Quote:
Originally Posted by Hockeyboy2
Projected 2014-2015 Forwards:
Returning Forwards
Hudler, D. Jones, Glencross, Backlund, Monohan, Baertschi, Mcgratten, Galiardi, Colborne, Bouma
Rookie Forwards Projected To Make Team
Reinheart, Gaudreau (Long Shot) if not him then Hanowski or Granlund.
This leaves 2 Forward roster spots potentially open at the most. Given that we are one year into a rebuild I don't think that signing any UFA's over 30 would fit the model of what we are trying to build here I would suspect in my amateur opinion that the Flames would only attempt to sign one of Paul Stastney or Alexander Steen and Ryan Callahan at the very most. However what incentive would Paul Stastney have to leave Colorado and Ryan Callahan to leave the New York Rangers or Alexander Steen to leave St. Louis to come here?
At this point I don't see much incentive for them to leave their current situations. Its far more likely that Calgary would just resign Lee Stempniak and Matt Stajan. Two players who I think are undervalued by us fans who fit well for where this team currently stands.
Projected 2014-2015 Defensemen:
Returning Defensemen: Wideman, Giordano, Smid, Brodie, O'Brien
Returning UFA Defensemen Must Resign: Russel
Rookie Defensemen Projected To Make Team: One of Breen, Cundari, Billins, Wotherspoon or Ramage
Given that we have 5 returning Defensemen at the least and hopefully 6 returning because Kris Russel has done an outstanding job for us I don't see us making any calls for any Free Agent Defensemen. I think our Defense is set for next year and some people will like it, some people won't but such is life.
Projected 2014-2015 Goaltenders
Returning Goalies: Ramo, Berra
Rookies Challenging: Ortio
With these 3 young goalies challenging plus Gillies still developing it would be a slap in their faces and depressing for their development if Calgary went out and signed a UFA goalie.
Conclusion
After trying to write this up as logically as I could, my opinion is that the Flames would only be interested in signing one or two UFA Forwards at the most and that the ones we would sign do not have enough incentive to leave their current teams to come here. Therefor I can't see any big name UFA signings occuring this summer with our team.
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So basically replace Cammalleri with Rienhart or Gaudreau or Grandlund or Hankowski and write off 2014-15.... going for a 3rd year in a row with a top 6 draft pick?
This is following the Islanders rebuild plan. They peaked last year with an 8th place finish and are currently a worse team than the Flames.
The Islanders have #7 overall Okposo, #9 overall Bailey, #1 Tavares, ,# 5 Niederreiter, #5 Strome, #4 Rienhart
2 of the Flames top 6 players Hudler and Wideman (joining Monahan, Glencross, Brodie and Giordano) as the best 6 currently on the flames had absolutely no reason to leave their old teams to join the Flames ..... other than getting over-paid by about 1m / year.