UFA's- who's available this summer

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by JayP

Except an offer sheet they can't match gives up our first round pick. The Flames are in no position to do that.

True, but it would be next year's first. I don't know enough about next year's draft class to say whether it would be worth giving up our pick for him, but I'd at least consider it if we don't get Jones in this year's draft.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Randomly calling out Tanguay as soft? Because he is French? Huldler and Backlund Horak because he is European? Cammalleri because he is Canadian but small? Stempniak, Stajan ??

How about

Tanguay ..

21 hits in 35 games this year and 22 in 62 games in 2012-13,

Hudler 15 hits in 35 games this year. prev year (48 in 81)

Cammalleri 15 hits in 36 games prev year 17 hits in 61

Backlund 17 hits in 20 games prev year 25 in 41

Horak 6 hits in 7 games. 28 in 61

Cervenka 6 hits in 28 games.

Stajan 41 hits in 37 games and a new fan favourite because of his compete level compared to 49 hits in 61 games the year before.


Tough guy Stempniak 37 hits in 35 games up from 55 in 61 the year before.


Better than that just watch a game and see the Flames being pushed off the puck, never taking the man in their own zone and going for line shifts rather than taking a hit and chasing down a loose puck.

Please don't try to tell me that these guys are anywhere close to average. Against a team like LA in a playoff series they would be afraid to touch the puck.



You can get away with having 2-3 small talented forwards.... Cammalleri and Hudler and Baertschi should be these guys for the Flames....

You can be a valuable NHL player playing soft if you can score the goals and have a bunch of teammates to do the dirty work.... see Kane in Chicago.

He is supported by Hossa, Toews, Sharp, Bickell, Stalberg all big aggressive players...... Put Tanguay on the Hawks and Kane on the Flames and Tanguay's stats double and Kane gets cut in half.

Why is Baertschi in the minors when the Flames are a last place team???? Lack of Talent or the fact he might get both physically and emotionally damaged having no one to protect him in the NHL.

Why the heck did Comeau get so much ice time???? He along with Glencross , Stempniak, Iginla and Stajan, Gio and Wideman were the only Flames that did not appear to have a distinct aversion to physical contact.

McGratton and Jackman can't protect anyone when they don't have enough skill to be on the ice more than 4 minutes a game.

I don't disagree that some of our players are small. I just don't see how Tanguay is the difference maker. Tanguay is a reasonably sized forward that brings an averae amount of physical game. He is not small. He's 6' and weighs about 200lbs.

Now you're blaming Tanguay for Baertschi and Comeau? It's also his fault that some of our young prospects like Horak haven't filled out their frames yet? Having Tanguay off the team would magically make our top 6 a physically pounding team. First, maybe we should actually acquire that physical top 6 player. If we had a deal in place to swap Tanguay out for a bonafide physical top 6 presence, I'd be all for it, but you're arguing he has to go for the sake of it. How often to bonafide top 6 forwards with a physical game become available?

[dammage79]

Plenty of young (pre-apex) D men worth taking a shot at in the RFA list worth giving up a first if it accelerates the re-build.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

How will they be hard-pressed? They are the 4th lowest salary team in the league. They have tons of room.

Cap space yes... but they don't like spending actual money. I kind of think the Flames should Offer Sheet Chris Tanev (the maximum amount they can without having to burn a pick) just to stick it to the Canucks.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I hope they do spend most of their cap space on UFA's, you can't spend it on anything else really and what I don't want to see is the Flames not using all the space they created with the Bouwmeester trade (Iggy was gone regardless). Go out and get the best quality assets that you can on UFA's who'll take Short-term deals and no NTC/NMC... if you catch lightning in a bottle great and if you don't you bought yourself some assets that you can flip at the deadline for futures.

You can't bank cap space it's an asset where you use it or you lose it... and I'd rather the Flames use it.

I said this summer. Next summer looks better for high end UFAs.

Based on the last few years, I doubt the Flames will be able to get any good UFAs on short term contracts with no NTC's. Those terms are not exactly enticing to a coveted free agent. It is wishful thinking that we will be able to get a good UFA on a short term contract. It's possible and if the opportunity is there go for it, but I think that is extremely unlikely.

Given my belief that the Flames will not be able to sign any good UFAs to "short term" (<2 year) deals, what I do not want to see is the team offering a 30 year old a 4-5 year contract at 4-5 million per year, especially when there may be better options the following season. Players with contracts like that are very difficult to trade, so they probably won't get moved at the deadline. Therefore, I think the Flames should save the cap space until the exact type of player they want comes along. Once you sign that contract, it is not easy to get rid of. Because of that, I'd rather "bank" the cap space for a season.

This year, the only players I would offer a Hudler/Wideman type contract to are Clarkson, Filppula and Roy... but definitely not all 3.

[Teroy]

Wideman is a waste of money and he definitely isn't a first or second line defenseman.

