Post Mortem : What happens now?

[Harry Lime]

An excellent regular season morphed into a post season that could be described as... a feisty whimper. The dominant, built for the playoffs team didn't have the second gear to make them a true contender. So what happens now?

Decisions to be made
Johnny Gaudreau - best year as a Flame. Didn't take over games in the post season, but was one of the only constant threats on the team. Improved his play away from the puck by leaps and bounds and took more of a leadership role.

Matt Tkachuk - best offensive season, and might be the best overall player on the team. Took shifts off, could disappear for entire games. Reputation for playing with an edge, but that didn't happen when a boost was needed in the playoffs. Still a young player.

Andrew Mangiapane - became the second line scoring winger this team has coveted for years. Plays the game like he is 6'2 but still can get outmuscled like he is 5'8. Plays with passion, but is this season repeatable?

Ryan Carpenter - have no idea what kind of a player is here. Could be the playoff wunderkind that wins championships, but didn't even get to see the ice. Basically traded for his negotiating rights.

Calle Jarnkrok - one of the fastest players on the team. Defensive specialist but really good at his job. Snakebit, but still can contribute, and plays all positions, probably best on the wing.

Oliver Kylington - first full season and knocked it out of the park. Experience should bring steadiness, and has a very bright future.

Jusso Valimaki - Sutter is tough on young players, they are gifted nothing. Does all of the potential translate, and does he have the fortitude to put his head down and work? If he doesn't get ice time, it might be time for a move.

Erik Gudranson - Quickly became a fan favorite and steady presence on the bottom pairing. Brought physicality and a surprisingly well rounded game.

Nikita Zadorov - Physical threat and could carry the puck well, which was a surprise. Prone to defensive gaffs, but also the big hits that keep players honest. Made Calgary play big.

Connor Mackie - Excellent NCAA player turned into excellent AHL player turns into.... showed flashes with his cup of tea with the big league. All around player, doesn't excel anywhere but does it all.

Micheal Stone - awesome in small doses. Shine does wear off, but prototypical 7th D.

Matthew Phillips - he is the best player that ever lived and he is small.

Everyone else is locked in or available for minimum pay and a bag of peanuts. Does effectiveness in the playoffs radically change how we look at these players? Does Tre hold steady or make some moves?

[flambers]

Flames have an tough summer ahead, lots of difficult decisions for sure

Are they willing and can they sign Gaudreau... (not sure on this one, great regular season, sub par playoff)

Will Tkachuk accept his qualifying offer.... (my guess yes)

A bunch of Flames will leave that are pending UFAs....

[madmike]

Honestly a lot hinges on Gaudreau.

If Gaudreau comes back, then likely one of Tkachuk or Mangiapane needs to be dealt.

If Gaudreau leaves, then there's a lot of room for roster moves, although the team will be significantly worse (my guess would be a non-playoff team).

On D, I'm not sure the Flames can afford Zadorov. If they want Mackey to stay they likely need to make room for him.

At forward I think they need to open up spots for Pelletier and Ruzicka. That makes me think a lot of the lesser FA forwards won't be brought back. Maybe Jarnkrok if he's got a reasonable cap hit.

[Bonded]

Johnny Gaudreau - up to him but I do think he should remain to be productive. Ball is in his court.

Matt Tkachuk - I wouldn't hate if he was flipped in the right trade

Andrew Mangiapane - Faded hard in the backend, wouldn't want to commit to a big contract personally

Ryan Carpenter - meh

Calle Jarnkrok - take him back if he is cheap but rather see Ruzicka take his place

Oliver Kylington - Chaos. Will be a top 2 D or 7th dman in two years lol.

Jusso Valimaki - Trade him for a similar RW guy

Erik Gudranson - Would take him back on a reasonable contract

Nikita Zadorov - I think he is gone and will get a contract we won't want to pay

Connor Mackie - Bring him up


Micheal Stone - I hope he gets a multiyear contract from someone

Matthew Phillips - no comment lol

[Jiri Hrdina]

Here's how I would approach the off-season. This starts with the assumption that the team is not going to re-build, including because Darryl Sutter is the coach. They are going to go for it at least one more years. I'm also not going to suggest specific trades, as those are always guesses. I also think there is very little chance BT is fired. Almost none.

