Offseason Changes - What will they look like for Calgary?

[StrykerSteve]

Keeping in mind that this a rebuild, I'm estimating a 2-year transition. Give all of your 1st round picks from this year a full season in the AHL as first-year Pros.

Here's how I'd like to see the upcoming offseason play out, from a Calgary perspective.

Draft:

Nathan MacKinnon (C), Rasmus Ristolainen (D) and Valentin Zykov (RW)

Do not re-sign:

Roman Cervenka
Anton Babchuk
Joey MacDonald
Steve Begin
Michael Testwuide
Krys Kolanos
Greg Nemisz
Bryan Cameron
Akim Aliu
Leland Irving
Carter Bancks
Gaelan Patterson
Danny Taylor

Retiring:

Miikka Kiprusoff

Sign RFA's:

T.J. Brodie - 2 years, $5 million (2.5/year) - 1 way
Chris Butler - 2 years, $3 million (1.5/year) - 1 way
Mikael Backlund - 2 years, $4.5 million (2.25/year) 1-way
Lance Bouma - 1 year, $700k (0.600/year) 1-way
Mark Cundari - 2 years, $1.5 million (0.750/year) 2-way
Paul Byron - 1 year, $750k (0.75/year) 2-way
Chris Breen - 2 years, $1.5 million (0.75/year) 2-way
Ben Walter - 2 years, $1.2 million (.60/year) 2-way
Brady Lamb - 1 year, $925k (.925/year) 2-way
Brett Carson - 1 year, $575k (.575/year) 2-way

Sign UFA's:

Brian McGrattan - 1 year, 750k, (0.75/year)
Karri Ramo - 2 years, $3 million (1.5/year)

Trades:

Mike Cammalleri to CBJ for 2014 2nd round pick and 2014 3rd round pick
Mark Giordano, Chris Butler, 2014 2nd round pick (from CBJ) and 2014 4th round pick to PHI for Sean Couturier and Braydon Coburn
Cory Sarich to CHI for 2014 7th round pick
Tim Jackman to BOS to 2014 4th round pick

2013-2014 NHL Roster:

Tanguay - Backlund - Hudler
Glencross - Couturier - Stempniak
Baertschi - Stajan - Horak
Byron - Bouma - McGrattan

Coburn - Wideman
Brodie - Smith
Breen - Cundari

Ramo
Berra

Your AHL team next year could consist of guys like MacKinnon, Ristolainen, Zykov, Wotherspoon, Brossoit, with Gaudreau and Jankowski a few years down the road.

[nightfx]

I doubt our top 5 pick plays a single game in the AHL

[BigBird]

lol that's a brutal trade for Philly no way they accept that, Mackinnon would either be in the NHL or get sent back to juniors.

[#-3]

well 30th again it is.

thanks Kevin Lowe.

[bax]

If we get Mackinnon, he will be in the NHL next year. Also, wasn't Gio just listed as an untouchable by Feaster? I seriously doubt he gets dealt anywhere, and even if he was that Philly trade is pretty unrealistic. I love the idea of getting Ristolainen though, so hopefully that works out.

I don't have a lot of faith in Flames mgmt currently, however I do trust them to make some good draft selections. Last two drafts have been pretty good in my opinion.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Pretty good summary! Disagree on two players though:

Cervenka - I think we should bring him back for 1 more year. I don't feel we really know what we have at this point given it's his first year in the NHL, it's a shortened season and he started the year off injured. Pretty low risk to sign him to something similar to this year.

MacDonald - If Kipper doesn't retire then I'm more inclined to agree with you. However, if Kipper isn't coming back either MacDonald has to stay or we need to sign a UFA goaltender. Need some insurance incase neither Ramo or Berra pan out.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by FlamesAllTheWay

Pretty good summary! Disagree on two players though:

Cervenka - I think we should bring him back for 1 more year. I don't feel we really know what we have at this point given it's his first year in the NHL, it's a shortened season and he started the year off injured. Pretty low risk to sign him to something similar to this year.

