2014 UFAs - Who do you sign in the offseason?

[Wastedyouth]

Girardi - no question

Douglas Murray? Bahaha lolwut?

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Girardi - no question

Douglas Murray? Bahaha lolwut?

I like big guys that can lay big hits, OK. Always liked Crankshaft too and he's cheap.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I like big guys that can lay big hits, OK. Always liked Crankshaft too and he's cheap.

He is terrible. SOB is a better player than Murray.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If you look at Richards contract beyond this year, he has 2 years at 8.5 million and one at 7 coming after this season. The last 3 years are 1 million in actual dollars.

So if you look at it in the prism of having him for three years only as you'll easily be able to trade him to a Phoenix/Florida or other cap floor team, then that's not bad. Yes he's overpaid, but does that really matter in our current situation?

Some people want to keep Cammalleri for a few years, what's the real difference between them? The cap hits in each case would likely be roughly equivalent if you kept Cammy for 3 years. The production would likely be in the same ball park.

If you deal Cammalleri, you'll get a 1st + at the deadline. If you acquire Richards, you might be able to get a decent asset in addition to Richards just so they don't have to buy him out.

In terms of asset management, to me it's a win. We get an equivalent player to Cammalleri for beyond this year, and we get to trade Cammalleri for assets to further the rebuild.

Which teams added assets to shed a bad contract last year? They all opted for a compliance buyout instead. Rich teams will always spend money rather than player assets. Plus even if the Rags trade Richards, don't they still bear liabilty on that contract should he retire? in that case The Rangers will happily spend 18 million dollars to get away from the back end liability of Richards contact, and Richards will happily accept 18 million so he can go out and sign a 5 year deal for 25 million with someone else that he gets to pick this summer.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Which teams added assets to shed a bad contract last year? They all opted for a compliance buyout instead. Rich teams will always spend money rather than player assets. Plus even if the Rags trade Richards, don't they still bear liabilty on that contract should he retire? in that case The Rangers will happily spend 18 million dollars to get away from the back end liability of Richards contact, and Richards will happily accept 18 million so he can go out and sign a 5 year deal for 25 million with someone else that he gets to pick this summer.

If after the season's over we traded SOB for him, I'd be fine with that. I'd probably take him if we had to send a minor B prospect or two like Cundari or Olivier Roy. As long as we aren't sending anything that's legitimately good back, why not.

[stemit14]

Since the flames will have the cap space and a need to reach the cap floor... I wouldn't mind over spending on guys like dan girardi, Matt Greene, and Orpik. They fit the profile of physical, shut down defensemen who are hard to play against and can play 20+ minutes a night. I think it would take a serious over payment to get any of them if they make to FA but I think they are good options.

At forward, it depends on who gets resigned amongst stajan, cammalleri, and stempniak. I hope at least one of them gets re-signed for 3 years. I would go after some size up front like Steve downie maybe but I'm more comfortable promoting players from within the organization when it comes to the forwards. Guys like gaudreau, ferland, granlund, poirier, etc. hopefully step up into spots that open up.

[Gaskal]

I'd like to also sign Marcel Goc if we trade away Stajan/Backs or both. Great defensive forward and veteran presence at C. Solid faceoffs too. Very affordable as we could probably sign at $2 million AAC (cap hit of 1.7 mill AAC at the moment). Probably wants to get the #### outta Florida too.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Highly dubious Richards becomes a Flame next season. Rangers won't trade him to anyone, as the recapture penalty is significant. Richards isn't doing well enough to avoid being bought out now that there is a recapture penalty in place. It would probably actually take a significant over-payment for NYR to take that risk, and nobody thinks Richards is worth an over-payment at this point.

Richards probably won't want to sign here in the off-season. Once again, he would more than likely want to sign out east somewhere so his grandfather could play (as that was one of the reasons he stated for signing in NY), and he will probably want to play for a contender again.

This team is going to have a difficult time signing free agents next year. They are not competing. The cap is also going up so a lot of other teams are going to have extra cash to spend. I think the best bets for signing UFAs are the guys that are just holding onto their careers in the NHL, or really need a second chance after a disappointing season or two.

[troutman]

We should not start threads like this without first defining what kind of team we want the Flames to be next year. Are we rebuilding and developing young players? Are we trying to make the playoffs? Is the latter even realistic?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

How about 28 year old C Brian Boyle... 6-7 244.. who plays hard and is good in the Face-off circle. The Flames would have a real 3rd line checking centre who plays better in the playoffs.... bonus he would be able to interpret Boston to English for Gaudreau. Currently makes 1.7 M.

He would be a Stajan replacement at basically the same $ and have clearer role and expectations.... Maybe Backlund gets moved and the Flames hang onto Stajan.

Agree with this take. We need a guy that can play anywhere in the lineup as a 2-4th line center.

Dave Bolland would fit this bill as well, although I would guess the Leafs will re-sign him.

[Muta]

I just watched Boyle at MSG last week... what a creampuff. The guy should get his nails done instead of playing hockey, he's that soft.

If he actually developed some cajones and got mean, he'd be a legit scary player.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Agree with this take. We need a guy that can play anywhere in the lineup as a 2-4th line center.

