[Signing] Flames sign Austin Czarnik to two year contract (2 yrs, 1.25 mil AAV)

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

5 goals in 59 NHL games and slotting him in the top line? He has to make the team.

I think if you can play on last year's stacked Bruins squad, you can play anywhere. Not to mention that team had way more right hand shot forward depth (Pastrnak, Bergeron, Krejci, Backes, Nash) than we've had since the good old Iggy days.


I expect our lines to be more fluid than anything as that is something Peters is known for. Don't expect Glen Gulutzan's square peg round hole for 30 games approach.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

lol. It wouldn't even be as small a team as Tampa, who only lost to the Capitals because of scrubs like Dan Girardi on their blue line coughing up pucks and getting walked.

Kucherov - 5'10"
Point - 5'10"
Johnson - 5'9"
Stralman - 5'11"
Gourde - 5'9"


And with Tkachuk, Bennett, Jankowski, Monahan we would still have some big bodies to crash the net - moreso than that Lightning squad even.

I personally hope this rumour becomes news asap. Czarnik was my #2 target heading into the offseason after Kovalchuk so this would be Tre's best July 1 of his career.

Tampa regularly plays 4-d men bigger (Average 220+) than the Flames big guy (Stone) so there's that.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

...

Haha. I don't think GranteedEV actually makes the lines. He's just saying he hopes the guy does well enough in camp to get put there. It would be a huge bonus for this franchise to have a young guy step up like that on near entry level money.

[sureLoss]

Duha on how the lines might break down:
https://theathletic.com/415600/2018/...nd-derek-ryan/

But as it stands now, projecting the lineup going forward, there are many possible options he can try in training camp. For a couple of weeks, it’s been speculated that they might try Matthew Tkachuk on the top line with Gaudreau and Monahan. That’s still a possibility but then it would require one of the newbies – Lindholm or Czarnik – to switch to his off wing. Doesn’t make sense. If Czarnik gets an audition on the top line, the Flames could potentially slip Sam Bennett into Tkachuk’s usual spot with Mikael Backlund and Michal Frolik, which would allow them then to play Tkachuk and Lindholm on a line with Mark Jankowski, thus developing a more balanced scoring look up front.

Of course, Tkachuk could stay in his spot on the Backlund line, Lindholm could slot in at right wing on the top line, and that would leave Jankowski to center Bennett and Czarnik. That might work, too. If Ryan anchors the fourth line, his wingers will likely come from among Curtis Lazar, Spencer Foo, Andrew Mangiapane or Troy Brouwer. Overall, it looks like a far stronger collection of forwards than they had when the season ended.

[sureLoss]

Eric Duhatschek @eduhatschek
Thanks Derek, much appreciated. Every bit of intel I've gathered on Czarnik suggests he is a gamble worth taking.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Haha. I don't think GranteedEV actually makes the lines. He's just saying he hopes the guy does well enough in camp to get put there. It would be a huge bonus for this franchise to have a young guy step up like that on near entry level money.

To clarify, if I'm "slotting" anyone on the top line it's not because I think they're a #1RW, but because lines are constructed based on stylistic fits rather than past scoring history. I'd be open to trying just about anybody - Jankowski, Mangiapane, Czarnik, Lindholm, Foo on the Gaudreau line until there was a fit because to me that matters more than whether a guy scored 20 goals. Frolik is a 20 goal scorer and he has never shown a fit with those guys for instance, and I think Bennett has negative chemistry with Monahan. Tkachuk on the first line makes zero sense to me as that's just cannibalizing our depth - even if he were to be our best winger by the end of the year.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

To clarify, if I'm "slotting" anyone on the top line it's not because I think they're a #1RW, but because lines are constructed based on stylistic fits rather than past scoring history. I'd be open to trying just about anybody - Jankowski, Mangiapane, Czarnik, Lindholm, Foo on the Gaudreau line until there was a fit because to me that matters more than whether a guy scored 20 goals. Frolik is a 20 goal scorer and he has never shown a fit with those guys for instance, and I think Bennett has negative chemistry with Monahan. Tkachuk on the first line makes zero sense to me as that's just cannibalizing our depth - even if he were to be our best winger by the end of the year.

100% agree

It's about balancing lines and improving depth and success rates when rolling those lines. I really hope to see one of Foo or Czarnik win that top line RW spot and piggy back their way to at least a 20g/40p season.

If not, oh well. It was worth the gamble and maybe they catch on another line or possibly even end up in Stockton.

[GoJetsGo]

Very exciting to add a young right-shot with potential like this.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by New Era

On the surface, it looks like a good signing. Adds some immediate depth to the organization in an area of need. A little concerned about the player’s size.

In the big picture I wonder if this type of signing is going to hurt long term. One of the biggest knocks against the Calgary Flames is opportunity for young players.

On the surface this seems like a great signing so now I'm going to invent some reasons as to why it's actually a negative.

Your shtick gets old.

[Roof-Daddy]

If Panther fans would have penciled Marchessault onto one of their top two line RW spots after his 2015/16 season with Tampa/Syracuse people would have scoffed at that too.

All he needed was an opportunity with good players, and he potted 30g/51p and the rest is history.

[sureLoss]

Austin Czarnik
@ACzarnik7
Thank you Boston for a great 3 years! Excited for a new beginning with the Calgary Flames organization!

[dammage79]

and now that tweet is deleted. i tried liking it and its gone.

[AC]

Originally Posted by dammage79

and now that tweet is deleted. i tried liking it and its gone.

https://twitter.com/ACzarnik7/status...74948793413633

[Heavy Jack]

Bruins fans gonna miss him/feel like losing him might come back to bite them.

[3rd Degree]

Is he an RFA or UFA at the end of his contract?

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

Is he an RFA or UFA at the end of his contract?

Why do people keep asking this? UFAs never become RFAs. It is a contract status that once achieved is never lost.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why do people keep asking this? UFAs never become RFAs. It is a contract status that once achieved is never lost.

That's not true. Devante Smith-Pelly is a perfect example. Anaheim didn't qualify him after his ELC and he became a UFA. After two trades, he ended up in New Jersey and was re-signed as an RFA. Then, he was bought out by the Devils last year and became a UFA again, signing with the Caps. Once again, he would have been an RFA if Washington had qualified him this year.


Czarnik will be a UFA at the end of this contract because he will be 27 when it ends.

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why do people keep asking this? UFAs never become RFAs. It is a contract status that once achieved is never lost.

If you’re going to be arrogant at least be right.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

On the surface this seems like a great signing so now I'm going to invent some reasons as to why it's actually a negative.

Your shtick gets old.

The ignore feature is your friend.

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Why do people keep asking this? UFAs never become RFAs. It is a contract status that once achieved is never lost.

Mmm... you might wanna do a bit more research