This years starting lineup

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Glencross-Backlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Monahan-Colborne
Reinhart-Granlund-Poirier
Bouma-Stajan-McGrattan

Brodie-Gio
Russell-Wideman
Smid-Wotherspoon

Ramo

Unless you have $12m eating popcorn, this lineup is way under the floor

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Yep. I see Burke offloading one of the smaller wingers perhaps in a package deal for a big forward or top 4 D. He's said again and again we're going to need to get bigger, and he's clearly not going to keep all of Byron, Gaudreau, Hudler, Sven, Cammy (if re-signs) moving ahead.

I predict at least one big unexpected move on his part to try and make us bigger, and help the rebuild cut a corner.

At some point almost certainly, but I hope they realise that there's no hurry. They don't need to have a playoff ready lineup next season, they can just let the young players sort themselves out before starting to dump skill for size.

Because if you trade for size, you always lose on skill, and I don't want to see forced trades just for the sake of getting rid of small forwards when they're likely not going to be competitive anyway.

[keenan87]

I think the NHL should allow a team to be under the cap floor twice every decade. That way teams who are rebuilding will not have issues like the Flames might have while twice every decade might not be too bad for league finances.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

A lot of people leaving Granlund out. I think after another great off season he won't get outplayed at the camp and preseason.

He missed a lot of the good vibrations because of his injury but that'll only make him hungrier.

I agree that he could be ready for The Show, however he has Stajan, Monahan and Backlund ahead of him vying for the top 6 centre jobs.

With Granlund you have to ask which is more beneficial for him:

-> another season in the AHL as a top 6 centre
-> a season in the NHL playing limited minutes, possibly on the wing

I think I'd rather he play the big minutes with the Heat and allow a player like Knight to anchor the 4th line with the Flames.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Unless you have $12m eating popcorn, this lineup is way under the floor

That is a contract I would like to sign.

[4oh3]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

To WPG: Hudler, Wideman (50% cap retained), 34th overall in '14, 2nd in '15
To CGY: Kane, rights to Burmistrov

To CAR: Shane O'Brien (50% cap retained),
To CGY: Cam Ward, 37th overall in '14

Alex Burmistrov: 1 year, 2M
Joe Colborne: 3 years, 6.6M
Lance Bouma: 3 years, 3.9M
Paul Byron: 2 years, 2M
Chris Butler: 2 years, 6M
Chris Breen: 2 years, 1.2M

UFA:
Kevin Hayes 2 years, 1.8M
David Wolf: 2 years, 2.9M

FORWARDS
Evander Kane ($5.250m) / Sean Monahan ($0.925m) / Joe Colborne ($2.200m)
Curtis Glencross ($2.550m) / Matt Stajan ($3.125m) / David Jones ($4.000m)
Lance Bouma ($1.300m) / Mikael Backlund ($1.500m) / David Wolf ($1.450m)
Paul Byron ($0.975m) / Alexander Burmistrov ($2.000m) / Max Reinhart ($0.618m)
Brian McGrattan ($0.750m)

DEFENSEMEN
Mark Giordano ($4.020m) / T.J. Brodie ($2.125m)
Chris Butler ($3.000m) / Kris Russell ($2.600m)
Ladislav Smid ($3.500m) / Tyler Wotherspoon ($0.925m)
Christopher Breen ($0.600m) /

GOALTENDERS
Karri Ramo ($2.750m)
Cam Ward ($6.300m)

RETAINED SALARIES (5.10% of upper limit)
Dennis Wideman ($2.625m—50.00%)
Shane O'Brien ($1.000m—50.00%)

Draftee Draisaitl is given another year in Jr.

AHL Team:
FORWARDS
Sven Baertschi / Corban Knight / Emile Poirier
Johnny Gaudreau / Bill Arnold / Kevin Hayes
Morgan Klimchuk / Markus Granlund / Kenneth Agostino
Bryce Van Brabant / Josh Jooris / Ben Hanowski
Michael Ferland / Turner Elson /

DEFENSEMEN
Patrick Sieloff / Chad Billins
Ryan Culkin / Keegan Kanzig
Brett Kulak / Mark Cundari


GOALTENDERS
Joni Ortio
Olivier Roy

Yeah man I'm sorry ward for o brien just wouldn't happen

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I think the NHL should allow a team to be under the cap floor twice every decade. That way teams who are rebuilding will not have issues like the Flames might have while twice every decade might not be too bad for league finances.

They can't. It's bad enough that teams on salary cap floor ceiling or over are tanking the season. Imagine if you allow the team below minimum, you'll see bunch of teams trading their big salary players and just play with young guys and tank the season.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I agree that he could be ready for The Show, however he has Stajan, Monahan and Backlund ahead of him vying for the top 6 centre jobs.

With Granlund you have to ask which is more beneficial for him:

-> another season in the AHL as a top 6 centre
-> a season in the NHL playing limited minutes, possibly on the wing

I think I'd rather he play the big minutes with the Heat and allow a player like Knight to anchor the 4th line with the Flames.

I'm basing it on him continuing to develop. I was very impressed by how much he managed to do in the summer, and if that continues, I think he's going to be tough to send down.

But that's just a prediction. Players don't develop in a straight forward manner, obviously. Currently he's fine in the AHL but if he comes to the camp stronger and faster like I expect, he's going to seriously challenge the competition.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I think the NHL should allow a team to be under the cap floor twice every decade. That way teams who are rebuilding will not have issues like the Flames might have while twice every decade might not be too bad for league finances.

