Flames RFA's - Who should be qualified/signed?

[heep223]

The bottom line here is that we have a ton of forward depth and as much as we are all attached to certain guys and have our own views on things, there's going to be some moves to acquire more young depth on D.

All we really know is that Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, Hudler, Ferland, Bouma aren't going anywhere. Everyone else is ultimately fair game, we need young D prospects so badly.

My personal view is that Stajan (versatile veteran 2-way C) and Jones (RH physical RW that can chip in) are going to stay as well and that one of Backlund or Colborne is going to get packaged for a young defenseman. I like both of them.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by New Era

After what the Flames just experienced with Anaheim it is obvious this team needs to get bigger and stronger.

No, that's not obvious.

The Flames' most effective player against Anaheim was Gaudreau, who's neither big nor strong, but he's mobile.

The Flames' least effective player against Anaheim was probably Engelland, who's very big and very strong, and yet was probably on the ice for over 65% of the goals Anaheim scored.

The Flames second least effective player was probably Monahan, who's pretty big and strong, but was outmatched one on one by Kesler.

Treliving even mentioned that once Bouma and Ferland returned, Calgary seemed to be the team playing "bigger" out of the two.

The only thing that was "clear" from the Anaheim series is that they're a more talented team. Which they ought to be, as they've been building up assets for five+ years now while we're only now recovering from the aftermath of Sutter's liberal use of high draft picks to acquire mediocre 28 year old vets.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Raymond, and what else can we give for OEL?

Hanowski and 5th round pick?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Honestly, I'd be shopping Jooris. Sell high

You move Backlund to keep Jooris in my mind.

[N26]

Has anyone heard if Billins plans to return to North America this year? If he doesn't he simply remains Flames property until he does I believe.

[killer_carlson]

Backlund, as usual, had a great set of games when healthy. But he isn't healthy for a full season very often.

You can't pencil him into a 2nd line role or salary because you need a 2nd line replacement for him for 20 games or so when he gets hurt or is playing injured. At best you can pay him 3rd line money. When he is on, he's a bargain, when he is hurt, you still have roster cap space to fill his spot.

$3,200,000/year in my opinion.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Alex Killorn signed a deal last year for roughly 2.5 million and brings what you're describing PLUS he brings points and goals.

....Alex Killorn put up 17 goals and 24 assists in 82 GP
....Mikael Backlund put up 18 goals and 21 assists in 76 GP

And Killorn also had I think two more years worth of RFA in that deal which brings the AAV down....and Killorn just happened to be a nice Top 6 piece on one of the best teams in the NHL this year, and unlike Backlund, he was playing alongside a 40 goal scoring legend, not Lance Bouma and David Jones.

How many players in the NHL are getting paid more than 3 million dollars a year to put up less than 30 points?

He was on pace for 42+ points this year, and put up 39 last year. Injuries might be a bit of a negotiating point, you don't sum aggregate points without factoring in the games played that season. He's a 40 point centreman in terms of his average production. If we don't pay him and buy UFA years, he will get paid appropriately somewhere else as a UFA.

How many of those guys would you say are worth it?

How about Jarett Stoll? yeah, 2014-15 was a terrible year for him, but prior to that the he was a notable part of two cup winning teams as a guy making a Stajan contract as a 3rd line center. In those cup years he had 21 and 27 points respectively.

Also, that was a past contract when the cap was much smaller. 3 million now might've been 2 million 4 years ago.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Forwards (13)

(26) C - Mikael Backlund- 3 years $9m
(25) LW - Lance Bouma- 4 years $10m
(23) LW - Micheal Ferland- 2 years $1.8m
(25) C - Josh Jooris- qualifying offer
(26) F - Paul Byron- Let go (Unless he accepts a reduced role, but he can probably find more ice time on a different team at this point)
(24) C - Drew Shore- qualifying offer
(23) C - Bill Arnold- qualifying offer
(26) LW - David Wolf- qualifying offer (last chance)
(23) C - Max Reinhart- qualifying offer (last chance)
(23) LW - Kenny Agostino- qualifying offer
(23) F - Turner Elson- qualifying offer
(25) RW - Ben Hanowski- AHL deal
(23) LW - Bryce Van Brabant- AHL deal

Defense (3)

(24) RD - Sena Acolatse- AHL deal (Unless there's another AHL vet that's going to be signed. Losing Cundari means that Acolatse is our only AHL vet on D)
(24) RD - John Ramage- qualifying offer (I think the Flames see something in him still)
(26) LD - Chad Billins (Played in Europe & Flames still hold his rights)- Let go

[Imported_Aussie]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

23 max roster spots
Flames will carry 7 d + 2 goalies

14 forwards

likely top 9 to start the season
Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bennett - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Jones

Treliving is unlikely to allow these 3 to go through waivers:
Ferland - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Jooris - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Shore - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed

leaves 2 roster spots for
Raymond
Bollig
Byron
or anyone else on the farm that can make the team (i.e. Poirier, Arnold, etc).

going to have to make some moves if the Flames sign Byron.

