[News] Flames qualify 6 RFAs. Byron, Galiardi, Eddy, Martin, Roy do NOT receive offers

[cannon7]

Can only assume the organization saw Byron as redundant, they already have to find a way to create space for Gaudreau. Still, Byron had a great run in the second half of the season -- may have some interest by other teams out there. That Regehr trade is officially godawful.

No surprise by Galiardi not being qualified, was just not good enough.

[Poe969]

Kind of happy about those guys not coming back. Byron was small and not overly talented, he only fit on the bottom line skill wise but was too small to play it effectively. I think Bolig is a better fit.

[Zevo]

MOD EDIT: No insults please.

[tvp2003]

Well, I guess we'll see if they re-sign him as a UFA then. Can't see a ton of teams wanting to pick him up; I think he's in a good situation here and if he can continue his upward trajectory for the next year or two perhaps that will open the door elsewhere.

Reminds me of the Dale Tallon situation a few years ago when the botched the paperwork for their QO's and a bunch of RFA's technically became UFA's (until they were re-signed by Chicago, albeit at higher contracts than they would have received as RFA's).

[photon]

Like Byron, but maybe it was a case where there wasn't a way to get him into the line-up so rather than keep him around but not play him what he deserves they are letting him go where he can get playing time?

[neo45]

I like Byron. He played with skill and grit. I hope he gets signed somewhere in the league

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Zevo

I read it just fine. Why put you on ignore? You're posts are quite often so absurd that they make me chuckle sometimes.

You obviously didn't "read it just fine".

I said that it's odd because Hartley likes him. He told him to get a place and was an advocate for not sending him down to Abbotsford over the Olympic break. Wow, such an absurd post, right?

So tell me again why that post was so absurd that it deserved this response:

Originally Posted by Zevo

Ya, because the only explanation is that Hartley didn't like him.

when I said the complete opposite?

Go ahead and mock me or whoever else. You're adding nothing.

[jg13]

I think multiple teams will be interested In signing Byron after what he did in the second half of the season this year. He is good now and will get better. Just didn't fit into our long term plans.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

nm

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Can we get confirmation on this anywhere? I would really like to know how to react to this news.

Regardless of what the official story is, the correct answer is "extreme and passionately".

[mile]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Personally I feel the same way, like when we traded Prust... Its about the character a player brings to the game. It makes players around him play harder, play better, not give up no matter what.

I just hope the will sign him anyways, if they don't I hope he has a good career in the NHL. To me the most important is a team and not the sum of its parts, so I hope the management know what they are doing.

Exactly - Seeing the way Byron played this season was refreshing compared to the duds that have populated our 3rd/4th lines for the last 5+ years, not since 2004 have I seen guys work as hard as he and Bouma did this season.

I'd pencil him on the 3rd line RW over a guy like David Jones easily.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I count 34 (not including O'Brien) as well, but Klimchuk will slide again, so 33.

FYI, you don't have to count them, if you click "Reserve List", you can see the numbered list of all the signed contracts: http://capgeek.com/flames/reserve-list/

Right now, the Flames have 34 players under contract for next season. Klimchuk, Kanzig, and Poirier's deals can all slide. Klimchuk and Kanzig can't play in the AHL next season, and they're unlikely to play in the NHL, so they will likely slide. Poirier can play in the AHL, but if he doesn't play at least 10 NHL games, his contract will also slide (I don't know if it will count towards the 50 contract limit if he's playing in the AHL on a sliding NHL deal).

5 of the 6 players qualified today will likely be signed for next year (all except Billins, who is going to Russia).

I'd say there's also a good chance that Byron re-signs as well, but he'll have UFA options.

Of the new draft picks, Bennett will almost certainly get signed pretty soon (I expect at the camp next week), but he'll slide if he goes back to junior; Carroll will likely get signed and sent to Adirondack; and the other players will likely not be signed yet.


If you add the 5 RFAs and the 2 draft picks to the 34 current contracts, we can put the Flames at 41 total contracts with 4 probable to slide.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

anybody have the list of players that are eligible to play on the Heat this year?

Before anyone jumps down my throat for players listed, the question was ELIGIBLE to play not WILL play.

This is my understanding of players that are either signed to NHL or AHL contracts and could play on the AHL Flames. Keep in mind, virtually any NHL Flames player on the roster with a contract coming into effect in 2014-15 could play on the AHL Flames if sent down (and cleared waivers if applicable).

