2014 NHL Free Agency

[H2SO4(aq)]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Crap....

Still think he shouldn't be back though

lol, you shoulda just admitted you mistakenly read Bouma instead of Byron. Bouma easily did exactly what was asked of him and more last season.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

We'll only see him again at the ceremony to retire his number.

Unless he signs with the Nucks.

If that happens, we throw a Hakan Loob "Forever a Flame" ceremony (which should happen anyway), and put Fleury's name back at the top of all the record books.

[Poe969]

Wow.... I'm out of it. I'm glad Byron isn't coming back. Too long of a day...

[Stay Golden]

Slim pickings for decent FA's right from day 1. The rend has become most teams are keeping their key guys or players that have had those breakout next level seasons content with extensions.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

He's 33 so term matters in the case of Vrbata.

I'm not concerned about term with Vrbata. He's durable.

2013-14 - 2 games missed due to injury
2012-13 - 14 games missed due to injury (broke foot blocking a shot)
2011-12 - 5 games missed (3 for flu, 2 for lower body injury)
2010-11 - 3 games missed due to injury (lower body injury)

He's usually Top 5 in fitness testing too.

I don't think it's out of the question for him to play until 37

[AC]

Originally Posted by Drury18

I'm not concerned about term with Vrbata. He's durable.

2013-14 - 2 games missed due to injury
2012-13 - 14 games missed due to injury (broke foot blocking a shot)
2011-12 - 5 games missed (3 for flu, 2 for lower body injury)
2010-11 - 3 games missed due to injury (lower body injury)

He's usually Top 5 in fitness testing too.

I don't think it's out of the question for him to play until 37

Yeah, I'd be happy if we nabbed Vrbata. Especially at the 4 year, $4.5M tag he is reportedly looking for.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Drury18

I'm not concerned about term with Vrbata. He's durable.

2013-14 - 2 games missed due to injury
2012-13 - 14 games missed due to injury (broke foot blocking a shot)
2011-12 - 5 games missed (3 for flu, 2 for lower body injury)
2010-11 - 3 games missed due to injury (lower body injury)

He's usually Top 5 in fitness testing too.

I don't think it's out of the question for him to play until 37

I was thinking more about the possibility of his productivity tailing off than about his durability.

[Drury18]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I was thinking more about the possibility of his productivity tailing off than about his durability.

He's been aging like a fine wine that way. His scoring has increased the older he's gotten.

I think on a team like Calgary, if he is told "we'll get you the puck, shoot it" he will probably put up career numbers. It's what he was missing in Phoenix. He had to create most plays himself or ended up creating the play and passing to someone who couldn't finish. That's actually why they traded for Erat and that flopped. Put him and Hudler together and I think we start seeing an increase of shots on net and presumably goals.

[Read Only]

The Flames are likely 3 years away from competing for the play-offs and 4-5 from competing for the Cup so if we can get Vrbata for a 3 or even 4 year deal then even if he is fallling off by then he should a. be getting replaced by others and b. coming off the books when his contract would be a concern.

Trevilling obviously knows about him from his time in Phoenix so would know what kind of guy he is in the room/off ice. Who knows what Vrbata values as well as he may want to win after mediocre years in Phoenix or maintain the great lifestyle/no pressure that he is used to.

[Machiavelli]

From (sigh) Eklund:

On Iginla...

The Canucks and Sharks have come out of nowhere in the last 10 hours here...

SJ would be interesting, but would go against their rebuilding mantra.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Seriously?

A full time NHLer (arguably 3rd liner) who gives his heart and soul on every shift. He plays with no regard to his own health, which is awesome for us fans, but in all likelihood will cut his career by several years.

And your response is give him $800k?

I would happily pay him $1.5m (and would have no problem with it being $2m)

Yes seriously. He's a fourth liner with 6 career goals coming of his ELC. I'm not saying he should get chump change but saying that he should get more then a 100% raise is kind of silly. I think the 30% raise (with it being a one way) is more then fair.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

SJ would be interesting, but would go against their rebuilding mantra.

That's up to Thornton and Marleau, they don't waive their NTC's the rebuild is dead in it's tracks.

[neo45]

Bouma isn't a third liner. He is a great 4th liner. To win we will need great 4th liners

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by neo45

Bouma isn't a third liner. He is a great 4th liner. To win we will need great 4th liners

Absolutely right.
If all goes well:
Bennett
Monahan
Backlund
Bouma

[Fire]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Absolutely right.
If all goes well:
Bennett
Monahan
Backlund
Bouma

That's definitely a good enough center group to win a Cup in the future. If the Flames are able to draft McDavid or another elite center then Bennett can move to the wing.

[Street Pharmacist]

Olli Jokinen in an Oilers jersey would make me snicker a bit