[Rumour] Free agent courting period news and rumors

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Aren’t we one of those teams though? Per cap friendly we have $13 million of cap space. Take away Gillies and that is $13.75.

Need to sign Tkachuk, Bennett, Hathaway, Mangiapane and two goalies with that money.

Still waiting for that salary out trade but as Duha says, it is a buyers market.

I still think there some space that's going to be created. But I sure don't mind staying out of the UFA market to a large degree.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I still think there some space that's going to be created. But I sure don't mind staying out of the UFA market to a large degree.

Yeah, I don't see the Flames as big players in the UFA market this year, both because of lack of necessity and the cap situation.

I am expecting some reclamation projects though. Talked about in the other thread, but I can see Hartmann being targeted.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I still think there some space that's going to be created. But I sure don't mind staying out of the UFA market to a large degree.

There has to be just to sign those guys. Flames just aren’t in a position to capitalize on potential bargains out there at this point.

[sureLoss]

Rumors from Friedman's 31 thoughts.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...fa-stalemates/


Barrie to Vancouver trade was never as close as the insiders thought

Panarin did not meet with the Avs contrary to reports. Avs unlikely to land him
Pavelski and Zuccarello are on the radar for the Avs but term is an issue

Avs did not want to part with 16th OA to get Kreider

Pavelski declined visits where he thought the teams weren't close to winning
Stars and Lightning appear to be frontrunners, Chicago trying to convince him to visit

Montreal and Pens on Perry's radar. Dallas and Nashville among contenders too

Speculates Nyquist could end up in Columbus

All waiting to see if Duchene finally ends up in Nashville

All eyes on Florida for Bobrovsky and it looks like Panthers, Islanders and Rangers for Panarin
but people wonder what the Isles are up not having extended Lee and Lehner yet

Goalie carousel:
Sharks want move Dell. They may have tried to include him in a Marleau trade.
Mike Smith tied to Calgary (along with Talbot), Carolina, Edmonton
Oilers been linked to Mrazek and Varlamov (Varlamov's price is high)
Reimer talk has cooled
McElhinney is looking for a two year deal and may get it

Plenty of interest in Simmonds, but the Wild may make the biggest pitch
Oilers and LA checked in on Tanev
Oilers exploring everywhere for wingers: Connolly, Tanev, Daniel Carr

Posibilites for Pulujuarvi: Boston, Carolina, and TB

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Rumors from Friedman's 31 thoughts.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...fa-stalemates/


Barrie to Vancouver trade was never as close as the insiders thought...

The moment Pierre Maguire weighed in on this rumour at the draft, I felt pretty confident it would not happen. It has been proven over and over now that Maguire is a blowhard with very little actual insider information.

Goalie carousel:
Sharks want move Dell. They may have tried to include him in a Marleau trade.
Mike Smith tied to Calgary (along with Talbot), Carolina, Edmonton
Oilers been linked to Mrazek and Varlamov (Varlamov's price is high)
Reimer talk has cooled
McElhinney is looking for a two year deal and may get it

Part of me is surprised to see the Oilers shopping on names like Mrazek and Varlamov, since these players will no doubt be well out of their price range. The situation really underscores just how terrible that Koskinen contract is. It hasn’t even kicked in yet, and the Oilers appear desperate to get out of it.

I am eager to see how this plays out.


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[Icon]

Koskinen & Varlamov in Edmonton would be A-ok for me.

It was rumored Varlamov's asking price is "high", so would be great if the Oilers had like 9million committed to two mediocre goalies.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Icon

Koskinen & Varlamov in Edmonton would be A-ok for me.

+$10 m on goaltending? Even if Edmonton is dumb enough to do that, they cannot afford it. There is only $8.3 m of cap space there to fill five roster spots.

The Oilers are screwed.


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[TheIronMaiden]

Pulujuarvi would thrive in TB.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

+$10 m on goaltending? Even if Edmonton is dumb enough to do that, they cannot afford it. There is only $8.3 m of cap space there to fill five roster spots.

The Oilers are screwed.


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hence why it'd be A-ok for me

[Erick Estrada]

I'm surprised there's plenty of interest in Simmonds unless he's willing to accept very short term deals. He's a borderline replacement level player 5 on 5 at this point.

[getbak]

Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the buyout period ends on Sunday at 5:00pm ET. That means that any player who doesn't have an NMC would need to be put on waivers by Saturday at the latest.

