How would you rate the Flames' first day of free agency?

[Enoch Root]

A

Brouwer fits our needs much better than Colborne. I didn't mind him but he never really fit anywhere on the roster.

We got bigger, better, solidified the goaltending with a solid backup, and didn't blow the bank account.

Brouwer and Chiasson will really solidify the right side. (and Pribyl should be able to bring some additional skill at some point during the season)

Elliot and Johnson completely fixes the goaltending.

Hopefully they get Nakladal inked.

[Anduril]

A-
You use the draft to find foundation blocks, gems and maybe support players. FA is to fill the holes that exist in your lineup system. Brouwer is the kind of player this team has been needing and wanting for a while (size, skill, physical, rw, RH) Only reason my rating isn't an A or A+ is because of the inevitable expensive contract that was given. At least it doesn't look to handcuff this team (only 4 years, history of consistency and durability).
Reliable backup in Johnson will hopefully continue to give the team a chance every night, and that the team continues to play with confidence regardless of who's in net.

[Erick Estrada]

C

I like Johnson signing but I can't believe after overpaying Stajan the team went back to the well to overpay another bottom 6 talent. I get that Brouwer may be a decent addition for a season or two but I'm grading the big picture.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Just wondering how else you would like people to rate free agent signings.

I mean, we can all say we've watched a player and do or do not like him. That is subjective and emotional.

Stats aren't everything, but they are objective. And when they are particularly terrible as in Brouwer's case, it's hard not to absolutely hate this signing.

Here's the thing about backyard analytics types: The don't let statistics rule their emotions. They let emotions rule their statistics. You did it yourself in trying to compare Brouwer - a sought after commodity - with Glencross - who was forced to retire when nobody wanted to hire him. And you did so on the basis of, quite literally, two stats: P/60 and CorsiRel.

Now, Brouwer was middle of the pack among Blues forwards for both GF/60 abd GA/60 at 5 on 5. So while his CorsiRel was low - in part a function of being one of the guys the Blues leaned on most heavily for defensive zone starts - he clearly wasn't hurting his team. In fact, he was probably a bit unlucky last year as his 7.41 shooting percentage at evens was well below his career norms of 10-12%. And that would be why he failed to reach 20 goals last year. If he returns to normal, he should pass that mark this year.

Beyond that, he checks several boxes on our list of glaring needs - right shooting right wing. Physical/size. Veteran leadership. Intangibles that spreadsheets can't capture - and it is up to you to decide if you value that or not given it doesn't fit a column on stats.hockeyanalysis.com, but very clearly NHL teams do. And like it or not, that increases his value and cost. As it is, Brouwer is going to be our fourth highest paid forward next year, and of the players likely to be on the roster, he will have recorded the fourth most points among those forwards last season.

The evidence points to Brouwer's contract being market value. Not a bargain, but not a rip-off either.

[AC]

3 teams that got better on July 1
http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1053682

Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Anduril

A-
You use the draft to find foundation blocks, gems and maybe support players. FA is to fill the holes that exist in your lineup system. Brouwer is the kind of player this team has been needing and wanting for a while (size, skill, physical, rw, RH) Only reason my rating isn't an A or A+ is because of the inevitable expensive contract that was given. At least it doesn't look to handcuff this team (only 4 years, history of consistency and durability).
Reliable backup in Johnson will hopefully continue to give the team a chance every night, and that the team continues to play with confidence regardless of who's in net.

Precisely.

You don't build your team on free agents. But you do fill holes.

And that is precisely what the Flames did yesterday. A middle 6 RW with lots of intangibles, and a backup goalie. For $6.2M

With a $73M cap, the average salary is $3.2M. And the Flames filled 2 holes for $6.2M

Considering that you have to overpay for FAs (because you don't have to give up assets) that is is huge win.

In the last week: a starter, a backup, and 2 big RWs that can really help.

Total cost: $9.5M and a 2nd.

