Let's play with the 2017 Roster

[belsarius]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Sure. Let's bet another season on the notion that Johnson is the next Kipper.
Solid plan.

I'm not saying we bet the whole season on it, or we give him a Turek contract because of the last 10 games, but there are 60 more games to play this year which should give Johnson more than enough time to prove himself.

With goalies like Kipper, Thomas, Roloson, Dubnyk, Talbot coming into their own closer to 30 and given Johnson's underlying stats I just think it's a little early to write him off as a career backup on a hot streak.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by belsarius

I'm not saying we bet the whole season on it, or we give him a Turek contract because of the last 10 games, but there are 60 more games to play this year which should give Johnson more than enough time to prove himself.

With goalies like Kipper, Thomas, Roloson, Dubnyk, Talbot coming into their own closer to 30 and given Johnson's underlying stats I just think it's a little early to write him off as a career backup on a hot streak.

This is my thinking as well.

As for the UFAs, it may not be realistic to think they get 3 of them, but if they had to target one, I'd hope it was Oshie because of the gaping hole on the top line RW.

Then again, they could pull off a trade that solves that issue as well. Icing the same lineup as this year would be out of character for this team, they've shown time and again that they like to dip into free agency, even if the results haven't been as rewarding as they might have hoped thus far.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Do we really think Johnson is a #1 and not a guy riding a hot streak?

Do we think Johnson is riding a hot streak when his numbers this season are not an outlier from his career averages?

Flames/Career
.922/.917 - SV%
2.23/2.37 - GAA
.583/.570 - Win%

His career would suggest that this is the level he plays at. I suppose the test is can he sustain this level for 60GP? The most he's played in 1 season was 45GP, last year with Buffalo, and his numbers were basically identical to the career averages above (.920 SV% + .550 Win%).

[spuzzum]

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-centra...ear=2017&pos=G

Focusing just on goalies for 2017, which teams require a Number 1 goalie? There does not appear to be a huge market for top end goalies. Philadelphia, Calgary, perhaps Winnipeg or Ottawa?

I could definitely see a combination of Bishop, Fleury, or Mason backed up by Johnson or Montoya. Goalie picture will probably be vastly different than this year.

[Lil Pedro]

The flames need to solve the RW issue; Oshie would be a nice fit.

I'm tired of us paying 5-6th defensemen what your 3rd and 4th should get. It's time for the farm to fill these vacancies; not FA.

Would resign Johnson if it's a shorter term and the price is right. That said, I still think Elliott has more to prove.

[Strange Brew]

Re-signing Johnson is not the same as handing him the keys IMO. He has enough experience that I believe he can be counted on as a solid backup.

Considering the low $'s he signed for this year and the number of goalies expected to hit the market, I would hope he is open to a 2 or 3 year deal at relatively modest dollars.

Although if Flames are thinking about a big fish like Bishop, then you have to spend peanuts on a backup.

Flames are against the cap this year while spending relatively little on goalies. You could easily see them them spending a further $4 million on goalies next year, basically using up the savings on Wideman's deal vs. an entry level deal.

[bubbsy]

Team has/should move forward with:

Top 6 Forwards:
Gaudreau
Monahan
Bennet
Tkachuk
Brouwer (ugh.... does he belong here??)

Bottom 6 Forwards:
Backlund
Frolik
Ferland

(ideally, bye-bye stajan/bouma, i don't care enough about hamilton to determine if he fits or not)

Defence
Giordano
Brodie
Hamilton

Goaltending
..... nothing

Forward options in the system or our own FAs: Hathaway, Chiasson, Jankowski, Shinkaruk,
Defense options in the system: Engelland, Jokkipakka, Kulak, Culkin, Wotherspoon, Kylington (left off Andersson who is just a AHL rookie this year)
Goaltending options in the system: None (too soon in my opinion)

We have a lot of holes to fix:
1 x top 6 forward: could be harder to fill if the gap is at center (ie. Bennet is shifted to the wing). Also, this could be x2 depending on where they see brouwer as a proper fit.

