RFA's - Who gets qualified/signed, who is let go?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Red John

Butler will be retained simply because not doing so would be admitting the Regehr trade is a disaster.

Though Feaster doesn't seem to have the huge ego that many other GMs do, don't see him avoiding this one to save some face.

I actually think the opposite...

[Stay Golden]

Feaster will resign both Byron and Butler failing to give in that they are not what the Flames need moving forward.
Just cut bait Feaster they are a mistake move on from it.
By resigning Butler, Feaster should take full responsibility every time next season Butler gaffs handling the puck and it ends up in the Flames net on a turn over caused by him just like it ends up in the back on the net when he drops back 15ft inside his own blue line when the opposition is rushing.
They easily gain the zone set up and score.
As for Byron waste of a roster contract.

[neo45]

Butler isn't the worst player in the world but playing 16 min a night and not putting up a point in 20 games is unacceptable. I still wouldn't give up on a player like him though because he is a good skater, good passer, and has actually shoved guys in front of our net this year. If you look at his skill set he SHOULD be a 5/6 guy in the NHL

I think he is better than or equal to Smith and is definitely more durable

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by neo45

Butler isn't the worst player in the world but playing 16 min a night and not putting up a point in 20 games is unacceptable. I still wouldn't give up on a player like him though because he is a good skater, good passer, and has actually shoved guys in front of our net this year. If you look at his skill set he SHOULD be a 5/6 guy in the NHL

I think he is better than or equal to Smith and is definitely more durable

That is totally acceptable if you hit the crap out of the oppostion or are great on the penalty kill. Butler does NONE of that! The only thing he has done was set an NHL record and gave us the butlersoft personality the Flames have become since trading Regehr.

[bax]

I can not understand why people seem so insistent on letting Butler walk. Who replaces him then? The guy is a 5/6 dman that only appears to be awful because he is constantly forced to play up in the line up because the Flames do not have anyone better than him to fill that roll. Thats why we are a bad team. If you can cut his ice time back, he will not be the disaster that people point him out to be.

[Teroy]

Not sure where all the negative Butler comments come from. Rather keep Butler than Wideman. If you want to check out "gaffs" then you better start paying attention to how many Wideman makes. Butler's not a bad defenceman. Skates well, passes the puck well and has a few hits. He's been improving as his ice time increases.


My draft choices:
Nathan MacKinnon Ht/Wt: 6' 0"/185 lbs Pos: C Team: Halifax (QMJHL)
2012-2013 QMJHL GP G A PTS PIM
...........................44 32 43 75 45

Kerby Rychel Ht/Wt: 6' 1"/200 lbs Pos: C Team: Windsor (OHL)
2012-2013 OHL GP G A PTS PIM
.......................68 40 47 87 94

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Not sure where all the negative Butler comments come from. Rather keep Butler than Wideman. If you want to check out "gaffs" then you better start paying attention to how many Wideman makes. Butler's not a bad defenceman. Skates well, passes the puck well and has a few hits. He's been improving as his ice time increases.


My draft choices:
Nathan MacKinnon Ht/Wt: 6' 0"/185 lbs Pos: C Team: Halifax (QMJHL)
2012-2013 QMJHL GP G A PTS PIM
44 32 43 75 45

Kerby Rychel Ht/Wt: 6' 1"/200 lbs Pos: C Team: Windsor (OHL)
2012-2013 OHL GP G A PTS PIM
68 40 47 87 94

Yeah Wideman can look god awful in the back end some nites, but at least he puts up the points. Butler doesn't.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Yeah Wideman can look god awful in the back end some nites, but at least he puts up the points. Butler doesn't.

Neither does a guy like Rasmus Ristolainen put up big points but he's ranked about 9th in the upcoming draft. The only reason Wideman gets big bucks is becasue of his offence not his defence. Besides he's -7 with 22 points. Not a lot of upside there for the money.

[ComixZone]

CW - (23) - Mikael Backlund
CW - (23) - Paul Byron
RW - (23) - Akim Aliu
FW - (22) - Greg Nemisz
FW - (24) - Bryan Cameron
FW - (23) - Lance Bouma
FW - (23) - Carter Bancks
FW - (22) - Gaelan Patterson

D - (23) - T.J. Brodie
D - (26) - Chris Butler
D - (24) - Brady Lamb
D - (23) - Chris Breen
D - (22) - Mark Cundari

Keep the ones in bold, let the others walk.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by bax

I can not understand why people seem so insistent on letting Butler walk. Who replaces him then? The guy is a 5/6 dman that only appears to be awful because he is constantly forced to play up in the line up because the Flames do not have anyone better than him to fill that roll. Thats why we are a bad team. If you can cut his ice time back, he will not be the disaster that people point him out to be.

You think its really that hard to find No 5/6 dman?

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

You think its really that hard to find No 5/6 dman?

No, but at 1.25 million Butler is a steal.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Teroy

No, but at 1.25 million Butler is a steal.

If thats a "steal" we are screwed

$1.25M is ok....

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

If thats a "steal" we are screwed

$1.25M is ok....

I'd rather pay Butler 1.25 than pay Wideman 5.25. Now there's a waste of money.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Teroy

I'd rather pay Butler 1.25 than pay Wideman 5.25. Now there's a waste of money.

Fair enough.

Also, if Butler is a "steal" at 1.25, then as a RFA he's obviously going to get a substantial raise to meet/near his real market value, so he will no longer be at 1.25

[FBI]

Oh man. Wideman >>>>>> Butler.

Butler is like our Comeau of the defense. Totally useless but coach puts him up in the lineup anyway. Get rid of butler just like Comeau and you will have addition by subtraction.

Surprised we have butler defenders.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Teroy

No, but at 1.25 million Butler is a steal.

No. A steal is Buffalo getting Regehr for Butler and Byron. A grand larceny is Buffalo paying $3million for a 2nd rounder from us.

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

CW - (23) - Mikael Backlund
CW - (23) - Paul Byron
RW - (23) - Akim Aliu
FW - (22) - Greg Nemisz
FW - (24) - Bryan Cameron
FW - (23) - Lance Bouma
FW - (23) - Carter Bancks
FW - (22) - Gaelan Patterson

D - (23) - T.J. Brodie
D - (26) - Chris Butler
D - (24) - Brady Lamb
D - (23) - Chris Breen
D - (22) - Mark Cundari


To me, the guys I bolded are pretty cut and dry to be re-signed.

What on earth has Aliu done to deserve to be resigned? Complete waste of a roster spot.

[Gord_Wappel]

I think personally I would rather have Carson as #6 over Butler. My preference would be "none of the above" but all things being equal i would go Carson.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

You think its really that hard to find No 5/6 dman?

No, I'm saying it's redundant to let Butler walk just to sign another guy that will be in way over his head. At least Butler is cheap, young, and on the upswing of his career.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by bax

No, I'm saying it's redundant to let Butler walk just to sign another guy that will be in way over his head. At least Butler is cheap, young, and on the upswing of his career.

I'll give you young, but I wouldn't say he's cheap (he's average) and I don't see a lot of upswing, really. Just IMO. The only thing he's got is that he's young.

I wouldn't mind seeing someone like Breen or Cudari in there, if nothing else rather then just run some time off the clock and try not to set another NHL +/- record, I'd rather take a guy that brings something - physical play or offense or something. Butler really brings neither. He's just there (oh ya, and he's kind of young... well not really that young, but younger then 40)