Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaskal
He'd be essentially just replacing Rinaldo. Unless it was on league minimum for 1 year I wouldn't take it, as cap dollars are now more crucial than ever before with the slashed payrolls and internal caps being put into place.
I feel like that is what the 4th liners and role players are going to have to settle for this UFA period if they even get offers at all - would you rather a league minimum vet or a drafted pick on his ELC?
If Brad's flexing with cap space I would hope it would be on a big fish.
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Clifford is a much better player than Rinaldo, but I agree with you about over spending on the 4th line. Rinaldo is a heat seeking missle, but he can't win puck battles and can't grind in the corners so he really isn't that effective a player on the 4th line.
If you can get Clifford for under $1.5 million, yes do it, but I doubt he comes that cheap. Same thing with Matt Martin.
I think the 4th line needs to get a lot bigger yet maintaining quickness and speed. I think guys like Stefan Noesen, Zemgus Girgensens are options and hopefully don't cost too much. Flames will probably have to wait till the season starts to fill out that 4th line with value deals.
Hathaway's deal last year was just perfect for a 4th line guy, too bad, Tre couldn't keep him. Should have dumped Frolik last Summer and kept Hathaway.
Gawdin is not overly big, but they should pencil him in for the 4th line and let him play and develop in the NHL next year.