Which non-Flames UFAs do we target?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I would add Vrbata on the RW and Elliott as another backup we can use.

Originally Posted by Hank Hill

I would go with Ortio over of any of those goalies listed. If you want Ortio to develop some more in the AHL, I would take a chance on more unproven younger guy with some NHL games like Berra that we could flip for some picks, or if they don't turn out then drop em. Its not like we are contending next year so I don't see a reason to push Ramo.

I like the D men you suggested, not sure about the RW's though, I would like some younger options.

I like the Vrbata option. Another RW'er we could potentially take a look at is Hemsky.

Regarding Ortio - Burke said in the postseason presser that he'd rather Ortio take a starter's role in the AHL next year and get as much playing time as he possibly can vs warming the pine backing up Ramo. I'd have to agree with this, until Ortio is experienced enough to split games with Ramo and take over for 30 games a season he should stay on the Heat. I'd say he makes the team out of camp in 2015-2016.

Ramo's done splendidly in his first NHL season, but he's not shouldering the massive workload of 80% of the starts in a season yet the way Kiprusoff did and we don't know how a bigger workload will affect his performance. He played about half of them which is respectable but as our sole starter next season I expect he'll be getting 10-15 more games than this year.

And I'd rather not risk another Berra-venture. It worked out great for us because of the 2nd really, which Burke magically conjured out of Colorado's hands, but otherwise he didn't pan out nearly as hoped. If no one offered for Berra I expect he'd have walked.

I feel the safer bet is to go with a NHL-capable backup; best case scenario is they raise their stock if Ramo gets injured or hits a slump so they can give back better returns in trade, worst case scenario...well, I can't really think of any.

[HOWITZER]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

With Burke having said that we are not drafting for position or organizational need, rather addressing them in free agency said, I think the biggest organizational needs from Brian's point-of-view are the 3 things:


1.) Backup Goalie who can play 20-30 games & can challenge Ramo a bit for the starter spot

-Jonas Gustavsson
-Jaroslav Halak
-Al Montoya


2.) Gritty RW that shoots RH

-Jaromir Jagr
-Ryan Callahan
-Jarome Iginla


3.) Big bottom 4 physical punishing defenceman

-Brooks Orpik
-Matt Greene
-Andrej Meszaros

Anyone have any stats on who this guy is?

But actually, I'd make sure Ortio plays as much as he can in the AHL, no sense letting him sit on the bench here in Calgary when he can be getting reps in the A. I'd like to maybe see Montoya here? That or overpay for Halak.

You have to try and get Callahan, I just don't see his motivation to come here, personally. I think we'll have trouble attracting free agents until we start to go on the upswing in the next few years.

And in all honesty, Iggy shouldn't even be a thought for rejoining the team for at least another couple years, or the year before he hangs up his skates. But lets get through the rebuild and adopt a new identity before he comes back and somehow manages to influence it.

[Machiavelli]

This "culture" and "identity" stuff is so overrated. The thought that bringing Iginla back would be some crushing blow to the tender team psyche is hilarious.

It's not that complicated: have a mix of good, great, and useful players, play well, win games, make playoffs, go from there.

Any UFA that could be helpful should be desired on the team. It make take a few years to get to the point that the Flames are competitive, but in the meantime they should still try to be.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

With Burke having said that we are not drafting for position or organizational need, rather addressing them in free agency said, I think the biggest organizational needs from Brian's point-of-view are the 3 things:


1.) Backup Goalie who can play 20-30 games & can challenge Ramo a bit for the starter spot

-Jonas Gustavsson
-Jaroslav Halak
-Al Montoya


2.) Gritty RW that shoots RH

-Jaromir Jagr
-Ryan Callahan
-Jarome Iginla


3.) Big bottom 4 physical punishing defenceman

-Brooks Orpik
-Matt Greene
-Andrej Meszaros

Halak is a nice option, I'm sure he's still looking for a starters job, but not many teams have that opening, in fact Calgary is probably one of his better bets and stealing the starters role.

Callahan would be an awesome pick-up to improve the right side, but I highly doubt he wants to be part of a rebuild unless it's for sick money. We need to get to the cap floor, so I wouldn't be opposed to a short term deal for overasking price. 2 years / 15 million?

Any of the suggested Dmen would be great pickups.

[Gaskal]

Callahan's asking for $6M for a likely lengthy term (4-5 years or more) but the longest I'm willing to take him for is 3 years - at which point Poirier will be ready to take the top RW spot full-time. Cap space isn't a problem so the money isn't an issue, just the term.

[dying4acup]

I agree we need a backup, but would prefer a low-profile one who would sign a two-way. I'd take Mac back if he hadn't shown up to camp out of shape.

If Cammy is back, I could see him as a right winger. He scores most of his goals on the right side anyway.

Statsny is my dream pickup. I'd give him 7x8M, but I'm not sure what his desire is. It sure would make drafting and building easier knowing that u have 2 guys that are top 2 centers for a lot of years. As well, I'm tired of seeing this guy light the flames up 3-8 times a year. If not the flames, I hope he signs in Fla or NYI. At least east. Pretty much 0 chance he signs back in Colorado I think. Career suicide I think.