- Starts with Johnny and your confidence to sign him. I'm going to assume he re-signs. if he doesn't everything else is out the window.
- I would look hard at moving Tkachuk if you can get a good return. If you handle that right I think you can extend this team's contending window
- I think you have to give some young players a chance on the roster next season: Pelleiter, Mackey for sure.
- Therefore you start to look at who you re-sign and who you don't. Zadarov probably walks. Gudbransson I try to re-sign. Gudbransson + Mackey as your final pairing next year.
- I make Tanev the captain
- I try to re-sign Jarnkrok. He didn't produce but the team needs good two-way players and I think he is that. If he wants to be here at a affordable rate I try to get him to sign
- I hope that Lucic retires. He's done. He can't skate at the NHL pace.
- I have no idea to do with Monahan
- I wouldn't be opposed to selling high on Eat Bread. You can't overpay him or Kylington. But Kylington remains an intriguing guy that I think has another step if he can just calm down. His skills are fairly unique.
- I think the team needs a guy like Joe Pavelski, or Corey Perry. A veteran who just KNOWS how to play in the playoffs. Maybe a guy like Ondrej Palet who is a pending free agent. Would LOVE to take another run at Kadri but I don't know if that's realistic. But if you trade Tkachuk...maybe?

I think we'll see a big move this off-season involving one big name. But other than that, i think the team will be given another chance under Sutter. I think they DID take a step this season, but I'm not confident they have another one to take. We'll see I guess.

[BurningSteel]

Decisions to be made
Johnny Gaudreau - Resign

Matt Tkachuk - Qualify, see if he works on his homework in off season, reevaluate and sign or trade.

Andrew Mangiapane - Resign

Ryan Carpenter - No clue but Sutter probably wanted him so.

Calle Jarnkrok - Resign if terms friendly. All Swedes belong to us.

Oliver Kylington - Torn on this. Some major gaffs. Chips in and skates really well. Hopefully continues to work on his game and can come to terms.

Jusso Valimaki - Still dont know what we have with him. Blue line is crowded though.

Erik Gudranson / Nikita Zadorov - Would be happy with them here still. Not sure there is too much more room for growth.

Connor Mackie - Want to see more.

Micheal Stone - Love the cannon, as a 7th hes awesome.

Matthew Phillips - Last chance next camp?

Need some tweak just not sure what they are?


The wildcard is Monahan. Would love to get old 23 back but think the ship may have sailed but would have to be proven otherwise.

[Johnny Makarov]

Not sure what the hell happened to Big Z and Gudbradson in the playoffs. They turned into Bouwmeester and Butler pumpkins...

I have to believe they are injured. But if they aren't I wouldn't want either of them back next year. Which 3 weeks ago I thought that would have been crazy.

and bye bye Noah! The flood is incoming. He turned in an Eloranta, Baxter, Hulse, Gauthier, Ericksson performance! Useless.

[Flamesfan05]

There is zero in untouchable on the team
I would be surprised if something surprises don’t happen

[DJones]

Assuming Gaudreau resigns, everything changes if he doesn't

Trade Tkachuk - high end prospects
Trade Toffoli - Whatever
Let Zadorov walk
See what the market is for Lucic. Ideally they can get rid of him at not too high of cost

I'm hopeful they can keep Monahan, letting those four players go should allow that.
Undecided on Gudbranson. Really depends on if they think mackey can handle it.

Re-sign Jarnkrok, should be cheap. Ideally he moves to the wing.
Re-sign mangiapane.
If Monahan can't play at a middle six center level. Go find someone who can.

Fill the holes with young guys and speed.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

There is zero in untouchable on the team
I would be surprised if something surprises don’t happen

Tanev and Lindholm. That's it. and Lindholm wasn't very good at all against the Oilers but his contract is a steal.

[Red_Baron]

I hope Kylington hits the gym and works on his core strength to be more physical and hopefully correct some of those skating gaffes that he has on a regular occurrence. He flops around like a wet noodle at the slight hint of being off-balance.

[Igottago]

Its all about Johnny. His decision will dictate the appropriate strategy. I'm 50/50 on whether he will stay. If he does leave you are definitely in a significant overhaul, and this build of the team is pretty much over, its might be time to re-do the whole thing. I don't see anyone else the team can build around if he walks.

[NewFan]

If Flames don't want to rebuild but retool, this is the year they could do some big changes to change this roster and get back to the playoffs next year.
I would trade Tkachuk, Kylington for some good prospects or draft pick.
If Toffoli doesn't want to be here trade him too.
Re-sign Gaudreau, Mangiapane and Gudbradson.
Re-sign Zadorov if he wants back.
Give Monahan and Lucic last chance and trade them at Trade Deadline if they are not good.
Give Ruzicka, Valimaki and Mackey /and couple AHL guys/ more chance this year.
No more Ritchie and Stone. Re-sign Lewis if the league minimum and 13th forward.

[CliffFletcher]

Sign Gaudreau long-term.

Extend Mangiapane long-term.

Sign Gudbranson short-term.

Extend Kylington short-term.

Let Jarnkrok walk.

Let Zadorov walk.

Put Monahan on LTIR.

Hope Lucic retires.

