2023 NHL Free Agents

[Calgary4LIfe]

Well, it is likely that for the first time in many years, UFA Brett Ritchie won't be a signing. I rather like what he brings for the 4th line, however.

Forwards:
Ruzicka, Duehr, Pelletier and Coronato will all likely be a part of the team. Maybe Coronato shows that he needs more seasoning - possibly - and gets sent down to the AHL, but he is likely to start in the NHL IMO. Zary had a great camp last year and is likely to see some time up in the NHL this year for injuries, assuming he doesn't make the team.

Goalies:
Wolf is graduating. So either Vladar or Markstrom is likely to be traded. I don't think another NHL goalie signing is likely.

Defencemen:
This is where things get more murky for me. Assuming nobody moves, then I would think the Flames run with the same group as last year + Kylington returns.
Hanifin - Tanev
Weegar - Andersson
Kylington - Zadorov

7th D includes Stecher (a bit rich for a 7th D maybe), Stone, Gilbert (I liked him last year, and he has another year left on his deal). That's a pretty good group. Obviously the Hanifin, Tanev and (to a lesser extent, the Zadorov) situations have an enormous impact here. I have always liked Gudas, but he probably gets priced out. Stetcher makes the most sense to re-sign depending on what happens. Stone has always been a 'given' here, but there is a new GM and coach in place, so it is more of a question mark than usual.

My bet is that defence is where we see most of the signings and movement.

One note: This team has gotten significantly 'lighter' in the last 2 seasons. Barring a re-sign, the team has shed Lucic, Gudbranson, and Ritchie(s). Zadorov is on his last year and is an upcoming UFA as well - is Zadorov part of the 'sign or be traded group' (probably not, but who knows?). No idea how Conroy feels about this position, but the newly hired Special Advisor has always felt that he prefers to have a guy around to police (so that Iginla didn't have to do it as often). Will be interesting to see how the Flames address this, as they are significantly a much lighter team. Will also be interesting to see if Conroy re-signs Phillips. If that happens, I would assume that there is a handshake agreement in place to have Phillips play a certain amount of games. Having Phillips with Pelletier, Coronato, Mangiapane, Kylington, (Stetcher??)... at any rate, this team is trending towards being a small team. Maybe it doesn't matter, maybe it does. I do wonder if Conroy addresses this or not. Maybe you see a guy like Austin Watson brought in - not exactly a heavy, but a guy who plays with a lot of jam, has the size, but is a strong skater? Something to keep an eye on anyway.

It is incredibly difficult to speculate on who the Flames may bring in without knowing what happens with the important players entering their last year on their contracts. If I am guessing, defence is where we will see the most movement from the UFA front, as there just doesn't seem to be anyone ready to step up if 2 bodies end up moving.

[stemit14]

Ivan Barbashev has a Brad Treliving signing written all over him. Reminds me of when Brouwer, Neal and Coleman reached free agency after big playoff performances. Guy who has had some great playoff runs but doesn’t have much point production in the regular season. Figures he would come in and be the missing link for playoff success. Signed to a 5-6 year deal for $5-7 million because Treliving absolutely has to have the player.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

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.

Regular season is extremely important to a team like the Flames that miss the playoffs as much as they make them. He just doesn't put up enough offense to justify $5 million as that 2021-22 season was one of the bigger outlier seasons you will ever see from a player as he went from a 26 point player to a 60 point player and back down to a 40 point player which is what you will get from him on a good year. I just feel with Coleman on the books for four more seasons you can't afford another middle six 30-40 point winger making that kind of money.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Ivan Barbashev has a Brad Treliving signing written all over him. Reminds me of when Brouwer, Neal and Coleman reached free agency after big playoff performances. Guy who has had some great playoff runs but doesn’t have much point production in the regular season. Figures he would come in and be the missing link for playoff success. Signed to a 5-6 year deal for $5-7 million because Treliving absolutely has to have the player.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

$5M for Barbashev is probably not far off value. He's been a 26 goal/60 point guy once and is normally .5 ppg or so.

Neal got paid because of his consistent regular seasons, which all fell apart in Calgary. Coleman was paid because he's a good player.

[Sylvanfan]

Barbashev is 28 isn't he? So that's not old for a UFA, and this is a really weak class. In terms of playoff impact his was by far the greatest of the pending UFA players for me. So he is that guy who could get that eye popping contract. I like how he plays, he seemed to be a great fit with Eichel and Marchessault...but if the Flames were to give him 6 million there would be some buyers remorse a year later.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Barbashev is 28 isn't he? So that's not old for a UFA, and this is a really weak class. In terms of playoff impact his was by far the greatest of the pending UFA players for me. So he is that guy who could get that eye popping contract. I like how he plays, he seemed to be a great fit with Eichel and Marchessault...but if the Flames were to give him 6 million there would be some buyers remorse a year later.

