Burning questions ahead of July 28

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

He's not a pending UFA. He still has a year. So why the 28th deadline?

Because we're restricted to a handful of teams as possible trade partners, which reduces the ability to maximize the asset.

[rhino]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

If this team is going to compete next season, we need a top 4 defenseman and a top line forward, however, we only have enough cap space for one. If I had to choose one, I would go for the forward. I trust this team to have a better chance for defense by committee than scoring by committee, at least with Sutter as coach.

I say go all in on Landeskog then supplement the defense with someone like Suter. Suter might be willing to come because he would have an important role and could get a second wind. Having just been bought out, he might come relatively cheap too.

Obviously far from a guarantee that we could nab them both, but that would be my strategy.

Then re-sign Johnny and if Landeskog is acquired, trade Tkachuk for a natural RW. Don't get me wrong, I love Tkachuk, I just have my doubts that he can be retained long term.

20 million in cap space and only room for 1?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by rhino

20 million in cap space and only room for 1?

They have $18,625,000 and need to sign 9 guys with that money.

So, likely room for one bigger acquisition.

The signings include Dube, Kylington, Valimaki and a back up goalie.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Which is a great quote, but it gets massively overplayed.

Generally, players don't get stupider by playing at a higher tempo. Playing faster puts pressure on the other team, which, if anything, puts more pressure on their hockey IQ, as opposed to the aggressors'.

Playing with more pace in all aspects is a good thing. And a necessary thing, to be successful.

Agreed. Playing with pace is critical, pushing the tempo and pressuring the opponent will drive good outcomes

The puck can move faster than any skater. Playing with pace has more to do with smarts and preparation than foot speed

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Solving team problems in free agency is always a frightening proposition.

Agreed. Which is why I was hoping for the wizard to show up yesterday.

Looks like that Brad has gone into retirement. Afraid we're going to go into this year with largely the same roster and core intact, with some expensive FA secondary player adds that eats up our cap flexibility.

[Samonadreau]

A little nervous about an overpay on Edler, hes 35 and had 8 points in 52 games last season (no goals). Hes at best a second paring guy right now, not the place to be spending money.

Wouldnt say no to him but the price has to work. And it probably wont. Big gamble if you are paying for the Edler of 2-5 years ago.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

A little nervous about an overpay on Edler, hes 35 and had 8 points in 52 games last season (no goals). Hes at best a second paring guy right now, not the place to be spending money.

Wouldnt say no to him but the price has to work. And it probably wont. Big gamble if you are paying for the Edler of 2-5 years ago.

That's the issue I have with Edler - it is a huge downgrade from Giordano. It is adding another defencemen with no offence to a defensive group that isn't very offensive.



I will not say that Valimaki-Hanifin-Andersson can't improve - in fact, I bet that they will under Sutter and how I am expecting the Flames to play more uptempo. I just don't think that they will improve enough to push themselves at least into the middle of the pack. Edler makes that more difficult, not easier. I just don't know who there is (besides Barrie) that can come in and put up legitimate offence.

[AC]

Yandle is pure offense, though maybe pure PP specialist even. Nightmare defensively though I believe.

He's buddies with Hanifin I think too.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by AC

Yandle is pure offense, though maybe pure PP specialist even. Nightmare defensively though I believe.

He's buddies with Hanifin I think too.

Not sure I could think of a worse defence target for us than Keith Yandle…….

[DeluxeMoustache]

I don’t really fully understand what happened with Gost in Philly, especially to the point that they paid 2 draft picks to get rid of him.

I could have seen him potentially being effective paired with a rock solid guy like Tanev, much like Hanifin was, and then contributing on the PP

4.5 million for an offensive D man is not that bad, he is 28 and has put up a 65 point season


Edit: Fletcher did say it was a cap space move, considering the raises Sanheim and Carter Hart would receive

[AC]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

Not sure I could think of a worse defence target for us than Keith Yandle…….

I agree, I don't see it working especially under Sutter. Was replying to the lack of offensive Dmen options.

[Harry Lime]

I think that the problems on defense are overstated. Calgary (and their fans) are a little too dependent on veterans, and exactly what a veteran is. I would say that Hanafin and Andersson have cooked long enough and it's time to take them out of the oven.

The only really young player on the roster is Valimaki.

Kylington is 24 and has five pro seasons under his belt. Mackey is also 24 and was well developed coming out of college. They are the same age as Hanafin and Andersson.

