[SuperMatt18]

Personally I still don't think you need to go full scorched earth re-build here. I look at the Blues and Capitals as the frame work. Be aggressive in trades and add to the core.

Flames have some key elements that are good pieces for this team long term, whether they are core pieces or strong support pieces.

Core Forwards: Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Monahan, Lindholm
Support Forwards: Backlund, Mangiapane, Dube, (Also Pelletier, Pettersen as blue chipers)

Core DMen: Giordano, Hanifin, Valimaki
Support DMen: Andersson, Kylington (Also Yelesin looks good)

Core Goalie: Rittich

Then I think you have deadweight long term in Lucic who is likely unmoveable.

So overall as pieces that I think this team will have long term you have 8 forwards, 5 dmen and a goalie.

So then you look at potential moveable pieces or pieces that might hold value in a trade or are expiring after this season.

Forward
-Ryan - 2 years at $3.125M - Trade
-Bennett - 2 years at $2.55M (RFA) - Trade to Montreal for 2020 2nd
-Frolik - 1 year at $4.3M
-Jankowski - 1 year at $1.675M (RFA) - Trade

Defense
-Brodie - 1 year at $4.65M
-Hanifin - 1 year at $3.85M

Flames will have some cap space to be able to make moves to add to this roster

Right wing: Andrew Mangiapane ($3,000,000) - Farm Team Call Up (Tuuola/Phillips) ($809,167)

Centre: Sean Monahan ($6,375,000) - Elias Lindholm ($4,850,000) - Mikael Backlund ($5,350,000) - Farm Team Call Up (Gawdin/Quine) ($1,000,000)

Left wing: Johnny Gaudreau ($6,750,000) - Matthew Tkachuk ($7,000,000) - Dillon Dubé ($778,333) - Milan Lucic ($5,250,000)

RD: Rasmus Andersson ($3,500,000) - Juuso Välimäki ($894,166)
LD: Mark Giordano ($6,750,000) - Noah Hanifin ($4,950,000) - Oliver Kylington ($2,500,000) - Alexander Yelesin ($925,000)

GOALTENDER (2)
David Rittich ($2,750,000) - Cheap Backup ($1,000,000)

BUYOUTS (2)
Troy Brouwer ($1,500,000) - Michael Stone ($1,166,667)

DETAILS
Roster Size: 18
Salary Cap: $82,000,000
Cap Hit: $67,098,333
Cap Space: $14,901,667

That $14M could go a long way to improving the Roster next season as long as they are willing to maybe make some tough decisions this year to try to stock pile some assets. Also I feel like the team should be willing to move out anybody from the core, just need to be sure to get a good return back on those players.

Personally I think they likely look at UFA like Radko Gudas on defense since hes a tough d-man who can actually play and PK. Then use the cap space to add a top 6 forward (RW/C), and a 3rd line forward (RW).

Really what we need this season / next offseason is our version of the TJ Oshie/Lars Eller or Ryan O'Reilly/Brayden Schenn trades. Adding those final top 6 pieces to the core without really giving up anything of consequence of the roster.