Friedman: Do the Flames zero in on Rodrigues?

[SaskyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I will get shot into this sun for this suggestion...


Valimaki for Nick Ritchie. Calgary lost some size and toughness last season with both Gudbranson and his brother Brett Ritchie leaving. Nick did score 10 goals in 24 games with Arizona, and he has an expiring contract @ 2.5 million. I am ok with taking a chance on him. Not sure if Arizona would do that, though they save 1.3 million dollars (Nick has a cap hit of 2.5 million, but is being paid 3.3, while Valimaki has a cap hit of 1.55, but is being paid 2).

I bet they still sign Brett and Stone before the season starts.

[mile]

Originally Posted by SaskyFlamesFan

I bet they still sign Brett and Stone before the season starts.

I'm sure it will happen with Stone once they move a defenseman (probably Vali)


It might be the same with Brett, he might just be waiting on the Flames to make all of their moves. That's the only role I'd be okay with keeping him in - the forward version of Stone basically where he sits 90% of the time. If there's an injury to the top 9, Pelletier, Ruzicka, or Phillips sub in. If there's a 4th line injury on the wing then Ritchie comes in.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Nelson

I think the deal has to be 1-year.



Another perspective, Dom Luszczyszyn and Shayna Goldman at The Athletic have their player cards. They had Rodrigues as a 1.2 at the end of last season. At the same time, Backlund and Coleman were a 1.5, Dube was a 0.7, and Jarnkrok was a 0.5. So, Dom’s and Shayna’s cards say that Rodrigues is not as good as Coleman and Backlund but is significantly better than Dube and Jarnkrok. This means Rodrigues could upgrade Calgary’s top-9, and he could do that without the Flames having to pay any future and probably for a very reasonable contract.



Before you mock these cards as being simplistic, read these if you have access: https://theathletic.com/3050949/2022...shared_article and https://theathletic.com/1019070/2019...shared_article.

Contracts signed when players hit UFA status are nearly never very reasonable. He'll be overpaid when he signs with whoever he signs with, so I'm guessing 2.5-3. I would still prefer the Flames go with what they have and if the need scoring help, add it at the deadline when they'll be able to get a bigger piece.

[TheScorpion]

It's almost September. The market has dried up considerably. I find it hard to imagine Rodrigues getting more than 1.5-2 at this point.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

It's almost September. The market has dried up considerably. I find it hard to imagine Rodrigues getting more than 1.5-2 at this point.

Yeah I feel like he might have gotten some bad advice from his agent and has waited too long.

Statsny and Kessel both just got 1 x $1.5M. Rodrigues is younger but way less proven, so hard to imagine him getting more than those guys got.

[mile]

Rodrigues also has the same agent as Kadri

[Goriders]

I don’t think there’s anyone out there left breaking the bank for.

I’d run with the current set up and revisit after 20 games.

Try out our own young guys first?

[Jay Random]

The SBNation article on Rodrigues contained one phrase that leaped to the eye:

‘Zone entry wizard.’

A number of posters have been wondering who's going to get the puck into the attacking zone with Gaudreau gone. Rodrigues could be part of the answer.

He also drew 34 minutes in penalties (second on the Penguins) while taking only 14 himself. A disciplined pest could be especially handy against the Oilers.

I wouldn't break the bank for him, but I'm willing to hop aboard the Rodrigues train for a one-way ride.

[ComixZone]

Unless Rodrigues is coming in on a 1-year, $1.5M deal - I'd be totally game for getting Ruzicka done for 2 years at 775K and then calling it until later in the season.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Pelletier - Kadri - Mangiapane
Dube - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Ruzicka - Rooney
Lewis

Hanifin - Andersson
Zadarov - Weegar
Kylington - Tanev
Valimaki

Markstrom
Vladar

and $1.362M in salary cap-space.

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Unless Rodrigues is coming in on a 1-year, $1.5M deal - I'd be totally game for getting Ruzicka done for 2 years at 775K and then calling it until later in the season.

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Toffoli
Pelletier - Kadri - Mangiapane
Dube - Backlund - Coleman
Lucic - Ruzicka - Rooney
Lewis

Hanifin - Andersson
Zadarov - Weegar
Kylington - Tanev
Valimaki

Markstrom
Vladar

and $1.362M in salary cap-space.

Would that cap space be worth around a $4mill contract rental at the deadline?

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

Would that cap space be worth around a $4mill contract rental at the deadline?

It's all voodoo, but yeah I think it works out to about that.

[TheScorpion]

Again, I'd rather sign someone now than give up a 2nd for the same player at the deadline.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Again, I'd rather sign someone now than give up a 2nd for the same player at the deadline.

Yes but you should have a far better idea of waht you need at the deadline. And certainly more options.

[SuperMatt18]

Worst case if there is somebody you like better at the deadline then you should have no issue moving Rodrigues first if he's only at 1 x $2.0M (or less)

[TheIronMaiden]

I don't think the Flames need to add age to their lineup. I'd rather they splash at the trade deadline.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Again, I'd rather sign someone now than give up a 2nd for the same player at the deadline.

And we see how long it might take a player to get used to a Darryl Sutter high tempo systems. I bet it was quite the change for Tofolli. Get them ingrained in the system.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Again, I'd rather sign someone now than give up a 2nd for the same player at the deadline.

Hopefully there are more and better options available later into the season.

If we are going to squeeze every cent of cap space before the season starts, then make it count. Go big through a trade to get someone better. Otherwise, hold onto it an accrue the cap space to make a splash later. Completely hypothetical, but what if signing Rodrigues now came at the cost of being able to have the cap space to trade for P. Kane at the deadline?

I just don't see adding a player like Rodriguez as consequential enough to warrant the cap hit being discussed. The extra million would be pretty valuable when adjusted at the trade deadline.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

Would that cap space be worth around a $4mill contract rental at the deadline?

$1.362M of cap space at the start of the season is about $6.333M at the trade deadline. The Flames currently have $2.137M which is $9.936M at the trade deadline.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Again, I'd rather sign someone now than give up a 2nd for the same player at the deadline.

What if not signing anyone now gives you enough room to acquire Patrick Kane at the deadline?

[Reggie Dunlop]

What about James Neal?