Former Flame UFA Watch

[TheScorpion]

It's July. Here are some former Flames who remain available on the UFA market despite July 1st having passed. Think anyone will sign these players? (I'm not including the Flames' current UFAs like Versteeg and Shore.)


Mike Cammalleri
2017-18 (LA/EDM): 66 GP, 7 G, 22 A, 29 P, -2.6 CF% rel

Cammalleri spent the majority of last season setting up Connor McDavid while suffering through an awfully unlucky season. He's 36 years old but still put up nearly 0.5 points per game while shooting just 5.5%. Sure, he's slow, but for name recognition alone, he should wind up somewhere. He may never score 39 goals in a season again, but he can still probably contribute to a powerplay on a bad team. Perhaps a team that could use some jersey sales.

Pick: Ottawa


Lee Stempniak
2017-18 (CAR): 37 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 P, 0.3 CF% rel

Stempniak always struck me as being "vaguely disappointing" while he was with the Flames, but he's managed to carve a long career as a hired gun for ten teams. After missing the first half of the season due to injury, Stempniak returned and posted the most woeful numbers of his career. He simply failed to mesh with anyone upon returning, despite having success with Carolina in 2016-17. At age 35, Stempniak could have a season or two left in him. Will he ever lead a team in scoring like he did with the Flames in 2012-13? Probably not. But he could still be an appealing depth option to a team weak on the wings.

Pick: Edmonton


Derek Grant
2017-18 (ANA): 66 GP, 12 G, 12 A, 24 P, -1.0 CF% rel

Shown here rocking the Michael Frolik special, Grant finally scored his first NHL goal last year at age 27. Maybe the La Brea Tar Pits occasionally spit out random doses of good fortune instead of lava? Anyway, Grant was finally given his first prolonged chance in an NHL top-six last year and actually made the most of it, but he still remains unsigned. He continues to be very good at faceoffs but seems to have been replaced in Anaheim by fellow 2017-18 surprise Brian Gibbons. Who will, ahem, take a chance on him?

Pick: Vegas


Alex Chiasson
2017-18 (WAS): 61 GP, 9 G, 9 A, 18 P, -4.6 CF% rel

Did anyone really think last year that, in a year's time, Alex Chiasson would be a Stanley Cup champion? Heck, it wasn't a given that Chiasson would even have a team last summer until the Caps finally signed him as a training camp walk-on. And then he helped them win the Cup. His one playoff goal was assisted by an Australian. What a world. Despite his success, it doesn't look like the Caps will retain Chiasson, and after posting similar numbers in Washington as what he did in Calgary, his continued NHL presence is, once again, not guaranteed.

Pick: Toronto


Lance Bouma
2017-18 (CHI): 53 GP, 3 G, 6 A, 9 P, -4.1 CF% rel

HOW did Lance Bouma score 16 goals in a season? Seriously, HOW? Seriously, in his six other NHL seasons, Bouma has collected 14 total goals. And yet, in one season, playing with the likes of Joe Colborne and David Jones, Lance Bouma put up 16 goals! Anyhow, after being bought out in 2017, Bouma played one season in Chicago where he was used more sparingly than vitamins in Guy Fieri's kitchen. At age 28, he doesn't look to have much more upside than what he's shown over the course of the last three seasons. If he scores 16 more goals in his career, it'll be a miracle.

Pick: somewhere in the AHL


Freddie Hamilton
2017-18 (CGY/ARI): 16 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 P, -1.7 CF% rel

Oh, c'mon. Isn't it obvious?

Pick: Charlotte Checkers

[dissentowner]

You forgot Iginla.

[TheScorpion]

Jarome Iginla
2017-18 (N/A): No statistics available

Iginla is the greatest player in Calgary Flames franchise history and is a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame. He has a great deal of individual hardware, and while he came just inches short of the Stanley Cup, he has won two Olympic Gold Medals.

He's also 41, and done in the NHL.

Prediction: retires

[getbak]

I think it's likely the end of the road for Cammalleri and Stempniak. Bouma will sign a cheap deal in Edmonton. Freddie will sign with the Canes and their roster might be bad enough that he'll stay in the NHL all year.

I had no idea that Grant had actually played that many games last year, or scored that many points. I'm sure he and Chiasson will get cheap deals somewhere.

[djsFlames]

Hope Versteeg lands a gig, anywhere but in YEG

Boy Stempniak really fell off a cliff, wow. Think maybe back to the devils on the cheap since they were able to get a lot out of him there?

Solely because of cammys size I can see it being a tough go for him. Ottawa makes a lot of sense too since they'll want to at least help bring their fans something watchable and he isn't useless. Or the habs.

[getbak]

It's time for Iginla to return to Calgary...

[Fire]

Cammalleri is done, he doesn't produce enough offensively anymore to make up for his terrible defense.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by getbak

It's time for Iginla to return to Calgary...

Fun fact -- I took that photo.

And off-topic, but can we please get over this "honoured numbers" BS? We're literally the only team in the NHL to do it and it's nonsense. And if you're not gonna give out numbers like 2 and 14, do the right thing and take them out of circulation instead of going all loosey-goosey with it. It's lame and dumb and insulting.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Some of these guys could end up in Europe, more likely German, Austrian or Swiss leagues.

[Phaneuf_Phan]

Iginla is the 2nd greatest player in Calgary Flames franchise history - right after Fleury.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf_Phan

Iginla is the 2nd greatest player in Calgary Flames franchise history - right after Fleury.

Fleury may have had more natural talent and finesse but I think Iginla was a far better overall player, and it's not even close.

[David Struch]

UFA's

Keegan Kanzig
Chris Breen
Tanner Glass
Max Reinhart
Brandon Bollig
Luke Gazdic
Austin Carroll
Hunter Smith
Emile Poirier
Joe Colborne

[ComixZone]

After we sign Iginla in a few weeks, I’m going to laugh at you Scorp.

I’m going to laugh!

[theg69]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

HOW did Lance Bouma score 16 goals in a season? Seriously, HOW? Seriously, in his six other NHL seasons, Bouma has collected 14 total goals. And yet, in one season, playing with the likes of Joe Colborne and David Jones, Lance Bouma put up 16 goals! Anyhow, after being bought out in 2017, Bouma played one season in Chicago where he was used more sparingly than vitamins in Guy Fieri's kitchen. At age 28, he doesn't look to have much more upside than what he's shown over the course of the last three seasons. If he scores 16 more goals in his career, it'll be a miracle.

That's an easy answer. Same reason why Joe Colborne is no longer an NHLer. Backlund

[shotinthebacklund]

Fluery over iggy? Seriously? Best see your MD. I believe you have suffered a stroke.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by shotinthebacklund

Fluery over iggy? Seriously? Best see your MD. I believe you have suffered a stroke.

Every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Let's not clog up the thread with this debate though. Both sides can make a valid argument.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Phaneuf_Phan

Iginla is the 2nd greatest player in Calgary Flames franchise history - right after Fleury.

No

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Ahem.
<-----------


Now, with that settled, lets get back on topic.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

HOW did Lance Bouma score 16 goals in a season? Seriously, HOW?

[H2SO4(aq)]

Seriously don’t think any of these guys play next year. Stempniak probably only guy to get a pto. Maybe cammi.