Flames RFA's - Who should be qualified/signed?

[GranteedEV]

I would probably let Acolatse, Hanowski, and Van Brabant walk. Maybe sign Hanowski to a decent-money AHL deal if they want him as the Captain there. Every other player on that list, including Reinhart, Elson, and Agostino, has earned a new NHL contract at the very least. Since a lot of these guys have to clear waivers, we might lose one or two during training camp though.

As for people who want Byron gone, I can bet you Bob Hartley is not one of them.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

There are a LOT this year.


Forwards (13)

(26) C - Mikael Backlund Yes
(25) LW - Lance Bouma Yes
(23) LW - Micheal Ferland Yes
(25) C - Josh Jooris Yes
(26) F - Paul Byron Yes
(24) C - Drew Shore Yes
(23) C - Bill Arnold Yes
(26) LW - David Wolf No
(23) C - Max Reinhart Yes
(23) LW - Kenny Agostino Yes
(23) F - Turner Elson Undecided. If we were up against the contract limit I'd say no.
(25) RW - Ben Hanowski Yes, but his time is running out.
(23) LW - Bryce Van Brabant Undecided. Same as Elson.

Defense (3)

(24) RD - Sena Acolatse No.
(24) RD - John Ramage Yes
(26) LD - Chad Billins (Played in Europe & Flames still hold his rights) No. He regressed while playing in Europe. Not a good sign.

My thoughts in bold. Almost all of them should be qualified and given more time to develop. This will be the last contract for a few of these players.

[PeteMoss]

Is this our annual let's get rid of Paul Byron for no reason thread?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Is this our annual let's get rid of Paul Byron for no reason thread?

Was about to say the same. Byron will be qualified, no doubt about it.

But he is in an interesting and difficult spot. With guys like Bennett and Granlund really pushing for a spot, something will have to give. I'd say there is an even money chance Byron ends next year with another organization. But we're not going to simply drop him for nothing.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Is this our annual let's get rid of Paul Byron for no reason thread?

Yeah, I don't really get it at the moment. He had a horribly snake bitten year for goals despite getting a ton of breakaways. Not only that, he's one of our most physical players despite being very undersized. Great penalty killer. Solid energy forward for the bottom 6. If younger players develop and produce more than him at the NHL level, so be it. He then becomes the perfect 13th forward. A guy you can slot in most winger spots in the lineup and he doesn't hurt you in any way.

Really useful utility forward.

[The Fonz]

IMO, Backlund's value is in that $3M-$3.5M range... a contract like Stajan's would be fair for both sides. At $4M, he would be overpaid for what he brings.

[Kolbe31]

Byron is a tough one. Looking at our roster going into game 5 against Anaheim, who do you take out if Byron is healthy? You could make the argument that Raymond comes out, I suppose. Tough roster to crack if you're a bottom 6 forward. I personally think they let him walk, it almost happened last year (didn't it?).

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Kolbe31

Byron is a tough one. Looking at our roster going into game 5 against Anaheim, who do you take out if Byron is healthy? You could make the argument that Raymond comes out, I suppose. Tough roster to crack if you're a bottom 6 forward. I personally think they let him walk, it almost happened last year (didn't it?).

Bollig or Raymond.

[FlamesAddiction]

(26) C - Mikael Backlund Yes
(25) LW - Lance Bouma Yes
(23) LW - Micheal Ferland Yes
(25) C - Josh Jooris Yes
(26) F - Paul Byron No (numbers game)
(24) C - Drew Shore Yes
(23) C - Bill Arnold Yes - still NHL potential
(26) LW - David Wolf Yes - need a few tough players around, still has NHL potential
(23) C - Max Reinhart No - make room for a younger player
(23) LW - Kenny Agostino Yes - still NHL potential
(23) F - Turner Elson Yes - just based on the praise he received
(25) RW - Ben Hanowski No - too slow and his age, not likely to improve
(23) LW - Bryce Van Brabant No - will never be an NHL player. Make room for someone else.

Defense (3)

(24) RD - Sena Acolatse No - will never be an NHL player
(24) RD - John Ramage I am 50-50 on this one
(26) LD - Chad Billins No - will never be an NHL player

[sureLoss]

23 max roster spots
Flames will carry 7 d + 2 goalies

14 forwards

likely top 9 to start the season
Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bennett - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Jones

Treliving is unlikely to allow these 3 to go through waivers:
Ferland - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Jooris - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Shore - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed

leaves 2 roster spots for
Raymond
Bollig
Byron
or anyone else on the farm that can make the team (i.e. Poirier, Arnold, etc).

going to have to make some moves if the Flames sign Byron.