Niskanen is also a dream pickup. I'd overpay 6x6M. Don't really care for orpik. He's a bruiser, but slow, and I bet he gets a 4+ contract somewhere. I'd take Greene as a fallback.

D is the focus in FA because outside of Sieloff and Wotherspoon, nobody really knocking on the door. I don't hate Wideman, and I think with a summer to get healthy he will be better for us next year, but I prefer him gone next season.

[SHOGUN]

So if Iggy comes back will he take the C back from Gio? awkward.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

So if Iggy comes back will he take the C back from Gio? awkward.

No... If Iggy somehow came back, Gio is staying with the C. You even put Monahan, Backlund, and even Brodie with the C before Iggy.

Do we give him an A? Nope. Bouma and McGrattan even deserve that more than him. If Iggy ever came back, he would mainly be mentoring the young ones.

[Tinordi]

We haven't had a good former Flame mush up in a while

[Tinordi]

I doubt Phoenix lets Vrbata go, and if Vrbata wants to leave I sincerely doubt he'd want to leave Phoenix to come to Calgary.

Vrbata is a well known player in this league just not among the fans who flies under the radar in Phoenix. Every pro scout would tell you that Vrbata is a responsible systems player who's an excellent goal scorer. In other words, highly valued.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

This "culture" and "identity" stuff is so overrated. The thought that bringing Iginla back would be some crushing blow to the tender team psyche is hilarious.

It's not that complicated: have a mix of good, great, and useful players, play well, win games, make playoffs, go from there.

Any UFA that could be helpful should be desired on the team. It make take a few years to get to the point that the Flames are competitive, but in the meantime they should still try to be.

Personally I'd stay away from Iginla. If you don't believe there was a dramatic change in team culture/identity/attitude whatever you wanna call it this year then your blind. Whether or not that was Iginlas fault who knows but the leaders of this team wernt leading. We have some great leaders right now and I wouldn't even want to risk people feeling obligated to give Iginla that type of role in any capacity. Maybe when some guys are cemented in those roles but it's to early for me. Let's move on.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

No... If Iggy somehow came back, Gio is staying with the C. You even put Monahan, Backlund, and even Brodie with the C before Iggy.

Do we give him an A? Nope. Bouma and McGrattan even deserve that more than him. If Iggy ever came back, he would mainly be mentoring the young ones.

He won't get the C but you're totally wrong on him not getting an A once he signs his last NHL contract to finish his career in Calgary.

[FlamesAddiction]

I don't want to see Iginla back during the rebuild. It would be counter productive to bring back a player that hogs the spotlight when we are trying to instill a wolf pack mentality. It will go right back to the"this is Iggy's team" frame of mind.

Plus, Stanley Cup or not, I don't see him wanting to come back to a rebuilding team. He seems as happy as ever right now.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

He won't get the C but you're totally wrong on him not getting an A once he signs his last NHL contract to finish his career in Calgary.

I don't think so... If he finished his last year in Calgary, I think Monahan, Backlund, Brodie and Stajan would be rotating the 'A' around.

However, we probably would see a classy Calgary giving him the 'C' when it's his final game, just like Anaheim did with Teemu.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I don't think so... If he finished his last year in Calgary, I think Monahan, Backlund, Brodie and Stajan would be rotating the 'A' around.

However, we probably would see a classy Calgary giving him the 'C' when it's his final game, just like Anaheim did with Teemu.

Those guys will be in rotation but I can pretty much guarantee you he will have a fixed A on his jersey. Thats just how things work.

[$ven27]

We're not getting any big names people. One player I'd really like to go after is Komarov.

[Krovikan]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

No... If Iggy somehow came back, Gio is staying with the C. You even put Monahan, Backlund, and even Brodie with the C before Iggy.

Do we give him an A? Nope. Bouma and McGrattan even deserve that more than him. If Iggy ever came back, he would mainly be mentoring the young ones.

Doubt Boston let's Iggy go, they may be looking to clear some cap for him though, might be an opportunity there for Calgary.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Young-Sneezy]

Originally Posted by $ven27

We're not getting any big names people. One player I'd really like to go after is Komarov.

Dollar sign Sven knows, he got a Sports Almanac from some punk teen riding around on a pink skateboard with really small wheels he couldnt see.








Money talks in the Pro Sports business, and we have it. Given the past 5-6 years of cap hell we've been in, if ever there is an opportunity to get big names through free agency, trade, money spending, now is the time.

[Gaskal]

I'd much rather Iggy come back when the rebuild is about complete, assuming we cycle a UFA Right Winger in & out those years until then.

If he doesn't win the Cup with Boston by then, what a fairy tale it would be to come home to Calgary and finally hoist it with our new core. You just know the first person he'd hand it off to is Gelinas too.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by Young-Sneezy

Dollar sign Sven knows, he got a Sports Almanac from some punk teen riding around on a pink skateboard with really small wheels he couldnt see.








Money talks in the Pro Sports business, and we have it. Given the past 5-6 years of cap hell we've been in, if ever there is an opportunity to get big names through free agency, trade, money spending, now is the time.

The deal still has to make sense and the player has to be the right fit. We have an abundance of cap space right now but we don't want this contract hindering us in 3-5 years when we may need the money. I'm perfectly fine with the flames being patient. Overspend when your missing a piece or two, not now.