It could be an interesting next couple of days.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by getbak

Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the buyout period ends on Sunday at 5:00pm ET. That means that any player who doesn't have an NMC would need to be put on waivers by Saturday at the latest.

It could be an interesting next couple of days.

Doesn't another buyout window open up if a team elects arbitration?

My feeling has been that's what the flames are waiting for: open Bennett to arbitration to take advantage of the secondary buyout window.

Memory is fuzzy but I believe that was the timeline.fir the brouwer buyout.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by getbak

Correct me if I'm wrong, I believe the buyout period ends on Sunday at 5:00pm ET. That means that any player who doesn't have an NMC would need to be put on waivers by Saturday at the latest.

It could be an interesting next couple of days.

I think you can still put players on waivers on June 30 for a buyout. Last year Mason and Ennis were put on waivers on 12pm ET June 30th for buyout purposes.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...an-eric-gryba/

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Doesn't another buyout window open up if a team elects arbitration?

My feeling has been that's what the flames are waiting for: open Bennett to arbitration to take advantage of the secondary buyout window.

Memory is fuzzy but I believe that was the timeline.fir the brouwer buyout.

Yes, you do run of the risk of not having any arbitration cases to open the second window. For the Flames, that shouldn't be a problem with Bennett and Rittich both being arbitration eligible.

There are also some other restrictions on the second buyout window that don't exist during the regular period. The player must have a cap hit over a minimum amount in order to be bought out during the second window (this year, it is just under $3.5 million). Also, the second buyout window can only be used 3 times during the term of the current CBA (the Flames have already used it once for Brouwer).


Stone's contract has a cap hit of exactly $3.5 million, so it's possible that Treliving might hold off on buying out Stone with the hope that he can be traded once free agency opens and a few teams miss out on d-men, while keeping the option available if there is no trade market for Stone.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by getbak

Yes, you do run of the risk of not having any arbitration cases to open the second window. For the Flames, that shouldn't be a problem with Bennett and Rittich both being arbitration eligible.

There are also some other restrictions on the second buyout window that don't exist during the regular period. The player must have a cap hit over a minimum amount in order to be bought out during the second window (this year, it is just under $3.5 million). Also, the second buyout window can only be used 3 times during the term of the current CBA (the Flames have already used it once for Brouwer).


Stone's contract has a cap hit of exactly $3.5 million, so it's possible that Treliving might hold off on buying out Stone with the hope that he can be traded once free agency opens and a few teams miss out on d-men, while keeping the option available if there is no trade market for Stone.

Great post, thanks for the info.

This would be my strategy as well if I was the flames GM this year. Wait until you have a clearer picture on the trade market and if absolutely nothing has progressed with Neal or stone, utilize the second window to finish the buyout process for next season.

Do you know if that 3 time exemption.for buyout round 2 applies to 3 separate buyout transactions, aka, you only buy out 3 players max, or does it apply to 3 separate buyout 'seasons' where conceivably you could buy out as many contracts as you wanted within those 3 opportunities?

[JTech780]

Flames need RH depth on defense especially if they move Brodie, so I wouldn't say it's a sure thing that they buy out Stone. I think Stone still has value here as a 6/7 defenseman. If they can move him and his full salary, I think they do it, but once you buy him out and then sign another defenseman to take his spot you aren't really any further ahead, unless you are getting a clear upgrade for his role.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Do you know if that 3 time exemption.for buyout round 2 applies to 3 separate buyout transactions, aka, you only buy out 3 players max, or does it apply to 3 separate buyout 'seasons' where conceivably you could buy out as many contracts as you wanted within those 3 opportunities?

3 buyouts total.

[sureLoss]

Don't know if this good news for the Flames, not sure they can commit salary to Hathaway without at least first getting a goalie and Tkachuk figured out.

Mark Divver @MarkDivver
UFA Garnet Hathaway has interest from and has spoken to multiple teams. Decision expected by weekend

[AC]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Mark Divver @MarkDivver
UFA Garnet Hathaway has interest from and has spoken to multiple teams. Decision expected by weekend

I love Hath, and think he's taken some huge strides offensively the last 2 seasons (in the AHL then in the NHL), but he's someone the Flames should have a hard max salary for, and he'll probably get a better offer elsewhere.

His NHL career isn't likely to last too long, so he should absolutely chase the money while he can.

[The Yen Man]

I would say Hathaway is about as valuable as David Moss was to us. Wish him the best, but he's totally expendable and I agree, Flames should have a hard salary threshold for him. If another team wants to sign him for more and/or longer, than best of luck to him on his new team.