[News] Cammalleri has NOT been traded. Upd: Cammalleri likely heading to free agency

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

It was a much shallower free agent pool last year though.

I still think it's possible that Cammalleri gets that contract, but I don't think it's necessarily a given.

And yet to counterbalance that the cap was low last year and will be higher this year so some teams will have cap space to play with

[albertGQ]

Originally Posted by formulate

Doubt it at this point. The highest price for UFA rights I can remember was a 3rd (plus Leopold's rights) for Bouwmeester. Just don't see Cammy getting that kind of interest, especially with so many of UFA wingers on the market. At best would be something like Wideman, 5th rounder in a future draft and nothing prospect. It's unfortunate, but nothing crippling.

Flyers traded a first rounder to Preds for negotiating rights to Timonen and Hartnell

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Flyers traded a first rounder to Preds for negotiating rights to Timonen and Hartnell

That is true, however, it was the same 1st rounder that Philly had acquired from Nashville at the deadline a few months earlier for forsberg. Many suspect this deal "pre-arranged".

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Same here. I am a Cammalleri fan, he's a fun guy to watch. But I think it is well known that he has a bit of a reputation as a guy who's after the money... I'm not so sure there is as much love for him among NHL GM's compared to fans.

I would bet a large sum of money that he gets a large contract this summer with multiple offers. How many 30 goal scorers will be on the open market?

[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Same here. I am a Cammalleri fan, he's a fun guy to watch. But I think it is well known that he has a bit of a reputation as a guy who's after the money... I'm not so sure there is as much love for him among NHL GM's compared to fans.

This is the first time I've heard that Cammy has the reputation for going after the money. No idea where this came from.

From what I remember, his first time as a Flame, he was going to take a discount to sign with the Flames, but the Flames chose to give the money to Jokinen instead. Since that was the last contract he signed, I'm not sure how he would get the reputation that he's after the money.

[davidbjordan]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

This is the first time I've heard that Cammy has the reputation for going after the money. No idea where this came from.

From what I remember, his first time as a Flame, he was going to take a discount to sign with the Flames, but the Flames chose to give the money to Jokinen instead. Since that was the last contract he signed, I'm not sure how he would get the reputation that he's after the money.

I believe he was willing to take less from calgary than what montreal offered because of the tax difference. Cammalleri was aiming to maximize his after tax earnings

[FAN]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

This is the first time I've heard that Cammy has the reputation for going after the money. No idea where this came from.

This came from a while back when Cammy "lost" his arbitration hearing against the Kings. He felt insulted and the word is that he was going to UFA no matter what. When the Flames acquired him, there was talk of an extension but it never materialized because the belief was that Cammy wanted to test the market, which was exactly what he did. Regardless of taxes, Cammy took the biggest deal offered to him and bypassed his hometown team. I certainly don't blame him.

I really don't see Cammy signing here. It seems that Burke offered Cammy a deal and he's sticking to him. My guess is that the term is between 2-3 years at an average of $4M dollars a year. I think Cammy is going to see if he's able to get more than that and I assume he will.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think this free agent season is going to be fairly shallow. Lots of players can potentially sign between now and then. After the season ends for teams, they will start signing some of their existing players. Even players like Callahan who were intent on going into free agency may end up re-signing with their current team (he is doing way better there, and taxes are lower in Florida after all). The pool should dry up somewhat.

Also, Vanek is rumored to be looking at wanting to sign with the Wild. Moulson is rumored to just want to go back to the Islanders.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think this free agent season is going to be fairly shallow. Lots of players can potentially sign between now and then. After the season ends for teams, they will start signing some of their existing players. Even players like Callahan who were intent on going into free agency may end up re-signing with their current team (he is doing way better there, and taxes are lower in Florida after all). The pool should dry up somewhat.

Also, Vanek is rumored to be looking at wanting to sign with the Wild. Moulson is rumored to just want to go back to the Islanders.

It'll be better than last season at least.

Available forwards:

Vanek
Moulson
Cammalleri
Gaborik
Stastny
Iginla
Hemsky
Legwand
Callahan
Michalek
Jokinen
Roy
Jagr
Bolland
Downie
Stempniak
Heatley
Alfredsson

Defensemen:
Boyle
Timonen
Markov
Pitkanen
Orpik
Greene
Niskanen
Nikitin
Butler
Meszaros

Goalies:
Miller
Brodeur
Hiller
Thomas
Halak
Nabokov
Bryzgalov
Emery
Gustavsson

It's a pretty good crop of UFAs when you take into consideration the awfulness that was last year.

[BlackWallStreet]

I love how cammy starts heating up after the deadline what a ###### bag

[Poe969]

Isn't Ott a UFA too? There are a few guys I'd like the flames to go after...

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It'll be better than last season at least.

Available forwards:

Vanek - rumored to be going to Minnesota
Moulson - rumored to be returning to the Isles - but who knows.
Cammalleri
Gaborik
Stastny - betting will be re-signed by Colorado
Iginla - probably be re-signed by Boston
Hemsky - betting Ottawa re-signs him
Legwand - betting he re-signs with Detroit (it is his hometown after-all)
Callahan - looking fantastic in Tampa, lower taxes in Florida
Michalek
Jokinen
Roy
Jagr - has stated he wants to stay in New Jersey
Bolland - Toronto is terribly weak at center - bet he gets re-signed
Downie
Stempniak
Heatley
Alfredsson - betting Detroit re-signs him

Defensemen:
Boyle
Timonen
Markov
Pitkanen
Orpik
Greene
Niskanen
Nikitin
Butler
Meszaros

Goalies:
Miller
Brodeur
Hiller
Thomas
Halak
Nabokov
Bryzgalov
Emery
Gustavsson

It's a pretty good crop of UFAs when you take into consideration the awfulness that was last year.

