Originally Posted by Nelson
So, I think this is the most likely lineup based on currently signed players:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Nordstrom - Ryan - Simon
Rinaldo
Gio - Andersson
Hanifin - Tkachuk
Valimaki - Nesterov
Petrovic
Markstrom
Rittich
Reading the number off CapFriendly, that lineup leaves cap space of $485,834. The Flames need to re-sign Kylington, but I don’t expect that re-signing to change the cap space all that much.
Looking at that roster, I want another top 9 forward, top 6, even better. The reason is I want more skill and speed on Bennett’s LW. Pretending that a good trade will not materialize for the purposes of this post only, the Flames would have a budget of $1,185,834 to buy a forward in FA (by taking out a $700K F and using the cap space).
Harman Dayal recently put out the top 10 UFAs for The Athletic. The forwards on the list were: Hoffman, Granlund, Duclair, Kahun, Soderberg, Leivo, Haula. Dayal stated that there were tiers to his list: Hoffman to Kahun and Soderberg to Haula. The Hoffman group contains a pretty strict order, while Soderberg, Leivo and Haula are pretty much of interchangeable quality.
Having outlined Dayal’s list, I’d look to the Flames options.
—I don’t think Hoffman, Granlund or Duclair are realistic at $1,185,834.
—Kahun is therefore the best, realistic option for the Flames on Dayal’s list. I personally think he’d be an excellent fit with Bennett and Dube. Here is what Dayal had to say about Kahun:
“Dominik Kahun can be an effective middle-six presence much in the same way that Duclair can but he garners that value in a very different way. What he lacks compared to Duclair in flash and scintillating offensive tools he makes up for with two-way substance and versatility.
Kahun has scored at a 40-point pace prorated over 82 games in his two NHL seasons. That’s remarkably efficient considering virtually all of that production comes at even strength. In fact, his 5-on-5 points per 60 rate ranks top 75 among all forwards in the last two years.”
To me, that sounds like a great option for Bennett’s LW.
—Of the last three options, I like Leivo best. This is some of what Dayal had to say:
“Leivo was counted on as a strong two-way presence who could play both wings while shuffling up and down every line in the top nine. The 27-year-old isn’t dynamic enough to help in transition — he’s very much a complementary winger — but he’s a beast at winning board battles and was really effective on the forecheck which quietly helped him drive excellent 5-on-5 results.”
Dayal goes on to suggest that because of Leivo’s knee injury, he should be in line to sign for close to $1 million. Oh, and he’s also a right shot....
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