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

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by the2bears

This keeps coming up, and I never gave it much thought other than "Well, naturally this is important." However, I think it was Treliving who recently mentioned that "handed-ness" was very low in importance for their d-man selection criteria. Is it really as important a factor as it seems to get around here? Just curious.

He actually said RH is important but if you were going into market for one, get in line behind 29 other teams. This is said pre-draft media availability. They're a commodity for sure.

[getbak]

I'm just glad the Nucks aren't really considered contenders anymore. That makes it much less likely that Iginla would go there.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

by my count, even if we sign bouma/colborne for about a million bucks each, we're still looking at about 8-9 million short of the floor.

if cammalleri signs, we can assume he would be an additional ~5.5-6 million, so would have another 3 million we'd need to spend likely on a dman and backup goalie.

If cammalleri doesn't sign, we probably need to start hunting down some heavy FAs to get to the floor. Could get interesting, with how many teams are looking to buy this UFA period, as well as a team like buffalo who have a ways to get to the floor.

9-10M to spend on a top 6 forward, 13th forward, top 4 D, 7th defenseman and backup goalie. Reaching the cap floor won't be a problem. It's going to be a matter of who it is we get.

[wwkayaker]

The Flames must be getting to a point at which free agents begin looking favourably at us. Calgary has become younger, acquired significantly more prospects, overhauled the management, and has considerable cap space available. I don't expect next year to be spectacular but in two/three years we should be looking pretty decent.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Ok, prediction time:

Which free agent is going to get the contract where everyone goes "WHAT were they thinking?". We can call it the Finger Award.

Who gets the Finger?


My bet: The Hoff

He can still play though. There will be a lot of these; Bolland, Boyle, Legwand, heck, everyone is going to get a big contract. My vote for the Finger award goes to Douglas Murray.

[djsFlames]

If we can manage to nab a relatively young high talent center or winger that can play on the right side through trade or FA and draft a D like hanifin next year I think we're looking at playoffs two seasons from now.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by wwkayaker

The Flames must be getting to a point at which free agents begin looking favourably at us. Calgary has become younger, acquired significantly more prospects, overhauled the management, and has considerable cap space available. I don't expect next year to be spectacular but in two/three years we should be looking pretty decent.

I'm not so sure about that. The only benefit with signing in Calgary at this point is $$ and term. There is no playoff benefits in sight, nor a chance at a cup.

I highly doubt any of the top 10 would sign with the Flames at this time.

Personally I would love either Edler or Niskanen and maybe take another shot at ROR.

[sureLoss]

Adrian Dater @adater
Nobody with Avs shot down the question "Would you guys be interested in Iginla?". Probably a long shot but never know

[wwkayaker]

Originally Posted by saXon

I'm not so sure about that. The only benefit with signing in Calgary at this point is $$ and term. There is no playoff benefits in sight, nor a chance at a cup.

I highly doubt any of the top 10 would sign with the Flames at this time.

Personally I would love either Edler or Niskanen and maybe take another shot at ROR.

True enough. We are in a better spot now than we have been but the lure of playoffs and cup runs aren't here.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Adrian Dater @adater
Nobody with Avs shot down the question "Would you guys be interested in Iginla?". Probably a long shot but never know

I think he would be a good veteran presence for that team and he's close to Sakic. Not sure how they would fit him in and they still need a solid defenseman.

[Icon]

Completely fine with Cammy staying around for 3-4yrs... by the time we're competitive he can slide to the 3rd line and still be an occasional threat.

He's even shown he can tackle the RW with ease, where we're hurting. Throw big $ at him, who cares, there aren't many other options.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by AC

Why? He seems like the right type of veteran for this team.

He clearly likes Calgary, and we heard a lot of positive things regarding how he treated the rookies along with Hudler.

I don't know how much he likes Calgary since he is unwilling to sign unless he gets max value. Just like the last time he hit unrestricted free agency, he is all about the money.

[Madrox]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

He can still play though. There will be a lot of these; Bolland, Boyle, Legwand, heck, everyone is going to get a big contract. My vote for the Finger award goes to Douglas Murray.

Not a bad candidate, but I think people are well aware he's on the decline. I actually think from a non-Flames fan perspective, it's going to be Chris Butler. Unless they follow hockey closely, I think a lot of people either won't even know who Butler is, or will have a dated view of his play from when he was less effective a year or two ago, and so will have the same "WHAT!?" reaction as when Finger was signed.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Too bad the CBA doesn't allow contracts to be structured where the cap hit was calculated either annually OR use the AAV.. 8/8/4/3/3 would be a great deal for both Camel Larry and the flames

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Fire

I don't know how much he likes Calgary since he is unwilling to sign unless he gets max value. Just like the last time he hit unrestricted free agency, he is all about the money.

It's his last big payday. You can hardly blame him and I don't think it has anything to do with him liking or not liking Calgary.

[MissTeeks]

“@TheFourthPeriod: Matt Niskanen, meanwhile, wants a 6-to-7 year deal at a minimum of $6M per year. Some teams balking, some pushing hard (DET, TB among them)”

[Dion]

Scott Burnside of ESPN: 15 interesting free agents and possible landing spots.

1. Paul Stastny – Blues
2. Dan Boyle – Red Wings
3. Christian Ehrhoff – Lightning
4. Thomas Vanek – Wild
5. Ryan Miller – Canucks
6. Matt Niskanen – Capitals
7. Anton Stralman – Red Wings or Lightning
8. Matt Moulson – Islanders
9. Jussi Jokinen – Winnipeg
10. Jarome Iginla – Canadiens
11. Brad Richards – Predators
12. Jonas Hiller – Winnipeg
13. Mike Ribeiro – Predators or Blackhawks
14. Ville Leino – Predators
15. Steve Ott – Sabres

[Dion]

Hope Smoke: Nick Kypreos: “For the Leafs to have traded Phaneuf at the draft or up until tomorrow he would have to sign off” … “My understanding is that it’s easier to move him after [the new deal kicks in]…” … “Because he has a list of 12 and they are free to move him outside of his list of 12″

Harvey Fialkov: The Panthers announce they will use a compliance buyout on Ed Jovanovski, clearing $4.1 million in salary cap space. Jovanovski will get $2.7 million over two years.

Sarah McLellan: The Coyotes did not retain Sam Gagner’s no-movement clause in the trade.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

It's his last big payday. You can hardly blame him and I don't think it has anything to do with him liking or not liking Calgary.

I don't blame Cammalleri but I don't believe all the Calgary love he apparently has in him. Players take lower amounts all the time to stay in places they like. I bet Cammalleri is going to love the city of the team willing to give him the most money.

[Derek Sutton]

Originally Posted by Madrox

Not a bad candidate, but I think people are well aware he's on the decline. I actually think from a non-Flames fan perspective, it's going to be Chris Butler. Unless they follow hockey closely, I think a lot of people either won't even know who Butler is, or will have a dated view of his play from when he was less effective a year or two ago, and so will have the same "WHAT!?" reaction as when Finger was signed.

True, after some more digging I was wishing I said Fayne. Honestly never heard of him and it sounds like he'll get some decent money