Or they sign him and be prepared to risk him on waivers should he not make the team. If they sign him and waive him, at least he had a shot to make the team, if they let him walk right away, they lose the chance to see if he pushes his way back into the lineup

[Roof-Daddy]

Treliving sure sounded high on Backlund at the year end presser. For whatever that's worth.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

No, that's not obvious.

The Flames' most effective player against Anaheim was Gaudreau, who's neither big nor strong, but he's mobile.

The Flames' least effective player against Anaheim was probably Engelland, who's very big and very strong, and yet was probably on the ice for over 65% of the goals Anaheim scored.

The Flames second least effective player was probably Monahan, who's pretty big and strong, but was outmatched one on one by Kesler.

Treliving even mentioned that once Bouma and Ferland returned, Calgary seemed to be the team playing "bigger" out of the two.

The only thing that was "clear" from the Anaheim series is that they're a more talented team. Which they ought to be, as they've been building up assets for five+ years now while we're only now recovering from the aftermath of Sutter's liberal use of high draft picks to acquire mediocre 28 year old vets.

The return of Bouma and Ferland gave the Flames an advantage? No ####. So you put a 210 pound Bouma and a 215 pound Ferland into the lineup and the Flames play better? Seems that size did matter, no matter how you try and spin it.

The Flames need more guys north of 200 pounds than south of that number. They need guys with some size and skill. That is where Agostino and Arnold come in and where Byron and Raymond exit. The Flames need size. Everyone in the organization has stated that. Byron just doesn't fit anymore.

[Ozy_Flame]

Not sure if Jooris gets a one-way. He had a hot start but seemed to taper off after that, IMO. I think the jury is still out on him long-term, but I'm sure another season on the Flames bottom six may change my tune.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Backlund to me has been an under achiever as a 2nd line Center and 2nd unit PP minutes. 27 pts.
He got hot for 3 weeks then silence for goals until the OT goal vs ANA. Backlund was manhandled in the playoffs. Monahan was keyed in on by both Van and ANA. He fought through it. As did the other centers Colborne and Stajan both played like warriors.
With the emergence of Bennett who will surpass Backlund. I think the Flames when you look at C could make a favorable trade at the draft involving Backlund.
Monahan
Bennett
Colborne
Stajan

Colborne hasn't proved that he can keep himself from making boneheaded plays and taking boneheaded penalties so far.

Backlund is a more poised and controlled player, and that is what you want on your 3rd line.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

Just off the top of my head, guys like Frans Neilsen ($3.5m), Mikhail Grabovski ($5m), and Jarret Stoll ($3.25m) come to mind. Stoll is also likely about to get a raise, regardless of his extracurriculars.

I think Backlund at $4m would be a better value than any of those dudes.

Don't think so. There's a good reason they missed the playoffs, and a good reason they're letting him go (completely ignoring the extracurriculars). He's one of several players on that team that looked done or close to it. You add in that incident, and I think the best he can do is someone's training camp on a PTO.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by codynw

Hanowski and 5th round pick?

Throw in Setoguchi. That would have them biting their nails.

[Ashasx]

It really surprises me that people are attaching the word immovable to Bouma and Ferland (though players I really like), but not Backlund.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

Or they sign him and be prepared to risk him on waivers should he not make the team. If they sign him and waive him, at least he had a shot to make the team, if they let him walk right away, they lose the chance to see if he pushes his way back into the lineup

Yes that would constitute a roster move the Flames would have to make as the post originally says.

[CaptainCrunch]

26) C - Mikael Backlund - Big raise, he to me is part of the core
(25) LW - Lance Bouma - decent raise, I can see him bumped to about 2.5
(23) LW - Micheal Ferland - qualified, but I would like to see him get a longer deal
(25) C - Josh Jooris - qualified, he was great at the start and ok at the end
(26) F - Paul Byron - let him go
(24) C - Drew Shore - qualify
(23) C - Bill Arnold- qualify
(26) LW - David Wolf - see if he wants to resign or go home and qualilfy
(23) C - Max Reinhart - see if you can bundle him with a draft pick and move him for help elsewhere
(23) LW - Kenny Agostino - qualify
(23) F - Turner Elson - qualify
(25) RW - Ben Hanowski - let him go
(23) LW - Bryce Van Brabant - let him go

Defense (3)

(24) RD - Sena Acolatse - ahl deal
(24) RD - John Ramage - qualify
(26) LD - Chad Billins (Played in Europe & Flames still hold his rights) - nope

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

It really surprises me that people are attaching the word immovable to Bouma and Ferland (though players I really like), but not Backlund.

Because young, big, fast forwards who hit like freight trains, are great on PK, and can chip in offensively are irreplaceable pieces to a rebuilding, small team in the Western Conference.

Monahan and Bennett will be long term 1-2 C and Stajan, Colborne could step into Backlund's role as 3rd line C. Backlund is good and he could get a great return but is immediately replaceable and we have good long term depth at C. Shore, Jooris also can play bottom 6 C immediately.

[PsYcNeT]

I am absolutely baffled that people would consider Colborne over Backlund. Throughout the season, the only player that half-assed it on the backcheck was Colborne.

Honest question to any Colborne boosters:

How many times did you actually see # 8 in the D-zone?