2015/2016 - Predict the starting lineup

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I don't really see how that's possible then. Considering we were at that 3.1 figure of yours before Byron was signed, I think it's more likely the NHLNumbers salary total hasn't been updated yet.

It also depends what you mean by cap space. True cap space is 2.2, but that includes bonuses. If you pretend bonuses are achieved, they have $1.47M

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I don't really see how that's possible then. Considering we were at that 3.1 figure of yours before Byron was signed, I think it's more likely the NHLNumbers salary total hasn't been updated yet.

It's not my figure, it's NHLNumbers' figure. And it includes Byron.

They may have it wrong, but that's what they are reporting.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It's not my figure, it's NHLNumbers' figure. And it includes Byron.

They may have it wrong, but that's what they are reporting.

Generalfanager and Capcentral have the Flames with 2.194 of cap space remaining after Byron.

[Toonage]

Tried this line up in NHL 15 over the weekend. Solid.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Stajan-Jones
Bouma-Jooris-Colborne
- Bollig
- Byron

Giordano-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Wotherspoon-Wideman
- Engelland

Ramo-Ortio

[Bingo]

defense pairings ...

I see the need to keep the Giordano-Brodie and Wideman-Russell pairings together, but with the Hamilton addition and Brodie learning to be the man in the final two months of last season I think you break them up and get to a natural left/right situation.

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Wideman
Russell - Engelland

if Morrison makes the team and shoots right he takes Engelland's spot. If Wotherspoon makes the team in the 6 spot you reassess as he's a lefty over a righty

[Itse]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Generalfanager and Capcentral have the Flames with 2.194 of cap space remaining after Byron.

I looked at Hockeyscap.com. I'm too lazy to look up where the difference comes from. What ever the exact figure, making moves to save cap space is going to be a thing for the Flames again.

[getbak]

Hockey's Cap has Bennett listed on the Flames roster, which is why their available cap space is lower than the others.

There's also discrepancy over Granlund's cap hit. NHL Numbers has it at $925,000 and Hockey's Cap and General Fanager have it at $767,500.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Wideman
Russell - Engelland

if Morrison makes the team and shoots right he takes Engelland's spot. If Wotherspoon makes the team in the 6 spot you reassess as he's a lefty over a righty

Those are the most logical pairings in my mind. Having Russell on the 3rd pairing over Wideman makes a lot of sense. Not only does it have a lefty and righty, it has a mobile and a rugged player combo.

Nakladal and Morrison would be fighting it out to be the #4 RD spot on the team. Wotherspoon and Smid (if healthy) battles for the #4 LD spot.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by getbak

Hockey's Cap has Bennett listed on the Flames roster, which is why their available cap space is lower than the others.

There's also discrepancy over Granlund's cap hit. NHL Numbers has it at $925,000 and Hockey's Cap and General Fanager have it at $767,500.

So with Bennett, that's 16 forwards. And Ferland will make 17.

Let's say Ferland gets $1.5M (I think it will be less than that. That would mean the cap space would be about $600k.

But 3 forwards would have to go. Taking the 3 cheapest off (Shore, Byron and Granlund) would save $2.676M

So that puts them at $3.37M or more, depending on who doesn't make the lineup. Obviously, if someone like Raymond is out, that number goes up quite a bit.

If Smid isn't healthy and is replaced by Nakladal or Wotherspoon, that would add another $2.68M or $2.57M respectively.

[Enoch Root]

So with no Smid and no Raymond, we would be looking at about $8M in available space.

If Ortio replaces Hiller or Ramo, you can add another $3.9M or $3.2M respectively.

[Red Menace]

I count 18 Fwds with a legitimate shot at making the opening day roster, and most are on one way contracts. It seems kind of doubtful to me that many of the fringe guys will attract much interest on the trade market, so I guess we are just going to send a bunch of guys to the minors and if they get claimed so be it?
I am actually fine if that is the plan, but I do wonder what is on BT's mind.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Probably a dumb question, but is the cap space only allotted to those on the active roster? On the site I looked at, the Flames were at $1.2M left, but based on a 25 man roster. If we carry 23 and assuming we don't send down a big cap hit number, is our "actual" cap room somewhere around $3M?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Probably a dumb question, but is the cap space only allotted to those on the active roster? On the site I looked at, the Flames were at $1.2M left, but based on a 25 man roster. If we carry 23 and assuming we don't send down a big cap hit number, is our "actual" cap room somewhere around $3M?

