[YyjFlames]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Yeah, but they didn’t do that.

The rebuild was forced on them and they fought it every step of the way

But since Conroy has been in charge, they have acted sensibly.

They haven’t gone after big free agents.

They have traded guys that want out for at worst, market-rate returns.

So they have Huberdeau, Weegar, and Kadri. Who cares. They have to pay someone. They’re paying have those three and they still have the most cap space in the league. And at least in the case of Weegar and Kadri, I’d rather have them at their deals than anyone who signed on July 1.

7x$7M for Brandon Montour? Yuck.

6x$6.25M for Chandler Stephenson? Hard pass.


Currently, there is only one player in the system who projects to earn an 8-year $8M+ extension by the end of his next deal: Zayne Parekh. If he goes back to the OHL, he will not count against the cap in any significant fashion for four years.

Anyone else who needs a big ticket deal isn’t even drafted yet.

Kadri has five years left. If he were a UFA this year, he’d have gotten better than 5x$7M. Christ, he’d probably get 7x$7M again - it’s not a 35+ contract. If he has another strong year, you can trade him.

You could trade Weegar at any point of his deal, because he’s a top pairing right shot defenseman who plays both sides.

So yeah it sucks having $10.5M tied up in Huberdeau. It also doesn’t matter.

The cap is gonna be $110M in five years, so what is that $10.5M reasonably going to prevent them from doing?

Nothing.

And if Huberdeau spends next season as one of the ten most productive powerplay players in the league (which he was for the final 2 months) then even his contract stops being a problem.

In the here and now, they have four players signed past two years - the three already discussed, and Coleman.

They will either keep good players who want to be here at reasonable numbers, like they have done with Sharangovich, or they will trade them, like they have done with everyone else.

To me, it looks like they’re as close to a blank canvas as you’re gonna get.

Agree. My only minor quibble (which may eventually become a major one) is the Flames will be paying Huberdeau $10.5m for 7 more years, until he's nearly 39. Those last few years, with him putting up maybe a point for every $500K he's paid, could really hurt unless something changes.