UFAs to sign or not

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Grant Clitsome or Fistric would be good choices for a 2 or 3 year contract. They're still 28 and 27 respectively and both play good defense with some physicality. Probably could be had for cheap too and could possibly eat 2nd pairing minutes, but definitely fill out the bottom pairing.

Damien Brunner would be a great pick up on the right wing. Natural goal scorer and developed in the Detroit system. Could be a pal and mentor for Baertschi (both Swiss). He's only 27. Only drawback is he's another smaller forward.

David Clarkson makes the most sense in terms of skill set and size and age, but I don't know what he's going to command on the open market.

McGrattan makes the most sense to fill out our 4th line.

I would take Lecavalier on a 2-3 year deal only. We have the cap space, he's very talented, he's only 33 and can still play. He's the perfect stop gap until our prospects are available, and who knows, maybe he becomes a valuable supporting player once the kids are ready.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by dammage79

IF they cannot take on more salary via trade. I can definitely see the Flames making a very lucrative short term offer to one of those centers just to carry enough salary for the next couple of years.

Yeah that's another thing, we need to get over the cap floor but it shouldn't be a problem as it's only $44M this season. The thing is spending money just because we can doesn't make sense to me in a rebuild.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yeah that's another thing, we need to get over the cap floor but it shouldn't be a problem as it's only $44M this season. The thing is spending money just because we can doesn't make sense to me in a rebuild.

I'm not saying they should spend money just because they can. But I think they need to float about 6 million above the cap for the next few years so they are at the cap floor in year three. Hopefully it only goes up only 6 million in a few years.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Yeah I like big, mean, tough and young but can he handle top four minutes? If he can't I rather see Breen and or Cundari get a shot.

SOB has had top 4 minutes in 3 out of his 6 seasons. Even on a Canucks team 09-10 with Erhoff, Edler, Bieksa, Salo and Mitchell he put in 17 Minutes a game for 65 games...

Sarich was pencilled in for top-4 on and has never played that much.

Brodie only recently became good enough to run/intimidate. As Brodie is small player SOB will be a fit to handle the heavy work and also to act as a nuclear deterrent for cheap shots.

Fistric would be the back up to this role.

[FlamesAddiction]

I'd like Fistric as well. He's tough and seems like a good team guy. He's in the right age group as well.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Grant Clitsome or Fistric would be good choices for a 2 or 3 year contract. They're still 28 and 27 respectively and both play good defense with some physicality. Probably could be had for cheap too and could possibly eat 2nd pairing minutes, but definitely fill out the bottom pairing.

Damien Brunner would be a great pick up on the right wing. Natural goal scorer and developed in the Detroit system. Could be a pal and mentor for Baertschi (both Swiss). He's only 27. Only drawback is he's another smaller forward.

David Clarkson makes the most sense in terms of skill set and size and age, but I don't know what he's going to command on the open market.

McGrattan makes the most sense to fill out our 4th line.

I would take Lecavalier on a 2-3 year deal only. We have the cap space, he's very talented, he's only 33 and can still play. He's the perfect stop gap until our prospects are available, and who knows, maybe he becomes a valuable supporting player once the kids are ready.

My thinking for the forwards would be go big or go home. Lecavalier, Horton or Clarkson otherwise I'd stay with what we have. Defence is another matter, I think we need a top four and I still like Okatoker as the best alternative.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Grant Clitsome or Fistric would be good choices for a 2 or 3 year contract. They're still 28 and 27 respectively and both play good defense with some physicality. Probably could be had for cheap too and could possibly eat 2nd pairing minutes, but definitely fill out the bottom pairing.

Damien Brunner would be a great pick up on the right wing. Natural goal scorer and developed in the Detroit system. Could be a pal and mentor for Baertschi (both Swiss). He's only 27. Only drawback is he's another smaller forward.

David Clarkson makes the most sense in terms of skill set and size and age, but I don't know what he's going to command on the open market.

McGrattan makes the most sense to fill out our 4th line.

I would take Lecavalier on a 2-3 year deal only. We have the cap space, he's very talented, he's only 33 and can still play. He's the perfect stop gap until our prospects are available, and who knows, maybe he becomes a valuable supporting player once the kids are ready.

Makes sense except for the Brunner. That would be the worst UFA signing possible by the Flames. The Flames have come to the realization that you can only dress 3 small forwards and 4 small players overall if you want a chance to be competitive.



on the Flames that is Baertschi-Brodie-Hudler ... Cammalleri is the short term stop gap to be replaced by Gaudreau or Granlund.

Having no-hitters Stempniak and Stajan counts as one of the small forward spots between them. Also having Butler and Smith push the Flames up to 6 small spots. 6 small spots on a roster means a lottery pick.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Makes sense except for the Brunner. That would be the worst UFA signing possible by the Flames. The Flames have come to the realization that you can only dress 3 small forwards and 4 small players overall if you want a chance to be competitive.



on the Flames that is Baertschi-Brodie-Hudler ... Cammalleri is the short term stop gap to be replaced by Gaudreau or Granlund.

Having no-hitters Stempniak and Stajan counts as one of the small forward spots between them. Also having Butler and Smith push the Flames up to 6 small spots. 6 small spots on a roster means a lottery pick.

The Hudler signing is one reason why I question Feaster's ability to build a team. He's a nice player but not what we needed and gives rise to my opinion of not spending money just because we can.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Makes sense except for the Brunner. That would be the worst UFA signing possible by the Flames. The Flames have come to the realization that you can only dress 3 small forwards and 4 small players overall if you want a chance to be competitive.



on the Flames that is Baertschi-Brodie-Hudler ... Cammalleri is the short term stop gap to be replaced by Gaudreau or Granlund.

