Pending Flames Free Agents.... who to re-sign?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Dx54

Honestly, I think I'd be happy with a 7th for him. The guy is mistake prone and would really be doing us no good if he sticks around for another season. We have guys like Wotherspoon, Sieloff, Cundari or Ramage that could easily challenge Butler for his roster spot.

If you did any research you would no that not one of those players are close to challenging for a spot right now. I would go as far as to say i doubt they are ready by the start of next season. Hell SOB who is a regular NHL player, can't even play well enough to take away minutes from Butler. Butler oddly has a place on this team because our bottom d-man are so piss-poor.

I do hope they get something for Butler at the deadline but i have to think that if in any deal the flames make over the deadline and start of summer does not have a d-man coming back then they will need to get a D man from UFA. I have no idea what's available in that market, but it could be worse than Butler.

[Dx54]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

If you did any research you would no that not one of those players are close to challenging for a spot right now. I would go as far as to say i doubt they are ready by the start of next season. Hell SOB who is a regular NHL player, can't even play well enough to take away minutes from Butler. Butler oddly has a place on this team because our bottom d-man are so piss-poor.

I do hope they get something for Butler at the deadline but i have to think that if in any deal the flames make over the deadline and start of summer does not have a d-man coming back then they will need to get a D man from UFA. I have no idea what's available in that market, but it could be worse than Butler.

Nope I didn't. But they can't be any worse than Butler. Butler has shown no signs of improvement and I think the coaches vastly overrate him. I'd much rather get rid of him and evaluate some other players in the system.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Dx54

Nope I didn't. But they can't be any worse than Butler. Butler has shown no signs of improvement and I'd much rather get rid of him and evaluate some other players in the system.

Those "other players" are being evaluated, just not in Calgary. No point bringing them up and killing their career just because you rather see them over Butler.

[Dx54]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Those "other players" are being evaluated, just not in Calgary. No point bringing them up and killing their career just because you rather see them over Butler.

There is a whole off season to evaluate other players/ sign free agents. He will be gone and you can quote me on that.

[DOOM]

Street for the AHL and Russell if its a cheap/short term contract.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Dx54

There is a whole off season to evaluate other players/ sign free agents. He will be gone and you can quote me on that.

Like i said, I hope we get something for him. However i don't think his replacement will come from the farm.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by Dx54

Honestly, I think I'd be happy with a 7th for him. The guy is mistake prone and would really be doing us no good if he sticks around for another season. We have guys like Wotherspoon, Sieloff, Cundari or Ramage that could easily challenge Butler for his roster spot.

Butler is, despite his reputation, our 5th best defenceman.

Smith is significantly worse, and O'Brien is a step or two behind. If a kid is going to come in and challenge for a spot on the 3rd pairing, then let him do it, but he should prove he can do it by being better than Butler and O'Brien, not simply jumping into a vacant spot.

I say resign Butler for one year if you don't nab anything for him, unless a better defenceman is traded for or signed of course. None of the kids are even close to being even as good as Butler yet, let alone as good as a career fringe guy like Smith. They need to work into the call-up/7th defenceman role before we pencil them in on the 3rd pair.

[btimbit]

Re-sign

Paul Byron
Joe Colborne
Blair Jones (Starting to look good before he got injured)
Ben Street
Kris Russell
Reto Berra (Know lots of people ready to throw him under the bus but I still see potential. Would like to see him in Abby next year)
Lance Bouma
Joni Ortio

Move or don't resign

Ben Hanowski
David Eddy
Matt Stajan
Lee Stempniak
Kevin Westgarth
Chris Butler (Resign if can't get anything for him)

Don't care much either way

Mike Cammalleri (Tough one, lots of people calling for trade but if we can without him losing value I'd rather see him traded next year. Might be a good vet to keep a while longer)
Mark Cundari
James Martin
Chris Breen
Olivier Roy
Joey MacDonald
Derek Smith
Chad Billins
Lane MacDermid

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Those "other players" are being evaluated, just not in Calgary. No point bringing them up and killing their career just because you rather see them over Butler.

Meh, if that is ultimately your issue, you can find an Adam Pardy type to plug a hole for a year. The last thing I worry about with Butler is being able to actually replace his ability. Not Ruining a prospect I can get on board with.

Calgary will always have an advantage for recruiting those types in that we have a bad depth chart that a player can get an opportunity in.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Lol if we traded butler for a 7th id lose my ####.

[moon]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I know Stemper has been brutal this season, but say they can't get rid of him for decent value and he stays with the Flames; do you offer him a below-market value contract in the summer? Same goes for Stajan & (ugh) Butler. I could imagine at least one of the above being signed in the offseason to fill out the roster.

I have tired of watching Stempniak play and don't want him back at all.

If we are going to have vets here I want to see them do at least one thing well, score, pass, defense, face-offs, hits, fight etc. Stempniak doesn't bring anything to the table that he does well.

Good chance the replacement FA we bring in is just as frustrating but at this point Stempniak (and many others) have worn out their welcome for me.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Why is there no option for none of the above? They all suck and should be sent packing.

[Southside]

Of the UFA, Russell. That is all.

[sun]

As few as possible. Why keep all the same plugs who are not part of the solution? I like how Hitchcock put it:

"a three-year program: one-third in and two-thirds out. Another one third in and two-thirds out and in the third year you’ll have a full squad than can be very competitive"

[Poe969]

Another option is to re-sign everyone. This tea sucks so bad that we'll get McDavid for sure!

[doctajones428]

How come some people not want to keep Russel? He's easily been one of our biggest highlights and best players this season.

[Poe969]

Depends what he asks for. He might not want to stay here, who knows

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by doctajones428

How come some people not want to keep Russel? He's easily been one of our biggest highlights and best players this season.

I actually voted to re-sign him, but to be honest I'm not sold that he can repeat what he's done so far this season. He certainly wasn't this good any previous season. At that point you have to weigh whether this season is an anomaly, or just a matter of opportunity/fit.

Add to that if another team comes calling for him I would have absolutely no problem trading him away.

[iamca]

Originally Posted by codynw

What's wrong with Berra? Yes, I think Ramo is better, but they need two goalies and I doubt anyone better would be willing to sign. I think Berra splitting games with Ramo is perfectly fine for the next couple seasons.

IMO Ortio is a better goaltender than both, and I think if Berra is kept it should be in Abby.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by iamca

IMO Ortio is a better goaltender than both, and I think if Berra is kept it should be in Abby.

I'd love to see Berra in Abby next year