• Ben Hanowski - Flames Contract
• Ben Street - Flames Contract
• Bill Arnold - Flames Contract
• Brady Lamb - AHL Contract
• Brendan Connolly - AHL Contract
• Brett Kulak - Flames Contract
• Brett Olson - Flames Contract
• Bryce Van Brabant - Flames Contract
• Carter Bancks - AHL Contract
• Corban Knight - Flames Contract
• Corey Locke - AHL Contract
• David Wolf - Flames Contract
• Derek Smith - Flames Contract
• Drew Mackenzie - AHL Contract (known multi-year)
• Emile Poirier - Flames Contract
• Evan Trupp - AHL Contract
• Garnet Hathaway - AHL Contract
• John Ramage - Flames Contract
• John Ramage - Flames Contract
• Johnny Gaudreau - Flames Contract
• Joni Ortio - Flames Contract
• Josh Jooris - Flames Contract
• Kane Lafranchise - AHL Contract
• Keenan Kanzig - Flames Contract
• Kenny Agostino - Flames Contract
• Mark Cundari - Flames Contract
• Markus Granlund - Flames Contract
• Max Reinhart - Flames Contract
• Michael Ferland - Flames Contract
• Morgan Klimchuk - Flames Contract
• Patrick Sieloff - Flames Contract
• Sven Baertschi - Flames Contract
• Tim Milller - AHL Contract
• Trevor Gillies - AHL Contract
• Turner Elson - Flames Contract
• Tyler Wotherspoon - Flames Contract

[SeeGeeWhy]

Paul Byron looks like Brian Peppers.

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Your standards aren't very high then.

On a side note, I was at McD's today and they had run out of mustard packages, it was a full blown catastrophe of epic proportions.

I watched every game Byron played this year. He was very effective for this team.

47 GP, 7 G, 14 A, 21 Pts. in limited ice time. His +6 was second best +/- on the Flames. Just turned 25 years old. 29 takeaways to 13 giveaways. Solid 2 way game. One of our most effective penalty killers. Great work ethic, tenacious puck pursuit, won many battles vs. players much bigger than him. Gritty. A lot of speed. High hockey IQ. Whats not to like about him? Wait till he plays a full season.

I say if the Flames give up on him he will have a good NHL career somewhere else. You'll have to watch for it while you suck back mustard packages at Dairy Queen I guess.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Cripes…Byron EARNED a chance at a full time spot. I didn't see many play with the same heart and intensity he did out there. He has a lot of qualities that are positive for any NHL team…he won't be on the market long if the Flames don't manage to re-sign him. Even if he is more likely a 'tweener, which I believe he is long term, he's a VALUABLE 'tweener.

I really can't wrap my head around this decision. At least qualify him and TRADE him if you don't see him in your plans long term. He has some value.

[Vinny01]

Byron was sent through waivers at least twice by the flames in his 3 years here and made it through. With him and butler gone it will remove the return the flames got for Reggie and a 2nd.

Not surprised by any moves. I did think Byron was good for the flames last year but would rather his spot go to Max, Sven, Johnny, or Marcus.

Galliardi has basically already been replaced by Bollig/Wolf

[Calgary4LIfe]

I really like Byron, but it was tough to fit him in long-term. With the Flames having more draft picks coming through the pipe, he just got squeezed out. Thought they would keep him around for another year or two, to see how he and others developed, but I guess the organization felt that change was needed.

Hopefully Byron can find himself a good home. I think he is a legit NHL player now, or at the very least on the cusp of it.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

Cripes…Byron EARNED a chance at a full time spot. I didn't see many play with the same heart and intensity he did out there. He has a lot of qualities that are positive for any NHL team…he won't be on the market long if the Flames don't manage to re-sign him. Even if he is more likely a 'tweener, which I believe he is long term, he's a VALUABLE 'tweener.

I really can't wrap my head around this decision. At least qualify him and TRADE him if you don't see him in your plans long term. He has some value.

Aribitration rights. If Byron gets overpaid, they can't walk away. Perhaps they think there isn't a lot of interest out there, and thus they can re-sign him without the risk of arbitration.

[PeteLFan]

So since billins isn't signed he won't count against our contact cap?