[stignasty]

Originally Posted by Jake

If there is one UFA I'd really like to see the Flames add, it is David Clarkson. He plays RW, which is a weak spot with Iginla gone, and plays with intensity.

I agree, but I wonder what kind of raise he's expecting.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Cap space yes... but they don't like spending actual money. I kind of think the Flames should Offer Sheet Chris Tanev (the maximum amount they can without having to burn a pick) just to stick it to the Canucks.

St. Louis is a team on a budget, and they need to re-sign Petriangelo, Shattenkirk, and Stewart and find a replacement for McDonald.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Wideman is a waste of money and he definitely isn't a first or second line defenseman.

I disagree. He just doesn't have the all around game we need. Pair him with a physically punsihing true #1 and he'd be extremely solid.

[getoverit]

with cap reduction, a few teams in trouble, wonder if opportunity to pick up in these instances via a trade, maybe for pic without going to UFA

[Husky]

I wanna see the Flames put the screws to "cap hurting teams" this offseason.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Cap space yes... but they don't like spending actual money. I kind of think the Flames should Offer Sheet Chris Tanev (the maximum amount they can without having to burn a pick) just to stick it to the Canucks.

haha good call. The Canucks, even without Luongo, Booth, and Ballard are going to be unable to pay Tanev 3+ mil. We could target Schroeder too (for a lesser amount) and force them to choose one of the other.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by blankall

I disagree. He just doesn't have the all around game we need. Pair him with a physically punsihing true #1 and he'd be extremely solid.

He's always out of position. He's not strong on the puck. He loses puck battles in our zone. He gets burned to the inside and outside. How does a physically punishing #1 help that?

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Montreal was 28th overall just last year.

They went out and signed Prust and Armstrong and re-signed UFA Moen,

Replaced Cole with Ryder.... Cammelleri with Bourque.

Bought out to get rid of Gomez and are playing 2 talented kids under 20. (Gallagher and Galenychuk).. protected by Armstrong White Prust Moen and Bourque.

The only thing that is different from what than the Flames are facing is Carey Price and Markov taking Kaberle's minutes.

The Flames should have Baertschi and the #1 pick doing as good as Gallagher and Galenychuck..... provided they get some gritty guys to protect them.



The KEY to Montreal coming back was dumping the small skilled guys Cammalleri and Gomez.


The Flames have to somehow get rid of Cammalleri and Tanguay.

Having a guy like Markov and Price make a big difference...

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Teroy

He's always out of position. He's not strong on the puck. He loses puck battles in our zone. He gets burned to the inside and outside. How does a physically punishing #1 help that?

A physically punishing and defensively sound #1 would work great with Wideman. Wideman really does bring a lot offensively.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Jake

I said this summer.

I know... buy up the best guys you can this summer on short-term deals and then flip them at the deadline.

Originally Posted by Jake

I doubt the Flames will be able to get any good UFAs on short term contracts with no NTC's. Those terms are not exactly enticing to a coveted free agent.

Well yes the "covetted" free agents won't accept those terms they'll get better ones. But the guys you buy don't have to be "coveted"... you can buy a middling guy there are lot's of those available. If they have a good year and we're out of it then flip them at the deadline. If they don't... oh well, they're not a longterm committment.

Originally Posted by Jake

Therefore, I think the Flames should save the cap space until the exact type of player they want comes along.

You can't "save" cap space. It can't be banked. We absolutely should use the cap space, it shouldn't just be left fallow... if you leave it vacant then it's a pure waste. That's why I just want short-term deals... actually I'd like 1 year deals (and people will take short-term/1 year deals if the price is right. Alex Semin took one year deals like 3 years in a row, Tanguay took a cheap 1 year redemption deal). With compliance buyout folk and all the regular UFA's there will be people who will take a one year moveable deal with decent $$ attached).

Originally Posted by Jake

This year, the only players I would offer a Hudler/Wideman type contract to are Clarkson, Filppula and Roy... but definitely not all 3.

I wouldn't even want Roy... Clarkson and Filppula I'm down with but I'd rather stay away from Roy.

[Ashasx]

Signing Tanev to a $1,682,194 AAV offer sheet would only cost a 3rd round pick.

It would nearly force the Canucks to buyout Luongo.

[dammage79]

Breen for all intents and purposes is the kind of D-man that should be paired with a player like Wideman. Big, Physical and stay at home. It's too bad Sarich isn't a left hand shot because he would pair well with Wideman given the circumstances.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I wouldn't even want Roy... Clarkson and Filppula I'm down with but I'd rather stay away from Roy.

Filppula for sure. Guy can stick handle in a phone booth.

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by blankall

A physically punishing and defensively sound #1 would work great with Wideman. Wideman really does bring a lot offensively.

Sorry but I fail to see how this helps. Besides I'm talking about his defence not his offence. The only place he offers anything is in the offensive zone and only then because he plays the point on power plays. That contribution does not justify 5.25 million dollars in my mind.