MacDonald - If Kipper doesn't retire then I'm more inclined to agree with you. However, if Kipper isn't coming back either MacDonald has to stay or we need to sign a UFA goaltender. Need some insurance incase neither Ramo or Berra pan out.

I think Cervenka is done here. He doesn't seem able to adapt to the NHL style of game.

[GGG]

I disagree with what you are doing with the defensemen. We are going to be auditioning goalies so we need to put some kind of defense together in front of them. As bad as our D has been this year the one you post above is worse. Especially since Philly never does your deal.

I also thing Cammy stays until the deadline and our first round pick centers the 3rd line with Baerchi until the end of the year where he starts getting 2nd line time. We want to instil a competitive culture next year.

I see somthing like

Tanguay Backlund Hudler
Glencross Stajan Stemp/Cammy
Baerchi Mackinnon/Barkov Horak
Byron Bouma Magratten


Gio ????
Brodie Wideman
Cundari Breen

Ramo
MacDonald.

We need someone better than Butler on defence in the top 4. Maybe a short term UFA signing or trade Glencross for someone. Our biggest need in free agency is a top pairing defensemen. For goalies I see us carrying three goalies at some point during the season. I want a stable NHL proven backup like MacDonald short term and Ramo to get the bulk of the work. Then if Brossiot or Berra show promise in the AHL call them up.

I think the team is good enough to finish 12 or so.

[calgARI]

Is that Flyers trade a joke?

[StrykerSteve]

If MacKinnon does indeed make the jump next season, and the Philly trade is unrealistic, you could run with a lineup like

Tanguay - Backlund - Hudler
Glencross - Stajan - Stempniak
Baertschi - MacKinnon - Horak
Byron - Bouma - McGrattan

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by GGG

I disagree with what you are doing with the defensemen. We are going to be auditioning goalies so we need to put some kind of defense together in front of them. As bad as our D has been this year the one you post above is worse. Especially since Philly never does your deal.

I also thing Cammy stays until the deadline and our first round pick centers the 3rd line with Baerchi until the end of the year where he starts getting 2nd line time. We want to instil a competitive culture next year.

I see somthing like

Tanguay Backlund Hudler
Glencross Stajan Stemp/Cammy
Baerchi Mackinnon/Barkov Horak
Byron Bouma Magratten


Gio ????
Brodie Wideman
Cundari Breen

Ramo
MacDonald.

We need someone better than Butler on defence in the top 4. Maybe a short term UFA signing or trade Glencross for someone. Our biggest need in free agency is a top pairing defensemen. For goalies I see us carrying three goalies at some point during the season. I want a stable NHL proven backup like MacDonald short term and Ramo to get the bulk of the work. Then if Brossiot or Berra show promise in the AHL call them up.

I think the team is good enough to finish 12 or so.

I believe he's already playing pro hockey in Europe, it's possible that Ristolainen makes the jump to the NHL next year. It's just a matter of deciding how many minutes you'd want him to play.

Maybe something like

Gio Brodie
Breen Wideman
Cundari Ristolainen

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Your AHL team next year could consist of guys like MacKinnon, Ristolainen, Zykov, Wotherspoon, Brossoit, with Gaudreau and Jankowski a few years down the road.

Nope. Players drafted out of the CHL cannot play in the AHL until their 20 year old season. For MacKinnon that means for the next two years he can only play for Calgary (NHL) or Halifax (QMJHL). Same rule will apply to Zykov I'm pretty sure. Ristolainen could play in the AHL before age 20 because he will be drafted out of Europe.

As for the rest of your post I think Cervenka, Aliu and Nemisz are all possibilities to re-sign. I think Aliu could have a future as a big, speedy 4th line pest which is a role we don't really have. Nemisz could still be a solid checking line NHLer IMO and has size, something our organization desperately needs.

