Which free agents should the Flames bring back?

[TheScorpion]

We're at the halfway mark of the season. At this point, which of the Flames' FAs would you bring back?

Here's a list of them all.

Mikael Backlund - one of the team's most important players, no-brainer to bring him back
Matt Stajan
Kris Versteeg - important powerplay catalyst who should be very cheap after an injury-plagued season
Jaromir Jagr
Mark Jankowski
Garnet Hathaway - two key figures of the youth movement who've really found great chemistry with Bennett
Freddie Hamilton
Daniel Pribyl
Emile Poirier
Morgan Klimchuk
Hunter Shinkaruk - might as well give these former first-rounders one more look, as they've all found some success in Stockton this year
Austin Carroll
Hunter Smith
Tanner Glass
Luke Gazdic
Marek Hrivik - terrific feature of Stockton's offence who could merit a call-up soon

Brett Kulak
Tyler Wotherspoon - Kulak's an NHL player who's looked good while Wotherspoon has been terrific in Stockton and should be the first LHD callup
Dalton Prout
Matt Bartkowski

David Rittich
Jon Gillies - Rittich is a bona fide backup while Gillies looks promising in Stockton

Personally, I try to bring back the guys bolded. Disagree? Great, I don't expect you all not to. Lemme know what you think and who you think will be back.

[Moneyhands23]

I agree with most of your choices. On the fence in regards to versteeg.

Really Im super interested to see what happens with Backlund around the deadline (just seems weird he hasn't been resigned yet)

[ForeverFlameFan]

I really want Wotherspoon to succeed, but it would have to be elsewhere.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I agree with most of your choices. On the fence in regards to versteeg.

Really Im super interested to see what happens with Backlund around the deadline.

Versteeg is the closest I came to saying no to a yes but I ultimately said yes under the assumption that Brouwer and Stajan will both be gone after the season, as will Jagr. Versteeg didn't have any problem performing after hip surgery before and the team will need someone with experience to play in the bottom-six lest they fill it up with young guys.

[DJones]

Agree with your bolded except for Vertseeg.

I don't want him in the bottom 6 and he's not good enough for the top 6. Figure out someway to help the PP. He's an anchor 5 on 5.

[SeanCharles]

Guaranteed:
Backlund
Jankowski
Hathaway
Kulak
Rittich
Gillies

Deserve another contract with strong season:
Hrivik
Wotherspoon
Klimchuk

On the fence:
Poirier
Shinkaruk
Prout

Should move on from to make room for new players:
Stajan
Jagr
Versteeg
Pribyl
Carroll
Smith
Gazdig
Glass
Bartkowski
F. Hamilton

[redforever]

I would like to see if Jagr would be interested in staying on in an office role, player development or some kind of coach for the up and comers. He seems so good with youth and I am sure they would certainly respect what he had to offer.

Not sure if he has much more to offer on the ice. Skill is obviously still there but his body is starting to betray his mind.

[Finger Cookin]

*checks calendar*

[cKy]

Originally Posted by redforever

I would like to see if Jagr would be interested in staying on in an office role, player development or some kind of coach for the up and comers. He seems so good with youth and I am sure they would certainly respect what he had to offer.

Not sure if he has much more to offer on the ice. Skill is obviously still there but his body is starting to betray his mind.

I think Jagr will be on the first plane back home when the seasons over. I'd assume he'd like to see/run/manage his own team before being a mentor over here. He's no big ern.

[Iceman90]

I think Versteeg is too injury prone. We can find another similar veteran for his money.

[Haplo]

At this point I'd rather keep F.Hamilton than Shinkaruk or Poirier who both seem to be getting by-passed on the depth chart year after year.
Freddie is useful as a call-up/13th fw.

[Matty81]

Backs is the only cliffhanger. I think most of the rest are fairly obvious decisions... maybe excepting Versteeg who I'd let go, Mangiapane, Hathaway maybe even Klimchuk need room. Teams that don't train and graduate prospects in this cap era are hopeless long run.

I am starting to think Backlund will walk, I am blown away he still hasn't signed. I don't understand why they haven't met on value yet if the intent is for him to come back, he's on a very similar pace to last year so there's no need to wait to establish value and there are tonnes of comparables.

[ricardodw]

I am okay with signing Backlund provided that it is understood that it is to fit in on the #3 spot.

He is not consistently good enough to be a #2 on a SC contender and has not shown that he rises to the occasion to dominate in important games.

Before signing Backlund at UFA $$$ have to decide if Jankowski is going to be a #2 or the #3 and at what cost.

I would really like to put Backlund up on the RW of Monahan's line to see if he could be a ppg player.

PS Think of what team and how disappointing they would be if they sign him 5x4 to be their #2C on a team going for the SC.

What team would you think would be a SC favorite getting Backlund as a playoff rental?

[lazypucker]

I think Backlund (and his agent) might have priced himself out from getting re-signed here.

Jankowski will make what Backlund is making now next season, and the only to keep Backlund in the fold as well is that we can somehow get rid of Brouwer's cap hit.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I think Backlund (and his agent) might have priced himself out from getting re-signed here.

Jankowski will make what Backlund is making now next season, and the only to keep Backlund in the fold as well is that we can somehow get rid of Brouwer's cap hit.

Jankowski won't make $3.5 as an RFA. More like $2.5.

I suspect Brouwer will be a buyout. That would take his hit down to $1.5 I think. And in real dollars the Flames would save $3M.