This is going to be a fun summer. I understand why there is a cap but it is unfortunate that it has limited player movement over the years.
Expansion draft is going to put players in the trade market that normally wouldn't be available. Considering teams with 2 good goalies can only protect 1 I think the flames are in a great position to acquire a good goalie. They can always leverage the team they are trading with and tease signing Reimer which could result in the Penguins trading Fleury for far less than they would like.
I don't think the flames should touch their D. If anything they should try and subtract Smid and Wideman. Gio, Brodie, Hamilton is a good top 3. Jokkipakka and Engellend are decent bottom pairing options. This leaves a spot for one of Wotherspoon, Nakladal, Kulak, Anderssen, Kylington.
Up front if we can save 7 forwards we currently have
1.Gaudreau
2.Monahan
3.Bennett
4.Backlund
5.Frolik?
6?
7?
I have 3 potential question marks where the flames could add some talent up front. Frolik is a good player but his cap hit could be expendable down the road so I have him as 50/50 protection.
It is really unfortunate the flames have some horrible contracts on the books with Stajan, Smid, Wideman, Raymond, Bollig. If the team had more cap space they would be in a great position to improve rapidly considering they have 3 2nds, and the free agent pool is relatively deep in comparison to other years
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