That is fantastic.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by AC

3 teams that got better on July 1
http://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1053682

Calgary Flames, San Jose Sharks, Colorado Avalanche

On that note, I was just watching the recap show on the NHL network, and they said the Flames are the #1 most improved team this off-season.

Their main point was the goaltending became massively upgraded, but they liked the Brouwer signing, and they noted that drafting Tkachuk is being overshadowed by the free agent noise. They were very high on him.

The analysts were all but guaranteeing the Flames in the playoffs next year.

Also mentioned the Devils as being one of the most improved for their acquisition of Taylor Hall.

No mention of the Oilers being improved.

[activeStick]

I'd give Treliving an A.

Addressed a need in the lineup getting a big, physical RWer in Brouwer at a good price with good term considering he was a free agent and had leverage. Contract doesn't impede the Flames in the longterm with other contracts up for renewal and others coming off the books.

Added insurance in the backup role by picking up Johnson to address Calgary's biggest problem last year.

Low risk acquisition in picking up Chiasson at a cheap price. Reclamation projects at under $1M have zero risk.

Most importantly though, and why he gets an A is because he didn't cave to pressures to acquire someone at the next tier up for RWers given the term these guys ended up getting. The cost didn't fit with the team's plans so he said no, instead of putting the team's contract structure in the future at risk.

[Cantrader]

Maybe BT should still go out sign any cheap prospect like Pirri since we are few days into free agency now.

[devo22]

just looked at a number of those "winners and losers" assessments. Most of them had the Flames as winners.

ESPN: Winners
Brad Treliving continues to assert himself as one of the emerging young GMs in the NHL. He added a gritty, top-nine forward, Troy Brouwer, who signed a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually. The money is acceptable, although the fourth year might be a bit dicey given how hard Brouwer, 30, plays. But he is coming off a terrific turn with the St. Louis Blues and adds another element to a Flames team that earlier cemented its goaltending by acquiring Brian Elliott and then adding capable backup Chad Johnson on Friday. It's playoffs or bust for the Flames.

The Hockey News: Winners
In the space of one week, GM Brad Treliving filled the goaltending black hole that was in the organization. But his biggest splash on July 1 came when he signed Troy Brouwer to a four-year, $18.5 million deal. That’s an outstanding signing by the Flames both in money and term. The only caveat here is that for this deal to really work for the Flames, they have to be a playoff team. Brouwer has made his reputation with his play in the post-season and won’t be nearly as valuable to them if they don’t make it there.

The Score: Winners
The Flames had cash to play with, and while they didn't wade into the deep end, they did sign veteran forward Troy Brouwer to a four-year, $18-million deal. Brouwer is a perfect fit for Calgary, given his blend of scoring touch and physicality. His affordable deal gives the Flames room to lock up pending restricted free agents Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, as well as Sam Bennett, who'll become one if he's not signed after this season. The Flames also picked up experienced backup goaltender Chad Johnson on a one-year contract for a mere $1.7 million Friday after acquiring Brouwer's former St. Louis Blues teammate, Brian Elliott, on draft night.

Bleacher Report: Winners
After doing a great job of addressing their greatest need at the NHL draft by trading for Brian Elliott, the Calgary Flames had two areas to improve heading into free agency: size up front and a backup goalie. They did just about the best job they could on July 1 by picking up Troy Brouwer and Chad Johnson from the open market. And the prices were pretty great compared to some of the hefty price tags that marked the afternoon frenzy.

National Post: Winners (Brouwer)
If there was something that the Flames were missing last season — aside from capable goaltending — it was a heart-and-soul forward who will play hard, lead by example and score some pretty big goals. Brouwer, who was traded by Washington to St. Louis for T.J. Oshie last summer, scored the game-winner in Game 7 against the Blackhawks. He’s the perfect complement to skilled forwards Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett and will likely play a mentor to first-rounder Matthew Tkachuk.

Puck Daddy: Winners (Goalies)
You could do a heck of a lot worse than Brian Elliott starting ahead of free-agent pickup Chad Johnson.