[Poe969]

(26) C - Mikael Backlund Yes
(25) LW - Lance Bouma Yes
(23) LW - Micheal Ferland Yes
(25) C - Josh Jooris Yes
(26) F - Paul Byron Yes
(24) C - Drew Shore Yes
(23) C - Bill Arnold Yes -
(26) LW - David Wolf Yes -
(23) C - Max Reinhart Yes, and/or trade to Buf/NYI
(23) LW - Kenny Agostino No, too deep at LW
(23) F - Turner Elson Yes
(25) RW - Ben Hanowski No (even though he's in every trade proposal)
(23) LW - Bryce Van Brabant No

Defense (3)

(24) RD - Sena Acolatse No
(24) RD - John Ramage Yes
(26) LD - Chad Billins No

[Finger Cookin]

My responses in bold:


Forwards (13)

(26) C - Mikael Backlund - Yes
(25) LW - Lance Bouma - Yes
(23) LW - Micheal Ferland - Yes
(25) C - Josh Jooris - Yes
(26) F - Paul Byron - No
(24) C - Drew Shore - Yes
(23) C - Bill Arnold - Yes
(26) LW - David Wolf - No
(23) C - Max Reinhart - Yes
(23) LW - Kenny Agostino - Yes
(23) F - Turner Elson - Yes
(25) RW - Ben Hanowski - Yes
(23) LW - Bryce Van Brabant - No

Defense (3)

(24) RD - Sena Acolatse - No
(24) RD - John Ramage - Yes
(26) LD - Chad Billins (Played in Europe & Flames still hold his rights) - No

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

IMO, Backlund's value is in that $3M-$3.5M range... a contract like Stajan's would be fair for both sides. At $4M, he would be overpaid for what he brings.

Backlund isn't worth more than $2 million.

He's a good candidate to get re-signed at or within 5-10% of his qualifying offer.

There just isn't any offense to justify higher dollars. Guy can't score.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

23 max roster spots
Flames will carry 7 d + 2 goalies

14 forwards

likely top 9 to start the season
Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler
Bennett - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Jones

Treliving is unlikely to allow these 3 to go through waivers:
Ferland - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Jooris - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Shore - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed

leaves 2 roster spots for
Raymond
Bollig
Byron
or anyone else on the farm that can make the team (i.e. Poirier, Arnold, etc).

going to have to make some moves if the Flames sign Byron.

I strongly believe there is a deal to be made between The Coyotes and the Flames regarding Raymond.

After how this season and playoffs went, I don't see how there is a spot for him on next year's roster.

[Flash Walken]

I don't know if Byron gets qualified either.

Too many injuries, not enough production and is small, despite how he plays.

With Bennett in the lineup, Ferland in the lineup and whoever else the Flames pick up in free agency in a bottom 6 role, I don't think there is a spot for Byron anymore.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Backlund isn't worth more than $2 million.

He's a good candidate to get re-signed at or within 5-10% of his qualifying offer.

There just isn't any offense to justify higher dollars. Guy can't score.

Lol if you genuinely think that.

Matt Stajan the year he got a 3.125m AAV extension: 14g + 19a in 63GP after four consecutive years of single-digit goal-scoring. Backlund has 28 goals and 38 assists in his last 128 games - which is a pretty much identical pace to Stajan's contract year. That's easily Stajan money at minimum, and realistically he could earn more as he's a much better possession player who was among the team leaders in average TOI this season, as well as being only 26 years old while Stajan was 30 - that's 4 years worth of prime that had already passed on Staj's deal.

You're also ignoring that while he's an RFA, a qualifying offer won't buy UFA years.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Treliving is unlikely to allow these 3 to go through waivers:
Ferland - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Jooris - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed
Shore - waiver eligible and likely gets claimed

Honestly, I'd be shopping Jooris. Sell high

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Is this our annual let's get rid of Paul Byron for no reason thread?

No, this is the "lets figure out who has a future with the Calgary Flames" thread. After what the Flames just experienced with Anaheim it is obvious this team needs to get bigger and stronger. Paul Byron's size works against him. He's in tough when guys like Agostino and Arnold are coming up and need roster spots. Also, the Flames seem pretty enamoured with Garnet Hathaway and believe he could be another Lance Bouma. The reality is that there are only so many professional contracts and roster spots to go around. Byron's size works against him, especially when you look at team needs.

I qualify everyone but Byron, Wolf, Acolatse and Billings. I try and improve our blue line, and open up roster spots, by moving Backlund and Reinhart. I think we have the depth to move those two and improve along the way.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Lol if you genuinely think that.

Matt Stajan the year he got a 3.125m AAV extension: 14g + 19a in 63GP after four consecutive years of single-digit goal-scoring. Backlund has 28 goals and 38 assists in his last 128 games - which is a pretty much identical pace to Stajan's contract year. That's easily Stajan money at minimum, and realistically he could earn more as he's a much better possession player who was among the team leaders in average TOI this season, as well as being only 26 years old while Stajan was 30 - that's 4 years worth of prime that had already passed on Staj's deal.

You're also ignoring that while he's an RFA, a qualifying offer won't buy UFA years.

Alex Killorn signed a deal last year for roughly 2.5 million and brings what you're describing PLUS he brings points and goals.

How many players in the NHL are getting paid more than 3 million dollars a year to put up less than 30 points?

How many of those guys would you say are worth it? I can't think of any off the top of my head.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I strongly believe there is a deal to be made between The Coyotes and the Flames regarding Raymond.



After how this season and playoffs went, I don't see how there is a spot for him on next year's roster.

Raymond, and what else can we give for OEL?