What Flames Face Buyout at End of Season?

[Wastedyouth]

I would only buy out Smid. He is terrible. Anyone on the farm could fill in for his terrible pay for 1/10th the cost.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I would only buy out Smid. He is terrible. Anyone on the farm could fill in for his terrible pay for 1/10th the cost.

You are kidding right? Smid is great for what he does, blocks shots and hits like a truck. I like Smid.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Logic is Jones keeps hurting himself, especially his shoulder, and is constantly in and out of the sick bay because of it..with 2years left do u want to keep having that roster spot used up by a guy not part of the solution or future..?

It makes sense to keep O'Brien cause he can offer more in his cap hit and in mentoring the kids in Abbotsford. He is also a UFA next year so could be a minor trade chip next deadline..but I threw his name out there cause he really is the only other candidate for a compliance buyout..

If it were me I'd buy out Jones..I like him, when he's healthy, but in 7 seasons he's only played over 50 games twice (77,72).

What does buying him out offer vs a healthy scratch/injury replacement? Why not send him down like O'Brien?

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You are kidding right? Smid is great for what he does, blocks shots and hits like a truck. I like Smid.

That's great that he does those things well. Because that is the only thing he does well. Blocking shots and hitting doesn't help the team win when you can't play actual hockey.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

That's great that he does those things well. Because that is the only thing he does well. Blocking shots and hitting doesn't help the team win when you can't play actual hockey.

[TheDebaser]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

That's great that he does those things well. Because that is the only thing he does well. Blocking shots and hitting doesn't help the team win when you can't play actual hockey.

You know, I kind of agree with you, but I don't really know just how much hitting can help a team. It seems like Smid gets stuck in his own zone a lot.

[Freeway]

Wideman may be the only serious buyout candidate on the team.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Wideman may be the only serious buyout candidate on the team.

And only because of length of term I'd guess

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

You know, I kind of agree with you, but I don't really know just how much hitting can help a team. It seems like Smid gets stuck in his own zone a lot.

He does, because he is a bad skater and can't handle the puck worth a ####.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Freeway

Wideman may be the only serious buyout candidate on the team.

With the cap floor coming into play, we may need another Wideman, never mind buying him out. I guess we could always sign MacDonald for one year at $5M or so. Great reward for a journeyman. When's his birthday?

[Matty81]

Originally Posted by getbak

Where did you get this information from? I've never seen that written anywhere.

I had read several threads on hfboards and a couple other forums quoting this from the CBA (the question has been asked a few times):

* If, for whatever reason, NHL Clubs contract to spend less than 54 percent of the League's Hockey-Related Revenues, the Clubs would be required to contribute additional dollars to a pool to be distributed to the Players to ensure that they receive their full 54% Share.

It looks like that might not be the full answer though, I wanted to respond to your post with something better than a random passage from the CBA in abstract and in reading some of it the new CBA has a new provision around circumvention (which includes basically any type of CBA violation,). It is very wishy washy, it says an arbitrator will be appointed and can impose any or all of a bunch of penalties including fines of up to $5 million, forfeiture of draft picks, games, void contracts or suspend employees.

Taking it a little further, if the arbitrator decides on picks, that will be decided at the sole discretion of one G. Bettman.

There are so many potential circumventions and there is no translation as to which are more serious and which result in minor penalties like a fine.

So bottom line, statement retracted... penalty might be minor but I'd be lying if I said I knew. I think that passage above just applied to a league wide 54% and the individual team gets charged with circumvention.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

With the cap floor coming into play, we may need another Wideman, never mind buying him out. I guess we could always sign MacDonald for one year at $5M or so. Great reward for a journeyman. When's his birthday?

We may need to hit the floor next year, but the $5.25 might hinder us two years from now

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

We may need to hit the floor next year, but the $5.25 might hinder us two years from now

It could but there is no way of telling how it's going to be in two years other than the cap should keep rising. If not Wideman, we'd just need to find a replacement at the same money plus another vet at $5 or $6M and most won't likely take one year contracts.

