[News] Francis: Flames admit they aren't done adding. Tkachuk RW experiment this preseason.

[rogermexico]

James Neal and JVR are going to cost 6.5/7 million a year. And adding them leaves us with the same problem we had last year: too many left wingers (Johnny, Tkachuk, Bennett) who need ice time. No one's taking Johnny's minutes away but I think we want to find ways to get Tkachuk used more for sure, and I also think this is the year to see if Bennett has another gear given more opportunities. Looks like those opportunities may be there if someone can swap to the other wing.

[Icon]

I hope we add JVR or Neal to get an upgrade as far as scoring goals. Was a huge problem last year and hasn't been addressed yet this offseason.

Who cares about adding another left winger with all of the indication of them planning on trying Tkachuk or Bennett on the right side.

The pipe dream would be Tavares of course.

[Flames_F.T.W]

With all of Peter's talk about trying LW guys (Tkachuk and Bennett) on RW, maybe it is because Treliving is poised to sign a UFA LW like JVR? All the high end UFAs scare the bejeezus out of me for the term they're going to get. JVR/Neal on a 3 year deal is fine, but whoever signs them is likely going to need to offer 5 + years... which will be a huge mistake in 3 years IMO

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

With all of Peter's talk about trying LW guys (Tkachuk and Bennett) on RW, maybe it is because Treliving is poised to sign a UFA LW like JVR? All the high end UFAs scare the bejeezus out of me for the term they're going to get. JVR/Neal on a 3 year deal is fine, but whoever signs them is likely going to need to offer 5 + years... which will be a huge mistake in 3 years IMO

I think we do have to throw caution to the wind a bit here. Teams deal with cap issues all the time, they find a way. The big thing this team needs to start doing is establishing a winning culture, and then you get to focus on maintaining that culture.

If building this team up to something worth maintaining requires a big spend on JVR or Neal, so be it. Let's get to work.

The absolutely most critical point on any deals signed this summer though is NO NMCs. Absolutely NO NMCs.

[Erick Estrada]

The Flames were on JVR's no trade list. Unless the Flames bring out another Brad Richards type overpayment contract why would he sign with the Flames?

[Flames_F.T.W]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The Flames were on JVR's no trade list. Unless the Flames bring out another Brad Richards type overpayment contract why would he sign with the Flames?

We're slowly collecting a bunch of young, skilled, American players (Gaudreau, Hanifin, Tkachuk) and we're a team on the rise. I think we might appeal more to an American UFA like JVR than we did in the past (or whenever he had Calgary on his no trade list).

[sureLoss]

FWIW Boomer said on Monday that the players they were going after were not ones you would rush to the dome to get their names on your jerseys. In other words not big name free agents.

[The Original FFIV]

Wonder if Austin czarnik is on the radar. Group 6 free agent and scorer at ahl level. Rh shot to boot. Guess we will see if the pro scouts can find a diamond in rough.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=123298

[Caged Great]

Wouldn't mind taking a flyer on Duclair as well.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

FWIW Boomer said on Monday that the players they were going after were not ones you would rush to the dome to get their names on your jerseys. In other words not big name free agents.

Then I assume another trade is in the works.

I don’t see how the Flames swap Ferland for Lindholm , Hamilton for Hanifin, Stajan for Ryan (likely) and assume that team is going to be able to score more goals than last years group?

If he is not going after Neal, JVR, or Perron then I assume another trade is in the works for a top 6 forward.

Assets are somewhat limited now as well.

[Mattman]

I'm starting to get sick of all these "project players" or buying low on free agents and depth players year, after year, after year...

Chiasson
Brouwer
Lazar
Stewart
etc.

It feels like the same story every year. It's not a knock on any of these guys, they are all fine players but come on man...

And if you're not willing to pay 7 mil for a player like JVR or Neal then fine (cough*but 4 mil for Brouwer) but why the hell do we bring in these guys year after year to do the same thing and write the same story, hoping that one of them pans out.

And it's almost like they are set up to fail, because here's the story that's written every year...

-Flames sign,trade,claim a depth player to plug a 1st line/2nd line hole.
-Player X is held to a unreasonable standard as the solution or the missing piece we needed.
-Player X struggles to keep up with the skills of our high end players like Gaudreau and Monahan.
-Player X is scrutinized in the media for not being the solution.
-Player X clearly knows he can't put up 1st line numbers like he was somehow exoectes to do, the media scrutiny takes a toll on their confidence.
-Player X is turned into the whipping boy.

I would take Foo, Hatahway, Shore, Shinkaruk or Mangiepane in the filler roles any day. I don't care if they put up -10 points, and I wouldn't have a problem putting them right back into that position.

You don't see winning teams like Chicago or Pittsburgh going out wasting money on depth players like this. They fill from their AHL team, and give them the opportunity to succeed without being touted as the "saviour".