0 x bottom 6 forwards: i think the core is pretty solid in backlund, frolik, ferland, hathaway. Adding in depth from the system or UFAs to fill the bottom line shouldn't really be a big problem.

1 x top 4 dman: giordano, brodie, hamilton should be our top minute eaters, but there needs to be a 4th guy there, preferably a steady, physical guy who knows how to actually play defense

2 x bottom pair guys: I'm not sure where i am at with Jokipakka/Kulak long term. Engelland has been good, but at his age, unclear if he should be re-signed. Not sure how the prospects are doign and if even 1 is ready, flames would do well to pair them with a vet

1 x starting(1a) goaltender: Johnson has proven he is a good, if not great, 1b guy. I would be hesitant to just pencil him in and sign him as the starter. The goalies in the system are still quite young, so i expect that they will not see fulltime capacity, even as a backup, as early as next year.

I am hoping the flames are patient and just ride this thing out and see where they and where the market is at come trade deadline. There are the obvoius trade pieces that should at least be attempted if the team continues to struggle (engelland, stajan, elliott, chiasson, bouma, wideman).

What i am curious to see is if the flames make some really hard and more meaningful moves in order to adjust the roster and it's shortfalls. By that i mean, are they willing to look at moving guys like giordano, brouwer, frolik, backlund, hamilton, that all have value and could likely allow for an influx of high impact assets, either in the assets returned or in the cap freedom that is created.

i am not considering what this year's 1st round pick fits in here. for one, the draft doesn't seem stocked with as much high end talent as seen in previous years, and secondly, as bad as things have been, i still see the flames moving out of the bottom 5, and likely drafting closer to 10.

[Mister Yamoto]

I hope Treliving takes the day off on July 1. It hasn't been a great day for him historically and this off season is not the time to be a big time player in free agency.

Fill out the roster with Stockton players and value signings.

Shake up the D. Trade one of the big three.

Benefit from the expansion draft with a shrewd trade or two. The Flames are set up nicely for it.

[devo22]

big yes to Karl Alzner, he'd be a fantastic fit.

[N-E-B]

I think Alzner is a realistic possibility. I'm open to re-signing both Elliott and Johnson right now as I don't think this teams shortcomings are goaltending related.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Going all in on next year? Not with the team we're seeing now IMO. Free agency won't cure this team of its problems.

This. Unless we see dramatic improvement over the rest of the season, I don't think throwing out more big money contracts is what this team needs. Plus, I don't see a lot of UFA's lining up to sign in Calgary unless there is a lot of $$$ on the table (which is a good enough reason to avoid the UFA route).

Heck, with the way the NHL is going, we could probably fill a few spots with veteran PTO's and not miss much in terms of who they're replacing.

[bigrangy]

I like Alzner on a reasonable contract, but something like the likely 5.5x6 he'll get will handicap the defence long term.

I also agree that the PTO route will be one to pursue. It's all a matter of having good pro scouting and making sure you guess right.

[MarkGio]

I think the Flames need to clean house. Here's what I propose:

Trade
-- Bouma @50% retained
-- Stajan @50% retained
-- Ferland
-- Engelland
-- Wideman

Expansion Draft Expose
-- Jokipakka
-- Brouwer

Sign
-- Oshie 6yrs, 6m AAV
-- Del Zotto 4 yrs, 5.5m AAV
-- C. Johnson 2yrs, 3m AAV
-- P. Eaves 2yrs, 2.75m AAV*

Draft
-- Nolan Patrick or Gabriel Vilardi

Hire
-- Dave Tippett (if Fired) // Peter Laviolette (if Fired)
-- Paul McLean


Line-Up

Gaudreau - Bennett - Oshie
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Mangiapane/Klimchuck - Monahan - Patrick/Vilardi
Poirer - Jankowski - Eaves*

Giordano - Brodie
Del Zotto - Hamilton
Kulak - Hickey
Andersson

Johnson
Gillies

* Only sign if available cap space

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Bennett-Jankowski-Brouwer
Ferland-Backlund-Frolik
Bouma-Hamilton-Hathaway

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-XXXX
Kulak-XXXX

XXXX
Johnson

I think we're reasonably fine in terms of forwards for next year already although I'm sure there may be more changes than I've indicated.