NESN: Losers
Troy Brouwer at a $4.5 million cap hit for four years is too much money. Calgary is overpaying for a bottom-six forward who clearly benefited from a nice 2016 playoff run with the St. Louis Blues. Signing backup goalie Chad Johnson was an underrated move, but Brouwer just didn’t make sense.

CBS, Sports Illustrated: not mentioned

-----------------

The NESN assessment came with a HERO chart, sooo ...

[Cantrader]

Originally Posted by devo22

just looked at a number of those "winners and losers" assessments. Most of them had the Flames as winners.

ESPN: Winners
Brad Treliving continues to assert himself as one of the emerging young GMs in the NHL. He added a gritty, top-nine forward, Troy Brouwer, who signed a four-year deal worth $4.5 million annually. The money is acceptable, although the fourth year might be a bit dicey given how hard Brouwer, 30, plays. But he is coming off a terrific turn with the St. Louis Blues and adds another element to a Flames team that earlier cemented its goaltending by acquiring Brian Elliott and then adding capable backup Chad Johnson on Friday. It's playoffs or bust for the Flames.

The Hockey News: Winners
In the space of one week, GM Brad Treliving filled the goaltending black hole that was in the organization. But his biggest splash on July 1 came when he signed Troy Brouwer to a four-year, $18.5 million deal. That’s an outstanding signing by the Flames both in money and term. The only caveat here is that for this deal to really work for the Flames, they have to be a playoff team. Brouwer has made his reputation with his play in the post-season and won’t be nearly as valuable to them if they don’t make it there.

The Score: Winners
The Flames had cash to play with, and while they didn't wade into the deep end, they did sign veteran forward Troy Brouwer to a four-year, $18-million deal. Brouwer is a perfect fit for Calgary, given his blend of scoring touch and physicality. His affordable deal gives the Flames room to lock up pending restricted free agents Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, as well as Sam Bennett, who'll become one if he's not signed after this season. The Flames also picked up experienced backup goaltender Chad Johnson on a one-year contract for a mere $1.7 million Friday after acquiring Brouwer's former St. Louis Blues teammate, Brian Elliott, on draft night.

Bleacher Report: Winners
After doing a great job of addressing their greatest need at the NHL draft by trading for Brian Elliott, the Calgary Flames had two areas to improve heading into free agency: size up front and a backup goalie. They did just about the best job they could on July 1 by picking up Troy Brouwer and Chad Johnson from the open market. And the prices were pretty great compared to some of the hefty price tags that marked the afternoon frenzy.

National Post: Winners (Brouwer)
If there was something that the Flames were missing last season — aside from capable goaltending — it was a heart-and-soul forward who will play hard, lead by example and score some pretty big goals. Brouwer, who was traded by Washington to St. Louis for T.J. Oshie last summer, scored the game-winner in Game 7 against the Blackhawks. He’s the perfect complement to skilled forwards Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett and will likely play a mentor to first-rounder Matthew Tkachuk.

Puck Daddy: Winners (Goalies)
You could do a heck of a lot worse than Brian Elliott starting ahead of free-agent pickup Chad Johnson.

NESN: Losers
Troy Brouwer at a $4.5 million cap hit for four years is too much money. Calgary is overpaying for a bottom-six forward who clearly benefited from a nice 2016 playoff run with the St. Louis Blues. Signing backup goalie Chad Johnson was an underrated move, but Brouwer just didn’t make sense.

CBS, Sports Illustrated: not mentioned

-----------------

The NESN assessment came with a HERO chart, sooo ...

Few reports mentioned flames in playoffs or we wasted these signings. So do people think we are a playoff team yet?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Cantrader

Few reports mentioned flames in playoffs or we wasted these signings. So do people think we are a playoff team yet?

If we get league average goaltending we should be in the mix

[Strange Brew]

Lots of talk that Brouwer is a proven playoff performer. Before this year, he had 7 goals in 78 career playoff games. That is brutal production over a significant sample size. His playoff reputation was built entirely this last year.