Having no-hitters Stempniak and Stajan counts as one of the small forward spots between them. Also having Butler and Smith push the Flames up to 6 small spots. 6 small spots on a roster means a lottery pick.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I really like what Brunner can do. He's still learning the NHL and did pretty well with Detroit last year. It's more that we need a real top line right wing player and he fits the bill.

We really need a defenseman more than anything as I can't imagine going into the season with this group:

Brodie-Giordano
Wideman-O'Brien
Butler-Cundari
Smith

If we add Clitsome or Fistric we can at least ice:

Brodie-Giordano
Wideman-Clitsome/Fistric
O'Brien-Cundari
Butler or Smith

Hopefully Breen or Wotherspoon impress the brass enough to push some veterans off this team.

[dammage79]

With Cammy leaving soon (deadline at the latest), the Hudler deal isn't that bad. Some people may disagree but I loved watching him play last season. worth the contract in my books. Any time you can nab a puck wizard like Hudler I think you got to.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

My thinking for the forwards would be go big or go home. Lecavalier, Horton or Clarkson otherwise I'd stay with what we have. Defence is another matter, I think we need a top four and I still like Okatoker as the best alternative.

Ferrence was the smallest Bruin d-man (until they got Krug playing)... Totally different paying tough when you have Chara/McQuaid/Boychuck/Siedenberg doing the heavy lifting.

We would be disappointed in Ferrence on the 2013-14 Flames.... but he is a smart guy and would see that he Calgary would not be an optimal solution for his last couple of years.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Ferrence was the smallest Bruin d-man (until they got Krug playing)... Totally different paying tough when you have Chara/McQuaid/Boychuck/Siedenberg doing the heavy lifting.

We would be disappointed in Ferrence on the 2013-14 Flames.... but he is a smart guy and would see that he Calgary would not be an optimal solution for his last couple of years.

Ference has always played with a chip on his shoulder. He'd be at least better and more physical than Butler. I don't see him as being a player who can pick and choose where he wants to go and he's got ties here.

[CliffFletcher]

Ference

Clarkson

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I really like what Brunner can do. He's still learning the NHL and did pretty well with Detroit last year. It's more that we need a real top line right wing player and he fits the bill.

We really need a defenseman more than anything as I can't imagine going into the season with this group:

Brodie-Giordano
Wideman-O'Brien
Butler-Cundari
Smith

If we add Clitsome or Fistric we can at least ice:

Brodie-Giordano
Wideman-Clitsome/Fistric
O'Brien-Cundari
Butler or Smith

Hopefully Breen or Wotherspoon impress the brass enough to push some veterans off this team.

Brunner had Zetterberg and Franzen as his linemates in Detroit. What possible line could he be successful on with the Flames?


Zetterberg while somewhat under-sized is bigger and stronger than Cammalleri, Baertschi and Hudler. and well... the Flames might not have equipment large enough for Franzen.


Brunner was Hulder's small player replacement on Detroit. With Hudler on the Wing's I don't think they would have gone and signed Brunner.... Sort of like the Flames getting Cervenka by telling him that Jokinen was gone and he would be the #1 centre.

[Rocky Raccoon]

I believe the Flames need one of Weiss, Filpula, or Lecavalier for 1-2 seasons. Monahan needs someone who has top line talent or has had top line talent recently to learn from and play behind. He needs to be protected for the first little bit so he doesn't lose confidence. Stamkos, Crosby, E Staal, Malkin, Toews, and Giroux all had someone to play behind initially.

It's not a matter of taking time away from young players, it's a matter of proper development. Just giving a player ice time does not = successful development.

Apart from one of those centres, I would want to go after Murray and Clarkson.

[dammage79]

Lecavalier would be the dream scenario for the Flames. More so about teaching the Kids about how to be a proper professional as a top tier player in the League. Yes we just got rid of Iggy but is there another player better suited for a leadership role than Vinny now that Iginla is gone? I walways thought Lecavalier was just as good a Captain as Iginla.

[ricardodw]

On Clarkson he is going to test the market but 35 year old Zubrus is off the market on a 3-year 9.3M deal.....

YIKES! If NJ offered Zubrus 3.1M / year they might have offered Clarkson 7-10M?????

[Flash Walken]

I hope calgary is pretty innactive in free agency and instead fills out their roster trading for castoffs.

Philly, Buffalo, Nashville, Vancouver, toronto all have defenders/roster players that they are likely not too keen on re-signing (Jon Blum), or who they desperately want off the roster (Keith Ballard), or who are young enough and good enough that you could wager on them returning to form (Tyler Myers).

I hope Calgary fills the roster out trading not very much for some of those guys. Take the guys with upside or with shorter deals who are otherwise total boat anchors and get some 2nd and 3rd rounders for them now in the deals that bring them to Cowtown or in the future at the deadline to a team lacking/needing depth.

[moon]

Maybe some secondary guys on short term deals but really there is no FA that is going to be worth the money or help us contend.

The FA signings were awful last year so prefer that Feaster just stay out of it and allow the rebuild to happen.

[Canada 02]

veteran leaders to help guide the youth movement

maybe Daniel Cleary, Rob Scuderi or Okotoker

Cleary would be great to work with Backlund and Nemisz type players. Cleary was once a 1st rounder, high end prospect who had to re-invent himself and become a great two-way forward