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Franchise Player
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Boca Raton, FL
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My Grades
Jarome Iginla B: The guy has lost a step and his production wasn't elite, but he still put in a good effort every night on a terrible team. Good luck in Pittsburgh Iggy!
Alex Tanguay C-: Tanguay packed it in early this year. He provided some good offense early, but struggled to defend or battle for the puck after about the 10th game. I'm so disappointed with his effort that I would be fine trading him this off-season. 2013/14 status-Under contract $3.5 M with 3 yrs remaining and modified NTC. Keep him to see if he can have a bounce back year, and if not trade him mid-season.
Mike Cammalleri B+: struggled early, had a great point streak, tailed off at the end of the season point-wise, but played well in all 3 zones with good effort. Managed to actually be a decent centerman even though he hasn't played it in forever. 2013/14 status-Under contract $6 M and pending UFA with a limited NTC. I say keep him and maybe trade him at next trade deadline if the Flames are out again.
Mikael Backlund A: One of the few Flames who brought it every game he played. He made all of his linemates better. He played a very good game in all 3 zones. He finally got time on the PP and showed he deserves to be considered a top line player. The only problem was injuries, but he still managed to play quite a bit. 2013/14 status-RFA. Make sure you sign him to a decent length contract at a low price while you still can.
Jiri Hudler C+: Jiri wowed me in the first 10-15 games. Then he showed why Detroit let him go. Ridiculously inconsistent play, sometimes bordering on mailing it in on the effort. He has the tools like Tanguay, but also shows effort like Tanguay. 2013/14 status-Under contract $4 M with 3 years remaining. Same as Tanguay, keep and see if he can bounce back.
Curtis Glencross A-: Curtis is what he is, a very good third line winger who can score, or an average to below average 2nd line winger...who can score. Very few pure goal scorers on this team so we definitely need him going forward. Was on pace for a 30 goal season. Played very well with Stajan and Stempniak. 2013/14 status-Under contract $2.55 M with 2 years remaining and a NMC. Keep one of our few good news stories from this season.
Lee Stempniak A: Lee had a great all-around season. He was our most consistent forward from start to finish. Had a great goal scoring streak to start the year. He's an excellent example for the young kids to learn from. 2013/14 status-Under contract $2.5 M and pending UFA. Keep him and maybe even re-sign him unless there's an irresistible deadline deal.
Matt Stajan A+: Our favourite whipping boy came through big time this year. Still doesn't score much, but did everything he was asked to do and more this year. Great plus/minus on the 2nd worst team 5 on 5. Another great veteran for the kids to learn from. 2013/14 status-Under contract $3.5 M and pending UFA with a modified NTC. Keep Stajan, and trade him at the deadline if there's a kid like Reinhart ready to take over his role next year. If not, re-sign for a year or two.
Roman Cervenka D: Yes, we know he had some challenges. Doesn't change the fact that he wasn't nearly as good as advertised. There's plenty of talent to work with though, and if he's willing to learn how to play the North American game you could turn him into a heckuva player. Needs to work on defense, skating, and physicality. More of a project at this point in his career makes him expendable IMO. 2013/14 status-UFA. Unless the Flames can move a forward or two, let him walk.
Roman Horak B: 7 points in 20 games isn't great, but he was up and down most of the year. He looks like a real NHL talent going forward and just needs a few refinements to his game to be a solid forward. Smart player, good defensively, and showed some great offensive skills without the results. 2013/14 status-Under contract $805 K and pending RFA. Start him next year as the 2nd line center. If he produces give him a contract until his RFA status is done.
Sven Baertschi C-/A-: Two grades for two completely different players this year. He looked like he couldn't compete to start the year and then came back up and had a very nice point streak to end the year. Worried about the injuries, but he just needs to add some mass to his frame. 2013/14 status-Under contract $1.425 M with 2 years remaining. 2nd line LW to start the year, hopefully a breakout season coming up.
Blair Jones D-/F: Didn't want to get with the program. Wanted to score goals and didn't do that either. Way too soft for a bottom line winger. He should have taken notes from Aliu on being a pest and didn't do it when he was recalled. He can do some things well, but I'm just not a fan. 2013/14 status-Under contract $650 K and pending UFA. I put him in the minors as a depth forward or trade him this off-season.
Steve Begin C+: Didn't wow me, but didn't need to since he earned his job on a tryout basis. Puts in a great effort every single shift and every single game. Heart and soul kind of guy that does well with the minutes you give him. 2013/14 status-UFA. I would bring him back for 1 or 2 years as we seem to be short on NHL centers, but I feel like Reinhart can do what he did this year.
