Friedman: Flames a good fit for Kessel?

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by T@T

I sure hope the flames will be more creative with Giordano's contract,a $7.5m cap hit would be brutal.

7.5 million is what Norris quality defencemen get paid. At least.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

7.5 million is what Norris quality defencemen get paid. At least.

Not talking what he gets paid while being a top Dman, I'm talking cap hit after he's not. He's not going to sign short term and he won't be Norris quality till he 40 afterall.

Give him something like this:

8.0
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
4.0

$6m cap hit till he's 39

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

This post should end this thread.

Why? cuz he's projecting we overpay several of our players?

[tvp2003]

How many current players/prospects have a reasonable chance to be top six forwards (not pie in the sky):

Monahan
Gaudreau
Bennett
Poirier
Klimchuk
Ferland
Colborne

I didn't include guys like Bouma, Shore, Hunter Smith and Jankowski because they probably have 3rd line upside versus top 6 upside. You never know though.

With the top three guys penciled in, that leaves three spots. A reasonably priced vet (like Hudler) probably gets one, which leaves at least four guys fighting for two spots. Plus we have a boatload of draft picks this year who could be in the mix in a few years as well.

IMO the problem isn't pieces -- it's time for these guys to develop. Which is okay because this whole rebuild has been about looking long term. If in two years time nobody has developed into a top 6 player, you can think about overpaying for a UFA. But you don't acquire a guy like Kessel (or any high priced UFA forward) when that role (and associated cap space) can be filled with what you already have in a few years.

Acquiring Kessell would be extremely short sighted IMO and brings along long term cap pain, not to mention the loss in trade assets. No thanks.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Why? cuz he's projecting we overpay several of our players?

If anything, I think Kent was very conservative in those salary predictions.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If anything, I think Kent was very conservative in those salary predictions.

Except for the Oilersesque 6x6 deals to the young players and $4 million to Backlund.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Except for the Oilersesque 6x6 deals to the young players and $4 million to Backlund.

What are you offering Monahan and Gadreau then, when the time comes?

[swo2k1]

Kent's salary guesses are nice and all, but to be honest I think it's all moot. This team will turnover their roster more than adding 4 or 5 free agents and 2 rookies over a three year period.

I don't necessarily believe the Flames are going to add Phil Kessel, and I don't really have an opinion on whether they should or not to be honest. I would have to see the deal before judging it, but the Flames aren't going to be essentially the same team in 2017/2018 that they are today.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by swo2k1

Kent's salary guesses are nice and all, but to be honest I think it's all moot. This team will turnover their roster more than adding 4 or 5 free agents and 2 rookies over a three year period.

I don't necessarily believe the Flames are going to add Phil Kessel, and I don't really have an opinion on whether they should or not to be honest. I would have to see the deal before judging it, but the Flames aren't going to be essentially the same team in 2017/2018 that they are today.

The point is that the Flames may have cap space now, but it can disappear very fast.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

What are you offering Monahan and Gadreau then, when the time comes?

It depends on the length of their deals. I doubt Treliving will want them to be UFAs after their next contract so it's either super long 6-8 year deals that buy UFA years and likely have cap hits that start with a 6 or 7 or they sign reasonable bridge deals at around $4.5m.

Some people won't like the idea of bridge deals after watching the Subban saga unfold but I think it's more likely than Treliving giving them mega deals next summer given his apparent conservative approach. However, there is a good chance they become $8m-9m players after a bridge deal but it will also secure their rights to the maximum level of time potentially if they are bridged for 2-3 years then signed to 8 year deals. It'll be interesting to see how Treliving manages this, I bet we find out in early 2016.

[swo2k1]

Originally Posted by codynw

The point is that the Flames may have cap space now, but it can disappear very fast.

Yeah, I understand what he's trying to do, I just don't find it to be overly helpful because this team will look very different three full seasons from now. Outside of guys like Monahan, Brodie, Gaudreau, Bennett and Giordano I'm not sure you can count on anyone else being here.

In relation to Kessell like I said, I'd have to see the deal before I judge whether I'd want him or not. If the Flames are interested, I'll trust that they've considered all the factors before deciding to make a move or not.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

What are you offering Monahan and Gadreau then, when the time comes?

Depends on how next season goes for both players. Gadreau only has one year under his belt and IMO any responsible GM would want to see more before he calls for the Brinks truck. I personally don't believe you have to max deal every single solid young player you have just because they have promise.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Depends on how next season goes for both players. Gadreau only has one year under his belt and IMO any responsible GM would want to see more before he calls for the Brinks truck. I personally don't believe you have to max deal every single solid young player you have just because they have promise.

I think Gaudreau has shown enough. Who was the last rookie to score that many points and not be elite?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think Gaudreau has shown enough. Who was the last rookie to score that many points and not be elite?

Stone.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

I'd be interested in a poll on how many years/AAV CP thinks Monahan and Gaudreau get on their next deals.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Depends on how next season goes for both players. Gadreau only has one year under his belt and IMO any responsible GM would want to see more before he calls for the Brinks truck. I personally don't believe you have to max deal every single solid young player you have just because they have promise.

Right, but by midseason next year, when Monahan continues to improve and dominate as #1C and Gaudreau has 47 points in 40 games (and the Flames are in the hunt for the division lead), do you offer them 3 years at 4.5M? Or do lock them up long term? (Which would be 6 x 6 ish, imo, and maybe only that much if we are lucky.)

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think Gaudreau has shown enough. Who was the last rookie to score that many points and not be elite?

Skinner, but that's not really fair because he would have been elite if it weren't for injuries. Can't really think of anyone else.

[theslymonkey]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I think Gaudreau has shown enough. Who was the last rookie to score that many points and not be elite?

According to a bunch of crazy people in the Trade Rumour thread.... Jeff Skinner.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

According to a bunch of crazy people in the Trade Rumour thread.... Jeff Skinner.

Skinner had 63 points in his NHL rookie season, and won the Calder.
He then put up 68 points over his next two injury plagued seasons (106 games).

[H2SO4(aq)]

I fully expect Johnny Gaudreau to make huge strides in his game once again next season. I see him going point per game, at which point, were gonna have to pay the kid.

His playoff poise indicates that he is still very much trending upwards.