The Matthew Tkachuk contract negotiations

[iloveicedhockey]

I don't think we'll have to worry because the respective teams will probably leave Hall, ovi, Benn, Marchand and Laine exposed, so Seattle should be ok on the left wing.

[TheIronMaiden]

My guess is that it will be 6 years at 6,750,000, but it wont get signed until the day before training camp, and it will be almost entirely made up of signing bonuses.

The Flames will sign Rittich 2x2 and they will fit right under the cap.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

My guess is that it will be 6 years at 6,750,000, but it wont get signed until the day before training camp, and it will be almost entirely made up of signing bonuses.

The Flames will sign Rittich 2x2 and they will fit right under the cap.

I think this is dream scenario.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

My guess is that it will be 6 years at 6,750,000, but it wont get signed until the day before training camp, and it will be almost entirely made up of signing bonuses.

The Flames will sign Rittich 2x2 and they will fit right under the cap.

No chance. The Johnny and Gio contracts took effect the same year and were st most a year apart (can’t remember if Gio signed a year in advance?). That was 3 years ago. No way Tkachuk signs for that now. He takes an offer sheet before he does that

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

My guess is that it will be 6 years at 6,750,000, but it wont get signed until the day before training camp, and it will be almost entirely made up of signing bonuses.

The Flames will sign Rittich 2x2 and they will fit right under the cap.

No way he signs for the same contract that Gaudreau did 3(2?) years ago IMO. The climate has changed... it will be at least 1m more and likely more at that term. He isn’t going to leave money on the table. I’d be more inclined to think it would be 8.75m x 6... could be wrong, but that seems to me about what the market is.

[Nelson]

Gaudreau (6.75) - Monahan (6.375) - Lindholm (4.85)
Tkachuk (?) - Backlund (5.35) - Bennett (2.55)
Mangiapane (?) - Ryan (3.125) - Dube (0.778)
Lucic (5.25) - Jankowski (1.675) - Czarnik (1.25)
LW - Quine (0.735) - Frolik (4.3)

Giordano (6.75) - Brodie (4.650400)
Hanifin (4.95) - Hamonic (3.857143)
Valimaki (0.894166) - Andersson (0.755833)
LD - Stone (3.5)

Rittich (2.75)
Talbot (2.75)

Buyout: Brouwer (1.5)

Salary Cap: 81.5
Cost of Roster: 42.998 + 25.357542 + 5.5 + 1.5 = 75.355542
Salary Cap Space: 6.144458

So a Stone buyout would give them 8.477791. They’d then sign Petrovic at 700K or insert Davidson at 700K, which would bring them down to 7.777791. I don’t think that’ll be enough to get Tkachuk (~7.75) and Mangiapane (~1) done, although the Flames could just put Quine in the AHL and keep 13 F, 7 D and 2 G with Brodie and Frolik staying around.

How much would burying Quine save? Is it just 700K because his contract is a 1-way? Or do the rules work differently than I remember? Or is it a 2-way contract?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Okay, with Rittich signed, let's look at what's left for Tkachuk.

Current cap space is $4.67ish. But that's with Gillies and 8 d-men on the roster. Since Kylington and Valimaki can both pass through waivers, it's likely that one of them will go down to start the year without any additional roster moves. Gillies is not likely beating out either of Rittich or Talbot for a job to start the year (barring injury of course). It's safe to drop a couple of low end contracts to give an additional $1.5 million, but most of that will likely be taken by Mangiapane, probably around $900K-1 million I would guess. So let's just say they currently have $5 million to work with.

Man, that extra $1.5 million being eaten up by Brouwer sure would come in handy, eh? God I hate buyouts.

That being said, let's talk about buyouts!!!

Okay, so the prevailing theory is that someone will be dealt in a trade. I think if that was going to happen it would have already happened. Once Treliving has a plan I doubt he waits around too long. If Brodie, Frolik, or Stone could have been moved for a decent return it would have happened already. It should also be mentioned that ALL 3 players have modified no trade clauses, so that likely limits the destinations. For example, I doubt any of them would okay a trade to Ottawa, so even though they have the best ability to take on salary, nobody is being dumped there this year. Now for some assumptions:

1) I assume Treliving was underwhelmed by the returns for Frolik and Brodie and thinks the team is better off keeping them for this season or moving them at the trade deadline if necessary.

