Building The 2018/19 Flames Roster

[Toonage]

$4-$5M for a Stajan replacement?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Toonage

$4-$5M for a Stajan replacement?

Stajan improvement. Like massive improvement.

[Toonage]

But still a 4C? Or would that go to Jankowski?

[Strange Brew]

I would like any Stajan replacement/improvement to come from inside the organization.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Toonage

But still a 4C? Or would that go to Jankowski?

I'd either play Janko at 4C or put him on a wing for now. I don't see the harm in either of those scenarios.

They want to roll 4 lines anyways. There is always injuries and line shuffling, etc

[Toonage]

I get the thought process behind Bozak, but I'd much rather the Flames bring back Shore at $1M

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I get the thought process behind Bozak, but I'd much rather the Flames bring back Shore at $1M

Shore has like 15 career goals in roughly 250 NHL games.

If they rely on him to be a key piece of a productive bottom six the Flames are in trouble IMO. Same with Lazar. these are good depth options that CAN play C but you can put on the wing as well and switch to C if you move a guy up the roster or someone gets hurt.

Flames C depth:

Monahan
Backlund
Jankowski
Bennett (they might still give this a go with a new coach)
Shore
Lazar

Ideally you want to add a C who fits in above Monahan. IE Tavares. If you do that you smashed a grand slam out of the park.

If you can add a C that fits in between Monahan and Backlund, you've still done a very good thing. Like Ryan O'Reilly for example, or Stastny via UFA

Most likely the best you can do (because top 6 C's are hard as F to acquire) is add a solid two way C in between Backlund and Janko in order to ease Janko into a more prominent role and take a little pressure off of Monahan and Backlund.

In any of these scenarios you either move Janko/Bennett to 4C or slide them to the wing somewhere they fit. At the same time you're sliding guys like Shore and Lazar to the wing or right out of the line up because you have better options and they just provide depth and pressure to perform from the bottom.

[Harry Lime]

Calgary doesn't need character guys with middling offensive potential. It's swing for the fences with one big positional upgrade, or allow your own players to develop without putting a 'stop gap' ahead of them.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Calgary doesn't need character guys with middling offensive potential. It's swing for the fences with one big positional upgrade, or allow your own players to develop without putting a 'stop gap' ahead of them.

That's what they did last year.

Bennett and Janko failed to sustain a formidable 3rd line consistently and the Flames missed the playoffs.

[Oling_Roachinen]

I'd disagree a bit. Jagr was no doubt a stop-gap, but also not really sure who they were waiting to replace him with given the forward talent.

But even Stone I think is considered a stop gap. Signed him for 3 years, if the young defensive prospects prove themselves they take his spot.

[Harry Lime]

With injured Jagr, Stajan, Brouwer and Versteeg moving along (likely), I think that the pure enthusiasm of a Klimchuk, Mangiapane and possibly Dube could by itself be a significant upgrade to the bottom six.

One killer move at centre or right wing, and let the rest of the team settle into a high tempo game.

Bozaks, JVRS and the like would signal more mediocrity to me.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

With injured Jagr, Stajan, Brouwer and Versteeg moving along (likely), I think that the pure enthusiasm of a Klimchuk, Mangiapane and possibly Dube could by itself be a significant upgrade to the bottom six.

One killer move at centre or right wing, and let the rest of the team settle into a high tempo game.

Bozaks, JVRS and the like would signal more mediocrity to me.

I agree with this. This team needs to make one more investment in their top 6, and then got younger/faster in the bottom 6.

