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

[puckluck2]

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.

Agreed. He is a good player when he wants to be and unless the spotlight is on him (CBC, TSN) or he's fighting for his next contract he is usually MIA. Can't believe so many people forget the months of horrid play from him where he was completely useless.

[Muta]

Rebuild, Phase Two:

Cammalleri / Stempniak out; Gaudreau / Byron in.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Muta

Rebuild, Phase Two:

Cammalleri / Stempniak out; Gaudreau / Byron in.

[FakenHaken]

Originally Posted by Muta

Rebuild, Phase Two:

Cammalleri / Stempniak out; Gaudreau / Byron in.

I like that providing however Gaudreau can transition to the NHL that's a big presumption I have, but I think he can.

This is what should happen in a rebuild to be honest. Baertschi, could even be included as the competition increases in our prospect pool. Competition amongst prospects is a good thing in my opinion.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by 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.

I would like to see do that as well but with Cammalleri leaving the Flames are going to have to sign at least a couple of UFAs for $5mill+ per season to get to the lower cap ($52million?). The Flames are sitting at $42 million for next season and the Flames RFAs won't get big raises.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I still think Vrbata will be an excellent pick up at 3, 4 years at 5m per if the Coyotes don't extend him (which would be a mistake for them).

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Fire

I would like to see do that as well but with Cammalleri leaving the Flames are going to have to sign at least a couple of UFAs for $5mill+ per season to get to the lower cap ($52million?). The Flames are sitting at $42 million for next season and the Flames RFAs won't get big raises.

From what we have heard as fans, Cammalleri has been great for the team's culture as well. His time in Montreal also shows he's a hell of a competitive guy, so I'd love to have him back. I have a feeling his desire to be competitive will see him sign elsewhere, but those are the breaks of rebuilding.

If Steve Downie's early career personality "issues" have truly subsided like has been mentioned elsewhere, I'd love to see him sign with the Flames this summer to help lessen the blow of losing Cammy. He's nothing special offensively but can contribute at a decent clip and brings an edge to the game that we lack. Glencross - Stajan - Downie could be a pretty good line.

But yeah, we have a lot of cap space that will need to be used if Cammy does move on.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Agreed. He is a good player when he wants to be and unless the spotlight is on him (CBC, TSN) or he's fighting for his next contract he is usually MIA. Can't believe so many people forget the months of horrid play from him where he was completely useless.

I get why you might not want Cammy going forward (too many small forwards), but "months of horrid play"? He was still one our best offensive players, and by all accounts carried himself as a professional. I see no reason to hate on him, just because he actually contributed to the team winning games at the end of the season.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Can't believe so many people forget the months of horrid play from him where he was completely useless.

Are you talking about when he had the hand injury, or talking about the concussion?

This is Cammalleri when he is healthy

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by Muta

Rebuild, Phase Two:

Cammalleri / Stempniak out; Gaudreau / Byron in.

I'd like to think so, but I can't see Burke wanting us to get that tiny. There will be bigger bodies coming our way I feel 99% sure.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by BigRed

I'd like to think so, but I can't see Burke wanting us to get that tiny. There will be bigger bodies coming our way I feel 99% sure.

Except, those are only two smaller players in a lineup of 12 forwards. There's lots of space for truculence elsewhere.

Also, Cammy and Stemps were smaller guys, and Byron was already on the team. Gaudreau and Byron take Cammy and Stemps' spots, and the a larger player takes Byron's existing spot. That situation more than addresses any size issues versus our current lineup.

[djsFlames]

Out - Cammy (walk), Galliardi (walk), Jones (buyout)

Moved - BVB (Abb), Agostino (Abb), Westgarth (Abb)

In - Vrbata 2/4mil, Stastny 4/6.5mil, Gaudreau, Baerstchi, Wotherspoon


Glencross - Stastny - Vrbata
Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne
Baertschi - Backlund - Hudler
Bouma - Stajan - McGrattan

Byron, Granlund

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Smid
Wideman - Butler

Wotherspoon

Ramo
Ortio


..Boom!

