Predict the 2016/2017 Flames Starting Lineup

[Bourque's Twin]

Unfortunately this is not the year for the Flames. Too many bad contracts and the young guys aren't experienced enough yet. However, after this year the Flames shed Wideman, Engelland, Smid, Raymond, and Bollig. That's all wasted space gone. At the same time there's a strong possibility that several young guys will make a serious push. Kylington, Andersson, Jankowski, Poirier, Shinkaruk, 2016 1st, and Gilles. We will also know what we have in Culkin, Kulak, Klimchuk, Wotherspoon, Arnold, Agostino, and Ortio.

I hope the Flames sign Lucic this off-season and that they win a lottery pick. That's a best case scenario in my opinion.

I'd like to throw our 2016 1st on the top line, but Johnny didn't even start on the top line and he is Johnny.

Opening Night:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Lucic
Ferland - Bennett - Puljujarvi (lottery) / Shinkaruk (no lottery)
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - Hathaway/Bollig

Brodie - Hamilton
Giordano - Wideman
Jokipakka - Engelland

Reimer
Ortio

2017 could look a lot better.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by 420since1974

First, the assumptions:
1. The Flames best odds have them picking at # 6 in the draft (35.465%), that player will not be NHL ready.
2. Wideman and his $5.25M AAV ($6M actual) probably won't be moved until the TDL. He might waive his NMC to go to a play-off team.
3. The other 5 "unfavorable" contracts will be just as tough to move before they expire.
4. Historically, the Flames do not like retaining salary or buyouts.
5. After re-signing Colborne, Gaudreau, Jooris, Monahan, & Nakladal, there is only enough Cap Space for a $4M - $5M goalie.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Frolik
Colborne - Backlund - Bouma
Shinkaruk - Bennett - Hathaway
Ferland - Stajan (NTC) - Jooris
Bollig, Raymond (NTC)

Brodie - Hamilton
Giordano (NTC) - Wideman (NMC)
Joikpakka - Engelland
Nakladal
Smid on LTIR

$4M - $5M Goalie
Orito

Not real exciting, but the Flames will have plenty of Cap Space in 2017/2018 to acquire a Top 6 winger.

A voice of reason ...

How did the Flames end up with this line-up and Burke/Trevling get treated like they know what they are doing?

Smid was listed day-to-day on the Flames year end injury report.

Will another top-6 pick in 2017 (4th in 5 years) bring a management change?

Will the current management team make a Phanuef level deal to buy another year?

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I will throw this out there, not that i think it will happen, but would flames consider buying out Wideman?

If they can I think they pretty much have to.

A: We need money (cap space) to accommodate the raises due our key guys (Giordano, Monahan, Gaudreau) and for a goalie.
B: I don't think the Flames can take a risk on the rules on any theoretical expansion draft not going against them (mainly auto-protects on NMC's). I don't think we'd end up boned but if there is even a 5% chance of it the Flames can't risk it just to not buy him out.
C: Wideman's positives no longer outweigh his negatives IMO.

[Red Menace]

If an expansion draft takes place in summer of 2017, would players whose contracts expire after the 2016-17 season (like Wideman,Smid,Raymond,Engelland) be considered a part of our roster?
This is an important point, because if they do not, then it will be quite a challenge for us to expose 25% of our cap (which is like ~$18M) in the expansion draft as has been proposed as a new rule.
Hopefully they do count, and if so these considerations are key....we may not want to trade or buy out some of these "bad" contracts as we will need them to reach this plateau.
Of course if they don't count anyway I have no idea how we are going to reach such a level?

[Roof-Daddy]

I doubt those contracts will count, but at the same time they also shouldn't count towards the Flames total cap when calculating the 25%.

[Red Menace]

That's a good point, it is probably not 25% of ~72M, but 25% of whatever our actually cap in that summer is...which might be much lower with only 2/3rds of a roster signed (or whatever it will be)

Thanks.

[420since1974]

Originally Posted by Parallex

If they can I think they pretty much have to.

A: We need money (cap space) to accommodate the raises due our key guys (Giordano, Monahan, Gaudreau) and for a goalie.
B: I don't think the Flames can take a risk on the rules on any theoretical expansion draft not going against them (mainly auto-protects on NMC's). I don't think we'd end up boned but if there is even a 5% chance of it the Flames can't risk it just to not buy him out.
C: Wideman's positives no longer outweigh his negatives IMO.

A. There is enough Cap Space to re-sign all RFAs AND sign a $5M Goalie. There is not room for a UFA RW.
B. If expansion takes place in 2017/2018, only Stajan (Limited NTC) and Giordano (Full NTC) would have to be protected.
C. Agreed. Just think that he won't be moved until the TDL.

[bax]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Backes
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Matthews - Pribyl
Ferland - Bouma - Hathaway

Bollig - Stajanitor

Giordano - Brodie
Hamilton - Jokipakka
Nakladal - Wotherspoon
Engelland

Reimer
Murray

Shinkaruk, Poirer, Jankowski, Kylington, Andersson all primed for call ups as the season progresses.

#pipedream

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

A voice of reason ...

How did the Flames end up with this line-up and Burke/Trevling get treated like they know what they are doing?

