I just think the Flames have too many players over 30, and I would be fine with losing most of them in an expansion draft for cap reasons.
They currently have 7 players over 30 (8 next month).
When they won the cup in 1989, they only had 3 at the beginning of the season. The Flames also have an older core than most, if not all, of the division. However, the overall roster isn't that old.
TBF, by the time they won the cup, they had 7 30+ year olds and Patterson was 29.
I only count 6 30+ on the Flames, and one is Rinaldo who doesn’t play. And one is Markstrom who, at 30, isn’t an old goalie. The only real concerns are Gio and maybe Tanev. Backlund I think will play at about the same level for a few years.
The top players on Calgary (Tkachuk, Lindholm, Gaudreau and Monahan) are between 22 and 27. Then you have Rasmus, Valimaki, Hanifin, Dube, Mangiapane, who are all young.
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TBF, by the time they won the cup, they had 7 30+ year olds and Patterson was 29.
I only count 6 30+ on the Flames, and one is Rinaldo who doesn’t play. And one is Markstrom who, at 30, isn’t an old goalie. The only real concerns are Gio and maybe Tanev. Backlund I think will play at about the same level for a few years.
The top players on Calgary (Tkachuk, Lindholm, Gaudreau and Monahan) are between 22 and 27. Then you have Rasmus, Valimaki, Hanifin, Dube, Mangiapane, who are all young.
I think you forgot Derek Ryan.
It's also worth noting that these players earn well over 30 million per season.
Gaudreau, Monahan and Lindholm aren't old per se. But they are old enough that they may have hit their ceilings. They're all UFAs when their contracts expire. Even Tkachuk will require a $9 mill qualifying offer soon.
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Edmonton all have their best players at 25 or under.
Backlund is good. Derek Ryan is useful. Lucic looks much better than before.
But the team would be in a much better cap situation without them.
How many of the under-30 Flames are overpaid? None?
How many of the over-30 Flames are overpaid? Most of them.
I think you forgot Derek Ryan.
It's also worth noting that these players earn well over 30 million per season.
Gaudreau, Monahan and Lindholm aren't old per se. But they are old enough that they may have hit their ceilings. They're all UFAs when their contracts expire. Even Tkachuk will require a $9 mill qualifying offer soon.
Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Edmonton all have their best players at 25 or under.
Backlund is good. Derek Ryan is useful. Lucic looks much better than before.
But the team would be in a much better cap situation without them.
How many of the under-30 Flames are overpaid? None?
How many of the over-30 Flames are overpaid? Most of them.
No, I counted Ryan I just miscounted. Him, Gio, Markstrom, Tanev, Backlund, Lucic, Rinaldo. Of that list only Gio is a worry age wise IMO. Rinaldo is a non-factor, Lucic is what he is and Markstrom, Tanev and Backlund have several years of productive play left.
As far as under 30 being underpaid - that’s where every team makes hay - EFCs and first RFA contracts.
Yeah the fans would hate to have a guy with a legit shot at 50 goals every year. C'mon lol. I would buy a laine jersey immediately.
Flames will have 3 $8-10M wingers if they re-sign Laine, Tkachuk, and Gaudreau? Doesn’t seem like the way to build a contender.
How telling would it be if they traded Dubois for Laine then moved Laine for a pile of futures shortly after? Super toxic if that is the case. Laine is a Jacket until the summer at least and I would rather the Flames avoid spending big assets on him.
Flames will have 3 $8-10M wingers if they re-sign Laine, Tkachuk, and Gaudreau? Doesn’t seem like the way to build a contender.
How telling would it be if they traded Dubois for Laine then moved Laine for a pile of futures shortly after? Super toxic if that is the case. Laine is a Jacket until the summer at least and I would rather the Flames avoid spending big assets on him.
Well a move like that would clearly change the course of their plans, if they were interested. I’m lukewarm due to the issues he has, but he can put the puck in the net like few others can.