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Mattman

I'm starting to get sick of all these "project players" or buying low on free agents and depth players year, after year, after year...

Chiasson
Brouwer
Lazar
Stewart
etc.

It feels like the same story every year. It's not a knock on any of these guys, they are all fine players but come on man...

And if you're not willing to pay 7 mil for a player like JVR or Neal then fine (cough*but 4 mil for Brouwer) but why the hell do we bring in these guys year after year to do the same thing and write the same story, hoping that one of them pans out.

And it's almost like they are set up to fail, because here's the story that's written every year...

-Flames sign,trade,claim a depth player to plug a 1st line/2nd line hole.
-Player X is held to a unreasonable standard as the solution or the missing piece we needed.
-Player X struggles to keep up with the skills of our high end players like Gaudreau and Monahan.
-Player X is scrutinized in the media for not being the solution.
-Player X clearly knows he can't put up 1st line numbers like he was somehow exoectes to do, the media scrutiny takes a toll on their confidence.
-Player X is turned into the whipping boy.

I would take Foo, Hatahway, Shore, Shinkaruk or Mangiepane in the filler roles any day. I don't care if they put up -10 points, and I wouldn't have a problem putting them right back into that position.

You don't see winning teams like Chicago or Pittsburgh going out wasting money on depth players like this. They fill from their AHL team, and give them the opportunity to succeed without being touted as the "saviour".

I think part of this reason is the mere fact Calgary is not a Top UFA players destination to voluntarily go and live/play. Unless it’s a massive overpayment like what was offered to Richards years ago. Even then, he chose elsewhere. Which was fortunate for us as overpaying never works out.

The only real chance the flames have for free agents is to go those who are either under achievers or a lower tier UFA. Thus we are tuck with the Brouwer, Chiasson and Soon to be Ryan’s of the world. People who are lower UFAs in reality or ones with a strong local connection.

[Mattman]

The Lindholm aquisiton seems like step in the right direction in terms of bringing in a player who has un-tapped potential. But it's like 1 step forward and 2 steps back with this team, providing they do the same thing they have done every season for the last 4-5 seasons.

This is just my opinion, but I will be very disappointed if we bring in Derek Ryan, and essentially reserving a roster spot, before seeing what Shore, Dube or any other players can bring to the table to push for that roster spot.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Wonder if Austin czarnik is on the radar. Group 6 free agent and scorer at ahl level. Rh shot to boot. Guess we will see if the pro scouts can find a diamond in rough.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=123298

There was a report from Mark Divver (Providence Journal writer) yesterday that 2/3rds of the league have touched base with Czarnik's camp.

@MarkDivver
"Overwhelming" interest in #NHLBruins UFA Austin Czarnik, according to agent Brian Bartlett. "Over two-thirds of the teams in the league have called"

Brian Bartlett is a Boston based player agent, so I'm guessing he is Czarnik's agent.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

There was a report from Mark Divver (Providence Journal writer) yesterday that 2/3rds of the league have touched base with Czarnik's camp.



Brian Bartlett is a Boston based player agent, so I'm guessing he is Czarnik's agent.

he will have options so we would have to provide him with the best opportunity (ie chance at a top 6 role)

Other AHL candidates

Rocco Grimaldi
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=123321

Seth Griffith
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/p...php?pid=122867

Less cache than Czarnik but both smaller RH shots with some level of scoring pedigree

[bluck]

Vanek (2 mil per year) and Ryan would be my choices for FA

[Oling_Roachinen]

Vanek just scored 55+ points, mostly on a dreadful team. He's had two "show me contracts" over the last summers after being bought out. Going to be turning 35, probably his last real chance to cash in on a "significant" NHL contract. I don't think he's signing for 2M.

And give him some credit, he outscored everyone not named Gaudreau or Monahan on this team last year (if only because Tkachuk got injured).

[Vinny01]

So if the Flames part ways with:
Hamilton, Ferland, Stajan, Jagr, Versteeg, Stewart
And replace them with
Hanifin, Lindholm, Ryan, Vanek

People would be cool with that?

I still see a putrid top 6 there

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

So if the Flames part ways with:
Hamilton, Ferland, Stajan, Jagr, Versteeg, Stewart
And replace them with
Hanifin, Lindholm, Ryan, Vanek

People would be cool with that?

I still see a putrid top 6 there

Gaudreau-Monahan-Lindholm
Tkachuk-Backlund-Vanek
Or
Gaudreau-Monahan-Vanek
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Bennett/Jankowski?

The first proposed top 6 is good.
The second would be okay, depending on Bennett/Jankowski continuing to improve.

Either way, putrid is a bit of a hyperbole.

[TheScorpion]

The GMs in this league undervalue Vanek like crazy. Not a CHANCE he costs more than $2 million.