Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRed
Not to be a downer, but this looks like a tough summer for the Flames. No surprise, I know, but I'm starting to think about what needs to happen.
Flames will definitely not re-sign Ritchie (800K), Richardson (800K) and they finally get out from under the Brouwer buyout ($1.5 mln). That's $3.1 mln in the black with no impact on the roster.
Obviously, that's not close to what we need to re-sign Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Mangiapane and Kylington. Plus the entire 3rd pair of Gudbranson and Zadorov are expiring. They're not due the same kind of raise that those top 4 are, but Gudbranson seems to have at least earned his QO.
I suspect Zadorov will be lost as a UFA, which means Valimaki and/or Mackey will play next year, which saves another $2ish mln. But we still need way more room to sign those guys.
Which makes me think that either Monahan or Lucic, with their big contracts, need to go. Ruzicka isn't there yet, but it's not hard to see him being a viable option at 3C. Monahan's 6ish million off the books would give us ~$11 million of head room, total. Which maybe still isn't enough. And that's assuming you can move him without taking money back.
Hard to see how this team sticks together, TBH, unless they just qualify Tkachuck and accept he's gone after next year. Thoughts?
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They won't.
This happens every year though.
Roster turnover is what happens with a salary cap and having multiple good players. It's just life in the NHL now.
True that one or two "big name" guys will be part of the casualties this time around, but not necessarily core guys. For sure getting out from under the Lucic and Monny AAV will go a long way to alleviating the pinch that BT will find himself in.
Lucic will be easy to trade after July 1, but it will take him to agree to that, which could prove difficult. Flames pay him 3M that day so teams who need to reach the floor can add a 5.25 hit to the books, but only have to pay 1M of real money to him. That will be attractive to a few clubs Im guessing.
Monny is a different kind of problem though. Now he has a lot of rope to play with and get things turned around, but at this point and at his hit, he will be tough to move without a decent add-on. Hopefully TT helps him find his way again which will make everything easier all around.
Of course Johnny can decide to go elsewhere if he wants which makes all these issues moot. Worst case scenario to be sure but very much a real one.