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

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

You don't really have to take such a hard stance, or go to such extremes.

He's still a fairly young player who has developed nicely over the years. This past season he was much better, had more confidence, and it showed. He was a pretty solid two-way player. You could see it develop over the season, and it also carried over to the WHC where he played really well.

Nobody is looking at Backlund as some sort or star center or stud that the team will be centered around, but rather a very useful piece for the next few years. He may be the #2 C next season (which isn't a bad thing), but at worst he's very solid #3 C. He's a pretty decent player........and not just on the Flames, he could play on any team in the league.

If he gets pushed down the depth chart as the team gets better, so what? L.A. has Kopitar, Carter, Stoll and Richards. You need good centers throughout the lineup to succeed, not just on the top lines. Backlund will be an excellent depth player who plays a very good two-way game, no matter who we draft in future.

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

You don't really have to take such a hard stance, or go to such extremes.

He's still a fairly young player who has developed nicely over the years. This past season he was much better, had more confidence, and it showed. He was a pretty solid two-way player. You could see it develop over the season, and it also carried over to the WHC where he played really well.

Nobody is looking at Backlund as some sort or star center or stud that the team will be centered around, but rather a very useful piece for the next few years. He may be the #2 C next season (which isn't a bad thing), but at worst he's very solid #3 C. He's a pretty decent player........and not just on the Flames, he could play on any team in the league.

I actually didn't go to any extremes here. I have an opinion that is not common thought on this forum (matching that of my thoughts on Byron).

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

That would be completely fine, were it not for a little thing called context. You've shown in the past (to a bizarre extreme) that you have an outright agenda to discredit and downplay Backlund. It was well documented in your signature until it got to the point where it was asinine to keep it there.

I think he's definitely earned a spot now, and if he continues to progress (as is possible with him being so young and having just started to put it together) there is a good possibility he remains an integral part of this team as it begins to improve.

Your admission that the only reason he belongs on the team now is because of how poor it is - is a thinly veiled way of continuing your unfounded bias. It's clear you're suggesting that is his absolute ceiling in an attempt to save face for the years you've spent suggesting he belongs in the KHL.

Well, in the past Backs was a point per every 2.6 games player, who was oft-injured, terrible in the dot and really soft on the puck (ex-flames coaches words). I've said he's improved, but I don't think it's to the point of being worthy of a playoff team roster.

This management team is smart. They'd echo the same thing, he has to define himself as a scorer or a top shutdown centre. Otherwise he's expendable.

He's had more opportunity in this league than a million of his previous/current peers. Let's hope he grabs it.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by playmaker

Somebody please explain ... Why didn't we just traded the rights to Byron for a 4th line energy guy if they wanted to have one, instead of throwing away the 3rd round pick ?

Because to make a deal for a player there has to be demand for said player. There is no demand for Paul Byron. He was a feel good story for the fans, but he was not a guy with a long NHL career staring him in the face. Teams do not go out of their way to grab guys that are 5'7 and 153 pounds who are bottom line players. There just isn't a market for Paul Byron. I suspect he'll end up being a scoring star in the German league for years to come. That is the market where he's going to find his niche and become a valued commodity.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

You don't really have to take such a hard stance, or go to such extremes.

With all due respect, can we please ask the troll to stop pushing his idiotic anti-Backlund crusade in a thread that has absolutely nothing to do with Backlund?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by playmaker

Somebody please explain ... Why didn't we just traded the rights to Byron for a 4th line energy guy if they wanted to have one, instead of throwing away the 3rd round pick ?

Because Byron did not have that kind of value.

My guess is Byron signs a two way contract with another team or goes to Europe .

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by playmaker

Somebody please explain ... Why didn't we just traded the rights to Byron for a 4th line energy guy if they wanted to have one, instead of throwing away the 3rd round pick ?

Byron does not have that value

[cral12]

On a team still in rebuild mode, still wish we kept Byron - I think his play last year deserved that much. His speed generates fan excitement. Would have liked to see him on a line with the hit machine, Bollig. Wonder if the Sabres sign him back...Good luck to him, nonetheless. If he does go to Europe, he should excel.

[DoubleF]

Anyone else wonder if releasing some of these players wasn't really about their play and more about hitting the cap floor? Gotta make room on the roster to grab guys for the roster, especially since we have quite a few guys <1.5 million cap hit.

Lots of luck to Byron. Liked him. I dare say he will be a thorn in our side for a little while. I feel like with Iggy and Regehr, I might follow Byron for a little bit.

I dunno who to tip my hat to, Burke or Treliving (leaning towards latter) but wow... I don't know whether to feel "rebuild" or "retool" with some of these trades. Totally exciting stuff.

[sureLoss]

Treliving on the Fan 960 says the Flames still have interest in Byron.

Confirms that the Flames did not want to go to arbitration with Byron, because he had a strong arbitration case if he was qualified.

Flames have an offer on the table for Byron.

[photon]

GM says Byron is a player they still have interest in. Said the arbitration case they weren't prepared to take on, they've been talking to Byron today and have an offer into him.

EDIT: Dammit.

[badradio]

Still hoping they sign Byron... I'm just not sure where he fits? 2-way contract?

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

With all due respect, can we please ask the troll to stop pushing his idiotic anti-Backlund crusade in a thread that has absolutely nothing to do with Backlund?

Right after they get the Super-Nationalists to stop baiting?

[Geeoff]

Personally I'd rather see Granlund or Gaudreau on the Flames than Byron. Not sure where he fits. Treliving probably offered him a 2-way deal. I think Byron is the perfect kind of player to have on your AHL team though. He seems to have a great attitude and he's always trying really hard on every shift. Good traits to rub off on prospects. Just don't think he's quite talented enough to play top 6 or physical/defensively savvy enough to play bottom 6 in the NHL.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by photon

EDIT: Dammit.

Foolish mortal! You cannot beat the sureLoss!

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by photon

GM says Byron is a player they still have interest in. Said the arbitration case they weren't prepared to take on, they've been talking to Byron today and have an offer into him.

EDIT: Dammit.

Next time, try banning Sureloss for the 2 mins it takes you to write up the post

[Drury18]

So today was the deadline for the RFA's to accept and sign their qualifying offers.

Haven't heard anything about Bouma, Ortio or Cundari signing. I guess they want to negotiate something better.

[MuscleOnTheBlvd]

Originally Posted by Drury18

So today was the deadline for the RFA's to accept and sign their qualifying offers.

Haven't heard anything about Bouma, Ortio or Cundari signing. I guess they want to negotiate something better.

I can see Lance Bouma getting a good offer, maybe from the Kings?

At this point I'm fine with Brad Treliving shaping the team the way he wants even if it means favorites like Bouma signing elsewhere.

[Chill Cosby]

Originally Posted by MuscleOnTheBlvd

I can see Lance Bouma getting a good offer, maybe from the Kings?

Probably from the Flames

[Street Pharmacist]

How does this work then? RFA until August 15th or arbitration? Or do they have arbitration coming?