Look at some of the teams in the playoffs and how their bottom 6 forwards from a minutes per game perspective were made up:

Washington - Cap Hit- $8.25M
-Vrana
-Burakovsky
-Connolly
-Stephenson
-Beagle
-Smith-Pelley

Vegas - Cap Hit - $7.34M
-Eakin
-Carpenter
-Bellemare
-Nosek
-Reaves
-Carrier

Winnipeg - Cap Hit - $9.3M
-Little
-Tanev
-Lowry
-Copp
-Armia
-Roslovic

Tampa Bay - $14.7M (which they could do since Point, Sergachev, Miller were on good deals/ELCS)
-Killorn
-Gourde
-Cirelli
-Callahan
-Paquette
-Kunitz

Pittsburgh - $9.9M
-Shehan
-Rust
-Brassard
-Simon
-Sheary
-Khunhackl

Nashville - $6.4M
-Fiala
-Watson
-Jarnkrok
-Fisher
-Sissions
-Hartman

And compare that to our bottom 6 last year (assuming all healthy):

Flames - $13.35M
-Stajan
-Brouwer
-Bennett
-Jankowski
- Versteeg
- Lazar

So the Flames were near the top of the pack and easily had the worst bottom 6 of all those teams. Only the ultra deep Lightning cap hit was close, and they have Point on an ELC and Kucherov on a sweetheart deal to make up for it. Ideally I don't think you should be spending more than $10M on your bottom 6. This team really needs to follow Nashville/Washington/Winnipeg's lead and get younger and cheaper in their bottom 6 forwards if they want to succeed.

Stajan/Versteeg/Jagr being gone is a good start but they really need to find a way to move on from Brouwer too.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I think that the pure enthusiasm of a Klimchuk, Mangiapane and possibly Dube could by itself be a significant upgrade to the bottom six

Yea I also agree with this - Foo will be in the mix as well - as I think our weakest links upfront last year were our oldest players - I think Frolik still has some juice left but Jagr, Stajan, Versteeg and Brouwer are not players that instill confidence even in a bottom six role anymore.

Add one or two fresh faces to Johnny, Monny, Chucky, Backs, Janko, Benny, Fro and Ferly and allow Lazar, Shore, Dube, Mangiapane, Klimchuk, Foo and possibly Hathaway, if he is re-signed, to battle it out for the remaining spots.

One can dream (Brouwer not on roster)!!

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I think both Jankowski and Bennett take big steps forward this year.

At least one if not both. I think some people are underrating how much these two could move forward. Great post.

[Drunk Uncle]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I agree with this. This team needs to make one more investment in their top 6, and then got younger/faster in the bottom 6.

Look at some of the teams in the playoffs and how their bottom 6 forwards from a minutes per game perspective were made up:

Washington - Cap Hit- $8.25M
-Vrana
-Burakovsky
-Connolly
-Stephenson
-Beagle
-Smith-Pelley

Vegas - Cap Hit - $7.34M
-Eakin
-Carpenter
-Bellemare
-Nosek
-Reaves
-Carrier

Winnipeg - Cap Hit - $9.3M
-Little
-Tanev
-Lowry
-Copp
-Armia
-Roslovic

Tampa Bay - $14.7M (which they could do since Point, Sergachev, Miller were on good deals/ELCS)
-Killorn
-Gourde
-Cirelli
-Callahan
-Paquette
-Kunitz

Pittsburgh - $9.9M
-Shehan
-Rust
-Brassard
-Simon
-Sheary
-Khunhackl

Nashville - $6.4M
-Fiala
-Watson
-Jarnkrok
-Fisher
-Sissions
-Hartman

And compare that to our bottom 6 last year (assuming all healthy):

Flames - $13.35M
-Stajan
-Brouwer
-Bennett
-Jankowski
- Versteeg
- Lazar

So the Flames were near the top of the pack and easily had the worst bottom 6 of all those teams. Only the ultra deep Lightning cap hit was close, and they have Point on an ELC and Kucherov on a sweetheart deal to make up for it. Ideally I don't think you should be spending more than $10M on your bottom 6. This team really needs to follow Nashville/Washington/Winnipeg's lead and get younger and cheaper in their bottom 6 forwards if they want to succeed.

Stajan/Versteeg/Jagr being gone is a good start but they really need to find a way to move on from Brouwer too.