Defense has a few real big holes when/if Wideman and Engelland leave. We lack a #4 dman. We lack any sort of bite and snarl on the backend if Engelland leaves. You'd have to think if Treliving is looking to make a big move it would be to acquire a top 4 dman who is strong, physical and mean.

Goaltending remains a big question mark. Some combination of Johnson, Elliott and Gillies could be the solution. Hard to say.

[devo22]

Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Troy Brouwer
Matthew Tkachuk - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik
Sam Bennett - Mark Jankowski - Hunter Shinkaruk
Micheal Ferland - Matt Stajan - Morgan Klimchuk
Freddie Hamilton

Mark Giordano - T.J. Brodie
Karl Alzner - Dougie Hamilton
Jyrki Jokipakka - Deryk Engelland
Brett Kulak

?????

Coach: Peter Laviolette

------------------------------------------------

No idea who should be in net, I think it's way too early to bet on Johnson and/or completely write off Elliott. Don't sign any expensive UFAs except for Alzner, fill the rest of the lineup and depth options from within or via cheap signings. Highly doubt the Flames pick will play next year. Laviolette is wishful thinking on my part.

[Jason14h]

Why would FA's want to sign here unless we overpay?

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Why would FA's want to sign here unless we overpay?

money, ice-time/opportunity, off-ice reasons ... and, although I know that negativity is in vogue around here at the moment, this is still a young team with a lot of potential and has actually become a more desirable destination. Guys like Frolik and Brouwer would have been unobtainable just a few years ago.

[The Fonz]

If Engelland can be had for 1.5M, then he needs to be re-signed. He's a great bottom pairing guy and brings a lot of toughness, which we lack.

I think he gets 2.0M+ on the market though, and probably 3 years.

[GreenLantern2814]

At this juncture, Jon Gillies has to see significant time in the NHL this season before I'm willing to pencil him in as one of our two full time guys next year.

I've felt for over a year that Backlund is a trade chip this offseason to address other weaknesses, but given how he's been the clear cut best centre on the team for quite a while now, I think the Flames have to prioritize getting him extended. Something in the five year range closer to $25M than $30M.

The small mercy of Bennett's underwhelming season will be his next contract - he's as clear a bridge candidate as we're going to get, so I look forward to a couple years of Sammy at $2.5M.

I cannot friggen believe we have ANOTHER year of both Bouma and Stajan, who combine to make $5.325M. That can't be allowed to happen. The cap era means you pay your stars their money. Everyone else pretty well has to be on rookie deals or close to the league minimum. On the bright side, letting those two players go pays for Backlund's extension.

Lance Bouma has already been replaced by Garnett Hathaway. Stajan has had a great (For him) start where he hasn't played entirely like replacement-level roster filler and yet I'll argue Mark Jankowski is four or five games from making Stajan irrelevant as well.

There's no chance we should bring back a 35 year old Engelland. Thank the gods that his contract hasn't been a total boat anchor for the past three seasons. Then walk away.

If I were the Golden Knights, I'd take Kulak ahead of Jokipakka without much hesitation - I don't know that I'd bring Kevin back for much more than a 2-year/$1M per deal.

Between Wideman, Smid, Engelland, Bollig and Elliott, there's 14.45M in real money off the cap next year. CapFriendly has the projected cap space available to be $20.65M. RFAs to be signed include Ferland, Bennett, Chiasson, Hathaway.

