Quote:
Originally Posted by The Fonz
Eric Staal - Carolina
Steven Stamkos - Detroit
Kyle Okposo - Detroit
Brian Campbell - Florida
David Backes - Florida
Kris Russell - Toronto
Keith Yandle - Toronto
Milan Lucic - Los Angeles
Dan Hamhuis - Dallas
Jiri Hudler - Anaheim
Andrew Ladd - Calgary
Darren Helm - Calgary
James Reimer - Calgary
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Signing both Helm and Ladd is next to impossible barring trades. I'm assuming you have Calgary dumping huge contracts so they have the cap space to make these signings.
In order for Calgary to make a run for one of the better non-goalie free agents, they're going to have to get rid of at least one bad contract.
Personally, I don't want to waste assets removing Raymond, Smid, Stajan, etc. Their contracts are ending sooner rather than later. We are a rebuilding team. We need to keep our assets. Trading Wideman makes the most sense, since he might have a little value. He also has the largest cap-hit.
Unless the Flames trade Wideman, I can't see them signing a good free agent (excluding goaltenders). They have to re-sign Gaudreau, Monahan, Colborne, and maybe others. They also have Gio's extension kicking in. If they trade for a goalie or sign Reimer, that's another 3-6 million gone.
Excluding the Giordano contract, the Flames have 25 million dollars in available cap space for the 16-17 season. I'm going to try to guess how much they'll have available to spend:
Gaudreau: 7.8 mill
Monahan: 6.2 mill
Colborne: 3.5 mill
Reimer/Andersen: 5 mill
Nakladal: 1.3 mill
Jooris: 1.2 mill
Other*: 2 mill
That leaves -2 million remaining with a 74 million dollar cap. Your opinion of the contract extensions probably differs from my own, but the Flames won't have much room anyway you look at it. If they trade Wideman, they might be able to sign someone with a similar cap-hit. Smid's health situation could also provide us with a bit more room, but I'm doubtful on that. Otherwise, I don't see Calgary being a big player in the free agency.