I think the list is not going to be that great personally with things I have been hearing. The FA market always looks great, and then a bunch get re-signed before they ever make it there. The ones I haven't mentioned are the only ones that I haven't heard being talked about in any way. Vanek and Moulson will more than likely make it to the FA market, but there are strong reasons to believe that they have their destinations already picked out.

It will be interesting to see who indeed does move, but I think Cammalleri and Gaborik are the only higher-profile scorers who will really be accepting offers from a number of different teams.

I do think this will be a very good year for teams looking for goalies. I don't think any of the starters will actually move (Miller or Hillier), but a good portion of the rest I bet do move, and for the most part they are more than competent backups.

Defencemen are pretty weak as a group - lots of guys standing on their last legs (Timmonen, Boyle, Meszaros). None of the rest are 1st pairing guys, and most of them are bottom-pairing. A couple good ones that I think will end up cashing-in really well.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I replied in bold next to the forward names of guys who I think stay or whom are rumored to already have a destination in place.

[djsFlames]

We should go after Stastny. Like hudler who was buried behind the wings top guys, he could benefit from a change of scenery where he can be one of the top guys. Also in the 27-28 age range I think? Could be useful for a few years here.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think the list is not going to be that great personally with things I have been hearing. The FA market always looks great, and then a bunch get re-signed before they ever make it there. The ones I haven't mentioned are the only ones that I haven't heard being talked about in any way. Vanek and Moulson will more than likely make it to the FA market, but there are strong reasons to believe that they have their destinations already picked out.

It will be interesting to see who indeed does move, but I think Cammalleri and Gaborik are the only higher-profile scorers who will really be accepting offers from a number of different teams.

I do think this will be a very good year for teams looking for goalies. I don't think any of the starters will actually move (Miller or Hillier), but a good portion of the rest I bet do move, and for the most part they are more than competent backups.

Defencemen are pretty weak as a group - lots of guys standing on their last legs (Timmonen, Boyle, Meszaros). None of the rest are 1st pairing guys, and most of them are bottom-pairing. A couple good ones that I think will end up cashing-in really well.

Edit: Forgot to mention that I replied in bold next to the forward names of guys who I think stay or whom are rumored to already have a destination in place.

Pretty sure Moulson isn't going back to the island. Bad blood from his trade from there. Also Kings are said to be looking at extending Gaborik as they have been interested in him for a long time (back when he signed with NYR as UFA).

[Vulcan]

We've been talking about getting Stastny for so long, it's become ingrained around here as an obvious move, but I don't think, now that he's available, we really need him anymore. On the trajectory the Flames are on, we'll have his equal in Monahan in a couple of years. Along with Backlund and Stajan with Granlund and Knight knocking on the door, we're pretty well set at centre and that's not even considering what we get in this years draft.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

We've been talking about getting Stastny for so long, it's become ingrained around here as an obvious move, but I don't think, now that he's available, we really need him anymore. On the trajectory the Flames are on, we'll have his equal in Monahan in a couple of years. Along with Backlund and Stajan with Granlund and Knight knocking on the door, we're pretty well set at centre and that's not even considering what we get in this years draft.

I disagree. Players like this don't go UFA very often(top scoring centers that play in all 3 zones).

Think about if he was signed to a 7 year 49M contract (I'm guessing that's the market for him). The flames could heavily front load it. The would be replacing Cammy's offense with a younger player. He's owned the flames over the years, so maybe he could translate it over.

Imagine him being able to shelter Monahan for a few years, then step aside to 2nd line when the time comes. Keep Backlund/Stajan as 3rd line and 4th line, perhaps moving 1 or both if/when they become expendable.

So many good reasons to sign him, but first and foremost, the flames have had trouble building up the middle for the entire iginla era. Does anybody think getting Statsny would be a waste, even if we have to overpay upto 8.5m per year over 7years?

I dont

[Caged Great]

I'd definitely look at Stastny. If we sign him, then we don't "Need" a 2nd line center right away. That takes pressure off guys like Jankowski and Granlund to be given the ability to develop their game instead of being somewhat rushed because we don't have that 2nd guy.

Secondarily it would allow us to temporarily shift our drafting focus away from "We need a center" to "We need Defensemen or a Right Winger". Not that you draft for need, but there's no urgency to needing the center and perhaps making the wrong selection like we did with Nemisz.

[Poe969]

The draft is before UFA so if they don't get what they want at the draft, they can sign (or try to sign) whoever they want.

I think stastny would be a mistake unless he was on a short deal.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I disagree. Players like this don't go UFA very often(top scoring centers that play in all 3 zones).

Think about if he was signed to a 7 year 49M contract (I'm guessing that's the market for him). The flames could heavily front load it. The would be replacing Cammy's offense with a younger player. He's owned the flames over the years, so maybe he could translate it over.

Imagine him being able to shelter Monahan for a few years, then step aside to 2nd line when the time comes. Keep Backlund/Stajan as 3rd line and 4th line, perhaps moving 1 or both if/when they become expendable.

So many good reasons to sign him, but first and foremost, the flames have had trouble building up the middle for the entire iginla era. Does anybody think getting Statsny would be a waste, even if we have to overpay upto 8.5m per year over 7years?

I dont

$8.5 for 7 years? Seriously?

Just because the Flames have tons of cap room today, doesn't mean they should spend like drunken sailors. In a few years, all these ELCs will get renegotiated. Obviously, we are hoping that several of these kids become players. And you want to commit $8.5M to a guy that hasn't hit 60 pts in the last 4 seasons?

[debil]

cammaleri wakes up three months before the end of his contract, what a loser mentality. I don't want this guy nowhere near my team.