Shop Tkachuk.

Shop Hanifin.


Targets for trades or UFA:

Top-4 D

Middle-six C that can distribute the puck

[flylock shox]

I think the Flames need to look at the coming year as a one-off, and the team's real future - whatever it is - as beginning in 2023.

If the Flames qualify Tkachuk one one year deal, they'll have him, Lucic, and Monahan all going to UFA in 2023 (if I've understood things correctly). That means over 20 million coming off the books - and if they can't re-sign Gaudreau it will effectively be over 25 million. So huge room to make deals and signings and I hope the Flames are judicious about it. They have some younger pieces who will have matured a lot by then too, so I could see a very quick rebuild taking place. But they'll need to add at least one bit of high end offensive talent. Who that might be I've no idea.

The main thing for me is - with the exception of re-signing Johnny if the terms are reasonable - I don't want the team saddling itself with bad contracts, especially ones that extend beyond next season.

Also, they need to clone Tanev.

[ah123]

Here is my $0.02…

I liked the bigger physical team, but we need more speed upfront and more experienced D. I am not expecting this team to be as entertaining next year (unfortunately)

- Gaudreau: try to resign. If he leaves, Flames should just rebuild

- Tkachuk: trade him for a package of high end prospects/picks. He is great when he is on, but cant seem to raise his game in the playoffs. Maybe it is because he only has one level of play

- Monahan: a broadcaster made a point that as soon as a player gets hip surgery, you can write off the next year. Based on that, I think he is going to have another poor year. Trade him if you can

- Jarnkrok: Two way player, can play multiple situations. Try to re-sign

- Mangiapane: I like him, but I don’t know if he has a next level. If he is willing to sign a reasonable contract, keep him, otherwise trade

- Zadorov: don’t think the Flames can afford him

- Gudbranson: try to re-sign

- Valimaki: might be time to move him. Trade for a similar prospect

- Mackey, Pelletier: bring them up next year

[DJones]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

I think the Flames need to look at the coming year as a one-off, and the team's real future - whatever it is - as beginning in 2023.

If the Flames qualify Tkachuk one one year deal, they'll have him, Lucic, and Monahan all going to UFA in 2023 (if I've understood things correctly). That means over 20 million coming off the books - and if they can't re-sign Gaudreau it will effectively be over 25 million. So huge room to make deals and signings and I hope the Flames are judicious about it. They have some younger pieces who will have matured a lot by then too, so I could see a very quick rebuild taking place. But they'll need to add at least one bit of high end offensive talent. Who that might be I've no idea.

The main thing for me is - with the exception of re-signing Johnny if the terms are reasonable - I don't want the team saddling itself with bad contracts, especially ones that extend beyond next season.

Also, they need to clone Tanev.

Whole problem with taking a year off is that Backlund and Tanev get older and Lindholms contract keeps ticking.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Red_Baron

I hope Kylington hits the gym and works on his core strength to be more physical and hopefully correct some of those skating gaffes that he has on a regular occurrence. He flops around like a wet noodle at the slight hint of being off-balance.

Seeing his regression without Tanev was an eye-opener. You have to wonder how Valimaki would do playing with Tanev on a regular basis.

[ClubFlames]

The biggest need for this team is a steady #2 dman. The need is more of a #1 dman but they are very hard to come by.

Hanifin and Andersson were completely exposed in the playoffs. Tanev injury truly set us back and showed us how much we need another steady presence.

All this talk of trading Tkachuk - Not sure how I feel about trading a 100 point player. He has his flaws but with maturity I still believe he can be a much better player in the mold of Brad Marchand but with more offense. Great on your own team and annoying to others.

Johnny has to sign here or else everything is out of the window.

Lucic must retire. Good guy, great in the room but cannot keep up in the league anymore.

Monahan is a tough one, injuries took a toll on him but with his salary and production doesn't make sense to have him on the roster.

Zadorov & Gudbranson: You try to sign one of them, no need for both as Mackey looks like he is ready to make the jump.

Kylington: I don't think he has another gear. He is what he is in my opinion, a decent option for #5 but his erratic skating (speed is there but really needs to work on his edge work) and little to no strength will always be an issue going forward in the playoffs.

Jarnkork and Mangiapane: I would re-sign them.

We have to give younger players a chance next year to make the roster and move away from the Ritchie's Lewis' and Lucic type players.

[Flamesfan05]

Guys that I don’t care if they remain on the team

Hanifin- there is no upside here. Brainless, gutless performance.
Markstrom- if you can’t beat the Oilers then why are you on the Flames. Does anyone really think that can change if we meet them again. It’s not his first time.
Toffoli- don’t see how he can get better with his skating. We don’t have a Kopitar or Petterson to baby him