RFA Thread - Guess their Future

[djsFlames]

TJ Galiardi - No. Despite being better lately, has largely disappointed, takes up a valuable roster spot that one of our more skilled prospects should occupy.
Ben Hanowski - Yes, he was part of the Iggy trade, so I say we give him a longer look to see where he can take his game.
Paul Bryon - Yes, would like to see him stay with the team as the 14th forward next season.
Joe Colborne - Yes. Looking good and improving every day, keep him on the team.
Lance Bouma - Yes
Chad Billins - No. Sign to an AHL deal with the Heat maybe.
Mark Cundari - Yes, he's looked alright in both stints with the Fames. Still think he has potential.
Olivier Roy - On the fence..
Joni Ortio - Yes

[Gaskal]

I'm pleasantly surprised that so many are willing to give Galiardi another swing. Quite a lot of posters felt that he'd be walking, myself included, and I thought it was a shame his year didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Seems like a great locker room guy with good physical skills that rarely showed flashes where he'd put it all together.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I'm pleasantly surprised that so many are willing to give Galiardi another swing. Quite a lot of posters felt that he'd be walking, myself included, and I thought it was a shame his year didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Seems like a great locker room guy with good physical skills that rarely showed flashes where he'd put it all together.

IMO he's an NHLer, and has value. So letting him walk is bad asset management if that's true.....IF that's true.

I think he'd be great to have at camp for competition. If he gets ousted by a younger upstart, then you look to trade him. It's a better option than just leaving a spot open to "give" to a prospect. They should have to earn those spots.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

TJ Galiardi-Probably his worst pro year to date and still has plenty of marketable skills. You can qualify him for 1 year and ship him out at the deadline if he doesn't bounce back. Still need some veterans that can at least play defense to play with the kids.

Ben Hanowski-Improved already in one year pro. Qualify him for at least 2 years.

Paul Byron-Still seems like a 'tweener, but a highly valuable one. You qualify him because if nothing else he could be a tradeable asset if he doesn't find a permanent home on this team.

Joe Colborne-Made a big jump this year and could be a 15-20 goal and 40-45 point guy. Makes him an adequate 2nd liner and a good 3rd liner. I say give him a bridge contract at decent money, say 2 million or so.

Lance Bouma-Heart and soul guy that does everything a bottom six grinding forward who kills penalties should. He's a valuable piece going forward so I think you might want to lock him up long term at a decent price, say 4-5 years at 1.5-1.75 million.

Chad Billins-Not really sold on him as an NHL talent, but is a decent enough call up defenseman in a pinch. Qualify him for 2 years and see where he's at then.

Mark Cundari-I really don't like the way he battles for pucks and he's only adequate in his own end. He should be better offensively but hasn't produced enough for my liking. His only NHL level skill is laying a big hit (for his size), but that's not enough to play regularly. I'm a little torn, but I would be ok with letting him walk, but qualifying him for 1 year is just fine.

Olivier Roy-Still has potential in my book. You can't give up on goaltenders too young. It looks like Ortio is going to be given a shot as the backup to Ramo next year and Gillies is going to play another year in Providence. I don't see McDonald being brought back (unless it's on a 2-way deal as a 3rd string goalie) so that leaves almost nobody in Abbotsford to play who is actually a real prospect and not a journeyman. Roy can get starter minutes down there for a season to show what kind of potential he has. Qualify him for 1 year at least until Gillies is ready to make the jump to pro.

Joni Ortio-He's shown plenty of ability at both the AHL and NHL levels and looks ready to be given a real contract. Still should make backup type money, so no more than 1.5-2 million, but probably a 2-way deal to be safe.

[dissentowner]

Keep them all but Galiardi. Somebody else can do his job better. Guy is about as capable as a 1 legged man in an ass kicking competition.

[saillias]

Letting NHLers go isn't inherently bad asset management. And it can be quite difficult to find takers for the players you don't need anymore. Sometimes the best move is in fact to just let the guy go.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Loyal and True

Galiardi is an NHL'er. Definitely qualify.

Not his best season offensively (cheaper to re-sign?).

Extraskater.com suggests he is not as bad as some think.

Might trade him next year (for a 4th) depending on how younger talent develops.

