Quote:
Originally Posted by Madrox
I think people are being pretty optimistic about our cap situation next year. If we sign Gaudreau to a contract at $7M per and Monahan to $5.5M, and spend a total of 7M on goalies, that puts us at $67.5M committed for next year to 18 players. That means we would be in a situation where depending on the cap, we could have as little as $4M to spend, and not more than $7M, on 3 wingers and 1 d-man, unless we have rookies step up to fill those spots. With the following coming off the books:
Jones
Hudler
Colborne (RFA)
Jooris (RFA)
Granlund (RFA)
Russell
Before any signings (excluding goalies), this is what we look like:
Gaudreau(7.0)-Monahan(5.5)-OPEN
Bouma(2.2)-Bennett(.925)-Frolik (4.3)
Raymond(3.125)-Backlund(3.75)-OPEN
Ferland(.825)-Stajan(3.125)-OPEN
Bollig(1.25)
Giordano(6.75)-Brodie(4.65)
OPEN-Hamilton(5.75)
Smid(3.5)-Wideman(5.25)
Engelland(2.9)
G1 ($5M)
G2 ($2M)
We may do better on the goalie front, but frankly we have no idea what we'll be able to pull off, this is just a guess, and less than we committed for this year. I think we are in major trouble cap-wise, unless we can shed at least one of and preferably two of Wideman, Smid and Engelland before next season.
|
I doubt $7M will be required for Gaudreau as an RFA (but if he's worth that by the end of the year, it means he had a fantastic year). They will spend about $5-6M on goaltending I bet, noty $7M. And, yes, the bottom 6 and the D will be rounded out by younger guys who already are knocking at the door. Guys like Colborne, Granlund and Jooris (I he's even re-signed) will not be expensive.
Further, like I said, Smid, Engelland and Wideman are only one more year. Then their mid to high salaries are replaced by what Andersen, Kylington, Nakladl, Morrison, Wotherspoon, Kulak, et al will get, which is a lot less.
Finally, now that the Flames have respectable top end talent and are nearing what I expect to be a big leap forward in success in the next few years, I expect them to be near the cap every year. Sure, it means creativity in the lower lines, but that comes with having good players at the top. Look at Chicago, LA, etc. Cap troubles all the time, but also cups.