[Wastedyouth]

Wideman had a rough second half, but buying him out makes little sense.

[dying4acup]

Using buy outs this season is very much dependant on the flames free agency plans (and execution) this summer.

For example:

If the flames were to sign 2 young free agents to BIG (5M+) contracts this summer, and the floor is of no concern;

Compliance buyout:
Wideman and jones(assuming 1 free agent signing was a right winger with size).

Regular buyout:
Obrien let the guy have a chance to salvage an NHL career.

If the plan is to sign 1 free agent to replace Cammy up front for scoring:

Then I compliance buyout Wideman. Only because I don't want his buyout hurting us 2-6 years from now.

If the plan is to only make the cap floor, and possibly take on contracts with picks in trade, I don't buy anybody out.

It depends on the plan. And a lot depends on our new GM (who will only be hired if Brian Burke agrees with his plan).

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

Using buy outs this season is very much dependant on the flames free agency plans (and execution) this summer.

For example:

If the flames were to sign 2 young free agents to BIG (5M+) contracts this summer, and the floor is of no concern;

Who are these 2 young free agents who will be worth over 5M? Stastny is the only one I can think of and he is 28. I guess there are some 27/28 year old defensemen out there but I have trouble seeing the Flames giving Quincey, Niskanen, Nikitin, MacDonald etc. that much money. I also really hope you are not talking about signing any RFAs at that price.

It is far too early in the rebuild for the Flames to be overpaying free agents. The best plan is to save the cap room for a few years in case any 25 or 26 year olds become free agents or a trade can be made for the rights to an RFA. Once the rebuild is complete they can spend to the cap on free agents.

There is no issue having Wideman on the team at the moment. Hopefully he can be healthy and have a better season next year. There has to be a team out there that needs an offensive minded dman and the Flames could retain salary or take a similarly priced RW or RHD in return.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Who are these 2 young free agents who will be worth over 5M? Stastny is the only one I can think of and he is 28. I guess there are some 27/28 year old defensemen out there but I have trouble seeing the Flames giving Quincey, Niskanen, Nikitin, MacDonald etc. that much money. I also really hope you are not talking about signing any RFAs at that price.

It is far too early in the rebuild for the Flames to be overpaying free agents. The best plan is to save the cap room for a few years in case any 25 or 26 year olds become free agents or a trade can be made for the rights to an RFA. Once the rebuild is complete they can spend to the cap on free agents.

There is no issue having Wideman on the team at the moment. Hopefully he can be healthy and have a better season next year. There has to be a team out there that needs an offensive minded dman and the Flames could retain salary or take a similarly priced RW or RHD in return.

That's why I said that it depends on the plan. I don't even think Burke knows what (exactly) the plan is, as he keeps saying that he plans to hire a GM.

The biggest reason to buyout for the flames could be the 50contract limit. They may choose to buyout a player in order to be able to sign a college kid in a year. Again, it depends on the plan.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I would only buy out Smid. He is terrible. Anyone on the farm could fill in for his terrible pay for 1/10th the cost.

Team defense has been a strength in the 2nd half of the season. Why do some fans want to break things up and get rid of guys like Smid and Butler that contribute? Some fans live in this fantasy world where competent 5/6 defensemen grow on trees and any kid in the AHL can just come in and play that role effectively. That attitude will turn your franchise into the Oilers quickly. Part of the Oilers downfall was that trade of Matt Greene and Stoll which was a fantastic trade for the Kings as it helped springboard them to where they are now. Oilers fans dismissed them as slow and easily replaced by their stable of young studs. Didn't work out at all.

[Hockeyguy15]

A cap floor team using buy outs? Come on now.

[Harry Lime]

Wideman still has positive value around the league. No one is buying him out. I think that he can easily be moved to a team with a large expiring contract coming the other way, trading a useful player to them for future flexibility for us. It's really never an issue to reach the cap floor in a professional sports league.