Quote:
Originally Posted by OzSome
Flames don't necessarily about the cap hit in buying him out. I think they are more concerned about the signing limit.
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I think that is actually the least of their worries. The players they didn't qualify took care of the 50 contract limit and then some, without saving much in the way of cap space (since most of the players not qualified were on 2-way contracts). I don't know how many contracts they have now, but it probably is in the low 40's if I was to guess without going and counting them. Might even be in the high 30's. Cap Friendly is showing 36.
https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/flames
The only two rationales to this move are:
1) Flames are doing Raymond a 'solid' by buying him out rather than having to demote him back to the AHL again. He has time to get in the best shape of his life, and try to get a PTO for another team with roster space .
2) Flames clearing up cap space for a move soon. Signing Gaudreau, Monahan + UFA. Treliving must feel that they would be too close to the cap, and needed the extra ~2 million for breathing room.
I guess a third rationale is the Raymond's attitude in the AHL has been poor, and the don't want that around the prospects. However, by all accounts, he has been absolutely exemplary, so I didn't include it as a rationale at all.