2) I assume Stone is nearly untradeable since he has a hefty salary for a bottom pair d-man who just lost a year due to injury/illness. Teams are probably very unsure of his ability to play. I don't see anyone taking him on unless draft picks or salary retention is included. Retaining salary defeats the purpose IMO.

Let's look at buying out Stone then:

Initial Cap Hit: $3.5 million
Buyout Cost: $1.167 million for 2 years
Cap Savings: $2.333 million for 2019/20 and -$1.167 million for 20/21

Now, I should mention that buying out Frolik's final year saves us $2 million and has only a $1 million cap hit for next year, so it's entirely possible that he's bought out if he can't be traded. On the other hand, I think Frolik still brings a lot more value to the team than Stone currently does.

That alone gives the Flames about $7.25 million to sign Tkachuk long term. Does anyone think that will be enough? Does it mean they are forced to do a 3 year bridge deal?

I just don't see a scenario where Stone is back next year with all these factors considered. We would still have 7 NHL level defensemen with either Davidson or Valiev being the first call up. We would still have Frolik and his solid 2-way game for at least the balance of the season, possibly moved at the trade deadline should some of the younger forwards like Dube and Mangiapane cement their spots in the lineup.

I just don't see that many options at the moment.

[Jason14h]

Are we sure Stone is actually going to play and not just got on LTIR? 100% sure he is cleared to play?

[GreenLantern2814]

^^^I don't see how Stone isn't movable. He had his blood clot issue, and he's been clear of that for six months now. He only has one year left, and he's effective at what he does. He played over 20 minutes once after the clots; the Flames had a really deep blue line, and Stone had missed way more time than anyone else. He got sent to the back of the line.

He still has value to some team somewhere. I can buy that Michael Stone is nobody's priority with all the RFAs still unsigned, but if Toronto is acquiring Clarkson's contract with only a 4th round pick as a sweetener, a market exists for Stone or Michael Frolik.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Are we sure Stone is actually going to play and not just got on LTIR? 100% sure he is cleared to play?

He played at the end of last year, so I'm pretty sure he's still cleared to play. I haven't heard any issues of lingering blood clots which was his only real issue last year.

[Canada 02]

Stone to Stockton would save $1.075M cap space, correct?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Stone to Stockton would save $1.075M cap space, correct?

Right but I think the actual cap savings is the differential between that and cap hit of his replacement on the 23 man roster so at most we’re talking $300K.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Right but I think the actual cap savings is the differential between that and cap hit of his replacement on the 23 man roster so at most we’re talking $300K.

Unless, you went with 2 extras instead of 3.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

He still has value to some team somewhere. I can buy that Michael Stone is nobody's priority with all the RFAs still unsigned, but if Toronto is acquiring Clarkson's contract with only a 4th round pick as a sweetener, a market exists for Stone or Michael Frolik.

Michael Stone is going to be a late September pickup when they put him on waivers. Some team is going to realize they need better depth (kind of an "oh ####" moment), and he'll be available. I don't think it gets done on the trade route, unless the Flames are expected to retain some salary.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Unless, you went with 2 extras instead of 3.

That’s not a realistic solution for any length of time.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Michael Stone is going to be a late September pickup when they put him on waivers. Some team is going to realize they need better depth (kind of an "oh ####" moment), and he'll be available. I don't think it gets done on the trade route, unless the Flames are expected to retain some salary.

Yeah I think Stone is here at least until he’s rolling in training camp. If he’s recovered there will be options for him.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Michael Stone is going to be a late September pickup when they put him on waivers. Some team is going to realize they need better depth (kind of an "oh ####" moment), and he'll be available. I don't think it gets done on the trade route, unless the Flames are expected to retain some salary.

I'm not sure the Flames will want to gamble and wait that long.

if there is one thing that this year has taught us is that cap space is king.

Counting on some team picking him up on waivers at the last moment isn't a plan, that's a hope and a prayer.

[Finger Cookin]

There's very few waiver claims in September because every team is trying to manage their roster and cap.

[Ozy_Flame]

That's cool, but I'm thinking one of the 29 other teams are going to consider Stone a quality waiver pickup and make it happen after they see their depth issues come September.

[Strange Brew]

At $3.5 million Stone goes unclaimed. There will be guys making under $1 million just as good available on waivers for those that are in need.