2014 Free Agent Frenzy Thread: FA News, FA Rumors and FA Speculation

[FlameZilla]

Just under $6m AAV for Niskanen sounds very reasonable.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Yeah, I doubt Stralman comes to the Flames after his last adventure here.

Of all the reasons not to come to Calgary that would be an incredibly stupid one. Calgary did him a favour.

He was an AHL-callup with the Leafs the year prior, the Flames showcased him in the pre-season and sent him to a team that would keep him up year round. Hindsight obviously being 20-20 but after they signed Bouwmeester that team had a clear cut top 5 he wasn't going to crack requiring him to fight for playing time with the likes of Pardy who had proven more. Instead he got to go to Columbus and play 20 minutes a night and breakout.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

Just under $6m AAV for Niskanen sounds very reasonable.

Yeah but that's before the bidding war actually begins.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Yeah but that's before the bidding war actually begins.

That would be the price for Detroit & Minnesota (his prefered destinations) to sign him?

[sureLoss]

According to Larry Brooks, Rangers want Boyle to replace Stralman, but he may cost more than the $4 million/yr that the Rangers have budgeted for that position.

http://nypost.com/2014/06/25/rangers...man-dan-boyle/


Weird typing Rangers and budget in the same sentence.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I hope Calgary stays out of this year's Gong Show. The Flames aren't at the stage where anyone in the free agent market is going to give us the boost we need. If anything, they should be sniffing around teams who dip into the free agent market and possibly bump a kid on the verge of making it in favor of experience. There should be some Colborne opportunities this year, and the Flames should take advantage of those. Guys like Brett Connolly, Dylan McIlrath, Brandon Gormley, Beau Bennett, and Emerson Etem could all be hard pressed to make their teams and could end up having to go through waivers to get to the minors. Might be worth while sniping those players than paying big for free agents at this point.

[dammage79]

The Flames will over pay one or two players this off season. Cap wise they kind of need to.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by New Era

I hope Calgary stays out of this year's Gong Show.

The Flames aren't at the stage where anyone in the free agent market is going to give us the boost we need.

If anything, they should be sniffing around teams who dip into the free agent market and possibly bump a kid on the verge of making it in favor of experience.

There should be some Colborne opportunities this year, and the Flames should take advantage of those. Guys like Brett Connolly, Dylan McIlrath, Brandon Gormley, Beau Bennett, and Emerson Etem could all be hard pressed to make their teams and could end up having to go through waivers to get to the minors. Might be worth while sniping those players than paying big for free agents at this point.

Personally I would have no issues if the Flames sign a couple of players via Free Agency....

Key is to keep the term short.

Flames need to add salary to reach the floor, whether its done via trade or Free Agency.... is the open questions

[sureLoss]

Rob Longley @longleysunsport
#Leafs won't be only option for Leo Komorov's return to NHL. Sources say five teams have called ... So far.

[MissTeeks]

“@TSNBobMcKenzie: It's believed Kane-Toews initial ask of CHI on extension is around $12M/yr each. They'll end up lower but still could be $10M+ AAV players.”

[bubbsy]

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 2m
It's believed Kane-Toews initial ask of CHI on extension is around $12M/yr each. They'll end up lower but still could be $10M+ AAV players.

yikes.

[Poe969]

So they don't want to win anymore? If the team is paying them that, they will have 0 support behind them.

[bubbsy]

good, hopefully the hawks feel the pinch as soon as possible and begin to decline.

[OutOfTheCube]

Kane should just wait til next summer and have Terry Pegula back up a dump truck full of cash, max value contract for 7 years. Come be the captain in his hometown, be the hero, etc.

One can dream, right?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So they don't want to win anymore? If the team is paying them that, they will have 0 support behind them.

Yeah no kidding. You'd think the minor difference between ~8 mil/ year and ~10/year would be worth continuing to be cup contenders. They only have to look at Pitt to know what happens when you blow your load on two players, no matter how good. If they want to continue playing with players of the quality of Sharp, Hossa, Keith, Saad, etc... they'll have to take a cut.

Toews should as his Team Canada teammate Sidney about how much he has liked having Pascal Dupuis and Lee Stempniak on his wing.

As a top player, if you want to be surrounded by other top players, you can't make top dollar. Sorry.

[ForeverFlameFan]

12m??? Go fly a kite. Signing both of them to that would be 1/3 of the cap.

[bubbsy]

is kane worth $12-$14 million a year (think max is 14)?

i wonder what the optimal cap structure looks like for a competitive NHL team:
% of cap for 1st line
% of cap for 2nd line
% of cap for 3rd/4th lines

% of cap for top4 d
% cap for bottom pairing d

% of cap on goaltending tandem

assuming a cap of 70 mill, 34% of the cap being spent on 2/3s of your "top" line (functionaly speaking not necessarily that they play together) seems quite top heavy.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

The starting price for Niskanen is $5.7 mil/year if the above report is correct

He's going to be this year's David Clarkson if that's the starting point.

[Muta]

$12M players, and all it takes is one awkward hit or a slapshot to end that hype.

Paying someone that much really does put the rest of your team (including its depth) in jeopardy.

[sureLoss]

Andy Strickland @andystrickland
Potential UFA Steve Ott was contacted by 4 teams yesterday. #stlblues have made an offer but there appears to be a gap between the two sides

Andy Strickland @andystrickland
Ott was effective in the playoffs but the #stlblues are unlikely to overpay for his services. Appears his asking price is a little high