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Out - Cammy (walk), Galliardi (walk), Jones (buyout)

Moved - BVB (Abb), Agostino (Abb), Westgarth (Abb)

In - Vrbata 2/4mil, Stastny 4/6.5mil, Gaudreau, Baerstchi, Wotherspoon


Glencross - Stastny - Vrbata
Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne
Baertschi - Backlund - Hudler
Bouma - Stajan - McGrattan

Byron, Granlund

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Smid
Wideman - Butler

Wotherspoon

Ramo
Ortio


..Boom!

That's a fine lineup IMO. Wideman gone at next deadline would be even better. I might switch Sven and Granlund.

I'd be OK with only Statsny.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Out - Cammy (walk), Galliardi (walk), Jones (buyout)

Moved - BVB (Abb), Agostino (Abb), Westgarth (Abb)

In - Vrbata 2/4mil, Stastny 4/6.5mil, Gaudreau, Baerstchi, Wotherspoon


Glencross - Stastny - Vrbata
Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne
Baertschi - Backlund - Hudler
Bouma - Stajan - McGrattan

Byron, Granlund

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Smid
Wideman - Butler

Wotherspoon

Ramo
Ortio


..Boom!

Not a chance either one of those players will accept those terms. If Stastny goes UFA, he's signing a 7 year deal (likely at 7M). Vrbata will want longer than 2 years term.

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by Muta

Except, those are only two smaller players in a lineup of 12 forwards. There's lots of space for truculence elsewhere.

Also, Cammy and Stemps were smaller guys, and Byron was already on the team. Gaudreau and Byron take Cammy and Stemps' spots, and the a larger player takes Byron's existing spot. That situation more than addresses any size issues versus our current lineup.

Stempniak played a decent physical game, and wasn't really undersized (200 lbs or so I think?)

Anyway, let's have a look at little forwards:

Gaudreau
Byron
Baertschi
Hudler
Granlund

And then guys who aren't soft, but not exactly truculent:

Backlund
Monahan
Glencross
Colbourne

And you have 9 of 12 forwards lacking in the physicality department.

Then, for truculence, you have:

McGrattan
Bouma
Westgarth (I doubt he stays)
Van Brabant (if he makes the team)
Wolf (a longshot)

... none of whom are much of a threat skill-wise.

Then, on D, the current top 4 aren't an overly physical bunch either, with the exception of Giordano:

Gio
Russell
Brodie
Wideman

With Butler posing no physical threat and Smid beign the only hard nose in the lot.

So, it seems to me that makeup of the team will change.

[calgarygeologist]

I would love to see Paul Stastny join the Flames in place of Cammy but Stastny would be an expensive additionally (but the Flames can afford it.)

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Way too small of a lineup still

[Muta]

Would rather give Byron that RW spot than Vrbata; give Byron a full season before burying him in the pressbox. He's proven he can play - and compete - in the NHL.

[djsFlames]

I think it allows for the younger players to be properly sheltered and line up against the opposition that Hartley wants them to. We badly need some added strength on the right side. Vrbata gives us that as well as another vet presence, and can help replace much of the scoring lost from Cammy going to UFA. Stastny is a young enough center that he can be part of the solution here for a few years, and give us some more high end in our top 6. Allows Backlund to chew up his competition in a 3rd line role.

Agreed, Granlund and Sven can be interchangeable. Granlund atm looks more NHL ready, so perhaps he's the one lining up with Backlund while Sven slots in when needed.

Byron makes an excellent 14th forward and a good weapon to inject some speed into the lineup if desired.

2 might not be enough term for Vrbata, but the most I'd offer is 3. We can afford to overpay for both guys.

[squiggs96]

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.

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Agreed. He is a good player when he wants to be and unless the spotlight is on him (CBC, TSN) or he's fighting for his next contract he is usually MIA. Can't believe so many people forget the months of horrid play from him where he was completely useless.

The only two months where he didn't do much were January and February. He sustained the concussion in January, missed 8 games and probably wasn't all there when he came back in February. Once he had the Olympic break to recover, he was excellent in March and April. He has the exact same PPG in April that he did in October.

His March totals are a but higher than the rest of the season, but they played Edmonton twice (including the 8-1 game), and some bad teams in Buffalo, Nashville, Islanders, and Ottawa twice. December and January were his worst stretch, but they played Boston, Pittsburgh twice, Philly, St. Louis twice, Tampa and Colorado.

If anything, he has been lighting it up against the weaker opponents, not the stronger, bigger ones, which is to be expected. He just happens to have played a lot weaker competition lately.