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

[GioforPM]

Lars Eller signed a 4 year back ended contract with a $3.5M cap hit. (He's paid $2.5 in the first couple years).

[MrMastodonFarm]

Jarret Stoll actually had a lot more hits, I read the wrong column. 140+.

I'd be fine with three million though, it's not that bad of a number, that's right in Cogliano's spot. Backlund isn't physical but I wouldn't label him a soft player as some do. He was knocked off the puck more then ever this season and I can't remember that being the case in seasons previous. I'd chalk that up to coming off that abdominal injury mid season. That's not good either, his injuries are a concern as well.

What Backlnud is however is probably one of our better defensive forwards. Good positionally and good with his stick his takeaway stats are outstanding. Good enhanced possession numbers and that jazz. Don't think anyone else on our team is as good in that role as Backlund is, certainly not Josh Jooris.

Depth always seems great in the off season but we're not in a position yet to be sending out good NHL forwards. Grandlund, Jooris etc need to establish themselves much more first.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by heep223

Haven't seen a single post doing this. Correct me if I'm wrong.

The arguments have been that we are very deep at C and weak at D...and Backlund is a pretty decent player that would fetch a nice return in a package.

If you think so little of Backlund, why would you think he could fetch you a quality young defenceman?

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Count me down as confused why people are wanting to ship out one of, if not our best defensive forward. Hovering around 30 points, that's 3rd line numbers. He's softer then you'd like but that's not different then Cogliano of the Ducks. Good two-way, on the soft side, but smart players with excellent positioning and stick work. Cogliano makes 3 million even. That'd be the end line of Backlund for me, 3 year deal?

Cogliano is way more durable - he has played in more than 2x the number of NHL games, despite being only a year older (622 vs. 298).

Bad luck or fragile (I think both) Backlund's injury history does hurt his value imo.

[cannon7]

I see a potential repeat of last year's training camp where Byron just hung out on the UFA market until it was clear to the Flames that they didn't have enough depth on RW. Unless the Flames make an acquisition to shore up the RW, history may repeat itself.

[GioforPM]

I'm not as high on Jooris as a lot of people. I think he's better as a winger, and that he is one guy who could easily slip back production-wise. His production dropped after his hat trick in December. He was in all but two PO games and his stat line is pretty flat.

Granlund - I had hopes for a little more out of him. He needs to up his physical game, work on faceoffs and be a bit better on puck distribution. I think he plays a decent positional defensive game, but lacks the physicality to win pucks.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If you think so little of Backlund, why would you think he could fetch you a quality young defenceman?

I like Backlund and I've never said otherwise. He could be part of a package that could fetch a quality young defenceman.

If you could point me to any post that demeans Backlund because he's not as good as Getzlaf, or any of my posts that I've said I don't think much of Backlund, Id like to see it.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I see a potential repeat of last year's training camp where Byron just hung out on the UFA market until it was clear to the Flames that they didn't have enough depth on RW. Unless the Flames make an acquisition to shore up the RW, history may repeat itself.

At that time, there was no Poirier (still injured IIRC) or Shore, so it's already a tad more crowded. Though no Setoguchi next year. The glut of LWs might cause a few off wing switches as well. I don't think Bollig is going anywhere and Raymond might be hard to move. Ferland plays, Bouma plays, Bennett probably starts on wing. So with Gaudreau, Hudler, Ferland, Bouma, Jones, Bollig, and Raymond all fairly well locked in (give or take a trade for the latter two or three), there are 7 guys who play wing exclusively, plus Colborne, Shore, Jooris, Granlund and Bennett who will all probably see wing time. That's 12 players for 8 wing spots. Plus Poirier trying for a starting NHL spot.

Of course, out of those guys, Bouma and Shore are also RFAs to be signed. Bouma will be signed and probably Shore as well.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I see a potential repeat of last year's training camp where Byron just hung out on the UFA market until it was clear to the Flames that they didn't have enough depth on RW. Unless the Flames make an acquisition to shore up the RW, history may repeat itself.