Dave Bolland would fit this bill as well, although I would guess the Leafs will re-sign him.

No way should Boyle be near anyone's second line.

As for Bolland, have to think he will indeed re-up with TO. Local boy and they need him badly.

[FightinSioux]

Guys to target:

Vanek, Thomas
Setoguchi, Devin
Callahan, Ryan
Gaborik, Marian
Bolland, Dave
Winnik, Daniel
Moulson, Matt
Raymond, Mason

Phaneuf, Dion
Niskanen, Matt
Orpik, Brooks
Nikitin, Nikita
Girardi, Dan
Quincey, Kyle

Halak, Jaroslav
Hiller, Jonas
Gustavsson, Jonas
Miller, Ryan
Elliott, Brian

[SeanCharles]

All of the Big Fish will get re-signed by their clubs except maybe Vanek, Miller and Stastny. Vanek and Miller will probably be traded at the deadline.

I would be fine going after Stastny but I don't expect it.

Should we trade all of Stajan, Cammalleri, Stempniak and Butler at the deadline....???

Re-sign Russell for a few years. Maybe extend B. Jones 1-2 seasons.

Go after Setoguchi and Niskanen.

Glencross-Backlund-Hudler
Baertschi-Monahan-Setoguchi
Galiardi-Colborne-Jones
Bouma-Knight-Reinhart
McGrattan/B.Jones

Gio-Wideman
Brodie-Russell
Smid-Niskanen

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by FightinSioux

Guys to target:

Vanek, Thomas
Setoguchi, Devin
Callahan, Ryan
Gaborik, Marian
Bolland, Dave
Winnik, Daniel
Moulson, Matt
Raymond, Mason

Phaneuf, Dion
Niskanen, Matt
Orpik, Brooks
Nikitin, Nikita
Girardi, Dan
Quincey, Kyle

Halak, Jaroslav
Hiller, Jonas
Gustavsson, Jonas
Miller, Ryan
Elliott, Brian

Deadline Moves:
Mike Cammalleri to Vancouver for a 1st+3rd
Matt Stajan+Tyler Wotherspoon To Florida for Dmitry Kulikov
Mikael Backlund+Chris Butler To Toronto for Jake Gardiner
Dennis Wideman+TJ Galiardi+Vancouver 1st for Ryan O'Reilly
Lee Stempniak+Kris Russel+Van 3rd to Minnesota for Dany Heatley+Min 1st
SOB to Boston for 7th


Off-Season Moves:
Curtis Glencross To LA for LA 1st
David Jones to Washington 4th Round

Picks:
CGY Rounds 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7
Min Round 1
Boston Round 7
Washington Round 4

Sign:
Tomas Vanek
Marian Gaborik
Dan Girardi

Baertschi-ROR-Gaborik
Vanek-Monahan-Hudler
Gaudreau-Colborne-Bouma
Knight-Reinhart-McGrattan
M.Granlund

Kulikov-Giordano
Girardi-Brodie
Smid-Gardiner
P.Seiloff

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Matt Stajan+Tyler Wotherspoon To Florida for Dmitry Kulikov
Dennis Wideman+TJ Galiardi+Vancouver 1st for Ryan O'Reilly
Lee Stempniak+Kris Russel+Van 3rd to Minnesota for Dany Heatley+Min 1st

Don't see the other side saying "yes" to any of these deals.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by strombad

There is absolutely no record of Richards not wanting to be a Calgary Flame, zero. The only thing we know is that Calgary was on the short list, and that Richards preferred the Eastern Conference over the Western Conference. Quit passing off your own fantasy as fact and using it to ridicule the desires of other fans.

There is absolutely no record of Richards really wanting to be in Calgary. Keeping Calgary in tight as a strategy to get the Rangers to ante up does not mean he wanted to come to Calgary. I know full well in the business world that this tactic is used all the time with companies using offers from suppliers that they don't intend to use to as ammunition to get discounts from their preferred supplier. I believe this was used here and really who was surprised at the end when he made his decision? Nobody! The fact that the Flames deal was supposedly a little better and he still picked the Rangers is ample proof he didn't want to be a Flame no?

Maybe I can't pass that as fact just like you can't pass as fact he really wanted to play here but all we know is that he passed on a better offer in Calgary not to play here.

[H2SO4(aq)]

I would target Callahan and Girardi. Callahan very much fits our needs on the RW.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Muta

I just watched Boyle at MSG last week... what a creampuff. The guy should get his nails done instead of playing hockey, he's that soft.

If he actually developed some cajones and got mean, he'd be a legit scary player.

so which Flame forward, that can play more than 10 minutes a game, is less of a cream puff?

He has been in the top 20 players in the league for hits for the last 3 years. Even taking into account some distortion for the hits statistics he has to be out there bumping into people with his big body.

52, 56 and 56% winning face off's over the last 3 seasons. Looks good to the Flames best 2012-13 Cammalleri 52% and 2011-12 Stajan's 51%.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by H2SO4(aq)

I would target Callahan and Girardi. Callahan very much fits our needs on the RW.

If we could sneak Callahan out of NY before free agency (the only way we'd have a hence to sign him IMO) then we absolutely have to do it. I've always liked his game, but I see him staying in NY long term.