Your Couturier deal is a complete fantasy IMO. Love to get him but it would take Gio + a 1st IMO.

[Grimbl420]

- I really think Cervenka will be back next year.
- Baertschi should be playing top 6 minutes, not 3rd line checking ones.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Nope. Players drafted out of the CHL cannot play in the AHL until their 20 year old season. For MacKinnon that means for the next two years he can only play for Calgary (NHL) or Halifax (QMJHL). Same rule will apply to Zykov I'm pretty sure. Ristolainen could play in the AHL before age 20 because he will be drafted out of Europe.

As for the rest of your post I think Cervenka, Aliu and Nemisz are all possibilities to re-sign. I think Aliu could have a future as a big, speedy 4th line pest which is a role we don't really have. Nemisz could still be a solid checking line NHLer IMO and has size, something our organization desperately needs.

Your Couturier deal is a complete fantasy IMO. Love to get him but it would take Gio + a 1st IMO.

Wasn't aware of that CHL rule, good to know, thanks.

[kehatch]

Tanguay, Cammalleri, Sarich, and Kipper moved one way or another between the draft and the next deadline. No salary returned.

They will attempt to acquire two top 6 forwards, a top 4 D, and a goalie via draft, trade, or free agency.

Let's assume they get Horton and Emery via free agency and Mike Green via trade. They draft Mackinnon.

Baertschi - Mackinnon - Horton
Glencross - Backlund - Hudler
Horak - Stajan - Stempniak
Bouma - Reinhart - Jackman

Giordano - Green
Wideman - Brodie
Cundari - Breen

Emery
Ramo

Green and Horton are the right types of risks. They and the prospects need to turn out to have an Ottawa / Montreal type of turnaround. Probably won't happen but at least you tried and are moving in the right direction. One more season focusing on the draft and hopefully it starts coming together.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Grimbl420

- I really think Cervenka will be back next year.
- Baertschi should be playing top 6 minutes, not 3rd line checking ones.

Why does the third line have to be a checking line? Most teams resort to having a 3rd line checking line because they can't afford to have skill beyond the top 6.

The 3 lines posted above are all about equal in terms of skill. You would definitely want to shelter the draft pick Baerchi line from going up against the top two lines of the other team. You would give the 3rd line some preferential offensive zone starts and put them out against weaker competition at home. And just because they are the 3rd line doesn't mean that they shouldn't get time on the 2nd pp unit.

[Flickered Flame]

I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed early in the off-season. I see the Flames only using their pick in the draft, the other 2 will be dangled for more immediate help. If Kipper does indeed retire, one of those picks will be used try to get Bernier and if that doesn't work and Mike Smith becomes UFA, I believe the Flames will target Smith. Either way I see the goalie situation like either:
Smith and Ramo or Bernier and Ramo.

I think you have to keep an eye on the Flames and Blues again at the draft, the Blues will need to dump salary and one of those contracts that they might consider moving could be Perron, Feaster will be all over that and those types of moves imo.

As for free agents I believe targets will include:
Horton, Filppula, Raymond and Clarkson. The problem with going after UFAs, is that they are going to have overpay, not many guys will come here during a "rebuild".

[Ashasx]

I'd prefer to keep Danny Taylor in the AHL over Brust. Split the AHL duties with Brossoit (more games for Brossoit).

[nik-]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Is that Flyers trade a joke?

Apparently Feaster has pictures of Holmgren murdering a child with a pick axe?

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Is that Flyers trade a joke?

You'd think after recently seeing top prospects like Joe Morrow and Filip Forsberg moved for veteran players, that online hockey gurus (me included) should stop making comments like this.

I don't believe Couturier is untouchable on a team like the Flyers. They have a need to improve their defence, but would need to shed salary to do so. They have incredible depth at Center, and Couturier is not a key contributor in their lineup.

I simply offered up a proposal that I think would fit the needs of both teams.

Besides, it's called fantasy for a reason.