That didn't happen. Byron was signed on July 3.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by heep223

I like Backlund and I've never said otherwise. He could be part of a package that could fetch a quality young defenceman.

If you could point me to any post that demeans Backlund because he's not as good as Getzlaf, or any of my posts that I've said I don't think much of Backlund, Id like to see it.

There were a number of posts in the Trade Rumour thread criticizing him for it. The discussion of trading Backlund naturally traveled over here.

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by Kolbe31

Byron is a tough one. Looking at our roster going into game 5 against Anaheim, who do you take out if Byron is healthy? You could make the argument that Raymond comes out, I suppose. Tough roster to crack if you're a bottom 6 forward. I personally think they let him walk, it almost happened last year (didn't it?).

That was an easy one - Hartley should've sat out Raymond. He was pretty useless in the playoffs and in the regular season after coming back from his injury. Was hoping to see Byron in the lineup to add some speed to back off the Ducks defence, especially on the penalty kills.

[station]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'm not as high on Jooris as a lot of people. I think he's better as a winger, and that he is one guy who could easily slip back production-wise. His production dropped after his hat trick in December. He was in all but two PO games and his stat line is pretty flat

Good points but also consider the fact that he was a rookie this year so there is likely room for growth even though he is 25. Also he is useful in the sense that he will be cheap, can play anywhere on the bottom 6, is great on the pk, and plays full-on all the time. Chipping in a few goals is a bonus imo.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'm not as high on Jooris as a lot of people. I think he's better as a winger, and that he is one guy who could easily slip back production-wise. His production dropped after his hat trick in December. He was in all but two PO games and his stat line is pretty flat.

His production dropped after injuring his wrist.

[Stay Golden]

Raymond should be made expendable by Treliving, Burke and Hartley. I think his level of play he has made himself expendable.
I bet Treliving would like a do over with signing Raymond to that 3 year 3m per deal.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

His production dropped after injuring his wrist.

His production was never anything more then this in College or the AHL either, so I'd be leery about going all in on Jooris, healthy wrist or not, just yet.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

His production was never anything more then this in College or the AHL either, so I'd be leery about going all in on Jooris, healthy wrist or not, just yet.

Good point. I agree with your previous sentiment, sell Jooris while his value is at it's highest. I don't see his numbers sustainable long term, and he has others vying for his spot.

[Erick Estrada]

I have no issues with Backlund being paid and played as a 3rd line center for the Flames but I don't want him anywhere near the 2nd line again. He was awful in that role down the stretch for this team as he's a decent two way center with very average offensive creativity. As for Jooris I don't see where he fits in long term as long as Stajan and Backlund are on the team as he faded after the hot start to the season and I share the sentiment that they should look at trading him now if he has any value across the league.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

His production was never anything more then this in College or the AHL either, so I'd be leery about going all in on Jooris, healthy wrist or not, just yet.

Neither was Bouma's.

I don't think he's a replacement for Backlund, but him with Shore could be adequate.

The two things I like most about Jooris are Speed and Finish, which I think are two areas Backlund is lacking.

I also don't think he's got much in the way of trade value so he's probably a guy you're better off keeping anyway. He's also a better fit for the age timeline of the team going forward.

Lots of decisions going forward.

[station]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

Good point. I agree with your previous sentiment, sell Jooris while his value is at it's highest. I don't see his numbers sustainable long term, and he has others vying for his spot.

Well I could see him as a piece in a larger deal if a team specifically wanted him but I don't see the point of signing him to an offer sheet and then shopping him around. His value is probably higher with the team than what you would get back. What's he going to cost? Maybe a million per on 2 year deal and it cost nothing to get him in the first place. Kind of found money at this point.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Neither was Bouma's.

Yeah, neither was Bouma. I'm not sold on Bouma being a consistent offensive threat, are you?