[News] Cammalleri has NOT been traded. Upd: Cammalleri likely heading to free agency

[$ven27]

Stastny would be perfect for us. Good mentor for Monahan, can handle 1st line duties, quality top 6 2 way center. However I highly doubt he'd go from a team on the rise back to a rebuilding one.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by debil

cammaleri wakes up three months before the end of his contract, what a loser mentality. I don't want this guy nowhere near my team.

[Bourque's Twin]

Why would Burke sign Stastny to mentor Monahan? That's Stajan's job. There is no reason for Burke to sign Stastny to a long term high paying contract that may handcuff us in 3-4 years when the Flames need the cap space.

Monahan, Stajan , and Backlund are fine as the top 3 centres going forward. I think the Flames will end up with Reinhart, Bennett, or Draisaitl this draft , so that's another young centre to plug into the system.

The only UFA's that Bruke should sign are quality veterans who will provide support for the young guns but not handcuff the organization.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I am actually fine with Cammy leaving now. If he wants to leave us in hoping for more money and a better offer, so be it. Now I am hoping we gain a RWer from the draft. The one I want us to grab the most is Vrbata from the Coyotes. Been to many Coyotes games and I can see a good Glencross - Stajan - Vrbata line.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Why would Burke sign Stastny to mentor Monahan? That's Stajan's job. There is no reason for Burke to sign Stastny to a long term high paying contract that may handcuff us in 3-4 years when the Flames need the cap space.

....

The only UFA's that Bruke should sign are quality veterans who will provide support for the young guns but not handcuff the organization.

Stastny > Stajan.

Statsny is a US Olympian (Burke selected him in 2010 and was likely in support of his selection in Sochi). Statsny will only be 29 and a 4-5 year contract means he will still be in his prime and will be 32 or 33 when that contract ends. He's a legitimate top 2 line center who is a safe bet to put up 20+ goals and 50+ points. Of course the dollars have to make sense, but Burke wants to rebuild this team, he wants this team to start winning, and that starts with adding good players.

I don't see how Statsny will handcuff this team as long as he remains productive and the cap hit is reasonable. Injuries aside, Statsny should remain productive. Top two line centers like Statsny aren't always available. He would be a good addition which is what matters.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by FAN

Stastny > Stajan.

Statsny is a US Olympian (Burke selected him in 2010 and was likely in support of his selection in Sochi). Statsny will only be 29 and a 4-5 year contract means he will still be in his prime and will be 32 or 33 when that contract ends. He's a legitimate top 2 line center who is a safe bet to put up 20+ goals and 50+ points. Of course the dollars have to make sense, but Burke wants to rebuild this team, he wants this team to start winning, and that starts with adding good players.

I don't see how Statsny will handcuff this team as long as he remains productive and the cap hit is reasonable. Injuries aside, Statsny should remain productive. Top two line centers like Statsny aren't always available. He would be a good addition which is what matters.

I like the centers that we have.. Statsny isn't really much of an upgrade and Colorado will probably resign him. We need RWers and a top 4 defenseman more than anything.

[dissentowner]

Statsny will re-up with the Av's anyhow

[FAN]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I like the centers that we have.. Statsny isn't really much of an upgrade and Colorado will probably resign him. We need RWers and a top 4 defenseman more than anything.

Stastny is a big upgrade over Stajan as far as being a top 6 center. We are talking on average of about 10+ goals and 25+ points. Stajan is probably good for 10-15 goals and 30-35 points over 82 games on a good year, which is hardly good 2nd line center production. Stastny is probably good for 20-25 goals and 55-60 points over 82 games on a good year. Statsny and Monahan down the middle the next few years would make a formidable 1-2 punch down the middle.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by FAN

Stastny is a big upgrade over Stajan as far as being a top 6 center. We are talking on average of about 10+ goals and 25+ points. Stajan is probably good for 10-15 goals and 30-35 points over 82 games on a good year, which is hardly good 2nd line center production. Stastny is probably good for 20-25 goals and 55-60 points over 82 games on a good year. Statsny and Monahan down the middle the next few years would make a formidable 1-2 punch down the middle.

1. The Avs will most likely sign him
2. Backlund and Monahan should be the ones getting the 1-2 center positions. They may not be right now, but they need the experience.

[Sylvanfan]

Statsny being 28 is likely going to be seeking a 5-6 year contract. No question he would be a huge upgrade for the Flames. But if you sign a couple free agents like this do you just end up having a team who perennially is in the hunt to finish 8-10th in the Conference?

[Matty81]

I think the Flames should stand pat this summer in free agency excepting maybe a value pickup or two on the blueline and at RW who can potentially be flipped at the deadline for picks and maybe some depth for the farm if Street leaves.

Go one more year and see what the youth coming in can do without old scrubs blocking them. There are enough young guys at LW and C that nobody is going to be handed anything - there will be big competition for places. They aren't winning the cup next year and the draft is sick, using the year to teach some young guys at the big league level makes so much sense. The investment Hartley made in Monahan this year was just priceless, I'd like to see two or three more rookies with the right attitude get the same lessons next year. Between Monahan, Backlund, Brodie, Colborne and maybe Byron if you add 3 more solid young players like Bennett, Wotherspoon and Bartschi and teach them how to play night in and night out at the NHL level you're starting to talk about a core that will be here for 5 years at least that you can build around.

Then next year after the Eichel/McDavid draft, start spending freely again to augment the team you have. Another high pick, Poirier, Gaudreau, Jankowski, Gillies, Klimchuk etc should be pushing for spots. Should have enough of a core and asset base to consider building a winner for a while.

Winning is going to take organizational depth as well as a few high end players, Flames need another draft with high and extra picks to get there.

