1-year window? (also: Why get a goalie now)

[Itse]

Looking at our cap situation, I noticed that the Flames are in an extremely rare and sweet situation.

Guys that are clearly underpaid for what they bring:
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Giordano, Russell (less underpaid than the rest but still).

That's a full first line, #1D-man and a great 2nd pairing D-man for a ridiculous combined cap hit of $12,5M. These guys are going to get something like... $20M? in raises next season. Which gives Treliving exactly one year to take advantage of this situation.

Essentially, we have a special 1-year window next season. I don't want to call it a cup window, because with our core we should be competitive in the future too. But it is clearly an unusual situation that I'm sure Treliving wants to take advantage of.

If nothing else this explains to me why the Flames are actively looking for an upgrade in goaltending right now, even though we have some solid prospects coming up in Gillies and Ortio.

If the season starts well, I also can see us trading for some fairly cap-expensive rentals too.

Comments?

[spennywalks]

absolutly not.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

I agree that the Flames have kind of a 1 year 'mini window', and would be very happy to see them take advantage of it. Particularly by acquiring some 1 year contracts.

Offer some UFAs big overpays on one-year deals. Bring in an overpaid vet with a big cap hit, but only one season left. I'm thinking someone like Kevin Bieksa (but not Bieksa).

The total cost would probably be a few late picks, and just like last year, I'm OK with moving some scratch cards to get the young players some playoff experience.

[GranteedEV]

Who said we need to make any moves? Hiller isn't a bad goaltender if you give him support. He can't make athletic cross-ice saves but good defense means you don't need those.

Monahan <= Toews next year (biggest thing is faceoffs and further improved defense)
Gaudreau = Kane next year
Giordano = Keith next year
Brodie > Hjalmarsson
Hamilton = Seabrook
Russell >= Oduya
Wideman >= Oduya
Backlund = Vermette
Hudler < Hossa
Bennett > Sharp
Colborne finds his scoring touch after the wrist surgery < Saad but = as a PKer
Shore = Teravainen
Bouma > Bickell
Ferland = Shaw
Stajan = Kruger
Jones < Richardson
Schlemko > Cuminsky, Timmonen, TVR, Rundblad
Engelland = Cuminsky, Timmonen, TVR, Rundblad
Smid = Cuminsky, Timmonen, TVR, Rundblad

Let's see what this roster can do now that Hamilton can hold possession on the middle pairing.

[Mass_nerder]

Maybe Bennett will be better than sharp at some point (i hope so), but it would have to be a pretty special season from Bennett to be better than sharp this year.