Just thought I'd take a quick stab at removing the pending FAs from the equation to see what the Flames could be doing this off-season (using capfriendly).
Dube -
(Lindholm) -
(Toffoli)
Huberdeau -
(Backlund) - Mangiapane
Pelletier - Kadri - Coleman
Ruzicka -
(Rooney) - Duehr
(Hanifin) - Anderson
(Tanev) - Weegar
(Gilbert) -
(Zadorov)
(Kylington)
Markstrom-Vladar
Waiting in the wings this year:
Coronato (RW) - likely slots into the second line
Wolf (G) - likely slots into the backup role
Zary (C, LW) - likely slots into the fourth line
With all the pending pieces and the bad UFA class this year, I think there are several likelihoods:
Forwards:
- Room has to be made for Coronato and I get a sneaking suspicion they don't trade all the vets, so Mangiapane may be dealt
- Toffoli likely stays until the deadline at least
- Backlund is dealt for a stop gap C replacement and a low 1st
- Lindholm is dealt for a mid-1st, good prospect and a 3rd
- Kadri moves to the first line
- Flames scour the FA market for a stop gap C for the lower two lines like Byron or Acciari
Defence:
- Tanev and Kylington start the season on the team as we need defensive warm bodies
- Hanifin is dealt for a pick and a prospect
Goaltenders:
- Flames deal Vladar away to make room for Wolf (insisting to their detriment that Markstrom will bounce back)
Given the FA market this year combined with many teams desperate to improve, I really think we'll see a lot of deals for the bottom 18 1st rounders. Especially combined with teams having multiple firsts with a select few not "needing" them, this draft is probably going to be trades galore.