I really don’t want to chase that again. I know every depth player the flames have signed is different and some are better than others but the flames have constantly over-paid the latest playoff performer from another team and it is almost always a bad signing… Brouwer, Neal, Coleman, Kadri… we all say after their first year it was “adjusting to the new system” and “tired from the long playoff run last year.” However, none of them really reach the value of what they are paid (with possibly the exception of Coleman). I would rather not go hunting for any big fish in the free agency this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I really don’t want to chase that again. I know every depth player the flames have signed is different and some are better than others but the flames have constantly over-paid the latest playoff performer from another team and it is almost always a bad signing… Brouwer, Neal, Coleman, Kadri… we all say after their first year it was “adjusting to the new system” and “tired from the long playoff run last year.” However, none of them really reach the value of what they are paid (with possibly the exception of Coleman). I would rather not go hunting for any big fish in the free agency this year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Again, Neal wasn't the big playoff name that year. He was not even top 3 on his team in scoring - he was 4th on his team (and 5th after Perron in PPG). He was signed because he was a consistent 20 goal man with size, which was what the Flames needed. And because he was a highly sought after UFA - ranked in the top 5-10 in most lists (and in the top 2 wings).

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...-van-riemsdyk/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...res/728090002/

https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-t...agents-of-2018

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Again, Neal wasn't the big playoff name that year. He was not even top 3 on his team in scoring - he was 4th on his team (and 5th after Perron in PPG). He was signed because he was a consistent 20 goal man with size, which was what the Flames needed. And because he was a highly sought after UFA - ranked in the top 5-10 in most lists (and in the top 2 wings).

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...-van-riemsdyk/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...res/728090002/

https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-t...agents-of-2018

I know. But he was still had a strong playoffs on a deep run. You are correct that it was his consistent regular season performances that also played a factor.

However, he still can be grouped into middle-six player in his late 20s/early 30s signed by the flames to a long contract with a high cap hit after a long playoff run.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Monahan for cheap. He can be our beloved black ace that periodically gets out of his body cast to play a month of hockey and score some sweet goals.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Ivan Barbashev has a Brad Treliving signing written all over him. Reminds me of when Brouwer, Neal and Coleman reached free agency after big playoff performances. Guy who has had some great playoff runs but doesn’t have much point production in the regular season. Figures he would come in and be the missing link for playoff success. Signed to a 5-6 year deal for $5-7 million because Treliving absolutely has to have the player.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You hit the nail on the head. Any hype around a guy and Treliving is on it. We should do a competition of who is the most popular ufa. I’d probably put money that Treliving is chasing the guy. Barbashev has got more attention then he would normally but I don’t think he’s hyped up enough. Nobody stands out this year though so we’ll see. With so many defence free agents on the Leafs though, I really think they’ll have to go hard for a series stealer like Soros. Then find defensive pieces after. It’s the Leafs best chance. I do think given their needs Nylander will have to go.

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Monahan for cheap. He can be our beloved black ace that periodically gets out of his body cast to play a month of hockey and score some sweet goals.

What was Monahan's injury this year? Foot? So long as it wasn't one of his old injuries coming back to life, I would for sure sign get him. Obviously on a low risk redemption deal.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by bluejays

You hit the nail on the head. Any hype around a guy and Treliving is on it. We should do a competition of who is the most popular ufa. I’d probably put money that Treliving is chasing the guy. Barbashev has got more attention then he would normally but I don’t think he’s hyped up enough. Nobody stands out this year though so we’ll see. With so many defence free agents on the Leafs though, I really think they’ll have to go hard for a series stealer like Soros. Then find defensive pieces after. It’s the Leafs best chance. I do think given their needs Nylander will have to go.

I hope somebody start a bidding war with Treliving so that he has to pay a premium.

[FlamingHomer]

I pray that no one signs Corey Perry. I've always dreaded him playing against the Flames.

[camm13]

Originally Posted by Major Major

What was Monahan's injury this year? Foot? So long as it wasn't one of his old injuries coming back to life, I would for sure sign get him. Obviously on a low risk redemption deal.

Broken foot plus groin injury that needed surgery. He's been out since Dec. He'll probably get new injuries even if old ones don't re occur

[Sandman]

Monahan sneezes, and he needs surgery....

[Teroy]

Originally Posted by FlamingHomer

I pray that no one signs Corey Perry. I've always dreaded him playing against the Flames.

Always loved his tenacity. A guy who always lays it on the line.

[Username: Flames]

I just hope the flames trade Lindholm and Hanifin. I also hope I win the lottery. If they don't trade them and I do win, I'd be okay with it.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Major Major

What was Monahan's injury this year? Foot? So long as it wasn't one of his old injuries coming back to life, I would for sure sign get him. Obviously on a low risk redemption deal.

I'm pretty sure he injured something else while rehabbing the original injury.

Sean Monahan could've played Elijah Price/Glass in Unbreakable.

[camm13]

Originally Posted by Username: Flames

I just hope the flames trade Lindholm and Hanifin. I also hope I win the lottery. If they don't trade them and I do win, I'd be okay with it.

Lol, you keep repeating the same thing in every thread. This one is for 2023 free agents

[The Original FFIV]

One name that isn't on the list - Nikita Tryamkin.

28 years old, KHL, ex-Canuck looking to come back.

IIRC, played with Stecher in Vancouver. And if we have big Z here, might be more attractive for him. 6'8", 250+lbs. Skates well. Might make us forget about Hanifin...