[DeluxeMoustache]

^ I agree with a lot of this.

The problem is that the Flames are on the hook for the bad contracts.

And a lot of the guys on the roster are part timers. They show flashes of quality but can’t sustain it all season. The team is committed to them and other GMs are not going to do any favours

Ferland - sure he has good stats but has a disturbing trend of Rene Bourque style sometimes here, sometimes not. Also I should mention that although he has decent stats, Bernie Nicholls had a single 70 goal season and none before or after over 30. I don’t think he is a top line guy. I admire his results and effort first half of the year but he seems to me to be a 3/4 liner in a good position. He has responded well at times to the demotion to 4th line but he is not a 21 year old. This is what he is. If someone values it, leverage the asset.
Stajan - heart and soul guy, good in the room I am sure, but clearly post apex. They are in the hook for the contract and nobody will do them any favours here. It can be time to say goodbye
Lazar - some people have found hope (?) but his couple of recent goals have had some asterisks with them and he has been pretty darn awful on the whole. I think it is easy to say goodbye here too
Hathaway - basically a fringe guy. Can bring it for a few games with the adrenaline but there does not appear to be the ability to sustain the level, or any further upside. You need to put guys like this on the 4th line and rotate them because they can’t sustain it on a 3rd line, especially if they get comfortable. Probably could have been sent down for a reminder.
Chris Stewart - 6 years removed from last good season and frankly I just hope nobody gets hurt when this knucklehead sprints from rink to dressing room. I don’t care what other teams thought he could help them and put in a waiver claim, this is a worst of Tre.
Brouwer - actually I think he is a serviceable 3rd liner, and has had a few good games of late, but the contract does not look great. Then again, he has been bounced around a lot. Basically the rest of the lineup needs to be in place for him to have a defined role. He could be a swiss army knife but that is usually an upside if a guy that you know what you are using him for
Shore - who knows. Hopefully he can Shore up the 4th line

I think the Flames looked best during the 4-5 game stint where Jagr was as close to healthy as he ever was here (after getting closer to in shape and before aggravating the injury). That Bennett - Jankowski - Jagr line was actually often dangerous in December until he got hurt again.

Flames could put :
Brouwer with Backlund and Frolik. Any winger plays better with them and Tkachuk can stir the drink for any line he is on.
Bennett and Tkachuk with Jankowski. Make a 2nd/ 3rd line hard to play against.

They still need a winger with Johnny and Monahan but Ferly will have to do for this year, when he is back, then upgrade in the off season. Like you mean it.

But whatever is left over for the 4th line is awful. When Versteeg is back, decide between him and Brouwer I guess. Or put him with Monahan and Gaudreau. Ferland has been good at times but just can’t bring it 82 games a year

When the contracts are done, though, they have a lot to clean up.

Man, this has been a disappointing season.