Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [Rumour] Dailyfaceoff: Flames might go big game hunting this summer

Calgary4LIfe · 05-13-2025, 11:13 AM

While I would prefer a rebuild, I can also see the Flames becoming successful with the right signings over the next few seasons. Calgary hasn't been a destination - cold weather tax, small market tax, not a contender. It is a tough draw. However, Conroy has also been all-class - picking up Frost and Farabee was noted around the league, there are no 'scandals' any longer about the Flames in any way, the new arena is around the corner... I guess we will see. Flames have always been able to sign second and third-tier UFAs, but just not the top-tier ones, even if they happened to offer the most money (like Richards, for example, which was a blessing in hindsight).

Here are the available forwards:
https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-age...ion/f/type/ufa

Nobody outside of Marner is a 'star' player, and nobody that I think I would buy a ticket to watch. I think Marner re-signs in Toronto, and if not, he goes to the USA as rumoured. Let's go through some of the others, however.

If the Flames are adamant about going up and not down, then my next favourite target is Bennett. I don't think he qualifies as a 'top producer', but he does in the playoffs for me. Sign guys that are great in the playoffs. I also think that Bennett can be effective as he ages and goes down the lineup.

Ehlers is probably next for me on that list. I like him as a player, but I really have him in 'tier 2'. Not a guy I would allocate top-line dollar on, but certainly a guy that can help drive offence.

Tavares - Yeah, he had a great season... but he is declining, and he certainly feels like the next Brad Richards, right? Not great foot-speed already. Almost 35 years old, so... I would avoid it unless he wants to sign 1 year deals, but then what would really be the point here? I don't think the intention is to grab producers on short-term deals, right? So cross off Duchene and Marchand from that list as well. Definitely cross off Giroux.

Boeser? I like him as a player, but I think he goes to the Wild. Plus, is he a guy you want to allocate a huge contract on? I am not sure. He would help offensively though.

The return of Mangiapane? 30 goal scorer? I like him as a player, but I think he was on his way out before Washington came calling. Maybe if he signs a cheap deal? I would doubt that he would be interested returning here.

Granlund? 33 already, so I think he doesn't fit. He has also been 'meh' - good enough producer, but not a guy I would target really.

I feel like I have crossed the 'top player' line long ago, so let's just ignore decent players like Appleton and Roslovic. Take a shot at Drouin? Don't think he will move the needle here at all.

Aside from the top names, there are actually a lot of good players that I like, but probably none that I would sign. Flames need to trade players away since there are too many forwards. One guy that I was hoping that the Flames take a run at this off-season was Olivier, but Columbus re-signed him already. About the only guy left that I would have an interest in is Jeannot. Yes, his name isn't a popular one right now after Tampa dramatically over-paid for him, and he stopped producing. However, he is a great skater and hits like a truck, and he is definitely a tough customer. Would help Calgary out right now in protecting young guys coming up the lineup like Parekh, and with Klapka in the (hopefully) top 6, having Jeannot in the bottom 6 will help make the Flames really hard to play against. I think he would fit the style of the team well, and if he rebounds, then that's gravy, and you either keep him or flip him.

I like Brock Nelson too, but he either re-signs in Colorado or goes back to NYI. Plus, he is 33 - I don't think it makes much sense to sign him, and he doesn't fit the long-term structure.

My prediction is that Calgary doesn't sign anyone. Again, there isn't anyone outside of Marner that would make someone buy a ticket to watch. That's how I look at it - if the goal is to sign a top player, then by definition it should be a 'star player' who people buy tickets to watch, right? I don't see anyone on the list that excites me other than Marner. Based on history, I just don't see the Flames being very active on the UFA market this year, except maybe signing a 4/5 defencemen.

05-13-2025, 11:13 AM	#47
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	While I would prefer a rebuild, I can also see the Flames becoming successful with the right signings over the next few seasons. Calgary hasn't been a destination - cold weather tax, small market tax, not a contender. It is a tough draw. However, Conroy has also been all-class - picking up Frost and Farabee was noted around the league, there are no 'scandals' any longer about the Flames in any way, the new arena is around the corner... I guess we will see. Flames have always been able to sign second and third-tier UFAs, but just not the top-tier ones, even if they happened to offer the most money (like Richards, for example, which was a blessing in hindsight). Here are the available forwards: https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-age...ion/f/type/ufa Nobody outside of Marner is a 'star' player, and nobody that I think I would buy a ticket to watch. I think Marner re-signs in Toronto, and if not, he goes to the USA as rumoured. Let's go through some of the others, however. If the Flames are adamant about going up and not down, then my next favourite target is Bennett. I don't think he qualifies as a 'top producer', but he does in the playoffs for me. Sign guys that are great in the playoffs. I also think that Bennett can be effective as he ages and goes down the lineup. Ehlers is probably next for me on that list. I like him as a player, but I really have him in 'tier 2'. Not a guy I would allocate top-line dollar on, but certainly a guy that can help drive offence. Tavares - Yeah, he had a great season... but he is declining, and he certainly feels like the next Brad Richards, right? Not great foot-speed already. Almost 35 years old, so... I would avoid it unless he wants to sign 1 year deals, but then what would really be the point here? I don't think the intention is to grab producers on short-term deals, right? So cross off Duchene and Marchand from that list as well. Definitely cross off Giroux. Boeser? I like him as a player, but I think he goes to the Wild. Plus, is he a guy you want to allocate a huge contract on? I am not sure. He would help offensively though. The return of Mangiapane? 30 goal scorer? I like him as a player, but I think he was on his way out before Washington came calling. Maybe if he signs a cheap deal? I would doubt that he would be interested returning here. Granlund? 33 already, so I think he doesn't fit. He has also been 'meh' - good enough producer, but not a guy I would target really. I feel like I have crossed the 'top player' line long ago, so let's just ignore decent players like Appleton and Roslovic. Take a shot at Drouin? Don't think he will move the needle here at all. Aside from the top names, there are actually a lot of good players that I like, but probably none that I would sign. Flames need to trade players away since there are too many forwards. One guy that I was hoping that the Flames take a run at this off-season was Olivier, but Columbus re-signed him already. About the only guy left that I would have an interest in is Jeannot. Yes, his name isn't a popular one right now after Tampa dramatically over-paid for him, and he stopped producing. However, he is a great skater and hits like a truck, and he is definitely a tough customer. Would help Calgary out right now in protecting young guys coming up the lineup like Parekh, and with Klapka in the (hopefully) top 6, having Jeannot in the bottom 6 will help make the Flames really hard to play against. I think he would fit the style of the team well, and if he rebounds, then that's gravy, and you either keep him or flip him. I like Brock Nelson too, but he either re-signs in Colorado or goes back to NYI. Plus, he is 33 - I don't think it makes much sense to sign him, and he doesn't fit the long-term structure. My prediction is that Calgary doesn't sign anyone. Again, there isn't anyone outside of Marner that would make someone buy a ticket to watch. That's how I look at it - if the goal is to sign a top player, then by definition it should be a 'star player' who people buy tickets to watch, right? I don't see anyone on the list that excites me other than Marner. Based on history, I just don't see the Flames being very active on the UFA market this year, except maybe signing a 4/5 defencemen.