Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Matthew Tkachuk & Johnny Gaudreau Signing Watch Thread

OptimalTates · 06-10-2022, 02:59 PM

If you look at the teams that made the conference finals, easy to see some pretty obvious "savings" for each (just like Gaudreau and Tkachuk for the Flames this year).

Shesterkin becoming a Vezina winner making 5.7M.

Zibanejad playing like a 10M player but making 5.3M. Kreider scoring 50 goals on a 6.5M contract

Miller, Lafrenière on ELC (especially Miller). Fox, Lindgren on RFA (especially Lindgren).

Zibanejad bumps up to 8.5M next year, but as long as Shesterkin remains a reasonable starter, the development of Lafreniere, Miller and Kakko on RFA contracts, their window really looks to be just opening.

The Oilers have Draisaitl making 8.5M. Puljujarvi, Yammoto, Bouchard making nothing and obviously Kane making peanuts for what he brought on the ice.

But Nurse's new contract kicks in next year, Kane if he signs will be making way more, Puljujarvi and Yammoto need to be re-signed. Unless Keith disappears, there's no reason to assume they will be as good next year. But I do think with the wonder twins making 21M combined, the Oilers have to actively try to make the team suck. Fortunately they have done it by signing Nurse to 9M+, relying on Smith, bringing in Keith and pretty much everything they have done except having their balls picked by Bettman.

Colorado has Mackinnon making 6.3M, Makar and Toews coming in at 13M. Less than 20M for those three players when they are probably worth over 30M as UFAs. And they still have another year with those caps. Unlike the Oilers though, as long as they do something about their goalies, they still should be expected to get better as Byram develops, and Makar is only 23! So even by the time MacKinnon is needed to be re-signed, they still are likely finding extreme value in Makar and Byram.

I just don't see the same type of savings from the Flames if they sign Gaudreau and Tkachuk to fair contracts. One year of RFA for Tkachuk won't move the needle much (especially with current contract). Tanev, Hanifin, Andersson and especially Lindholm I think are pretty favourable contracts. But two years left on most, and one with Lucic and Monahan making too much. I think if you sign Gaudreau, you're pretty much hoping to win in 2024 before Lindholm needs a new contract.

Of course if Monahan bounces back, Zary becomes on all star on a ELC contract, all bets off. But those are longshots at best.

06-10-2022, 02:59 PM	#3061
OptimalTates Powerplay Quarterback Join Date: Feb 2020 Exp:	If you look at the teams that made the conference finals, easy to see some pretty obvious "savings" for each (just like Gaudreau and Tkachuk for the Flames this year). Shesterkin becoming a Vezina winner making 5.7M. Zibanejad playing like a 10M player but making 5.3M. Kreider scoring 50 goals on a 6.5M contract Miller, Lafrenière on ELC (especially Miller). Fox, Lindgren on RFA (especially Lindgren). Zibanejad bumps up to 8.5M next year, but as long as Shesterkin remains a reasonable starter, the development of Lafreniere, Miller and Kakko on RFA contracts, their window really looks to be just opening. The Oilers have Draisaitl making 8.5M. Puljujarvi, Yammoto, Bouchard making nothing and obviously Kane making peanuts for what he brought on the ice. But Nurse's new contract kicks in next year, Kane if he signs will be making way more, Puljujarvi and Yammoto need to be re-signed. Unless Keith disappears, there's no reason to assume they will be as good next year. But I do think with the wonder twins making 21M combined, the Oilers have to actively try to make the team suck. Fortunately they have done it by signing Nurse to 9M+, relying on Smith, bringing in Keith and pretty much everything they have done except having their balls picked by Bettman. Colorado has Mackinnon making 6.3M, Makar and Toews coming in at 13M. Less than 20M for those three players when they are probably worth over 30M as UFAs. And they still have another year with those caps. Unlike the Oilers though, as long as they do something about their goalies, they still should be expected to get better as Byram develops, and Makar is only 23! So even by the time MacKinnon is needed to be re-signed, they still are likely finding extreme value in Makar and Byram. I just don't see the same type of savings from the Flames if they sign Gaudreau and Tkachuk to fair contracts. One year of RFA for Tkachuk won't move the needle much (especially with current contract). Tanev, Hanifin, Andersson and especially Lindholm I think are pretty favourable contracts. But two years left on most, and one with Lucic and Monahan making too much. I think if you sign Gaudreau, you're pretty much hoping to win in 2024 before Lindholm needs a new contract. Of course if Monahan bounces back, Zary becomes on all star on a ELC contract, all bets off. But those are longshots at best.