20 Million in Cap Space next year?

[browntrout]

At the end of the day if this team can't make any progress in the playoffs I think the GM's hand will be forced to either add to this group or a core player is moved out. I get that the cap is tight...but players like Lucic or Backlund can be moved if necessary to create space. A first round pick added to the Lucic contact should make that player go away. This teams window to win is right now. I get that a first line centre is what this team needs...but in all likelihood players like are not going to be available this summer. It makes a lot of sense for Hall to sign here. He is not exactly what they need right now...but he adds speed and another weapon to the teams offense.

[Crown Royal]

$20 million doesn't go very far when you need to re-sign one of Brodie/Hamonic or another top 4 defensemen (5m+), give Mangiapane (2m+) a raise and sign a backup goaltender capable of playing 35 games (~3m). Then we have to sign 5-6 guys to fill out the roster still (7m+). Suddenly that 20m is not all that impressive.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

This is my fear with Hall. Hopefully Tre is smart enough not to blow our cap on him.

When have the Flames ever acquired a player of Hall's ability via free agency? This isn't another Neal or Brouwer. The closest comparable is probably Bouwmeester.

He was a massive disappointment, but still netted solid assets when traded.

I'd much rather see the flames spend the bank on the real deal than go half in again on a plug.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

$20 million doesn't go very far when you need to re-sign one of Brodie/Hamonic or another top 4 defensemen (5m+), give Mangiapane (2m+) a raise and sign a backup goaltender capable of playing 35 games (~3m). Then we have to sign 5-6 guys to fill out the roster still (7m+). Suddenly that 20m is not all that impressive.

When 5 of those 5 or 6 guys are your fourth line and two popcorn eaters, the leftover $9-$10M can stretch a long way.

[SportsJunky]

Although Hall and Hoffman would both be nice additions, I believe Tre when he says he wants to add RHS forwards. I could see making room for one skilled lefty but I’m not sure both guys fit. Yes, I know Hoffman can/does play RW.

[Heavy Jack]

Hanifin + Bennett for a RHS RW

Sign Hall

Sign key internal UFA/RFA

Hall - Monahan - Gaudreau
Tkachuk - Lindholm - RW via trade
Mangiapane - Backlund - Dube
Lucic - Ryan - Gawdin/Phillips

Giordano - Brodie
Valimaki - Andersson
Forbort - Kylington

Rittich
Backup

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

When 5 of those 5 or 6 guys are your fourth line and two popcorn eaters, the leftover $9-$10M can stretch a long way.

It's unrealistic to think they will sign guys for the league minimum. If they retain Jankowski and Kylington they will eat up 2.5m of that even without raises, then there is a minimum of 2.8m of everyone signs for the league minimum. Suddenly that 9-10m is 4-5m.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

It's unrealistic to think they will sign guys for the league minimum. If they retain Jankowski and Kylington they will eat up 2.5m of that even without raises, then there is a minimum of 2.8m of everyone signs for the league minimum. Suddenly that 9-10m is 4-5m.

Jankowski is currently significantly overpaid, and will be lucky if someone pays him league minimum next season.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Itse

Jankowski is currently significantly overpaid, and will be lucky if someone pays him league minimum next season.

The issue is I think the Flames will have to qualify him - which means a raise over his current amount.
So do they not qualify him and let him walk? Probably.

[Teroy]

We might consider the contract for Lucic is high but I've been pleased with what he brings to the team. He's actually quite good and adds that toughness this team needs.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Teroy

We might consider the contract for Lucic is high but I've been pleased with what he brings to the team. He's actually quite good and adds that toughness this team needs.

Agreed, though he's not worth his price tag.
But I would not want to lose a 1st to dump his salary. And certainly not in this draft.
Right now the Flames would draft 18 - and there's a lot of talent still there for this draft.
Need to keep that pick.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Agreed, though he's not worth his price tag.
But I would not want to lose a 1st to dump his salary. And certainly not in this draft.
Right now the Flames would draft 18 - and there's a lot of talent still there for this draft.
Need to keep that pick.

Hell no. I can't imagine Treliving has even considered this. Although I'm not a fan of his deployment on the powerplay he's been an okay depth forward and we just have to hope he's got another year like this in him or retires if he can't handle being a scratch.

Still lots to be determined this season as if the team misses the playoffs there will be big changes. If they make the playoffs and get handled easily in the first round again there will be big changes. Heck even if they make some playoff noize I would still consider making some big changes as the team has to figure out how to not mismanage the asset that is Johnny Gaudreau. His trade value will be peak this offseason with two years left on his deal and knowing how close he is to his family and how much he hates to fly it really doesn't look like he's going to want to stay out west past his current deal.

Also sounds like Brodie isn't long for this team and Hamonic and his camp expect more money than the Flames have offered and I would rather the Flames walk away from Hamonic than overspend just to keep a RHD.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The issue is I think the Flames will have to qualify him - which means a raise over his current amount.
So do they not qualify him and let him walk? Probably.

Qualifying 77 would bring him back at $1.75m. No raise since he's over a certain threshold, but still hefty for a 4C.

[Lil Pedro]

- Sign Brodie back from 4.5-5 million AAV...term 3-4 years. If he wants to stay here and play with Gio, he needs to accept that term and money. Otherwise, let him walk
- Trade Sam Bennett...gets $2.75 off the books. Guy does NOTHING for this teams bottom six.
- Bring back Janko at the same money he's making now; doesn't have the leverage to ask for more more. Likely headed to Arbitration, but could see the Flames walking away and letting him be a UFA
- Try to sign Mangiapaine long term..key member of the team moving forward
- Try to bring back Talbot if the $$$ make sense; will be a hard sell as he will likely want the chance to be a #1 somewhere
- Let Hamonic walk...asking for too much and is redundant on the backend
- Jury is still out on Gustafsson

[Harry Lime]

Explore trades for Gaudreau, Backlund and either one of Kylington/Hanafin.
Let Hamonic, Brodie (due to contract), Jankowski and Reider all walk.

Graduate Gawdin, Yelesin and Phillips.
Sign Demelo or Gustofsson.
Play Bennett as 3rd centre all year. Never send him to the wing, where he sucks.

Hire Gallant.

[Flash Walken]

I'm starting to think nickle and dimeing mangiapane one year before he's arbitration eligible and then playing him consistently with the team's best offensive player might have been a bad strategy.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I'm starting to think nickle and dimeing mangiapane one year before he's arbitration eligible and then playing him consistently with the team's best offensive player might have been a bad strategy.

How so? Flames were right tight against the cap and Tkachuk was always priority number 1. And regardless of personal opinion Magiapane didnt do much to warrant his asking price.
What's happening with him right now is exactly what Treliving was banking on. Kids earning his next deal.

[Toonage]

They had the chance to sign him for multiple years at under $1.5M. Now they'll have the chance to sign him for multiple years at or under $3M.

Not their best move.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Toonage

They had the chance to sign him for multiple years at under $1.5M. Now they'll have the chance to sign him for multiple years at or under $3M.

Not their best move.

Again, how? There wasnt cap space for that. The extra pennies Tree saved got the team some added depth in Reider and Rinaldo. And I repeat that Mangiapane didnt warrant that kind of contract despite what some fans thought of the guy.

Still think the line of thinking that the Flames screwed up with mangianes contract is whack.

[Toonage]

Keep the AAV low and raise the salary year over year