Hudler is as good as gone given recent signings...either shortly or at the deadline. He won't be signing a one year deal, not at his age so there is no room for him in 2017-18
Hopefully the Flames can sign at least 2 (Gaudreau/Bennett) of the big three to bridge deals with good cap hits in the 4.0 to 5.0 range (depending on play this year)...Mony is almost assured of a longer term deal to eat up a few years of Free Agency - probably a 6 year x 6.5 million deal - if he has a year in the 25 Goal & 35 Assist range.
For 2017-18 (assume Cap is 74.0):
Gio (Assume 7.5)
Hamilton
Brodie
4th Dman (assume 4.0)
Total 22.0 million
Backlund/Frolik/Stajan (11.0 million)
Gaudreau/Mony/Bennett (16.5 million)
Assume Ferland/Bouma (4.0 million)
Total 53.5 million or 72% of Cap (assume 74.0 million) on 12 players
Now add a number one goalie at 4.5 and a backup at 1.0 (5.5) on 14 players
we are at 59 million.
That leaves 15 million to sign 8 players - that's about as close to cap hell as you are going to get. Probably you will need 3 to 4 forwards at minimums of (750K per) so you can have a bit of powder left for your 5th and 6th defenseman and another depth forward. Calgary won't want to be at 74.0 to start that season, ideally at 70 to 71 so you have some room to add if need be. That means 11 to 12 million to sign 8 players - very difficult to maintain depth.
Lovely situation to be in with all these guys succeeding and the new additions but this roster (depth players) is going to change drastically.
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