I thought when you send an RFA a QO it has to be a certain % higher than his previous deal. I don't think you could get him for cheaper.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by saillias

Letting NHLers go isn't inherently bad asset management. And it can be quite difficult to find takers for the players you don't need anymore. Sometimes the best move is in fact to just let the guy go.

I don't believe that's the case with Galiardi. He can play defense and is fairly fast. You could at least get a lower draft pick in return for him if he's on an expiring contract.

[SeanCharles]

Re-sign all of them so long as we have 3+ contracts available when it's all said and done.

Glencross-Backlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Monahan-Colborne
Byron-Stajan-Jones
Galiardi-Bouma-McGrattan
Westgarth/who ever earns it

Brodie-Gio
Russell-Wideman
Smid-?
Wotherspoon

Ramo
Ortio(?)

The others can fill roles in Abbotsford and be called up when playing well.

What about Breen?

[Fire]

TJ Galiardi - not re-signed
Ben Hanowski - one year two-way deal (900k)
Paul Bryon - one year one-way deal (1.2 mill)
Joe Colborne - one year one-way deal (1.25 mill)
Lance Bouma - two year one-way deal (1.3 mill/yr)
Chad Billins - one year two-way deal (925k)
Mark Cundari - not re-signed
Olivier Roy - one year two-way deal (700k)
Joni Ortio - two year two-way deal (1.0 mill/yr)

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

IMO he's an NHLer, and has value. So letting him walk is bad asset management if that's true.....IF that's true.

I think he'd be great to have at camp for competition. If he gets ousted by a younger upstart, then you look to trade him. It's a better option than just leaving a spot open to "give" to a prospect. They should have to earn those spots.

I agree if you feel you'd be able to trade him for a pick. Problem is his value has likely gone downhill after this year and if you try to trade him in camp you may get no takers. Which would lead to a waiving and potential demotion with having him take a spot in the minors at NHL salary. If the 50 contract limit comes into play at all the Flames may feel it's better just to have that extra spot than re-sign a guy who may have literally no value at this point.

I see both sides. Personally I'm not a big believer he'll rebound and I'd rather see his spot go to a younger player. But if they think they'll be able to trade him for a draft pick then you can re-sign him. I just don't see how he's worth the same draft pick he was a year ago considering how crappy of a season he had on a bad team that gave him plenty of opportunities. If he can't excel in Calgary how would any team think he's an upgrade?

Personally I'd let Roy and Galiardi go if you can't deal Galiardi's rights right now for a draft pick.

[getbak]

Here are the required Qualifying Offers, and the year they each will be UFA eligible...

GOALIES:

• Roy: $660,000 (2 way) - UFA: 2018
• Ortio: $605,000 (2 way) - UFA: 2018

DEFENCE:

• Billins: $874,125 (2 way) - UFA: 2017
• Cundari: $660,000 (2 way) - UFA: 2017
• Martin: $605,000 (2 way) - UFA: 2018

FORWARDS:

• Galiardi: $1,250,000 (1 way) - UFA: 2015
• Hanowski: $850,500 (2 way) - UFA: 2018
• Byron: $707,850 (2 way) - UFA: 2016
• Colborne: $660,000 (2 way) - UFA: 2017
• Bouma: $635,250 (2 way) - UFA: 2017
• Eddy: $605,000 (2 way) - UFA: 2017

For the goalies, I think it depends on what the plan for Ramo's backup is next year. If they plan on having Ortio in Calgary, Roy is probably retained. If the plan is for Ortio to play next season in the AHL, Roy could be cut loose.

As a goalie, Ortio is waiver exempt for another season, so I think he gets a two or three year deal, with next season being a two-way worth about what his QO is and becoming a one-way deal for the remainder, with the value increasing slightly each season. Approx AAV: $750,000.

For the Defence, qualify and sign Billins and Cundari for close to the QOs. Don't qualify Martin.


For the forwards:

No QO for Eddy.

Give Hanowski his QO, but try to sign him to a two/three year deal with a lower NHL salary and convince him that he's more likely to get NHL time if he signs for less. Still sign him to a two-way deal. AAV for two years: $600,000-650,000.

Give Byron a raise and a one-way deal. $750,000-850,000 AAV for two years.

Colborne and Bouma both get significant raises on two-year one-way bridge deals. Bouma: $850,000-1M AAV. Colborne: $1-1.25M AAV.

