RFA's - Who gets qualified/signed, who is let go?

[dammage79]

Pretty sure Granlund has to be signed this year or he is tossed back into the draft pool. Also pretty sure Feaster said Granlund was in talks with the Flames and they were pretty far along in negotiations. So I will guess that they will be announcing his signing very soon.

[The Swedish Flame]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

That sucks. What does that mean going forward? I thought i read that he had to sign with the flames by July or he would be back in the draft.

I've never heard of a Swedish/Finnish player that have reentered the draft. If the rights expire, And they're good enough to play in the NHL/AHL, they'll get signed by someone.

Not saying that it doesn't happen, I'm just not aware of it. So it's probably rare?

Also, usually the better players/prospects in Europe have an "out"-clause for the NHL/KHL. Meaning that they can leave whenever even if they're under contract.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

i hope that is wrong

it is wrong; he needs to sign by June

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by The Swedish Flame

I've never heard of a Swedish/Finnish player that have reentered the draft. If the rights expire, And they're good enough to play in the NHL/AHL, they'll get signed by someone.

Not saying that it doesn't happen, I'm just not aware of it. So it's probably rare?

Also, usually the better players/prospects in Europe have an "out"-clause for the NHL/KHL. Meaning that they can leave whenever even if they're under contract.

Tom Erixon would have re-entered the draft if he wasn't traded

[The Swedish Flame]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Tom Erixon would have re-entered the draft if he wasn't traded

Interesting. Is it an age thing?

[Ashasx]

If we can't sign Granlund, this team should stick to drafting North Americans and Swiss/Czech players.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

it is wrong; he needs to sign by June

Thats not how i wanted to be wrong. LOL

So are we about to lose him for nothing? No team will trade for him if he is already signed with a European club.

[Hair bleach and Vodka]

Granlund is one of the projects we should make sure we continue on for the future. He could be a mainstay on our second line in a couple years time. I sure hope we do sign him. :/

[devo22]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

That sucks. What does that mean going forward? I thought i read that he had to sign with the flames by July or he would be back in the draft.

my understanding is that he has to be signed by June 1st or he goes back into the draft, yes. So like Ortio, they'd sign him and loan him to Finland. I don't have any confirmation on Granlund staying at HIFK though, but this HF article mentions it and his Eliteprospect profile has him at HIFK next year as well. I don't speak Finnish, so I can't come up with a Finnish source maybe Henry Fool can help.

Not sure what the rules for Euros are exactly though. Kuznetsov didn't sign with Washington, but didn't re-enter the draft and is still Capitals property, so there might be some rules I'm not aware of.

[Ring of Fire]

NHL Forwards (RFA)
CW - (23) - Mikael Backlund – Re-sign to multi-year contract
LW/C - (23) - Lance Bouma – Re-sign to 1-2 yr contract

AHL Forwards (RFA)
CW - (23) - Paul Byron – Re-sign to 1-yr, 2-way contract
RW - (23) - Akim Aliu – Re-sign to 1-yr, 2-way contract
C/RW - (22) - Greg Nemisz – Re-sign to 1 yr, 2-way contract or AHL deal
LWW - (23) - Carter Bancks – Sign to AHL deal
LWW - (22) - Gaelan Patterson
RWW - (24) - Bryan Cameron


Reasoning:
Backlund is an NHL roster player in the future who should be signed for at least 2 years depending on negotiations. Bouma, provided he has recovered well from his knee injury will likely be penciled in on the fourth line (1-2 years on the cheap to serve in a 4th line/extra forward role). Byron, Aliu, and Nemisz are all still young with some NHL potential but need to prove they are more than occasional call-ups at this point (depending on college free agents, Nemisz may only get an AHL deal). A one year contract gives each of them the chance to prove themselves (also keeping contracts/AHL roster spots for college players such as Arnold and Agostino in 2014-15) . Bancks is signed at a one-year deal to an AHL deal to be a leader in Abbotsford (not worth an NHL contract with Elson’s contract kicking in).

NHL Defencemen (RFA)
D - (23) - T.J. Brodie – Re-sign to multi-year contract
D - (26) - Chris Butler – Re-sign to 1-2 yr contract
D - (22) - Mark Cundari – Re-sign to 2 yr contract (2-way in year 1, 1-way in year 2)


AHL Defencemen (RFA)
D - (23) - Chris Breen – Re-sign to 1 yr, 2-way contract
D - (24) - Brady Lamb – Re-sign to 1 yr, 2-way contract

Reasoning:
T.J. Brodie is a no-brainer. Either a cheap 2-year deal after which he can sign a larger deal or gamble on a long term deal with a higher AAV that may look good in 2-3 yrs time. Butler is likely best as a 5-6 defenceman who could project to a top four. A short 1-2 year deal at or near his current AAV should keep him motivated to prove he is more. Cundari is a bubble NHL defenceman who may crack the roster next season (cheap, young, low risk). Breen is also pushing for a roster spot and is cheap. Lamb is signed as an AHL defenceman (low risk). The defenceman are signed short term as only Wotherspoon (and Ramage if signed) are moving up to the AHL next year but Kulak, Culkin, etc. will need minutes in the future.

