Which non-Flames UFAs do we target?

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by 4oh3

Totally agree man, cam wards a good goalie some of the trade offers I've seen for him are obseen

I believe the word you're looking for is obsaw.

Edit - I would like to see Halak come in on an inexpensive deal for a couple seasons. Stasny looks pretty good in the playoffs too.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Did you not see him play? He was arguably the best forward that game, which is why Hartley gave him more playing time than we all expected.

He is NHL ready. Won't be surprised if he puts up a point per game in that 9 game tryout in the NHL like Sean did.

Some people liked Akim Aliu for being noticeable when a couple of pucks bounced off his ass and he ran guys who just wanted to get through a meaningless game without getting hurt.

I think Gaudreau's upside is higher than Aliu's but one game will be adrenaline, a handful of games will show promise (Sven) but to contribute at that level for 82 games against the best in the world is another story altogether.

NHL ready? In some aspects perhaps.

I enjoyed watching his debut, and a few nice plays and a goal that he may or may not have intended to score in his first game are a nice story. Nobody is as good every night as their best game, and small guys need a lot of compete, smarts, and other things to deliver night in and night out.

I like the enthusiasm. Let's leave it there.

[activeStick]

David Jones looked really good to start the year before he got injured the first time. For some reason, I can see him being the come back kid next season assuming he can stay healthy.

[theoforever]

Putting Akim in the same sentence as Johnny is ridicules.
Two completely different carrier trajectories.
Lots to be exited about Johnny just small.

[dammage79]

I think I heard Peter Mueller is on the U.S world championship team this year. I'll be keeping my eye on his progress as I believe he would be a great addition to the Flames. If he does well on what some may see as a poorly built U.S team, I think there's a great chance teams will be knocking on the door for his services.

I for one believe that season away from the NHL could benefit him greatly and get him back to where he was before those concussions sidetracked his development.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by 4oh3

Totally agree man, cam wards a good goalie some of the trade offers I've seen for him are obseen

Cam Ward is a 6.3M dollar average back up goaltender.

[TheDebaser]

Johnny will play top 6 next year. He's insanely talented and he can play at this level. He's got a good two way game to boot.

You don't have to believe me, just have some patience.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

Johnny will play top 6 next year. He's insanely talented and he can play at this level. He's got a good two way game to boot.

You don't have to believe me, just have some patience.

Johnny playing top 6 all year next year is far from patience.

[Caged Great]

I would actually prefer Gaudreau to at least start the year in the land of the unknown (AHL) just so he has time to adjust to the bigger players. He has all the skill in the world, but he's never had to play against Chara, or Regehr, or any of the other nasty defensemen either. While the AHL does not have anyone that good, it'll give him a good opportunity to adjust somewhat.

[PeteMoss]

The question mark about Gaudreau is more if he can survive a season in the NHL. We've seen some vicious games in the playoffs. Can he withstand that?


I also think he should play where he deserves to play. If he's ready to play in the NHL, then he should play there. No need to decide before camp.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

...in that 9 game tryout in the NHL like Sean did.

This does not apply to Gaudreau.
Monahan had 9 games in NHL and then had to stay with Flames or be returned to junior to stay for the year, because of his age. 19 year olds can not play in the AHL.
Gaudreau can be sent up at down throughout the year basically at will, as defined by CBA.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

This does not apply to Gaudreau.
Monahan had 9 games in NHL and then had to stay with Flames or be returned to junior to stay for the year, because of his age. 19 year olds can not play in the AHL.
Gaudreau can be sent up at down throughout the year basically at will, as defined by CBA.

That's basically it but Monahan could be returned to junior at any time. The 9 games decision is critical because once he plays 10 games, he uses up a year of his entry level contract.