I'd give Ferland a 2 year/$3M extension, Bennett 2/$5M, Hathaway 1/$875K, and Chiasson can GTFO.

Chad can come back on a 2/$5M pact as well.

After a quick look at pending UFA forwards on CapFriendly - there isn't a single one of them worth paying UFA money to on July 1. Oshie is a 50-point forward who's going to get $6M. Pass. Pass pass pass pass pass. This is an offseason where Brad needs to make his hay on the trade market. His recent big UFA signings have been alright - Frolik was a really good get, he's our most consistent winger. Brouwer started hot and slowed down, but I don't think you see the benefits of a player like Troy on a bottomfeeder. He needs to be in big moments and pressure situations for fans to truly appreciate his game.

On the back end, they can afford to sign a top-4 blue liner. I agree with those who've thrown Alzner's name out there - I think he and Brodie would be excellent together. He's making $2.8 now, could he be had on a 6 or 7 year term for $5.5 a la Orpik? I'd be happy with that deal, don't know if it gets it done though.

The way the cap situation sets up, this is still a really poorly constructed team. It's not beyond repair, but there have to be a few very shrewd moves to shore up the wings, and they cannot afford anymore bad contracts. Once Bouma and Stajan are gone, and presuming Monahan isn't going to be this bad for the next seven years, there's not a single bad deal on the roster (depending how you feel about Gio - until he noticeably declines, it's not a bad deal).

Gaudreau-Monahan-Brouwer
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Bennett ($2.5M)-Jankowski-Ferland ($1.5M)
Hathaway ($825k)-Freddie-Bouma
Stajan

Giordano-Dougie
Alzner ($5.5M)-Brodie
Jokipakka ($1M)-Kylington/Andersson

Chad ($2.5M)
?

Without a backup/other starter, and assuming the raises in brackets, that team has a $65.1M cap hit. Assuming the cap stays at $73, they'll have nearly $8M to play with after signing their own FAs and adding Alzner. And they still have a ton of work to do.

They really need kids to start taking jobs.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I think the Flames need to clean house. Here's what I propose:

Trade
-- Bouma @50% retained
-- Stajan @50% retained
-- Ferland
-- Engelland
-- Wideman

Expansion Draft Expose
-- Jokipakka
-- Brouwer

Sign
-- Oshie 6yrs, 6m AAV
-- Del Zotto 4 yrs, 5.5m AAV
-- C. Johnson 2yrs, 3m AAV
-- P. Eaves 2yrs, 2.75m AAV*

Draft
-- Nolan Patrick or Gabriel Vilardi

Hire
-- Dave Tippett (if Fired) // Peter Laviolette (if Fired)
-- Paul McLean


Line-Up

Gaudreau - Bennett - Oshie
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Mangiapane/Klimchuck - Monahan - Patrick/Vilardi
Poirer - Jankowski - Eaves*

Giordano - Brodie
Del Zotto - Hamilton
Kulak - Hickey
Andersson

Johnson
Gillies

* Only sign if available cap space

-Bouma's gone next year and I doubt many teams are interested in a guy with 0 goals who does nothing other than throw a hit or two and block shots. AHL guys can do it cheaper
-Don't trade Ferland, that would be a mistake. I'd try re-sign Engelland too but cheaper, if not trade him. Agreed with the rest of the guys you trade.
-Don't expose Brouwer, he's a perfect middle-6 guy. He won't be exposed though so pointless argument.
-Signing Oshie is a fantasy but one that I'm on board with. I'm fine signing Johnson too. Del Zotto and Eaves aren't upgrades on anyone we're trading though. I'd sign Alzner before them.
-You can't rely on winning a lottery to build your team. If it happens, great but that shouldn't be something they hang their hats on.
-If you think Gulutzan is boring, wait until you get a load of Tippett. Laviolette would be better but if (and that's a big if because I think Gulutzan is here next year too) we hire a new coach I'd love Gerard Gallant. Florida made a huge mistake there.