Flames upcoming free agent defensemen: Who stays, who goes?

[djsFlames]

An issue that's been put on the back burner during this hiatus but the GM has work yet to be done to assemble enough defensemen to move forward with before pursuing such aspirations as UFAs like Taylor Hall. This is worthy of its own discussion as we move into the conclusion of the 2019-2020 season.

UFA:
Brodie
Hamonic
Gustafsson
Forbort
Stone
Valiev

RFA:
Kylington

Signed past 19-20:
Giordano
Andersson
Hanifin
Valimaki

[Roof-Daddy]

Flames are filled up on the left:

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin -
Valimaki -


So preferably you'd keep or acquire a couple right hand shot Dmen, and one of them needs to be top 4 capable.

There also won't be a crap ton of money to throw at the D in the off season, especially if they bolster the forward group with the supposed mutual interest between CGY and Hall.

Of those free agents only Stone and Hamonic are RHD.

Hamonic will be overpaid for what he brings IMO, but maybe with a flat cap etc he and his camp will be more willing to take a team friendly deal?

I'm not opposed to bringing Stone back as a 6th/7th depth option to battle with Yelesin.

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - UFA or trade RHD
Valimaki - Yelesin/Stone

Kylington there to battle with Valimaki as well.

[Wood]

Hamonic and Stone can walk

I'd like to see Gustafsson stay if it's a reasonable price, but Kylington can hopefully fill his spot if he leaves

I'd like to see Forbort stay as a 6/7. Valiev will hopefully stay and play in the AHL, I think the Heat are pretty thin on defense

[Poe969]

Depends on how much Brodie and Forbort want. Kylington should get a good look at making the team next year. Hamonic should have been traded imo.

[Roof-Daddy]

Forbort is capable of 18-20 minutes per game.

He is not a 6/7 defenseman.

[djsFlames]

Notable UFA d-men outside of the organization:

Pietrangelo (RH) - 6,500,000 cap hit
Barrie (RH) - 5,500,000
Schultz (RH) - 5,500,000
Krug (LH) - 5,250,000
Vatanen (RH) - 4,875,000
Ceci (RH) - 4,500,000
Kulikov (LH) - 4,333,334
Gudas (RH) - 3,350,000
Dillon - (LH) 3,270,000

[Harry Lime]

Let everyone go. (sign Kylington RFA)

I like Krug on UFA, but so does everyone else. He looks to be paid about 3M less than Pietrangelo, and if that's the case I'd offer Pietrangelo the bank, and cross your fingers. If he says no, pursue Hall.

Edit : as a cost conscious option, Demelo.

[djsFlames]

I like Forbort as a fill-in #4 / regular #5

I like Gustafsson to be utilized like a Stone as a 6/7

If they're willing to stay for reasonable price tags given those roles, I'd extend them.

Would like to keep Brodie over Hamonic. Will depend on players.

Signing Vatanen would be perfect. Krug is also enticing.

In the case of Brodie and Hamonic pricing themselves out of town, I'd like to see

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Vatanen
Forbort - Valimaki
Gustafsson, Kylington

[Wood]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Forbort is capable of 18-20 minutes per game.

He is not a 6/7 defenseman.

After his back injury and long recovery I don't think he's going to be able to demand much. I'd be more comfortable giving him a chance on the bottom pair on a short term contract and see if he can essentially replace Hamonic and maybe move up the line-up

I think he's capable of being a top 4, but I don't think he belongs there right now. Top 4 defenseman get a lot more than a mid-round pick at the trade deadline

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Wood

After his back injury and long recovery I don't think he's going to be able to demand much. I'd be more comfortable giving him a chance on the bottom pair on a short term contract and see if he can essentially replace Hamonic and maybe move up the line-up

I think he's capable of being a top 4, but I don't think he belongs there right now. Top 4 defenseman get a lot more than a mid-round pick at the trade deadline

That'd be nice, I liked him. I think he's top 4 capable and has good size and a bit of snarl.

I just don't see where he would fit.

Giordano and Hanifin have the top two LHD spots tied up, and then with Valimaki and Kylington needing NHL minutes there really is no spot for another LHD IMO.

[TheScorpion]

If Forbort sticks around, I think it'll be in the Stone role from this past year and Stone goes elsewhere, maybe to Winnipeg. If Forbort walks, I think Stone returns.

Hamonic walks. Gustafsson walks. They'll either sign Brodie or Barrie IMO.

[djsFlames]

Just realized there are two posters named Wood and Woob and they are not the same.

[Wood]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Just realized there are two posters named Wood and Woob and they are not the same.

Shhh, he's a way better poster than me and I like to steal his good reputation

[Wood]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

That'd be nice, I liked him. I think he's top 4 capable and has good size and a bit of snarl.

I just don't see where he would fit.

Giordano and Hanifin have the top two LHD spots tied up, and then with Valimaki and Kylington needing NHL minutes there really is no spot for another LHD IMO.

Yeah I agree, I'd rather see both Kylington and Valimaki get a chance at being full time guys before Forbort. Which is why I'd like to see Forbort as more of a fill in guy I guess

I might be way off though. If Forbort is better than I'm giving him credit for I'd rather see him get his money elsewhere before taking a spot from one of our young guys

[djsFlames]

Valimaki will probably shoot up through the ranks again in no time once healthy.

He was already at least a solid #6 NHLer where he left off a year ago.

[TheScorpion]

There is no doubt at all in my mind that Valimaki will supplant Hanifin next year. I have such a strong feeling about this. He was so, so good when he made the team out of camp as a 19-year-old. If he's fully healthy by the time 2020-21 rolls around, he'll be darn good.

[Harry Lime]

What do people think about the rumor that Hanafin was the offer to New Jersey for Hall? That would seem to indicate to me that Tre is willing to go forward with Valimaki and Kylington. A lot of talk about Johnny with one foot out the door, but clearing some cap space and offering short term deals to Demelo, Tanev, Gudas, or Schultz (or making a trade including a RD), would really balance things out on defense.

[Poe969]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Gudas would be a great signing as a #6 guy IMO. Lots depends on what the approach is in the off season, if any of the current D get dealt it changes everything. Pietrangelo would be amazing but a pipedream.

[Sandman]

I would also very much like Gudas on our team. I still think Brodie is gone, and Hamonic stays. I would very much like Forbort to stick around, I think he's a pretty useful player.

[kyuss275]

I hope they let hamonic walk. Forbort should be his replacement on the bottom pairing . Would like Brodie back, but not sure they can afford him. Still not sure what management and coaches think of Kylington?