Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
This is the biggest criticism for me of the idea that swapping out gaudreau for hall is an even lateral move.
At 6 million each I take Gaudreau, at 9 million for hall and 6.75 for Gaudreau, I definitely 10 times out of 10 take Gaudreau.
If the plan is to come back with a ramshackle defense, a 9 million dollar Taylor hall and no other substantial additions, I don't see this as a contending club.
And if you're not a contending club, just exactly what are you doing signing major ufa deals?
The flames cap situation for next year right now is 17 million in cap space with 13 players signed. Significant raise coming to Mangiapane (great work on that one), modest raise to Kylington, a backup (starter?) Goalie and 4 other defenders.
Unlike last season when the flames had an obvious cap cutting candidate in Frolik, this offseason requires more difficult decisions.
I'm not disagreeing that the flames are going to go hard after hall, the tea leaves are so clear it feels like borderline tampering. I just don't know how you square that with filling out the rest of the roster.
The thing with the performance to cap ratio of losing bargains like Hamonic and Brodie is that they are bargains because they weren't UFA deals. Signing ufa defenders means a downgrade in performance for the same cap hit. The flames are gaining about 9 million in cap space by losing hamonic and Brodie, but their replacement value is probably 11 or 12 million.
I hope there is a plan to address that. A short term bargain deal for Forbert is almost certainly part of that plan at this point I think, but I wonder if the flames feel like letting hamonic walk is even an option for them.
I can't help but think of Kent Wilson's Kulak article right now.
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I like Gaudreau at 6.75 way more than Hall at say 10.0, agree 100%.
But that 6.75 is only for two more years and then one of two bad things will happen.
1. Gaudreau leaves for nothing
2. Gaudreau stays and signs for big dollars
I'm not even a Hall fan, but locking into Hall and allowing you to move Gaudreau for big futures is a net gain that I can't overlook, and I think Hall and his speed probably has better years 5-7 than Gaudreau will if he loses a step given his size.
Hall wanting to come here would be a window extending, asset adding moment that could really change the next 5-10 years.