Quote:
Originally Posted by Phanuthier
Top line players : Monahan, Bennett, Gaudreau (maybe move Bennett to wing?)
2nd line players: Porier, Sven, Granlund, Colbourne, Ferland
3rd line players : Jooris, Byron, Knight, Reinhart
4th line players : Bouma & Friends
|
And that doesn't include some wild cards in Jankowski, H. Smith, Hanowski, Agostino and Arnold. With the forward prospect depth the Flames need to limit the contract renewals and lengths on any of the forward UFAs (currently on the team or not).
I firmly believe that in 3 years the Flames will have Gaudreau, Bennett, Monahan, Ferland and Poirier in their top six. That only leaves one spot open for another young player or UFA. IMO Bouma, Backlund, Jooris, Colborne should be mainstays on the bottom 6. Maybe Colborne will take a spot on the 2nd line.
The Flames should be focusing most of their UFA money on their defense. Don't re-sign Diaz, have Wotherspoon on the roster. Trade/Buy-out Wideman and sign a better defenseman in the UFA market to a max 5-year deal. Go hard after Boychuk is he doesn't re-sign in New York. I'm sure it wouldn't be easy, but the Flames do have a lot of cap space. Other potential UFA defenseman targets would be Sekera, Bartkowski, Staal, and McQuaid.