Tim Jackman B-: Tim hasn't come close to scoring goals anymore, but he's figured out what his job IS...hit people. He's done a great job of being an energy player with good physicality. Not the strongest fighter, but he's a gamer. 2013/14 status-Under contract $612 K and pending UFA. Keep him and maybe move him at the deadline if Aliu can do his job going forward.
Brian McGrattan A-: Came over after not playing much in Nashville and instantly added toughness, size, aggressiveness, and decent speed/skill for an enforcer. He plays with passion, which this team lacks at times. 2013/14 status-UFA. Bring him back for 2-3 years since nobody else in the minors is really an enforcer.
Reinhart could possibly play next year for us, but Byron, Street, Aliu, Hanowski, and Bancks all belong in the AHL...for now.
Jay Bouwmeester A: I know it never really worked out here, but JBo showed why we signed him to that contract in the first place. He's incredibly talented and possibly the best skating defenseman I've ever seen play live. He got his offense together this year and did an admirable job in his own zone. Good luck in St. Louis Jay!
Dennis Wideman B: He was solid offensively and had a terrible stretch of games defensively. He is fairly adequate in his own zone but has Butleresque games from time to time. All in all he's come as advertised. 2013/14 status-Under contract $5.25 M with 4 years remaining and a NMC. Keep him since there's no other option.
Mark Giordano D: What a terrible year for Gio. Just a nightmare in his own zone and didn't do much on offense. I imagine he'll have a bounceback year, but if he doesn't they need to be prepared to trade him while they still can get something for him. 2013/14 status-Under contract $4.02 M with 3 years remaining and a NMC/NTC. Keep him to see if there's a bounce back and trade mid-season if not.
T.J. Brodie A-: Despite some rookie mistakes, Brodie showed that he has the skills to be an excellent top pairing offensive/puck moving defenseman. If you can get him a solid top line shutdown partner he should be great going forward. 2013/14 status-RFA. Get him signed for as long as Backlund is signed. He's a part of the new core.
Cory Sarich C+: Cory can't handle playing every game anymore, but he's still a very solid defenseman in his own zone and brings a lot of grit and leadership. He could prove to be a great mentor to our young defensemen. 2013/14 status-Under contract $2 M and pending UFA. Keep him as long as he can play as a 6th/7th man to mentor the young'uns.
Chris Butler F: Sometimes I think he can play, then he shows his true colors with horrible defensive miscues. He's not intelligent, soft, not offensive, not defensive, not a great puck mover. Basically, he can do everything at a below average level, but he should be farther along in his development at his age. Not a good enough reason to keep him when there are prospects coming down the pipe. 2013/14 status-RFA. I say let him walk.
Derek Smith C-: Derek should be better, but I think he suffers from lack of confidence issues. He has the skillset to be a solid bottom pairing puck moving defenceman, but hasn't put it together consistently. 2013/14 status-Under contract $775 K and pending UFA. Keep him as a depth defender.
Anton Babchuk F-: Anton can shoot the puck..........and that's about it. 2013/14 status-UFA. Good bye and good riddance.
Of note, Cundari looks like a solid player. I would imagine he can start the year on the 3rd pairing alongside Sarich and continue to develop into an NHL defenseman.
Miikka Kiprusoff C-: In what looks to be his swan song season, Kipper was horrible for most of the year. He put his game back together in the last few weeks and looked all-world for a bit. In the end, his heart just isn't in it anymore and we should still appreciate him for all he did for the franchise. 2013/14 status-Under contract $5.83 M and pending UFA. He's likely to retire; so long Kipper, and thanks for all the fish!
Joey MacDonald B+: In a year with some of the worst goaltending I've ever seen this franchise get, Mac came in and steadied the ship. He has trouble with rebounds and positioning on occasion, but he is a battler and all-around great guy. 2013/14 status-re-signed $925 K and pending UFA. See what he can do this season and possibly re-sign as a backup to whoever takes the starting reigns.
Leland Irving F: Sorry kid, you've had your chance. Time to move on. 2013/14 status-UFA. See ya...good luck to you.
Danny Taylor F: See Leland Irving. 2013/14 status-UFA. Same as above.
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"You know, that's kinda why I came here, to show that I don't suck that much" ~ Devin Cooley, Professional Goaltender
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