2023 NHL Free Agents

[bluejays]

Domi has been mediocre throughout his career and here we're theoretically hoping he turns it around through a long term contract. He may or may not be good, but the point is he's likely to be neither here nor there and that should not be rewarded with a long term deal. I keep saying it but good teams let these guys go. Sign your franchise players to that 8 year deal and all others you reassess for anything close to 5 years. Players like Domi max get a 3 year. Don't like it? Find another bargain elsewhere. Kadri at 7 years more is such a bummer.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Domi has been mediocre throughout his career and here we're theoretically hoping he turns it around through a long term contract. He may or may not be good, but the point is he's likely to be neither here nor there and that should not be rewarded with a long term deal. I keep saying it but good teams let these guys go. Sign your franchise players to that 8 year deal and all others you reassess for anything close to 5 years. Players like Domi max get a 3 year. Don't like it? Find another bargain elsewhere. Kadri at 7 years more is such a bummer.

I think he’ll go back to Chicago as it was rumoured when they traded him at the deadline.

He may well play with Bedard. I doubt Chicago gives him more than 3-years at $5M at most.

Assuming Chicago wants him I guess.

[Vinny01]

If the Flames moved Lindholm for a more futures based move I would be okay if O’Rielly was signed. I wonder if he would take the same deal as his offer sheet he signed with the Flames? $5.5x2

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

If the Flames moved Lindholm for a more futures based move I would be okay if O’Rielly was signed. I wonder if he would take the same deal as his offer sheet he signed with the Flames? $5.5x2

I feel like the Flames would have to pay more

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

There is no cap space

You missed the part about players being moved

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Domi has been mediocre throughout his career and here we're theoretically hoping he turns it around through a long term contract. He may or may not be good, but the point is he's likely to be neither here nor there and that should not be rewarded with a long term deal. I keep saying it but good teams let these guys go. Sign your franchise players to that 8 year deal and all others you reassess for anything close to 5 years. Players like Domi max get a 3 year. Don't like it? Find another bargain elsewhere. Kadri at 7 years more is such a bummer.

I would say in a normal UFA year this would be true.

Problem with this year is that there are almost no top 6 forwards available through free agency. Domi is the youngest of the bunch and someone is going to offer him a deal he can't refuse.

Domi has his baggage but the crop is so bare that there are bound to be bidding wars for him.

[Harry Lime]

If they trade Lindholm, I would look at O'Reilly at the projected 3x5.5 deal, if they trade Toffoli I'd look at Tarasenko at the projected 3x5 deal and if they trade Hanafin I like Mayfield at the projected 3x3.75.

Otherwise it's pretty weak and I would re-sign Phillips.

[Sandman]

I've always liked Miles Wood. 6'2", with excellent speed, physicality, and two-way acumen. I know we prefer the shinier new toys, but he would look great on the third line.

[Flamesfan05]

O’reilly is pretty close to finish

Looked pretty bad most of last year

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

I would say in a normal UFA year this would be true.

Problem with this year is that there are almost no top 6 forwards available through free agency. Domi is the youngest of the bunch and someone is going to offer him a deal he can't refuse.

Domi has his baggage but the crop is so bare that there are bound to be bidding wars for him.

True, but not many teams have much cap room, and the teams that would have the cap room and the desire to sign Domi for more than 3 years are whom?

Teams, like Calgary, have given players increased cap hit. With the cap remaining stagnant, there isn’t enough money to go around for all the free agents. if the cap had gone up $3-4MM, there would be another $100MM available for free agents, but that did not occur.

[Jiri Hrdina]

I think Domi goes back to Chicago. They need to get some players for Bedard and he seemed to fit there.

[bluejays]

I don't think Chicago starts adding yet. Bedard is just the first piece. I think they more or less play out the year in mediocrity and see to add another draft piece next year. I could even see them moving that #19 overall with someone else to move up in the draft this year if there's someone they want. But they're not on the road to the cup with just Bedard as their young core - they need more.

[NewFan]

We must remember that the cap space is one of the best value for trade. If we can trade some UFAs for mostly for picks or prospects, we could trade cap space for cap dump and 1st like Monohan trade. At least next 2 season, cap space will be best value.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I don't think Chicago starts adding yet. Bedard is just the first piece. I think they more or less play out the year in mediocrity and see to add another draft piece next year. I could even see them moving that #19 overall with someone else to move up in the draft this year if there's someone they want. But they're not on the road to the cup with just Bedard as their young core - they need more.

I agree but you still need to surround him with some players that can play with him.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by NewFan

We must remember that the cap space is one of the best value for trade. If we can trade some UFAs for mostly for picks or prospects, we could trade cap space for cap dump and 1st like Monohan trade. At least next 2 season, cap space will be best value.

If the org was doing a retool or rebuild, I could see it but when they are vehemently against that word, what would the sell to ownership be to take on salary? I like the idea of doing as you said but I don't think it would be an easy sell to ownership to take on a salary.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I agree but you still need to surround him with some players that can play with him.

