[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Here's a list of upcoming forward UFAs that may be able to fit in the top line RW spot

Elias, Patrik NJ LW UFA 5,500,000 (39)
Stamkos, Steven TB C UFA 5,500,000 (25)
Grabner, Michael TOR RW UFA 5,000,000 (28)
Vrbata, Radim VAN RW UFA 5,000,000 (34)
Backes, David STL C UFA 4,750,000 (31)
Doan, Shane PHO RW UFA 4,550,000 (39)
Eriksson, Loui BOS LW UFA 4,500,000 (30)
Okposo, Kyle NYI RW UFA 4,500,000 (27)
Perron, David ANA LW UFA 4,500,000 (27)
Purcell, Ted FLA C UFA 4,500,000 (30)
Ruutu, Tuomo NJ C UFA 4,050,000 (32)
Hudler, Jiri FLA C UFA 4,000,000 (32)
Jones, David MIN RW UFA 4,000,000 (31)
Boedker, Mikkel COL LW UFA 3,750,000 (26)
Brouwer, Troy STL RW UFA 3,750,000 (30)
Lucic, Milan LA LW UFA 3,750,000 (27)
Jagr, Jaromir FLA RW UFA 3,500,00 (64)

I've added the age of each player and bolded the players that I'd be happy for the Flames to bring in. I didn't bother with Stamkos because it would probably take something completely insane for him to consider signing in Calgary.

I'd like to see the Flames bring in David Backes. Lucic would be even better but he seems like a pipe dream, so Backes would be the next best thing to bring is size, skill, and nastiness to the top-6.

I like Hudler a lot and if the big money that he is apparently after doesn't materialize I'd like to see him back for a few more years.

If the Flames were able to sign Hudler and Backes, it would make for a pretty solid forward group (not even including a potential top rookie from the draft):

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Ferland - Bennett - Backes
Agostino - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Colborne

Okposo and Eriksson both seem very unlikely to be interested in joining the Flames as they will have many suitors and no connection to Calgary or Western Canada.

-Brouwer isn't talented enough to bring in as a UFA, I'd rather see a middle six opportunity go to Ferland or someone in the system.
-I've never been a Perron fan and I think he'd make about the same difference here that he did in Edmonton.
-I'd be surprised if Jagr left Florida, especially to agree to the Western Conference travel schedule but that might be an interesting experiment
-Ruutu, Doan, and Elias' best days are far behind them
-Neither Grabner nor Purcell interest me, although Purcell might be an adequate fill-in
-watching Jones was an exercise in frustration for me and I'm happy to see his spot go to someone else