Smid was listed day-to-day on the Flames year end injury report.

Will another top-6 pick in 2017 (4th in 5 years) bring a management change?

Will the current management team make a Phanuef level deal to buy another year?

You want a management change?

Treliving didn't sign Wideman. He didn't sign Stajan. Those are our two worst contracts.

[Par]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

If an expansion draft takes place in summer of 2017, would players whose contracts expire after the 2016-17 season (like Wideman,Smid,Raymond,Engelland) be considered a part of our roster?
This is an important point, because if they do not, then it will be quite a challenge for us to expose 25% of our cap (which is like ~$18M) in the expansion draft as has been proposed as a new rule.
Hopefully they do count, and if so these considerations are key....we may not want to trade or buy out some of these "bad" contracts as we will need them to reach this plateau.
Of course if they don't count anyway I have no idea how we are going to reach such a level?

Looks like expansion will take place, too bad Quebec City won't get a team(if this news is correct).

http://sinbin.vegas/source-las-vegas...cement-in-may/



Side question: Who are mods and how do I sent them a message.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

All I know is that Ferland versus Hathaway is a roster spot battle I'm looking forward to watching in September.

Part of me thinks the organization prefers Ferland because of the amount of time they've invested in his development and like his raw skill set, but Hathaway did what the Flames have been lacking for at least half a decade. He pissed off opponents and, in the first few games of his call-up, was drawing penalties at a rate similar to Bennett and Gaudreau (before falling back to even by the time he was demoted).

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

All I know is that Ferland versus Hathaway is a roster spot battle I'm looking forward to watching in September.

Part of me thinks the organization prefers Ferland because of the amount of time they've invested in his development and like his raw skill set, but Hathaway did what the Flames have been lacking for at least half a decade. He pissed off opponents and, in the first few games of his call-up, was drawing penalties at a rate similar to Bennett and Gaudreau (before falling back to even by the time he was demoted).

Why not both? Bollig and Jooris will be cut first.

Ferlands first games up were even more impressive than Hathaways(Not taking away from Hathaway). It's too hard to maintain that type of pressure. I would like to see Ferland, Hathaway and Bouma all on at the same time. One of them will be "on" and hopefully that will feed the other two. If they teach Ferland how to shoot/finish I think he has more top end skill than the other two.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

All I know is that Ferland versus Hathaway is a roster spot battle I'm looking forward to watching in September.

Part of me thinks the organization prefers Ferland because of the amount of time they've invested in his development and like his raw skill set, but Hathaway did what the Flames have been lacking for at least half a decade. He pissed off opponents and, in the first few games of his call-up, was drawing penalties at a rate similar to Bennett and Gaudreau (before falling back to even by the time he was demoted).

Those two aren't competing for the same spot. Ferland can play on scoring lines. Hathaway is a grinder. If Hathaway is competing against anybody specific its Josh Jooris

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Didn't anybody hear Treliving's end of season chat with Fan960? He mentioned Ferland in the same sentence as Gaudreau, Monahan, and Bennett.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Didn't anybody hear Treliving's end of season chat with Fan960? He mentioned Ferland in the same sentence as Gaudreau, Monahan, and Bennett.

I would be very interested in someone making a highlight reel of Ferland's scoring chances/near misses. I swear there was 5 or 6 times where he made a beautiful play, beat the defender, beat the goalie, and then he somehow missed the net from three feet out.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Those two aren't competing for the same spot. Ferland can play on scoring lines. Hathaway is a grinder. If Hathaway is competing against anybody specific its Josh Jooris

If it's between Hathaway or Jooris, I'd want Hathaway on the team. I love his pestiness.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

If it's between Hathaway or Jooris, I'd want Hathaway on the team. I love his pestiness.

Not only that but Hathaway brings an extra 20lbs to the table

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

A voice of reason ...

How did the Flames end up with this line-up and Burke/Trevling get treated like they know what they are doing?

Smid was listed day-to-day on the Flames year end injury report.

Will another top-6 pick in 2017 (4th in 5 years) bring a management change?

Will the current management team make a Phanuef level deal to buy another year?

Most concussions are day to day. I recall Savard being day to day for the longest time. Crosby too

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Didn't anybody hear Treliving's end of season chat with Fan960? He mentioned Ferland in the same sentence as Gaudreau, Monahan, and Bennett.

When he was talking about young players that are still learning the game...

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

A voice of reason ...

How did the Flames end up with this line-up and Burke/Trevling get treated like they know what they are doing?

Smid was listed day-to-day on the Flames year end injury report.

Will another top-6 pick in 2017 (4th in 5 years) bring a management change?

Will the current management team make a Phanuef level deal to buy another year?

While I agree that major changes are unlikely/difficult. The line up presented essentially assumes no changes from the end of the season, but for goalie. I sincerely doubt that there would be no changes.

You are ready to bury Treliving for no changes, when it is far more likely that changes will be made. Smid to LTIR, Prybl added for depth, Wotherspoon/Culkin pushing for spots or moved are all reasonable guesses.

The goalie situation in the most critical. Even a modest improvement should push the Flames outside of the bottom 6 in my view.

Not sure what you mean by a Phaneuf level deal.