Agreed theoretically. Most times rookies brought in will need that equal footing support, but I think he's such a special player that he can play out the year without getting daunted by not having good players to play with. So I think they buck the trend and keep it mediocre and see what he can do solo.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I don't think Chicago starts adding yet. Bedard is just the first piece. I think they more or less play out the year in mediocrity and see to add another draft piece next year. I could even see them moving that #19 overall with someone else to move up in the draft this year if there's someone they want. But they're not on the road to the cup with just Bedard as their young core - they need more.

Adding players on two year contracts does not affect their cap when they should be competing.

It’s not to compete now, it’s to have some players for Bedard to play with and hit the cap floor.

[activeStick]

I think they ranked Barbashev too low. Teams LOVE playoff performers and he didn't look out of place on the top line for Vegas. I'd put him at number 1 to be honest. I'm going to guess he gets 5-5.5 per.

[FlamesAddiction]

This isn't a fully comprehensive list. I removed players that didn't play last season, or ones that barely played because they were just minor league call ups. Group VI UFAs are not included either, except for Phillips because he is the only interesting one I am personally aware of, but feel free to suggest others or any players not included who should be.

The order of the list is roughly from highest cap hit last season, to lowest. Predictions are just wild guesses.

Patrick Kane - New Jersey
Jonathan Toews - retires
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Europe
Ryan O'Reilly - St. Louis
Vladimir Tarasenko - Carolina
James Van Riemsdyk
John Klingberg
Max Pacioretty - retires
Sean Monahan
Milan Lucic - retires
Mathew Dumba - Winnipeg
Jordan Staal - Florida
Erik Johnson
Jonathan Quick
Jason Zucker - NYI
Gustav Nyquist
Jonathan Drouin - Europe
Patric Hornqvist
Dmitry Orlov - Seattle
Semyon Varlamov
Evgenii Dadonov
Patrice Bergeron
Tyler Bertuzzi - Detroit
Tomas Tatar
Frederik Andersen
Shayne Gostisbehere - Nashville
Alexander Killorn
Brian Dumoulin
Kevin Shattenkirk
Nick Foligno
Cameron Talbot
Connor Brown - Edmonton
Alexander Kerfoot - Vancouver
Tristan Jarry
J.T Compher - Calgary
Lars Eller
Andreas Johnsson
Anton Khudobin - Europe
Pius Suter
Miles Wood
Ryan Graves
Craig Smith
Alex Nedeljkovic
Ian Cole
Max Domi - Nashville
Travis Hamonic - Ottawa
Carson Soucy - Edmonton
Oskar Sundqvist
Radko Gudas - Florida
Vladislav Namestnikov
Nicholas Ritchie
Erik Haula
Laurent Brossoit
Ivan Barbashev - Seattle
James Reimer
Pierre Engvall
Dmitry Kulikov
Zemgus Girgensons
Theodor Blueger - Ottawa
Adin Hill - Vegas
Adam Erne
Nick Bonino
Jesper Fast
Justin Holl
Evan Rodrigues
Corey Perry
Antti Raanta
Niko Mikkola
Ryan Reaves
Tomas Nosek
Vincent Hinostroza
Martin Jones
Derek Grant
Austin Watson
David Kampf
Paul Stastny
Conor Sheary
Philip Kessel - Vegas
Garnet Hathaway
Jaroslav Halak - retires
Luke Glendening
Scott Mayfield
Tyler Motte
Brendan Lemieux
Jordan Oesterle
Nick Holden
Joonas Korpisalo - Toronto
Andrew Cogliano
Darren Helm
Thomas Greiss
Troy Stecher - Vancouver
Noel Acciari
Mattias Janmark
Ryan Donato
Joel Kiviranta
Connor Clifton
Pierre-Edouard Bellemare
Anton Stralman
Danton Heinen
David Krejci
Jujhar Khaira
Anthony Stolarz
Michael Bunting
Jack Johnson
Josh Archibald
Wayne Simmonds - retires
Brian Elliott
Nick Bjugstad
David Rittich - Europe
Devin Shore
Luke Schenn
Nathan Beaulieu
Calvin de Haan
Zach Aston-Reese
Zach Parise
Karson Kuhlman
Trevor Lewis
Robert Hagg
Erik Gustafsson
Dryden Hunt - Calgary
Magnus Hellberg
Josh Leivo
Jayson Megna
Brett Ritchie - Arizona
Alexander Edler
Derek Stepan
Kyle Burroughs
Michael Stone - Calgary
Saku Maenalanen
Derick Brassard
Sam Gagner - Edmonton
Chris Tierney
Eric Staal - Florida
Tyler Pitlick
Alex Chiasson
Alex Stalock
Matt Irwin
Marc Staal - Florida
Patrick Brown - Edmonton
Collin Delia
Andreas Englund
Michael Hutchinson
Matthew Phillips - Arizona

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by activeStick

I think they ranked Barbashev too low. Teams LOVE playoff performers and he didn't look out of place on the top line for Vegas. I'd put him at number 1 to be honest. I'm going to guess he gets 5-5.5 per.

Before the playoffs, I liked Barbashev as a Flames target if they moved on from Lindholm. But I think he’s priced himself out of a reasonable contract now.