[Nehkara]

I will continually update here.

Notes:

(Apologies, I was having stream problems and missed the beginning)

- Raymond brings speed and versatility (PK, up and down lineup).

- Engelland: Wanted to bring toughness and right side D. Think he is undervalued.

- Do not want to limit opportunities for young players.

- Want to get bigger.

- Want to create environment where young guys can be confident out on the ice.

- Engelland brings character, great in the locker room, great person. Helps continue to build Flames identity.

- Term important. 3 years or less on all contracts.

- Price tag on Engelland will be talked about. We have flexibility right now. Had the ability to take a chance on a guy who has a great reputation with his teammates. "Great deal" of interest in Engelland. Some will say a very high price. It's a fine price given the type of person we are getting.

- Timing of the window to talk to Free Agents is difficult because it coincides with the draft.

- Window to talk to Free Agents gives time to do your homework on players.

- Jonas Hiller has had struggles and periods of brilliance.

- Jonas Hiller is a proven NHL goaltender.

- Goaltending is the most important position on the team.

- We are not turning away from Karri Ramo. We have competition in the net.

- Trying to bring in competition. Not anointing any goaltender on July 1st.

- Openings on Flames for players to compete for jobs. Don't want to hand over places on the team but don't want to close out opportunities to make the team.

- Mason Raymond "just fit for us."

- There will be opportunities to add later in the offseason due to cap and roster issues on other teams.

- Not sure where exactly the salary number will be for the Flames this season.

- We are not done for the summer. Continually on the phone right up until press conference.

- Got better today.

- We tried to bring back Cammalleri. Credit to the ownership. A number of significant proposals made to Cammalleri. Every effort made to bring him back. Mike earned his right to be a free agent. He found what he felt was a better fit with NJD.

- Flames offered significant dollars to Cammalleri. "More than competitive". But the term was a block.

- Term can strangle you in a salary cap system.

- If things progress how we hope they progress, some of our players will need new deals in the next few years and we need to remain flexible.

- Flames felt they could offer Engelland a higher number over a shorter term.

- Added depth in NHL and reserve list.

- Still want to tweak defense and need some more at forward. We are going to take a pause right now and evaluate. Want to remain flexible in case anything becomes available later in the offseason or if a player doesn't get what he wants early in free agency.

- Want to provide young players with an environment that gives them the courage to play. Engelland and Bollig add a lot to the room. "We have upgraded our size and I think that brings a better environment for our young players."

- Rich Hesketh wanteds to pursue other opportunites (I believe this is what was said).

- Ryan van Asten is the new strength coach. Brought him in from LA Kings. Also works with Hockey Canada, Canadian Luge Team.

- Flames need more goals internally (Glencross, Hudler, Backlund, Jones). Not looking for young players to be our saviour. Continue to watch for opportunities to add scoring.

That's it for the press conference.



Now on Fan960.

Notes:

- Wanted to add overall depth and improve ourselves in net. Not a knock on Ramo. Want to add competition.

- Allows proper timing for Joni Ortio. With Jonas Hiller the goaltending situation feels better.

- With Mason Raymond, and Mike Cammalleri moving on, we wanted to add offense and speed. Raymond can move all over the lineup.

- Continue to have flexibility at forward.

- Engelland is a RH shot. A lot more to his game than was shown in Pittsburgh. Character off the ice shows he is exactly what we want in Calgary.

- Flames could be more aggressive than other teams with Engelland. He wanted longer term but we paid more for short term.

- Many teams wanted Engelland, pushed up price.

- Fine with bigger money as long as the term was what we wanted.

- Players want an opportunity.

- Flames need more depth on defense.

- We are not at the point where we can ship out multiple assets for players. Need to grow asset base. All three players today grow asset base.

- Will not mortgage the future to be better in October.

- Will watch for opportunities and be aggressive when they present themselves.

- If we wanted to put 1st round picks and young players in deals we could do a lot of things.

- We are pushing to be as good as we can. Outlook is long term.

- Happy with draft. Added Sam Bennett and depth, stocked cupboard.

- Right now building for the future. Will get involved in big deals down the road (future years).

- A lot of things jammed into a small window (draft, free agent discussion window).

- Strength of Flames front office is not only people but depth. Reached out to many people simultaneously.

- Shane O'Brien: All parties in agreement that Shane moving on was best for everyone. Tried to trade him but couldn't.

- Chad Billins: Wanted to retain the rights.

- Paul Byron: Still interested in him. In his case he would have had a tremendous arbitration case if qualified. Still talking to him and his agent including today.

- Next order of business is RFAs.

- Moving on from all other Flames UFAs.

- #1 priority is the blueline. Need to upgrade and build depth organizationally. We have some young guys that we like a lot but they need to go through a process to become NHL players.

- Some young forwards on the cusp. Want to allow space if they are ready.

- Might be some things this evening.

- Talking actively in the trade market.

- Reiterates flexibility the Flames have in regards to the cap.

- Strength of Flames defense is mobility.

- Trade market has been busy.

- We will continue to be open and available for deals throughout the summer.

- Not hard to be disciplined with signings. For a player to get term they have to be a core piece.

Now Treliving is done on the Fan960.