[Roof-Daddy]

***Make Note, I'm not suggesting we add any of these guys without first trading away one or more of our smaller/softer veteran top six forwards. I don't want any of these players added at the expense of our up and comers getting ice time, but I think it might be a good idea to replace a "Cammalleri and/or Tanguay" with a "Horton and/or Clowe"***


It's no secret, we lack size/toughness/grit/two way play among our group of top six/nine wingers. It's even been noted by our GM in interviews, and with how Feaster tried to sign Prust last off-season, it's obviously not something they didn't realize even before going into the season.

Any guesses as to how they attempt to address it this off-season?

There are some decently sized wingers out there on the UFA market this off-season, and other teams have some guys under contract who might be available.

Here's a list of all bigger sized wingers, some of them are the complete package, but most of them aren't without their flaws, like inconsistency, "post-apex", big cap hits, long term contracts or they battle the injury bug.

Still, for the right price, and given that the Flames still keep spots open for our younger players, all of these players I've listed bring elements to our roster that are sorely lacking.


UFA's

LW - Ryane Clowe (30) - 6'2 - 225lbs -> Inconsistent, and 30 years old. But tough, mean, physical and is capable of top six numbers.

RW - Nathan Horton (27) - 6'2 - 230lbs -> Inconsistent and has the concussion issues, but is a complete player when on his game....and is still young enough to still be effective in 3-5 years.

RW - Viktor Stalberg (27) - 6'3 - 210lbs -> Has the size, but tends not to use enough. Still, very fast, can put up top six/nine numbers and is still fairly young.

LW - Bryan Bickell (27) - 6'4 - 235lbs -> Massive frame, but not the best skater. Defensively responsible, and has some offensive upside. Also fairly young.

LW - Dustin Penner (30) - 6'4 - 240lbs -> Laugh, I know, but he's huge, and probably won't command a whole lot as a UFA given his inconsistency issues. Just keep him away from the pancakes.


Contracted Players

While I don't "know" if any of these guys are available, it's possible some of them are, and a few of them might not cost an arm and a leg to get due to consistency or contract issues, but might be a help to a young, small, rebuilding team like ours.


LW - Milan Lucic (24) - 6'4 - 220lbs -> His big money contract kicks in next season, and he has under performed this season quite a bit. Still, he's young enough and has shown enough in the past, that I don't think the Bruins will be looking to move him, at least not with out receiving a massive return.

LW - Dany Heatley (32) - 6'4 - 220-lbs -> Production has dropped off the last couple seasons, and he is most definitely NOT pre-apex. We have lots of cap space though next season, and he's only got the one year left....plus Minnesota is set up for cap hell next season unless they move a big ticket out, so he might be had for cheap.

LW - Scott Hartnell (31) - 6'2 - 210lbs -> Some people hate him, in fact lots of fans do, but he's exactly the "type" of guy our roster needs IMO. Gives it everything he's got, agitates, hits, has size, and can score too. Problem with Scotty isn't his cap hit (4.75 mil), it's the length of the contract. Signed until he's 37 years old.

LW - Ryan Malone (33) - 6'4 - 220lbs -> Older and injury prone, but a very effective two way player when healthy. He's only got two more years after this season left at $4.5 million, so if he could be had for cheap I wouldn't mind him brought in for his physical presence, two way play, and leadership.

LW - RJ Umberger (30) - 6'2 - 220lbs -> Still 4 more years at $4.6 million per, can be inconsistent, and sometimes forgets he's 6'2, 220lbs.....but when he's on, he's a very effective power forward with a two way game.


How would you like to see the Flames address the issue this off-season?