There are no shortcuts to building a deep strong cup contending team. (unless you're the Pens in the Crosby lottery... another story) If they try to go all in too soon they will end up "contending" for 8th place for a long time.

[neo45]

The Flames should sign someone in a similar position to guys like Boyes, Raymond, Gilbert etc were last year. 1 yr 1 million and will be playing to impress. All three signings really worked out

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by neo45

The Flames should sign someone in a similar position to guys like Boyes, Raymond, Gilbert etc were last year. 1 yr 1 million and will be playing to impress. All three signings really worked out

I would argue boyes hasn't had a great season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

It'll be better than last season at least.

Available forwards:

Vanek
Moulson
Cammalleri
Gaborik
Stastny
Iginla
Hemsky
Legwand
Callahan
Michalek
Jokinen
Roy
Jagr
Bolland
Downie
Stempniak
Heatley
Alfredsson

Defensemen:
Boyle
Timonen
Markov
Pitkanen
Orpik
Greene
Niskanen
Nikitin
Butler
Meszaros

Goalies:
Miller
Brodeur
Hiller
Thomas
Halak
Nabokov
Bryzgalov
Emery
Gustavsson

It's a pretty good crop of UFAs when you take into consideration the awfulness that was last year.

Yeah it's pretty good but when you look at that list of players does anyone honestly believe any of the top guys on the list would come to Calgary unless the Flames off an Oilers style Clarkson overpayment and even that wasn't enough to sway him. It's a good lesson that if you can't get these players on your own terms you are better off letting them go as in Jay Feaster fashion the Oilers dodged a major bullet there.

The Flames are going to have to look at the 2nd tier guys although I could see Burke taking a run at one of the top UFA defenseman.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah it's pretty good but when you look at that list of players does anyone honestly believe any of the top guys on the list would come to Calgary unless the Flames off an Oilers style Clarkson overpayment and even that wasn't enough to sway him. It's a good lesson that if you can't get these players on your own terms you are better off letting them go as in Jay Feaster fashion the Oilers dodged a major bullet there.

The Flames are going to have to look at the 2nd tier guys although I could see Burke taking a run at one of the top UFA defenseman.

Nah - I think the only two guys I'd realistically target are Stastny and Downie. Both in the right age group, both fill in organizational weaknesses (centre and right wing), while Downie also adds the grit/antagonistic style of player we need.

Outside of those two (and I think Stastny is going to get a HUGE payday with a 7 year term due to age and the fact he's a centre), I'd LOVE to see Jagr in a Flames jersey to help mentor guys like Sven.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by debil

cammaleri wakes up three months before the end of his contract, what a loser mentality. I don't want this guy nowhere near my team.

I'm with you, +he's wanted a trade for a full year. I'm not impressed with his late season surge. A lot of good that's done us.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Nah - I think the only two guys I'd realistically target are Stastny and Downie. Both in the right age group, both fill in organizational weaknesses (centre and right wing), while Downie also adds the grit/antagonistic style of player we need.

Outside of those two (and I think Stastny is going to get a HUGE payday with a 7 year term due to age and the fact he's a centre), I'd LOVE to see Jagr in a Flames jersey to help mentor guys like Sven.

I just don't see center as an organization weakness anymore and if you bring in Stastny then you are committing to him as your #1 center for a very long time which means that Monahan and Backlund are going to get reduced roles and Stajan isn't going anywhere so where will Knight fit in as unless you move out Backlund he's not going to get a sniff for years? Seems counterproductive to rebuilding. I just don't see a lot of forwards on that list that make a lot of sense for the Flames unless some of them are willing to take short term deals.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Nah - I think the only two guys I'd realistically target are Stastny and Downie. Both in the right age group, both fill in organizational weaknesses (centre and right wing), while Downie also adds the grit/antagonistic style of player we need.

Outside of those two (and I think Stastny is going to get a HUGE payday with a 7 year term due to age and the fact he's a centre), I'd LOVE to see Jagr in a Flames jersey to help mentor guys like Sven.

Jagr is also in full mercenary mode these days as well. I think he would go to where the money is and also wouldn't care if he were traded at the deadline (like what Dallas did with him).

I think we should stay away from the big long term UFAs for at least one more season. No reason to rush the rebuild yet.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I just don't see center as an organization weakness anymore and if you bring in Stastny then you are committing to him as your #1 center for a very long time which means that Monahan and Backlund are going to get reduced roles and Stajan isn't going anywhere so where will Knight fit in as unless you move out Backlund he's not going to get a sniff for years? Seems counterproductive to rebuilding. I just don't see a lot of forwards on that list that make a lot of sense for the Flames unless some of them are willing to take short term deals.

I still think it is a weaknesses - if we draft Bennett/Reinhart/Draisaitl this year, then yeah I think it's more or less set - but we won't be winning anything meaningful with the group of Monahan/Backlund/Stajan.

Bennett/Reinhart/Draisaitl
Monahan
Backlund
Stajan

That sort of group would make the centre ice spot an organizational strength - which is what it needs to be for us to compete (imo).

Right now, we have good depth at the centre ice spot, but it isn't high-end depth. Backlund and Stajan are both 3rd line guys, Monahan could have upside as a true #1, but may very well settle in as a strong 2 or 1A type guy. We still need another top 6 centre.

[bubbsy]

our strength at center has improved drastically over the past few seasons, but that doesn't mean i think the flames shy away from drafting another center if he's the bpa at their spot.

I don't think a team has ever suffered from having too many strong centers. they become extremely valuable commodities/assets that other GMs are willing to pay for, though many are also able to transition to the wing if required.