With Treliving trading away quite a few high round picks in the upcoming drafts, he will look to offset their loss. One way to do that is college free agents. College free agents are cheap assets that cost the organization only an ELC.
Being able to attract good college free agents also allows for riskier draft picks. For example, a team can afford to take more boom and bust prospects in the NHL draft if they can get steady stream of college guys to fill out the roster and provide depth.
With the Flames log jam in goal and defence through the organization, I think it would be hard to attract any free agents in those position unless the Flames do an extremely good job of selling the organization and/or the player doesn't have many options.
The Flames are starting to get thin on forward prospects, especially at the AHL level. With many of Stockton's centers and wingers graduating to the NHL and most of the others they might let go, the Flames will probably have an easier time attracting forward free agents.
At time of posting the Flames are at 46 NHL contracts, so it is possible for them to burn a year of an ELC for a few free agents if they decide to do so.
D Daniel Brickley 22 y/o 6'3'' 205lbs shoots L junior
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=216251
Was one of the more sought after college free agents last season.
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A native of Sandy, Utah, Brickley returned to school to finish his degree, which he will do in just three years. The reigning WCHA Player of the Year will garner a ton of interest because of his size and offensive ability from the blue line. Brickley is still maturing in his own zone, but because he hasn’t reached his ceiling, NHL organizations will covet him that much more. Brickley has the agility to sidestep forecheckers on the breakout, despite not having the best speed.
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https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...ss-of-NCAA.php
D Zach Whitecloud 21 y/o 6'2'' 209lbs shoots R sophomore
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=202774
Will be highly sought after.
Had invites from 29 teams for 2017 development camps but attended the Kings'
Was on the radar for Canada's olympic team being picked for the Karjala cup
All around solid d-man that shoots R and no blaring weaknesses.
Yzerman and Rob Blake were seen scouting him in person recently.
C Mason Jobst 23 y/o 5'7'' 159lbs shoots L junior
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=101415
Small player but captain of the team
2 way player, who puts up a lot of points on the PP.
attended Bruins camp
RW/C Kiefer Sherwood 22y/o 6'0'' 196lbs shoots R junior
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=196607
attended Blue Jackets camp and his brother is in the Blue Jackets organization but the Blue Jackets aren't seen as a likely destination.
according to Buccigross the Ducks, Flames, Capitals, and Golden Knights all extended NHL offers last year before he decided to go back to college
put up slightly more than a point a game last season but is well below that pace so far this season
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The leading returning scorer in terms of conference points in the NCHC, Sherwood is an explosive offensive player. He’s fast and has a lethal shot, especially on the power play coming off the wall. He finished last season with 14 goals and 24 assists, including six power-play tallies.
The New Albany, Ohio, native isn’t overly big, but he plays at a pace that NHL scouts like. His younger brother, former BU recruit Kole Sherwood, is in the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.
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https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...ss-of-NCAA.php
C Tyler Sheehy 22 y/o 5'10'' 185lbs shoots R junior
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=118549
After putting up strong numbers last season that had him finishing 8th in NCAA scoring (1.39pts/g), putting up more points in a season than any Gopher in the last 11 years, and a Hobey Baker top 10 finalist, he is struggling this season with a 0.625 pts/g.
Good on the cycle and willing to mix it up.
Weakness is skating and there will be some concerns as to why his offence has fallen off sharply (i.e. is he a product of Justin Kloos who the Flames also went after last season).
C Colt Conrad 20 y/o 5'10'' 187lbs shoots R junior
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=199895
ranked 194th NA skater by Central Scouting for the 2017 draft.
known as a playmaking C with very good hands, put some scoring wingers on his line and he will rack up the points.
red flag is skating, not a very fast skater
in the top 20 for pts/g in the NCAA
LW/C Robert "Bobo" Carpenter 21 y/o 5'11'' 185lbs shoots L junior
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=229715
ranked 119th NA skater by Central Scouting for the 2014 draft
known for his shot
almost a point per game this season
Son of former NHLer Bobby Carpenter
attended Devils, Leafs, and Boston camps
more to come