[GDT] The 2020 UFA Big Board (frequently being updated!)

[Strange Brew]

Fantastic work Scorp. This is awesome.

Are these your rankings? You have Hamonic higher than I would. I'm looking at the centres at 31, 31 and 32. But so much depends on what the Flames do in trades and how they view Bennett.

[Vinny01]

Hall and Markstrom are my hopeful targets.

Pietrangelo is a pipe dream but would be an amazing add.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Realistically, I'm intrigued by Robin Lehner Tyson Barrie and Tyler Toffoli.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Realistically, I'm intrigued by Robin Lehner Tyson Barrie and Tyler Toffoli.

I think Lehner and Toffoli are all but re-signed

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Realistically, I'm intrigued by Robin Lehner Tyson Barrie and Tyler Toffoli.

Lehner seems destined to be a Knight.

Barrie seems like a real possibility, and hey maybe it won’t be terrible.

It sounds like Toffoli will end up staying in Vancouver - I’d say Hall is the more likely player here, but even then I feel like Hall is going to end up in Boston.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by troutman

I'll make the case against signing Taylor Hall, and I'd like to see another make the case for him:


1. Hall will have a big cap hit.
2. Hall will soon be 29 - post-apex
3. He has played 5 playoff games before this season - I'm not sure how many to credit him for the bubble play-in round this year.
4. Minus 20 since his big year.
5. NJ and AZ were in no big panic to retain him.
6. Maybe some of you are too young to remember the first E=NG threads. Hall was constantly being mocked for terrible defensive awareness. He could have improved in that area - I really don't know. Let's just say his hockey IQ was not highly regarded.
7. Declined from 1.2 ppg in the big year, to 0.8 ppg last season.
8. Played only 33 games two seasons ago.

I do believe that he can still be a dynamic offensive threat, but at what cost, and at what expense defensively?

To me, I think Hall is gonna be worth more to a team that doesn't already have 2 1st line LW. So, I expect the Flames to be outbid

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

To me, I think Hall is gonna be worth more to a team that doesn't already have 2 1st line LW. So, I expect the Flames to be outbid

Yeah, would have to basically trade Gaudreau and then sign Hall in a very short timeframe.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Realistically, I'm intrigued by Robin Lehner Tyson Barrie and Tyler Toffoli.

Lehner is all but officially of the market. He's agreed to a 5x5 contract with Vegas, it just cannot be signed until the Knights shed salary for 2020-21 or free agency opens and they can exceed the cap by 10%.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

Lehner is all but officially of the market. He's agreed to a 5x5 contract with Vegas, it just cannot be signed until the Knights shed salary for 2020-21 or free agency opens and they can exceed the cap by 10%.

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Lehner seems destined to be a Knight.

Barrie seems like a real possibility, and hey maybe it won’t be terrible.

It sounds like Toffoli will end up staying in Vancouver - I’d say Hall is the more likely player here, but even then I feel like Hall is going to end up in Boston.

Originally Posted by Bonded

I think Lehner and Toffoli are all but re-signed

Thanks guys, I had heard about Lehner, just remember he denied it (maybe he legally had to deny it).

Surprising to me that Toffoli hasn't been re-signed yet if he is staying. I assumed the Canucks were having cap issues.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

Thanks guys, I had heard about Lehner, just remember he denied it (maybe he legally had to deny it).

Surprising to me that Toffoli hasn't been re-signed yet if he is staying. I assumed the Canucks were having cap issues.

I think Barrie will be a Flame. We've been linked to him previously and he would be an wonderful PP option.

[Royle9]

Hall vs Gaudreau debate is a good one:

Johnny:

5'9 - 165lbs @ 27 years of age

• Small, quick feet, elite edge work, average foot speed, elite playmaking
• 6 years in NHL
• Most goals: 36 (2018-19)
• Most assists: 63 (2018-19)
• Most points: 99 (2018-19)

4 Playoff appearances: 19 points in 30 games

2 more years @ $6.75M - Rumored low chance of re-sign with CGY

disappearing skill set in playoffs
easily knocked off puck/no dice going into corners to retrieve pucks
doesn't engage physically
defensive awareness/floating
part of the "core" that cant get it done
button hook zone entry has been countered frequently

Taylor:

6'1 - 205lbs at 28 years of age (29 in Nov)

• Average size, elite footspeed, elite finishing skills, great shot, average playmaking
• 10 years in NHL
• Most Goals: 39 (2017-18)
• Most Assists: 54 (2017-18)
• Most Points: 93 (2017-18)

2 playoff appearances: 12 points in 14 games

UFA rumored to be looking for anywhere from 7M to 9M over 6-8 years.

Limited playoff experience
Injury concerns
Defensive awareness concerns
E=NG syndrome
Did not resign with last 2 teams

Pretty similar players with Hall being roughly 2 years older, I think the only up Hall has on Johnny to date is a better shot and quicker foot speed personally.