Galiardi is a tough one. If he isn't qualified, he'll probably get close to his QO as a UFA. So, by that logic, he should definitely be qualified, even if the plan is to trade him before the season starts.

[Falcon 55]

TJ- tough year-past NHL numbers say make an offer
Hanowski-great points early in AHL-plays the roll he is told to-Rienhart 18 AHL points his first pro season-sign him.
Paul Byron-came on late-scratch-4th line-to point producer-one way deal
Joe C-no brainer
Bouma-has a spot.

Billin and Cundari let go.

Eddy hurt most of the year-played in the E most of the year-no deal.

Street? USF

[Vulcan]

TJ Galiardi ------------- not sure, it depends what UFAs we can sign or how our trades go
Paul Bryon ------------- sign
Joe Colborne ----------- sign
Lance Bouma ---------- sign
Chad Billins ------------ sign to two way, good in the AHL and can fill in for Flames
Mark Cundari ---------- I think he's playing for a contract right now, we'll see
Olivier Roy ------------- Sign, even with him we need two more goalies. He's not that great but is pretty athletic
Joni Ortio ------------ sign
Hanowski------------ sign, he's a hard worker and is starting to get physical which he'll need to do to make the NHL

[Imported_Aussie]

If you look over the Flames reserve list, if all RFAs are qualified, that is 44 contracts. Since Martin and Eddy should be walking, that makes it 42. Two of those deals can slide, should Kanzig and Klimchuk play in the WHL next season.
If that happens, the organization needs another D, either an AHL guy pushing for the NHL or an NHL defenceman (such as retaining Butler). If the Flames win the lottery, and see Ekblad as their pick and an immediate pro, then that solves that issue.
Forwards look solid in terms of depth, just adding some AHL deals to round out the Heat roster, plus room for any players to be signed. Goalie needs cover, an NHL backup/1B.

So if everyone bar Martin and Eddy are qualified, and a defenceman and goalie picked up, that means 44 contracts, with possibility of up to 2 sliding. 22-23 in Calgary, 21-22 in Abbotsford, with AHL deals to bring that number up higher when needed (and shuttling guys to Alaska).

This allows contract room to facilitate trades, pick up UFAs and college UFAs later in the year, even keeping Galiardi. We also know the Flames will be well below the cap, so the $$ aren't an issue.

With Galiardi being an NHL player, who can always be traded/waived if he is pushed out by emerging talent, there is no reason to cut him loose. He has had a bad year, but in giving him the chance to rebound, the organization may recover the value of the asset. He is also a local guy who wants to play here, which is another plus.

Another point to keeping Galiardi is that the UFA market may be tough for Calgary, as this team is in a rebuild, and overpaying for a UFA could hurt more than help the rebuilding process

[Fire]

[QUOTE=getbak;4717966]
[/QOUTE]
For the goalies, I think it depends on what the plan for Ramo's backup is next year. If they plan on having Ortio in Calgary, Roy is probably retained. If the plan is for Ortio to play next season in the AHL, Roy could be cut loose.
No point getting rid of Roy even if Ortio starts in the AHL. The Flames will need a 2nd goalie in the AHL and Roy is still only 22 years old. If Gillies decided to turn pro then you could have cut Roy loose.

For the forwards:

Give Hanowski his QO, but try to sign him to a two/three year deal with a lower NHL salary and convince him that he's more likely to get NHL time if he signs for less. Still sign him to a two-way deal. AAV for two years: $600,000-650,000.
I wouldn't be surprised if Hanowski signs a deal like this, but I doubt whether a salary of 900k or 650k would make any difference on him being called up. It's not like the Flames are tight to the cap.

Give Byron a raise and a one-way deal. $750,000-850,000 AAV for two years.

Colborne and Bouma both get significant raises on two-year one-way bridge deals. Bouma: $850,000-1M AAV. Colborne: $1-1.25M AAV.
I think you are being a cheap-ass with the contract raises. If I was Burke I would be embarrassed to offer Byron and Bouma sub-million dollar contracts.


Galiardi is a tough one. If he isn't qualified, he'll probably get close to his QO as a UFA. So, by that logic, he should definitely be qualified, even if the plan is to trade him before the season starts.
I don't like this logic. I don't think there is any guarantee that he would be movable if the Flames qualify him. Just cut him loose. The Flames have a lot of young players that can replace him next season. Reinhart, Knight, Agostino, etc.