[GranteedEV]

The reason they haven't talked to Jones has nothing to do with whether or not they like Jones and everything to do with "cap troubles incoming".

Expiring we have:
Hudler - 4.0M
Jones - 4.0M
Hiller - 4.5M
Colborne - 1.25M
Ramo - 3.7M
Russell - 2.6M
Giordano - (Negative 2.75M as his Extension Kicks In)
Current Cap Space - 2.2M
___________
19.5M to sign:
Gaudreau - Probably 7.5 M
Monahan - 6.75 M (though you guys known I've been pushing the "bridge Monahan for 4.5/2Y" train of thought)
NHL Starting Goalie - 4.0 M
1M Backup Goalie + Granlund/Wotherspoon/Jooris/Shore/Grant etc.

You've pretty much hit the cap ceiling right there with a little bit of play here and there

That alone leaves you with

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Bouma-Granlund-Jooris
Bollig-Stajan-Raymond
X
X

Brodie-Gio
Wideman-Hamilton
Smid-Engelland
X

Starting Goalie
Backup Goalie

It's not pretty, but that's all you can afford. Welcome to the Calgary Pennypinchers 2016-17. It's only one year though.

Bollig - 1.25M
Smid - 3.5M
Wideman - 5.25M
Raymond - 3.0M
Engelland - 2.9M
_______________
15.9M all frees up in 2017

Yes, there will be some other contracts at that time to potentially deal with (Bennett/Jankowski/Kulak/Culkin) but that's when the team can start looking at free agency to fill roster holes. Just have to suck it up until then.