[Rumour] Flames have reached out to UFA Matt Martin

[1qqaaz]

We already have too many bottom 6 players that hardly get any points. Lets not put the entire offensive load on the top 2 lines. Ferland, Stajan, (Jooris), Bouma, Bollig, Chiasson, and even Raymond, Hathaway, etc are already there. We don't need even more sub-20 point players. We also don't need to pointlessly take spots away from young players.

Would rather spend our cap on quality players, rather than more depth.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Toonage

When you factor in the raises for Gaudreau & Monahan this year, the raise for Bennett next year and a potential goalie extension or signing, no we really don't have a lot of money coming off the books next year. Its almost a wash.

We will have just over $16m in cap space just from clearing out Raymond, Bollig, Wideman, Smid and Engelland. Should be easily enough to handle the raises of Sam, Elliott and Ferland and have enough left over to make a pitch in free agency.

[Toonage]

For the record, major salaries coming off the books next year:
Wideman (5.25m)
Smid (3.5m)
Engelland (2.9m)
Raymond (3.15m)
Bollig (1.25m)

Likely salaries of Gaudreau & Monahan (14m - and thats being wishful)
Extend Elliot? Even at 2.5 that takes up the money.
Bennett gets a bridge deal? Still around 5m

[dammage79]

I get the sense there may be a lot of shuffling this summer for the Flames roster.

[StrykerSteve]

Fun fact:

Martin led the league in hits last year.
Calgary's top hitter was Ferland, who ranked 24th.
Calgary's next highest hitter was... Joe Colborne at 142nd.

[dammage79]

Wouldn't surprise me to see less Bouma and colborne and maybe Ferland and more guys like Martin on the roster. I think Treliving is really going to tweak the life out of it.

[darthma]

Saying 'we have a lot of bottom six players' is not the same as saying we have a lot of GOOD bottom six players. If you look at Pittsburgh, they didn't just win because of Crosby. They won because they are so deep; i.e., they have a GOOD bottom six. You should never stop trying to improve the team.

[Racki]

Originally Posted by Toonage

When you factor in the raises for Gaudreau & Monahan this year, the raise for Bennett next year and a potential goalie extension or signing, no we really don't have a lot of money coming off the books next year. Its almost a wash.

However, we don't know what will happen from one year to the next. Maybe Las Vegas drafts Stajan? Maybe Giordano or Bouma or Backlund gets traded? My point is, if it make sense then we'd be foolish not to look a it. Martin is a bottom six guy, but he's a bottom six guy that has the ability to affect the game.

[Stay Golden]

Matt Martin absolutely.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I get the sense there may be a lot of shuffling this summer for the Flames roster.

I'm thinking that the reason we haven't seen anything yet is because GMs will need to whiff on their plans A-Z in free agency first.... and then suffer a debilitating stroke. At that point, the Widemans of the world might seem like reasonable option.

[shogged]

this guy would be an upgrade to the bottom 6, no question. we still need to get tougher to play against and martin fits the bill.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

Players like that are guys you develop in-house, then let other teams overpay on the free-agent market. They're a dime a dozen.

The best body checker in the league is dime a dozen? That doesn't really make any logical sense. He's the best in the league at it, he can't be dime a dozen.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

No to paying for 4th liners and 5th/6th defensemen. These guys need to come from the farm. Unless you find some value deal in September for 750k.

He isn't a 4th liner.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

He isn't a 4th liner.

Yes he is.

[ComixZone]

Martin could be a guy that acts as the 3rd player on one of our duos. Right now, I view our team as:

Gaudreau - Monahan - ?
? - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Bennett - ?

Martin brings size, work ethic, and perhaps could be seen as having untapped offensive talent. Could he be the third wheel on the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd line? Seems possible. I prefer what Martin brings over what Colborne brings.

[14]

I get a sense Smid's retirement announcement or LTIR is close.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by 14

I get a sense Smid's retirement announcement or LTIR is close.

There's no way he will retire. I think it's either buyout or he tries to make a go of it again next year.

[Erick Estrada]

Can't overpay for nice to have players like this.

[Hatter]

Originally Posted by darthma

Saying 'we have a lot of bottom six players' is not the same as saying we have a lot of GOOD bottom six players. If you look at Pittsburgh, they didn't just win because of Crosby. They won because they are so deep; i.e., they have a GOOD bottom six. You should never stop trying to improve the team.

I don't think it's feasible for the Flames to have a bottom six as good as Pittsburgh. Since Crosby can create sort of an "artificial" top-two line with anyone he plays with, it allows them to match up either Hornqvist/Malkin/Kunitz or Kessel/Bonino/Hagelin against lesser competition.

A team like the Flames with 4 defensemen making over $5 million can't afford a bottom-6 as useful as Pittsburgh.

[IgiTang]

Colborne 2nd on the team in hits? Yikes.

Every time Colborne was able to make contact with a player, I was left very underwhelmed.

He makes contact but I wouldnt call them hits. Its almost like he was told to start hitting, so he skates up, bumps a guy against the wall and they both skate away like nothing happened.

As for Bollig, im still confused by his role on this team. Its been how many years? and fans are still wondering what he brings? That is not OK.

I would love Martin on this team, but Bollig needs to go before we bring in anymore bottom 6 players.

If Bollig stays, may as well hedge your bets with kids on the farm because theyre likely to be as useful if not more than Bollig.