Calgary would do well to accept that they have four players just coming into the prime years of their career, and lean into it. Pick up Micheal Stone for insurance.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

I think that the problems on defense are overstated. Calgary (and their fans) are a little too dependent on veterans, and exactly what a veteran is. I would say that Hanafin and Andersson have cooked long enough and it's time to take them out of the oven.

The only really young player on the roster is Valimaki.

Kylington is 24 and has five pro seasons under his belt. Mackey is also 24 and was well developed coming out of college. They are the same age as Hanafin and Andersson.

Calgary would do well to accept that they have four players just coming into the prime years of their career, and lean into it. Pick up Micheal Stone for insurance.

When Andersson was taken out of the oven and paired with recent Norris winner Gio, the inside of the cake was still quite runny

They paid him like he was fully baked though

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Teroy

Moving Monahan before we see if he bounces back would be the most foolish thing we could do. Either move Tkachuk or Gaudreau. My preference would be Gaudreau. Contrary to the Johnny lovers, we shouldn't need to support our supposed super star. He supposed to be the driving force and he isn't.

Horsecrap, Gaudreau drives this offense, without him goals would dry up like a popcorn fart.

What is needed is an elite offensive center to help him.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Solving team problems in free agency is always a frightening proposition.

If I had it my way, the team would rebuild completely, but not going to happen. So really, the choice is do nothing and be a bubble team that likely misses the playoffs, or try to add talent and not suck that bad.

Free agency isn't going to solve anything, but this team has absolutely no areas of strength to trade from. The idea is to create an area of strength so that other transactions can happen without creating massive holes.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Horsecrap, Gaudreau drives this offense, without him goals would dry up like a popcorn fart.

What is needed is an elite offensive center to help him.

Johnny needs to play 5 on 5, not (essentially) 4 on 5. Two decent linemates to give him options

Can’t help but reiterate the stat that when Ritchie was with 13 and 23, the line scored zero (0) goals in 135 minutes

[AC]

A couple have suggested Alex Martinez as a good UFA target.
33 years old, played under Sutter, LD. Made $4M last season, probably wouldn't command much more than that.

A couple other options I just pulled while looking at the list on CapFriendly. Keep in mind I don't know their advanced stats, I'll link what I can find.

Ian Cole, 32, left shot. $4.25M last season. Advanced stats darling apparently? https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...57077333221376

David Savard, 30, right shot. $4.25M last season. Great defensively. https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...58617659117572

Brandon Montour, 27, right shot. $3.85M last season. Haven't heard if he's in talks to stay in Florida. Apparently terrible advanced stats. https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...31852186361859

Jake McCabe, 27, left shot. $2.85M last season. Great advanced stats. https://twitter.com/BruinsMafia/stat...72297169813504

Sami Vatanen, 30, right shot. $2M last season after an injury filled year prior. Treliving apparently went after him previously. Fell off a cliff lately it seems. https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...78961821483016

Tucker Poolman, 28, right shot. $775k last season. We signed his brother. Not sure about his advanced stats, but I recall being impressed during our playoff series against WPG.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

Not sure I could think of a worse defence target for us than Keith Yandle…….

Dion Phaneuf.

That ‘s it though.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by AC

A couple have suggested Alex Martinez as a good UFA target.
33 years old, played under Sutter, LD. Made $4M last season, probably wouldn't command much more than that.

A couple other options I just pulled while looking at the list on CapFriendly. Keep in mind I don't know their advanced stats, I'll link what I can find.

Ian Cole, 32, left shot. $4.25M last season. Advanced stats darling apparently? https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...57077333221376

David Savard, 30, right shot. $4.25M last season. Great defensively. https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...58617659117572

Brandon Montour, 27, right shot. $3.85M last season. Haven't heard if he's in talks to stay in Florida. Apparently terrible advanced stats. https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...31852186361859

Jake McCabe, 27, left shot. $2.85M last season. Great advanced stats. https://twitter.com/BruinsMafia/stat...72297169813504

Sami Vatanen, 30, right shot. $2M last season after an injury filled year prior. Treliving apparently went after him previously. Fell off a cliff lately it seems. https://twitter.com/JFreshHockey/sta...78961821483016

Tucker Poolman, 28, right shot. $775k last season. We signed his brother. Not sure about his advanced stats, but I recall being impressed during our playoff series against WPG.

I would love David Savard, would give us a really solid top 4 defensively. Although he is going to be in high demand,

Hanifin-Tanev
Savard-Andersson (someone playing off side)
Valimaki-Stone/Mackey
Kylington

Doesn’t really solve our offence problem from the back end unless you are banking on Hanifin and Andersson to take a big step.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

-Players of his type tend to not age well

Who do you see as other players of his type?