The whole point of a floor/cap system is parity.

If you open a window like that you give away exactly what you're trying to accomplish.

The floor attempts to ensure that every team is competitive because that helps draw crowds throughout the season. Imagine the draw Buffalo would be if they went with a $30m cap next year and put up 35 points.

Should they allow teams to go over the cap twice every decade as well? Same argument.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by 4oh3

Yeah man I'm sorry ward for o brien just wouldn't happen

It ain't about player value, it's about money. Carolina gets to unload a goalie they don't need and $20.1M in salary over three years.

[FightinSioux]

Nm

[Burner]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I think the NHL should allow a team to be under the cap floor twice every decade. That way teams who are rebuilding will not have issues like the Flames might have while twice every decade might not be too bad for league finances.

I am sure the NHL would allow it - not so sure the NHLPA would...

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Unless you have $12m eating popcorn, this lineup is way under the floor

The Flames could easily eat that gap up with two moves. Trade for Cam Ward ($6.3M) and sign Jaromir Jagr to a 1 year $6M contract. Two players, $12M. Signing Jagr to that deal will give you the option of dumping him at the deadline (retaining half salary) for a good futures return as well.

[Imported_Aussie]

Here is a roster in the scenario where Burke takes advantage of a team needing to shed salary.
Assuming a trade here with Carolina for Cam Ward and 2x 2nd round picks for Jones and Wideman, both with salary retained, Jones 2M, Wideman approx 2M (Carolina saves around 1M, gains depth F and D)

This also assumes that the two stars in the making, Poirier and Gaudreau, play their way onto the team. This team would roll 4 lines, and with a 3rd line that could take ice time if the second gets overmatched.

Flames draft Bennett, but send him back to the OHL

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CapGeek Armchair GM Roster
FORWARDS
Curtis Glencross ($2.550m) / Mikael Backlund ($1.500m) / Jiri Hudler ($4.000m)
Johnny Gaudreau ($0.925m) / Sean Monahan ($0.925m) / Emile Poirier ($0.894m)
Sven Baertschi ($0.894m) / Matt Stajan ($3.125m) / Joe Colborne ($1.200m)
Paul Byron ($1.250m) / Lance Bouma ($1.250m) / Brian McGrattan ($0.750m)
T.J. Galiardi ($1.250m) /
DEFENSEMEN
T.J. Brodie ($2.125m) / Mark Giordano ($4.020m)
Kris Russell ($2.600m) / Matt Greene ($3.950m)
Ladislav Smid ($3.500m) / Chris Butler ($2.200m)
Tyler Wotherspoon ($0.925m) /
GOALTENDERS
Karri Ramo ($2.750m)
Cam Ward ($6.300m)
BURIED
Shane O'Brien ($1.075m)
RETAINED SALARIES (5.62% of upper limit)
Dennis Wideman ($1.995m—38.00%)
David Jones ($2.000m—50.00%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $53,953,333; BONUSES: $2,306,250
CAP SPACE (22-man roster): $17,146,667


Sign Matt Greene for a 4 year, 15.8M deal
Sign Chris Butler to a 2 year, 4.4M deal
Sign RFAs Byron, Bouma, Colborne to multi year deals
Qualify RFA Galiardi
Keep O'Brien buried

Have a spare roster spot, as I see the team rolling with 22 guys, and calling up AHL guys on and off to temporarily go to 23 if there are short term injuries

This team fits the Burke mandate of looking to improve to make a push (adding a 1B, who could return to fulltime starter level goalie, adding toughness on D) without committing to too many crazy long term deals. It takes advantage of a cap strapped team and uses cap space to gain assets.

[AcGold]

what a crappy spot for us, can't do a rebuild our way so we've got to overpay someone which will screw up the rebuild.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by AcGold

what a crappy spot for us, can't do a rebuild our way so we've got to overpay someone which will screw up the rebuild.

I have absolutely no clue how to comprehend this post.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by AcGold

what a crappy spot for us, can't do a rebuild our way so we've got to overpay someone which will screw up the rebuild.

How is overpaying someone screwing up a rebuild? You do realize we need to hit the cap floor... And, we're not really in a crappy spot, we accomplished more in a year than what Edmonton has done in 8.

We should be glad we are in a position of overpaying for free agents.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The whole point of a floor/cap system is parity.

If you open a window like that you give away exactly what you're trying to accomplish.

The floor attempts to ensure that every team is competitive because that helps draw crowds throughout the season. Imagine the draw Buffalo would be if they went with a $30m cap next year and put up 35 points.

Should they allow teams to go over the cap twice every decade as well? Same argument.

I agree that for the most part it wouldn't work, but with the Flames right now it would be very useful to be allowed under the floor because so many kids look ready to play in the NHL but can't because they need guys like David Jones to stay above.

[Imported_Aussie]

If overpaying occurs, due to the Flames being below the floor, then it is not screwing up the rebuild. If the term and cap hit impacts the team too far down the road, then you could make a case, but no one is saying sign 3 guys to 6-8M 6+ year deals - pick up assets that are high cost but short term

[FBI]

Here's my pics for April:

Hudler - Stajan - Glencross
Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne
Baertschi - Backlund - Jones
Bouma - Knight - Mcgrattan
Byron, Granlund

Gio
Brodie
Russell
Wideman
Smid
Wotherspoon
Extra: Breen

Ramo
Ortio