Pending Flames Free Agents.... who to re-sign?

[troutman]

Only Russell

[Anduril]

Russell, Jones and Street.

[codynw]

Also RFAs that I would like to see re-signed.

Paul Byron - I hope Burke sees past his size and signs him because he deserves a spot on the team next year.
Joe Colborne - Keep him. Steady improvement since the trade, still young, pretty big, plays center, decent at faceoffs.. plus he's a local kid.
Lance Bouma - This is a no brainer. If Bouma doesn't get a new contract I'll be very surprised.
Lane MacDermid - TRUCULENCE! But I actually think MacDermid will end up being a solid 4th line player one day. Gritty but can still provide some offence.
Joni Ortio - Another no brainer. He's having a great year.
Mark Cundari - At the very least he's a good guy to have with Abbotsford. Still think he could make the NHL one day.

[puckluck2]

I'm glad Blair Jones is getting a lot of love. Just shows how Hartley has a personal beef with him and will not lose.

[SofaProfessor]

I think you can do better than Berra - or at the very least get a younger guy some NHL games. I think Ortio playing backup to Ramo would be alright. Let Ramo take the reins and give Ortio 20-25 games.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by SofaProfessor

I think you can do better than Berra - or at the very least get a younger guy some NHL games. I think Ortio playing backup to Ramo would be alright. Let Ramo take the reins and give Ortio 20-25 games.

No need to rush him. I like the sound of Ortio/Gillies (assuming he goes pro at the end of the season) splitting games on a good team in the AHL and getting lots of playing time rather than being rushed into the NHL in front of one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by EYE_Overstand

He said he would sign 2-3 only.

He said half will, half won't.

[Canada 02]

assuming Gillies will return to college, I'd be ok with re-signing Berra, and having him as the #3/4 in the organization

same with either Breen or Smith. You need cheap veteran pros who can solidify the Heat, but play 7th or 8th on the depth chart for injury call-ups

I hope/expect two of Cammy, Stempniak, Stajan to be traded; the remaining vet will be re-signed. Probably Stajan

Other than that, maybe Russell. Not a fan, but he's adequate on a bottom feeder team. Maybe Jones and Street for minor league depth/injury call-ups

[moon]

Blair Jones is the only guy I really look at re-signing.

If Russell wants to come back cheap and on a 1 or 2 year deal probably take him as well. But if any GM (MacT) overrates him like many on here do let him go get a stupid deal somewhere else.

[Fire]

Trade/Don't re-sign:
Cammalleri
Stajan
Stempniak
Westgarth
Butler
Smith
Berra
Galiardi
MacDonald
Roy
Martin
Eddy

Re-sign:
B. Jones - To a one year 2-way deal.
Street - To a one year 2-way deal.
Byron - To a one year 2-way deal.
Billins - To a one year 2-way deal.
Breen - To a one year 2-way deal.
Cundari - To a one year 2-way deal
MacDermid - To a one year 2-way deal.
Hanowski - To a 2 year 2-way deal.
Ortio - To a 2 year 2-way deal
Colborne - To a 2 year deal.
Bouma - To a 2 year deal.
Russell - Sign to a 2 year deal ($2.5 mill /yr)

[moon]

As for RFA's might as well sign most of them as if they don't fit in the NHL you can send them down. Roy, Martin, Eddy haven't really shown much to indicate that it matters if they come back.

Bouma and Colborne should be on the NHL team next year.

Cundari, Byron, Hanowski, Billins and Breen are all AHLers that help down in Abbotsford.

[Erick Estrada]

Only Russell and Butler and that's only if Butler isn't looking for a raise.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I'm glad Blair Jones is getting a lot of love. Just shows how Hartley has a personal beef with him and will not lose.

They flat out said he was a different player this year and that he improved on all the things they wanted him to work on. If there was a beef it's over, and it's because B. Jones changed his attitude. Let it go.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by moon

Blair Jones is the only guy I really look at re-signing.

If Russell wants to come back cheap and on a 1 or 2 year deal probably take him as well. But if any GM (MacT) overrates him like many on here do let him go get a stupid deal somewhere else.

Why does it matter if it's cheap right now? As long as it's not for a long term it doesn't really matter how much they pay him, they gotta get to the cap floor somehow.

[The Hendog]

Originally Posted by codynw

What's wrong with Berra? Yes, I think Ramo is better, but they need two goalies and I doubt anyone better would be willing to sign. I think Berra splitting games with Ramo is perfectly fine for the next couple seasons.

I think the Flames should take a run at Halak or Khudobin in free agency this summer as long as they are on shorter term deals. The young guys aren't ready yet for the NHL and I think either of these guys would provide some stability in the net during the rebuild until they are ready.

[Joborule]

I would re-sign Blair Jones but he doesn't even get used so don't know if he'll get the chance.

Russel and Street are my other two choices.

[moon]

Originally Posted by codynw

Why does it matter if it's cheap right now? As long as it's not for a long term it doesn't really matter how much they pay him, they gotta get to the cap floor somehow.

Well if you pay Russell say 3.5 million for 2 years unlikely he is going down to 2 million if you wanted to re-sign him then.

Also, overpaying for him now could affect what other guys are looking for as well. If you are paying Russell a lot and Brodie is outplaying him is he going to settle for less just because cap didn't matter when Russell was signed?

But I agree term is more important than dollars right now and should be looking at 2 years or less whenever possible in signing non core guys.

[PlayfulGenius]

I wouldn't even be considering which UFAs to sign. I'd be looking to trade every single one of them...then worry about whether I'd want to resign any that I wasn't able to move.

There's no player on that list that isn't available in the UFA market anyway, so why not attempt to gather some futures.

I'd like Russel moving forward, but I'd try to deal him then sign him again in the off season.

[Stay Golden]

Russell by far is the one bright spot.
Keep Street and Jones cheap and still learning.
Firesale the rest of the pending UFA's for picks etc.
Please Burke put and end to Feasters Butler.

[CaptainCrunch]

I picked Russell

On the RFA side Byron, Colborne, Bouma, Billins, Manowski, MacDermid and Ortio