I believe it's all NHL contracts (excluding 2 way deals of not on NHL roster). If you send down a large contract, you only save league minimum. The rest goes on the cap

[dammage79]

Can teams still go 10% over the cap limit during the off season? I can see them going into camp right against it and waiving any player who does not make the team if no trade materializes.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Probably a dumb question, but is the cap space only allotted to those on the active roster? On the site I looked at, the Flames were at $1.2M left, but based on a 25 man roster. If we carry 23 and assuming we don't send down a big cap hit number, is our "actual" cap room somewhere around $3M?

Players on two-way deals can be sent down with no cap penalties.

Any player on a one-way contract can be sent down but only a certain amount of his contract won't count against the cap. That number is the league-minimum salary plus $375,000. For 2015-16, the league minimum is $575,000. That means teams can "bury" a maximum of $950,000 for each one-way contract in the AHL. For example, if the Flames were to send Raymond to the AHL, $2.2 million of his salary would still count against the Flames' cap.


To answer your question: Yes, realistically, the Flames have at least $3 million in cap space for a 23 man roster (depending on who those 23 men are).

Originally Posted by dammage79

Can teams still go 10% over the cap limit during the off season? I can see them going into camp right against it and waiving any player who does not make the team if no trade materializes.

Yes, teams can still exceed the cap by 10% during the offseason.

[Stud_McCool]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Stajan - Jones
Bouma - Bennett - Jooris

Giordano - Hamilton
Russell - Wideman
Brodie - Engelland

[Alberta_Beef]

1st Line: Johnny Gaudreau / Sean Monahan / Michael Frolik
As someone mentioned we need to see how the kids can get on without Hudler, with Frolik they also add a strong defensive presence and more to their line that may also help their overall possession numbers.

2nd Line: Jiri Hudler / Sam Bennett / Joe Colborne
Let's see if Hudler can mentor Bennett the same as he has Monahan and Gaudreau, it also keeps Hudler with a couple players with size and Colborne can take draws if Bennett struggles in that regard. As a a guy with great passing ability playing with Hudler and Bennett should help Colborne break out a bit offensively too.

3rd Line: Lance Bouma / Mikael Backlund / David Jones
Shutdown line that can chip in offensively.

4th Line: Paul Byron / Matt Stajan / Josh Jooris
Energy line that can chip in on occasion, all of them players could also see time on the PK.

Extra Forwards: Brandon Bollig / Drew Shore / Micheal Ferland / Mason Raymond
I see at least 2 guys being hurt in camp and on IR to start the year, so I imagine all these guys will be in Calgary to start the year.

1st Pairing: Mark Giordano / Dougie Hamilton
Pairs up a natural L/R pairing and creates that same balance throughout the lineup.

2nd Pairing: TJ Brodie / Dennis Wideman
Another L/R pair, while Brodie may be more comfortable playing on the right he has shown as ability to play on the left side too, something I would rather not ask Wideman or Engelland to do. Brodies passing ability and Wideman's shot could be a good combination when in the offensive zone and it pairs our best skating defenseman with one of slower ones.

3rd Pairing: Kris Russell / Deryk Engelland
Again like the others it has the L/R balance and a better skater with a lesser one. Being paired with Russell should play into Engelland's strengths too and allow the pairing to play more overall which in the long run is good news for the entire corps.

Extra Defensemen: Ladislav Smid / Jakub Nakladal
I think someone will start on IR, likely Smid and I think Nakladal will be given every opportunity to make the club.

Goaltenders: Jonas Hiller / Karri Ramo
I think they have a 50/50 split assuming Ramo can stay healthy this year.

[Strange Brew]

A lot of lineup projections show no Smid or no Raymond. Problem is if those guys can't win a job coming out of camp, what do you do with them? I don't see any teams paying a total of $7.6 million for two healthy scratches on the Flames. I suppose you can trade them if you give up prospects or picks alongside but is that we want?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

A lot of lineup projections show no Smid or no Raymond. Problem is if those guys can't win a job coming out of camp, what do you do with them? I don't see any teams paying a total of $7.6 million for two healthy scratches on the Flames. I suppose you can trade them if you give up prospects or picks alongside but is that we want?

ARZ has depth issues. Buffalo can take a couple more onto their roster. I'm sure there's more than six teams out there that'll take a couple of 3-4m a year contracts.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

So crazy how we went from having a potential problem with the salary floor one year ago to having roughly $3m in cap space today. Luckily there is a huge amount of dollars tied up in players who aren't in the future plans and have contracts expiring within 1-2 years (Stajan in 3).