhawks are looking for new homes.

It seems there are pretty slim pickings in terms of RFAs on teams in trouble and UFAs that are the right age with upside, that match up to the Flames needs.

The Flames need to dress a team next year, and whatever the philosophy around rebuild and timing, should be aware of the fact that there is a material weakness at C.

Anybody have any ideas what Feaster may end up doing in the off season? Thoughts on any of the names above or others?

04-10-2013, 01:44 PM	#1
DeluxeMoustache Moustache Join Date: Mar 2010 Exp:	Offseason - strategy of exploiting teams in cap trouble So we know that Feaster has cleared a whole pile of cap space and the Flames have to ice a team next year. There also was the idea put out there that they may be able to take advantage of teams that have to shed salary to be cap compliant. Ideally this means picking up guys who are coming off their ELCs and are no longer affordable. I am sure that the Flames will be looking at every roster and seeing what the implications are. Philly are right up against the cap. They are at 62.6M with 20 roster contracts. Not sure what happens with Pronger's contract if he is on the IR, I assume it disappears (but admittedly don't know how it fits in to off season compliance). If so, this would leave them about 5.6 M to fill 4 spots. They may well have to make a move in terms of trade of one of their roster players to free up space. RFAs are Zac Rinaldo, Erik Gustaffson, and Oliver Lauridson. Not too tantalizing. Interestingly, next year is the last on the contracts for Giroux, Schenn, Couturier and Read, all of whom would be up for raises, but then again Timonen and Meszaros and their combined 10M drop off. Vancouver has obviously loaded up for one last kick at the can this year. They will have an interesting off season. They have 62.9M tied up in 15 contracts. leaving $1.4M to sign about 8 guys (!) They have a few RFAs, guys like Weise and Sestito, and fortunately for them Tanev hasn't made a huge step forward to warrant a huge raise on his 900K. Derek Roy is obviously a rental who will be looking for a new home. Mason Raymond and Max Lapierre are UFAs. They will obviously have to bite the bullet and drop the ridiculous demands for Luongo. Toronto has 12 players signed for 45 million with 19 M in projected cap space. If they re-sign their RFAs Kadri, Gunnarson and Franson, that number may go down by about 5-6 M. Bozak will probably command a raise from his $1.5. Kostka and Fraser are playing big minutes for 2 guys making $600K. They could be at around 18 players with maybe 10M cap space. Will they bring back MacArthur? I don't necessarily see a raise from his $3.25. Chicago has $58M tied up in 16 players with average $/opening $839K. Stalberg (875K) and Bickell (541K) are UFAs. Marcus Kruger (900K) and Nick Leddy (1.1M) are RFAs coming off ELCs. Boston has about 7M in cap space available with 6 spots to fill. Problem for them is that Rask and Khudobin are both up for renewals, and Rask's 3.5 or raise eats up a lot of that space. I suppose Savard if his contract is off the books due to being on IR would make another 4M available as well. Horton would likely be on the move as a UFA, as well as perhaps post apex Ference. RFAs are Caron and Daugavins, neither who have played enough to demonstrate their ceiling and warrant a significant raise (pricing themselves out of Boston's cost structure). San Jose has 8.6 M in cap space and 8 roster spots to fill. RFAs are TJ Galiardi, James Sheppard and Andrew Desjardins on F and Jason Demers on D. Carolina has 8.2 in cap space with 7 spots to fill. RFAs Riley Nash and Zac Delpe. Tampa has 62M committed and 3 spots available. RFA F Benoit Pouliot, plus Gudas and Aulie on D, and Ben Bishop. Not a lot of sexy RFAs that seem to have begun to demonstrate upside and positioned themselves to earn raises and price themselves out of their owning teams' structures. Those are the teams that for the most part seem to be in a bit of trouble. As well positioned as the Flames are, I am curious as to whether management will actually be able to exploit this situation. In terms of UFAs that are the right age, you have a few left wingers such as Latendresse, Bickell, Raymond, Stalberg, Wolski, MacArthur, Filppula On RW, there are Horton, Brunner, Fehr, Yip, Bouchard, then getting up to 30 year old guys, Clarkson and Boyes Centers include Bozak, Chipchura, Lapierre, Roy, Boyd Gordon Benn, Clitsome and Kostka play pretty decent D minutes on their teams. Dallas will most likely re-sign Benn. Detroit has lots of room for Filppula and Brunner. Maybe some of the Leafs, Bruins and Blackhawks are looking for new homes. It seems there are pretty slim pickings in terms of RFAs on teams in trouble and UFAs that are the right age with upside, that match up to the Flames needs. The Flames need to dress a team next year, and whatever the philosophy around rebuild and timing, should be aware of the fact that there is a material weakness at C. Anybody have any ideas what Feaster may end up doing in the off season? Thoughts on any of the names above or others?