First move as GM is to take Sutter out behind the Saddledome and Ol' Yeller him. We'll tell the kids that we sent him out of province to live with long lost relatives, but we know we did the right thing and put him out of hockey's misery.
Next is get Coronato signed. Get him inked and ready to start his career with the Flames. I think its doable. If not, I'm possibly looking to move him at the draft if it can help us move up. I think I get him signed though.
Next is to prepare for the draft and try to recoup as much draft capital as possible. This window may have been missed by the team's indecision prior to the trade deadline though. Teams are hesitant to trade their firsts at the draft, but going to have to try.
We need the prospects in the system. Have to look at the team long-term and try to figure out who we can live with and live without. Because of the amazing work Treliving did at negotiating long-term deals we are looking at a core of Huberdeau, Kadri, and Weegar. No one is taking those contracts on, so we're looking elsewhere to lose some money on the cap. Based on contract status Backlund, Toffoli, Lindholm, Hanifin, Tanev, Zadorov, Gilbert, and Kylington are all players I'm taking calls on. Mangiapane is another guy I'm listen to offers for. If the right packages of picks and prospects come along, all of them could be gone. Backlund and Toffoli are the guys I'm actively trying to move because of the years they just had. Try to get a 1st and as many 2nds as possible. The 2023 draft is supposed to be the best in a couple of decades and the 2024 is supposed to be relatively weak, so try and get your assets now. I suspect we've missed the window and the only guys I'm going to get interest on are Backlund and Toffoli. That wouldn't disappoint me.
The only guy I have any concern over losing is Lindholm. I'd be trying to get his name on a contract extension, so he isn't available unless something blows my hair back, but if I don't have something done before the start of the season, I'm looking at moving him for the best package I can get. Might be one of the few players I roll the dice on and see if I can recoup a monster package at the next deadline.
Next, hire a coach who gets the game and understands the game is about speed and quick transition. I want to hear candidates come in and say they use player's strengths and find ways to minimize their weaknesses. I want to hire a coach that looks at the depth chart on the team and recognizes where players should be slotting and finding players to fill those gaps rather than try and fit a dozen square pegs into one round hole. The guys that comes in and says he's looking forward to playing Huberdeau and Kadri together leave quickly and don't have their parking validated.
So I wouldn't mind going into the new season with a lineup of:
Huberdeau-Lindholm-Coronato
Dube-Kadri-Mangipane
Pelletier-Zary-Coleman
Ruzicka-Schwindt/Jones-Duehr
Hanifin-Andersson
Weegar-Kylington
Gilbert-Zadorov
Stone
Markstrom
Vlader
That's around a $76M salary cap hit, so a little room to make some improvements around the edge if needed. Final thing is to have multiple plans for action throughout the year if certain targets aren't being hit and certain players aren't achieving the production expected. Not going to be caught without a plan and not going to be holding my breath waiting to see if the team comes together. If we're not clearly in the mix by Christmas I'm looking to the future and start moving upcoming UFAs. Mediocrity will not be accepted. If we're not going to be top ten, we're going to be bottom five and get those top picks so we can become a top 10 team for years to come.
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