[Vulcan]

I think a GM no matter what state the team is in, his object is to improve the team, just as a player goes out to win the game. He can't sit back and say, no I won't take this player because he upsets our 5 year plan. If he's rebuilding, he needs to be more careful in trading away picks and prospects but still there are no hard and fast rules. Who knows, we could be competitive next season or it could be a few more years, we just need to be responsive to our situation. If Gaudreau and a couple of other prospects light it up, we get a big, solid defenceman and we get top notch goaltending, we could be like the Avalanche or we might dwell in purgatory like the Islanders for a few more years. I don't have a crystal ball and no one else has one either.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Ottawa is a good example of trying to rush when you're not ready. They were in year 2 of their rebuild and they surprisingly made the playoffs, mainly due to the east being garbage. They then beat a tiny Montreal squad in round one.

Then because they felt like "okay rebuild is over" they went out and traded Jakob Silfverberg, Stefan Noesen, and their 1st for Bobby Ryan. That would be the equivalent of us trading Granlund + Klimchuk + 1st. Ryan basically only replaced the offense lost by having Alfredsson leave and only had about 20 more points than Silfverberg this year.

Good example of rebuild done wrong.

That said, the big mistake there is trading away picks and prospects. We're in a position to improve the team through free agency, which is a rather different thing.

Personally, I would love to see a not-small RW who would be good enough to push Colbourne to the 3rd line at least for one more season and Jones out of the lineup (or to the 4th line with McGrattan).

Obviously we could use another big and skilled center like every other team in the NHL. Most likely we're stuck with Stajan. (Which is not terrible, just impractical especially for a team with several small winger prospects.)

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by the2bears

Honest question, but I'm curious how you define a retool here, and the difference then with a rebuild? After all, with Jarome, Bouwmeester, and Kipper gone there isn't much left. With Cammalleri probably leaving what can be done to make this a "retool" rather than rebuild?

I'd consider it more of a retool by the GM moves that are made. Like if he traded Sven+ for a proven goal scorer or picks for a starting goalie, any part of the future of the Flames prospect pool for short term, mediocre success would be more of a retool.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Some people liked Akim Aliu for being noticeable when a couple of pucks bounced off his ass and he ran guys who just wanted to get through a meaningless game without getting hurt.

I think Gaudreau's upside is higher than Aliu's but one game will be adrenaline, a handful of games will show promise (Sven) but to contribute at that level for 82 games against the best in the world is another story altogether.

NHL ready? In some aspects perhaps.

I enjoyed watching his debut, and a few nice plays and a goal that he may or may not have intended to score in his first game are a nice story. Nobody is as good every night as their best game, and small guys need a lot of compete, smarts, and other things to deliver night in and night out.

I like the enthusiasm. Let's leave it there.

Glad you brought up Akim Aliu as a comparison because he is the perfect example of why you don't judge a player based on one game - adrenalin and circumstance.

It is also exactly NOT like the Gaudreau situation. Gaudreau didn't impress because he was running around hitting everything in site, he impressed because his hockey smarts (which we have seen every single game in college) were clearly on display against NHL competition. Everything we have seen from him for the last 3 years was evident again in Vancouver.

It was not 'one game'. It was showing that what he did at every other level he can also do at the NHL level.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by activeStick

David Jones looked really good to start the year before he got injured the first time. For some reason, I can see him being the come back kid next season assuming he can stay healthy.

I really hope so, because we at least need a solid 3rd liner RWer that has a good RH shot and has size. He meets the criteria, but he really hasn't been meeting expectations. He is a bust right now, and I really hope this guy can turn it around next season, with the same going for Wideman as well. Not too worried about Wideman more than about D. Jones though.

I would hope this guy would have had more points and games this season, because as of now, I want Brian McGrattan getting more minutes because he seems to utilize ice time more than David.

A bounce-back year for David would be huge. Otherwise, buyout his contract and let's move onto another free agent RWer.

[Gaskal]

I'm down with giving David Jones another season before considering a compliance buyout. If it doesn't pan out I see Colborne being the long-term 3rd line RW'er.

[ThePrince]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I'm down with giving David Jones another season before considering a compliance buyout. If it doesn't pan out I see Colborne being the long-term 3rd line RW'er.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the last summer for a compliance buyout.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by ThePrince

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the last summer for a compliance buyout.

You're not wrong. IF they want to buy anyone out, it has to be this offseason.