To me this echo's the mentality that if we can trade Johnny for premium assets (early 1st, A+ prospects , Solid roster player) and use those assets to shore up our RW/RHS and C depth and sign Hall to a half decent contract I think we put ourselves ahead.

This of course hinges on whether you think Johnny will re-sign in Calgary for a "team friendly" deal which I don't think is going to happen. In 2 years time Johnny will be making likely 9.5 to 10M a season.

If we do NOT trade Johnny this year his value will go down substantially next year and again in his UFA year.

Hard decision, but a shakeup I personally feel is needed.

[bomber317]

12. Craig Smith (NSH) // Right-handed right wing

Would he be a decent lower end pickup filling some of the right hand shot right wing needs?

GP - 69
Goals - 18
Assists - 13
Points - 31

Shows favorably on Advanced stats

https://twitter.com/EvolvingWild/sta...18204550090758

http://www.naturalstattrick.com/play...ayerid=8475225

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by bomber317

12. Craig Smith (NSH) // Right-handed right wing

Would he be a decent lower end pickup filling some of the right hand shot right wing needs?

GP - 69
Goals - 18
Assists - 13
Points - 31

Shows favorably on Advanced stats

https://twitter.com/EvolvingWild/sta...18204550090758

http://www.naturalstattrick.com/play...ayerid=8475225

We need to get younger and faster, not older and slower imo.
This would be a typical Flames UFA signing on a contract that's not favorable at all.

[CliffFletcher]

How many young, fast RHS RW do you see on that UFA list?

The Flames braintrust have made it clear for years now that they’re trying to address the lack of RHS forwards on the roster. Since there’s no obvious candidates ready for promotion from within, that need will be addressed by a trade or a free agent signing.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Lehner seems destined to be a Knight.

Barrie seems like a real possibility, and hey maybe it won’t be terrible.

It sounds like Toffoli will end up staying in Vancouver - I’d say Hall is the more likely player here, but even then I feel like Hall is going to end up in Boston.

I don’t know why my confidence in signing Hall has taken a hit but I am not as sure as I was during the Covid pause where I had this thought it was a alarm dunk he was coming here.

Maybe it is all the negativity around here or the lack of anyone outside of Eklund saying this is happening but I am concerned Hall ends up in Boston or Colorado

[CroFlames]

Pavelski and Perry were UFA signings that worked out for the Stars.

UFA shopping is dangerous. But you probably need to take chances to compete for a Cup. Look what Hudler did for the development of Johnny and Monahan.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Royle9

We need to get younger and faster, not older and slower imo.
This would be a typical Flames UFA signing on a contract that's not favorable at all.

not many options for right handed UFAs

other possibility there is Jesper Fast @ 28 years old

slightly lower point production
not as favorable advanced stats wise

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pla...it=5v5&stype=2

Otherwise you'd have to go the trade route or hope some of the kids break out.

- Matthew Phillips - RW - RS
- Glenn Gawdin - C - RS
- Eetu Tuulola - RW - RS

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

Don't know if this would interest you or not but I can put this in spreadsheet for and host on my google drive and give you editing permissions

Potentially although tbh this is very easy for me to manage as-is. If you think it would be easier to read in a spreadsheet though then I'd be all for it!

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by bomber317

not many options for right handed UFAs

other possibility there is Jesper Fast @ 28 years old

slightly lower point production
not as favorable advanced stats wise

https://www.naturalstattrick.com/pla...it=5v5&stype=2

Otherwise you'd have to go the trade route or hope some of the kids break out.

- Matthew Phillips - RW - RS
- Glenn Gawdin - C - RS
- Eetu Tuulola - RW - RS

You're absolutely right there are extremely limited options, so in my mind don't pull a Troy Brouwer and go out and get an older RHS RW just for the sake of getting a RHS RW. It's not going to be worth it, bar none its a bad move.

Smith is going to be looking for a 3-5 year deal and currently makes 4.25M which means he's going to be expecting the same if not more. This is the type of contract the Flames simply cant afford.

Use current assets to address this via Trade/Draft etc.

Heck I'd rather give Gawdin a shot at RW and save the 4.25M+ because he's going to slot in as a 3rd/4th liner at best.

[Monahammer]

Hall IMO is a definite yes. There's also the hometown factor- when have the flames had a hometown hero to drive the proverbial bus? Lanny was probably the closest? Maybe Iggy could count since he was albertan. IMO there's a huge intangible factor with getting/being the home town hero, and I think Hall will absolutely feast on that energy. Historically he is a player who shows up more as the intensity increases. Look at Edmonton 13-14 (when Hall was really given the keys) and NJ 17-19 (when rumors were that he was over the hill, and he got "reenergized" by NJ. Or look at his memorial cup or WJC performances.

Hall in flaming red will be a delight to behold.