I think we keep Hathaway away from the 3rd line and put a skilled player there by way of FA, trade or graduation and we have improved that line dramatically. Last time i looked at the 5v5 scoring numbers, i thought Bennett and Jankowski were on the low end of 3rd liners and Hathaway was on the low end of the 4th liner scale. Hathaway is not a 3rd liner IMO from watching the games and statistically. I assume he is off your list because you agree.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

At least one if not both. I think some people are underrating how much these two could move forward. Great post.

I've been burned by thinking this way with Bennett for the last two years.

Still see it as possible, but my ratchet upward has shrunk to less penalties, better two way game and 40 points.

[Husky]

If bennett and jankowski topout as 30-40 point 3rd line fowards. Its a shame but the youth, energy and speed from them is much better then the flames continuing to signed aging veterans for depth.

[Bingo]

Dom Luszczyszyn from the Athletic looking at off season need for change ...

In a weak Pacific, the Flames could very well win the division next season bringing the exact same team back.

and ...

their biggest holes are at the bottom of the roster, but they may not have the prospect depth to plug it the way the Jets did and also have some albatross contracts blocking the lineup, too.

Not posting this as an opinion with greater value, but it is a neutral one which I always find interesting

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've been burned by thinking this way with Bennett for the last two years.

Still see it as possible, but my ratchet upward has shrunk to less penalties, better two way game and 40 points.

If Bennett scores 40 points while not playing with Monahan or Backlund as his centre, that'll be pretty damn solid.

[BigErnSalute_16]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I might be in the minority here, but I see Jankowski taking another step next year (as he's done literally every year he's played) and start producing offense at a 2nd line center level. I think he's the internal answer to the question of: Where will we get more offense? He's always had the hands, and he has the frame to win puck battles and cycle down low if he wanted to. He's a good distributor of the puck with good vision, but also can score when he's in a good spot. A year of NHL experience and a little more muscle added, and I think he breaks out offensively next year. Put him with Tkachuk and that pair has the potential to be a legitimate secondary scoring threat.

Janko had 25 points last year, but 17 goals (I know, I know...garbage time 4 goal game inflates that a little). Considering how snakebitten/poor Bennett was, and how his other winger was a collection of crap over the year, it's hardly surprising that he only had 8 assists despite being primarily a passer. Put him with Tkachuk and he might be a 40+ point center next year.

Bennett already has some chemistry with Jankowski, but if he doesn't work we can always try Mangiapane, Foo, or possibly a FA winger brought in to give some offense to that second line. Bennett has had chemistry with Backlund in the past, and perhaps playing with two solid veterans who play well defensively is just what he needs to get back on track offensively.

I also think this is more feasible than going after Tavares or some other UFAs who will command inflated contracts. I think internal growth is how most teams get better these days, and rarely do you make good decision on free agent day. Picking up one quality scoring winger would be a good idea, but that's about it. If that's done through trade, you're far more likely to get a better player, but I think it will likely be through UFA. Trading away a defenseman would seem likely to fill that gap, however, I think only Andersson is ready for the NHL right now, so the only guy you're likely to move is Stone, and he's not getting that top winger unless you package him with some of our better prospects, which I am loathe to do. Defensemen take a long time to develop well, so letting a Valimaki or Kylington work in the minors for another year would be fine by me. Andersson can rotate in and out of the lineup with Kulak and Stone, and be a quality injury depth option.

I think buying out Brouwer makes nothing but sense to me as well, so I expect that to happen in order to give some kids some more ice time.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I would be ok if we went into next year like this:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Jankowski-UFA/Mangiapane/Foo
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Mangiapane-Shore-Lazar
Hathaway

Giordano-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone-Andersson

Smith
Rittich


I honestly believe that coaching set this team back more than anything last year (and maybe the year before). I expect to see an entirely different looking team this year, even if the roster remains largely the same.

I agree the only thing I'd like to see though is Bennett - Jankowski - Tkachuk. Like you said bennett and janko have chemistry already and I think Tkachuck taking another step could finally be what Bennett needs to break out and I believe he could play his off side.

Then Mangiapane - Backlund - Frolik on the third line. Backlund is the perfect person to get the most out of rookie Mangiapane