Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
I still don't think that the Flames would want to move Engelland right now, and I do think that next year enough money comes off the books for them to re-sign who they need, or they will find a way to trade someone else.
Hartley loves Engelland - called him a born leader at last year's training camp. Aside from Smid, the Flames don't have any 'muscle' on the back-end. Engelland has also shown himself to be fairly reliable when given more minutes. Treliving and Burke both feel this team needs some toughness, and Engelland is definitely a player AND has that toughness more so than Bollig, I will argue.
I just don't see it. I think that Engelland is here until his contract expires, and even then the Flames may end up re-signing him to a much lower cap hit if they don't have someone to replace him in that role, or at least use him as the 7th. If anything, Smid will be gone before Engelland, though he would be even more difficult to trade I think.
|
I don't know there will be enough money to retain all of Monahan, Gaudreau, Hudler, Russell, Colborne without moving out some of the high prices fringe players like Engellend, Smid, Raymond, Stajan. Depending on who you think the number 4 Dman is (Russell) then the bottom 3 D are on the books next year for $11.65M. Our blueline is heavily overpriced next year especially if we keep Russell at around $4M per. If Colborne establishes himself as a top 6 forward he could be in the $3.5M range next year.
It didn't take long but the Flames are a cap team again. They spent $10M on new additions this summer and gave raises to important RFA's. Guys like Engellend, and Smid are already at the bottom of the depth chart. Stajan right now is a 4th line centre and Raymond might not even make the team. The goalies, Jones, and Hudler represent the biggest contracts off the books at the end of the year. Monahan and Gaudreau will certainly be retained but I doubt we see bridge contracts. I think both will be $6-7M cap hits next year.
Losing Hudler and/or Russell because we can't move the likes of Stajan, Raymond, Engellend, Smid and possibly Wideman (NMC) is a concern