[Signing] Flames sign James Neal (5 years, 5.75 AAV)

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Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

I love the signing but James Neal is no Jarome Iginla. (11 straight 30 goal seasons which were preceded by a 28 and a 29 goal season)

Ya let's not get crazy. I think he's going to be a great fit with Johnny and Mony. But worst case Lindholm finds better chemistry with the top line, and Neal and Tkachuck and Backlund, or Jankowski find a rhythm... Or throw Czarnik into that mix... Or Foo or Dube show up big time at camp and stick this year. Lots of options, and that's awesome.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Flames won't be able to walkaway from Hathaway's salary arbitration.

If he files for arbitration, the award will be well below the walkaway threshold.

If the Flames file for arbitration, they can't walk away from club elected arbitration.

If the Flames wanted to open that window, do it with Kulak. Agree to a number ($1M or whatever), let him submit that number for arbitration, put up very little fight, and 'let him win'.

Buyout Brouwer.

Profit.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I think with the improvements throughout the lineup Brouwer will easily waive his NTC even to a team he had on his list if it meant more opportunity. If we include Stone or Frolik in the deal it could make it more palatable for the team acquiring.

Stone + Brouwer (Minor % retained) to Ottawa? They have a few picks they could deal — Pittsburgh 3rd + Ottawa 5th?

Do we know what the base salary vs. Cap hit is for Brouwer and frolik? Send love taking on higher cap hits for lower real salary

[Jacks]

Don't like the term, good AAV, I know it's the price you have to pay to win a UFA's services.
Very happy there is no trade protection. If it's regular salary without the crazy buyout proof bonus structure then it should be a manageable contract. He needs to move out some salary now, be interesting to see how, personally I'd like to see 2M retention to trade Brouwer but Frolik could also be on the move.



Haven't been a huge fan of some of the move Treliving has made but I like how he has rebuilt the roster this year. The group we had last year just wasn't good enough, this year should be much improved.

[the2bears]

Amazing... did not expect to wake up to this thread!



Love him, loathe him, or somewhere in between... have to admire Treliving. He is not afraid to execute a plan.

[Heavy Jack]

Nm

[PepsiFree]

Why do people suddenly want to get rid of Frolik?

Brouwer makes sense as a buyout candidate or a favour-take from a cap basement team, but Frolik can actually play.

[Captain Chuckles]

The real beauty of this here is that Tree managed to make his team better at the expense of a divisional opponent which is really nice!

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Do we know what the base salary vs. Cap hit is for Brouwer and frolik? Send love taking on higher cap hits for lower real salary

Brouwer is straight up 4.5

[jg13]

My favourite part about what we've done since the draft is the Oilers have sat back and done basically NOTHING.

Never change Edmonton and thank you Chia

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Like this deal. Gotta move out some more of the deadweight like frolik and stone. Don’t think we can move Brouwer, May just have to leave him in the press box.

I also doubt you can get much for stone as Im pretty sure the flames were shopping him at the draft and couldn’t get a first three rounder for him

The Jets freed up some money to try and re-sign Stastny so for example they would probably take Frolik off the Flames hands as he's a guy that has some value. Brouwer I just don't see it unless the Flames are willing to eat half of the deal. As for Stone I'm not sure he would be moved as Brad really likes to have a lot of options on the blue line.

[Dajazz]

For an FA signing that is really good and he really fills a need. He's gonna get fed some pretty passes by Johnny and create more space for Monahan. I expect Monahan to really show off his allround game now when he doesn't need to be the trigger man all the time.

Contract length is always an issue for 30+, but hey, I'm gonna enjoy him and Tkachuk piss off everyone

[CaptainCrunch]

At the end of the day this signing and the rest of Treliving's actions since the Draft are about improving the Flames up front. However I also believe that he wanted to make a direct change to the dressing room dynamic and leadership dynamic of the team, it feels like the Flames management really didn't like something about the dressing room. The Neal signing goes directly to that as well.


The Flames look like an entirely different team and possible contender for the Pacific Division crown.

[PlayfulGenius]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Why do people suddenly want to get rid of Frolik?

Brouwer makes sense as a buyout candidate or a favour-take from a cap basement team, but Frolik can actually play.

I came in to pose the same question. He has good defensive chemistry with Backlund, he kills penalties... and he plays RW, which has been addressed with Neal and, perhaps, Lindholm, but I'd be hesitant to move out a player of his calibre.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by jg13

My favourite part about what we've done since the draft is the Oilers have sat back and done basically NOTHING.

Never change Edmonton and thank you Chia

They signed Brodziak and Reider, that's not nothing, its err some . . . . sorry I can't do this with a straight look on my face.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by heep223

In this case I view dirty player as a good thing tbh. Aside from Tkachuk and Gio, this roster is a baby’s ass. It just got a little meaner

Also, it's interesting that while he received supplemental discipline a few times earlier in his career, he hasn't had even a fine in nearly 4 years, and that was a fine for Diving in December 2014.

He has been effectively "clean" for 4 seasons now, which presumably means he figured out how to play on the right side of "the line". That's something valuable he could teach to Tkachuk too.

[Flamenspiel]

Well, I am glad the extra money for season tickets was put to good use. Kudos to ownership as I really thought they were going to hold back with an $80 million cap.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The Flames look like an entirely different team and possible contender for the Pacific Division crown.

I'm going to hold off on declarations like this as it feels like we've been burned before. I think the goaltending situation is still a bit of a question mark and we have seen bad goaltending sink teams in the past. I think the roster is improved over last season and it's a matter of how long it takes the new coach and new players to all get on the same page as for whatever reason this organization is almost always a slow starter. The team should have made the playoffs last season but questionable coaching and mediocre goaltending cost them.

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by The Boy Wonder

Do we know what the base salary vs. Cap hit is for Brouwer and frolik? Send love taking on higher cap hits for lower real salary

Brouwer has a cap hit of 4.5 mill and 9 million owed in the next 2 years (no break on the base) Frolik has a cap hit of 4.3 mill and 7 million owed in the next 2 years (1.6 million break on the base)

[dissentowner]

I was opposed to signing Neil because there were rumours he wanted 7x7. At this term and price I am totally on board, great signing! If this team does not make the playoffs with this lineup they are actually cursed. Excited for next season!