AHL Players (UFA)
C - (28) - Ben Walter - Sign to 1-year, 2-way deal or AHL deal (key Abbotsford player)
RW - (30) - Krys Kolanos - Non-prospect (sign to AHL only if deal if Ward wants him)
RW - (26) - Mike Testwuide- Sign to AHL deal
G - (26) - Danny Taylor – Sign to AHL deal

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by devo22

my understanding is that he has to be signed by June 1st or he goes back into the draft, yes. So like Ortio, they'd sign him and loan him to Finland. I don't have any confirmation on Granlund staying at HIFK though, but this HF article mentions it and his Eliteprospect profile has him at HIFK next year as well. I don't speak Finnish, so I can't come up with a Finnish source maybe Henry Fool can help.

Not sure what the rules for Euros are exactly though. Kuznetsov didn't sign with Washington, but didn't re-enter the draft and is still Capitals property, so there might be some rules I'm not aware of.

Saw the Eliteprospect one but did not see Hockeysfuture article until you posted it. I will say I believe Feaster though when he said that the Flames will have both Broissoit and Granlund locked up pretty quickly.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Not that it really matters one way or the other, but I'm 99 percent sure that Irving is a UFA at seasons end, not a RFA like some are suggesting. I believe he had to play a certain number of games this season to remain RFA and failed to play the required games. Either way he's gone though.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Not that it really matters one way or the other, but I'm 99 percent sure that Irving is a UFA at seasons end, not a RFA like some are suggesting. I believe he had to play a certain number of games this season to remain RFA and failed to play the required games. Either way he's gone though.

This is true. He will be unrestricted.

[Ring of Fire]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Not that it really matters one way or the other, but I'm 99 percent sure that Irving is a UFA at seasons end, not a RFA like some are suggesting. I believe he had to play a certain number of games this season to remain RFA and failed to play the required games. Either way he's gone though.

This season alone Irving has been exposed to waivers, seen an AHL goalie get an NHL deal and steal his playing time, seen the Flames claim a 30-something UFA back-up, trade for a European goalie prospect in Berra and that's not mentioning last year losing his job to Taylor and the acquisition of Ramo. Irving was a Sutter guy and I think the chances of him re-signing are minimal for both sides.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Pretty sure Granlund has to be signed this year or he is tossed back into the draft pool. Also pretty sure Feaster said Granlund was in talks with the Flames and they were pretty far along in negotiations. So I will guess that they will be announcing his signing very soon.

Feaster will announce on May 31 that Granlund's rights have been traded to the Wild for 2 3rd round picks and a NCAA prospect. It will then come out that Granlund had no intention of signing with Calgary and wanted to play with his brother all along. The NCAA prospect will then go on to enjoy a better career with Calgary than Granlund, who is traded from the Wild a couple years later in a package for an overpriced star from a perennial struggling team.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by devo22

Not sure what the rules for Euros are exactly though. Kuznetsov didn't sign with Washington, but didn't re-enter the draft and is still Capitals property, so there might be some rules I'm not aware of.

KHL and NHL don't have a formal transfer agreement. That allows the NHL teams to designate unsigned draftees playing in the KHL with defected status and indefinitely retain their rights.

SM-Liiga has a transfer agreement with the NHL, so the 20 or over applies to Granlund.

At least that's my understanding.

[Stampede2TheCup]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

If we can't sign Granlund, this team should stick to drafting North Americans and Swiss/Czech players.

The new CBA helps this situation. NHL teams will now hold negotiating rights for all Europeans who are drafted at 18 or 19 for four years instead of two. It doesn't help up us with Granlund but it does help with all European draftees going forward.

[Phanuthier]

I think Nemisz should be given another contract. Last year, he was fine in his callup and played very well. This year, he's got injury problems. I would give it another shot.

Butler - don't care. I don't see any upside to be a top 4 dman, his upside is bottom pairing dman... no need to invest time into that. But if they want someone to fill that spot, sure why not. Would love to see Cudari in there, and more willing to deal with his mistakes rather then Butler's "well he looks ok when he's not playing bad"

[Red John]

Butler will be retained simply because not doing so would be admitting the Regehr trade is a disaster.

Though Feaster doesn't seem to have the huge ego that many other GMs do, don't see him avoiding this one to save some face.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by The Swedish Flame

I've never heard of a Swedish/Finnish player that have reentered the draft. If the rights expire, And they're good enough to play in the NHL/AHL, they'll get signed by someone.

Not saying that it doesn't happen, I'm just not aware of it. So it's probably rare?

Also, usually the better players/prospects in Europe have an "out"-clause for the NHL/KHL. Meaning that they can leave whenever even if they're under contract.

I never heard of it either. I mean, how can you sign a player who is still under contract with team in Europe. There is a rule that an NHL team cannot sign a player who is signed with another team in Europe or vice versa. So, if the rumour is true, the Flames should have at least another year to sign Granlund. As far as Erixon is concerned, I am not sure why he could reenter the draft. Was it because he got pick on the first round, not under contract from a European team or because he was born in the US but been playing in Europe since he was a kid? I have no idea. I always thought the reason for some of the GMs to gamble on drafting Europeans was because they don't have the same rules as the CHL players.