Quote:
Originally Posted by 420since1974
Will the Flames clear enough Cap Space for a new Top 6 Forward next season?
Personally, I doubt it.
Regardless if Smith is back next season or not, I expect that the Flames will spend roughly the same amount of money on goal-tending (currently $5.25M for both). It could be Rittich and Smith (at a reduced salary), or Rittich and someone new, but I seriously think that BT pays less than $6M combined).
I honestly doubt that there is any way to move Neal that would gain any Cap Space without giving up a very good prospect/draft pick, so I do not expect him to be traded before next season.
Trading Frolik ($4.3M), Brodie ($4.6504M), and Stone ($3.5M) for draft picks only should be just enough to cover the salary increases necessary to re-sign all of Calgary's RFAs and UFAs: Bennett, Fantenberg, Hathaway, Mangiapane, Prout, Quine, Rittich, Smith (or replacement) and Tkachuk.
I just don't see any Cap Space for a Top 6 forward without trading equal value roster player(s).
I think that BT will limit himself to minor depth tweaks (RD in Stockton is a definite need) and perhaps some gambles on overseas FAs in the 23 - 26 age range.
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12.5 million wont be anywhere near enough to sign all those guys.
Bennett will want 3+ depending on term
Hathaway will want 1.5 or more
FAntenburg/Prout/Quine will get 800K-1M each
Rittich will want 3+ or more depending on contract length
2M for Smith/replacement
That is all of the 12.5 and you still haven't signed Tkachuk who will eat up all the original contract prices of those staying plus his own AND another 5-6 million per year.