This Season & What Need's To Be Accomplished In The Off Season

[hockey.modern]

The forum has been pretty quiet the past few weeks, and I thought it would be a good time to address what the team needs to accomplish in the off season. Let's start off with how this years season and what was accomplished and what wasn't. These are the areas of which Brad Treliving should address this off-season.

1. Goaltending

2. Top 6 Forward Depth

3. Who to Sign and How Much

4. Expendable Players

1. GOALTENDING

For sure, without a question goaltending was one of the biggest reasons for the let down this season. Right from the get go, the season was started off with an unorthodox three headed goalie mess. Three mediocre goalies that wasn't capable of taking over a starter spot and players like Kari Ramo & Jonas Hiller were unable to keep up with what they were able to accomplish the previous season. Fans were wishing for Joni Ortio to steal one of the spots, but he wasn't getting the job done their. All three goalies were below sub .900% in save percentages which was a complete disaster for the first months of the off season. The three goalie situation also brought the Flames into roster problems which led to Paul Byron being waived and picked up by the Montreal Canadians.

Bad asset management on Brad Treliving on that part, but still being a young GM in the league, he will learn from this mistake going forward.

Let's look at what Brad Treliving has done to the goaltending situation this year, although it was very minor due to injuries within the organization. Not ideal situation going forward, but with Kari Ramo stepping up big, the Flames were able to stabilize the goalie situation short term for the season.



2015-16

Before

NHL

Hiller

Ramo

Ortio

AHL

Gillies

Simpson

-------------------------

After

NHL

Ramo

Hiller


AHL

Ortio

Poulin

After less than 20 games to go in the season, goaltending remains the biggest concern for the Flames going forward, and as mentioned by management, it will be the #1 priority in the off season. Ideally, it was going to be Ramo as a 1B situation, but with the uncertainty of his future due to injury, that doesn't create an option anymore. With big contracts coming to Johnny Gaudreau, and Sean Monahan, money will be tight for the goaltending situation. If Joni Ortio can continue with his play this season, he leaves the Flames of an option of signing him as a backup or 1B situation for next year. With the options available for UFA/RFA Free Agency, the flames have a few options. Spend assets for RFA goaltenders that are capable of a starting role, or go to a safe route and look at the UFA goalies. Here are the best options available:

2016-17

RFA Route

Andersen

Ortio


Mrazek

Ortio


UFA Route

Reimer

Ortio


Ward

Ortio


Raanta

Ortio


Darling

Ortio


Wildcards that could come to play with the cap situation in Tampa could also lead to Bishop being sent off. Another one that comes to play is with Philadelphia and the tandem of Neuvirth and Mason, and one of them would help with the Flames situation. Would also think Brian Elliot is expendable with Jake Allen taking over his spot as starter.

Wildcard Route?

Bishop - 1 year remaining at $5,950,000

Ortio


Neuvirth/Mason

Ortio


Elliot - 1 year remaining at $2,700,000

Ortio


__________________________________________________ _______________



2. TOP-SIX FORWARD DEPTH

With Jiri Hudler gone, the Flames depth at the top-6 looks pretty weak. However with the draft, the Flames are in a good spot to fill one of those spots. This season, depth for the forwards hasn't nearly been as much as a problem, however the consistency of secondary scoring needs to be looked at. Management needs to address players that can play in this role, whether that comes from free agency, or players in the farm. Here's what the bare bones of the top six looks like right now and what areas will need to be filled out this off-season. Frolik could fill one of those spots, however he's best suited as a 2/3 liner.


Now

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland

Colborne-Backlund-Frolik




The Future

Gaudreau-Monahan-X

X-Bennett-X


With a Top 10 Draft Pick, That could potentially fill one of the spots if they are NHL available and make the cut.These are the best options that would best serve the needs for the Flames at the draft.


1. Matthews

2. Laine

3. Puljujarvi

4. Dubois

5. Tkachuk

6. Chychrun


Now onto RFA/UFA Free Agency, the best players that would fit the Flames should be:


1. Okposo

2. Backes

3. Lucic

4. Nichushkin

5. Hoffman

6. Eriksson

7. Coyle

8. Brouwer


Going forward, that could lead into a 2016-17 that looks like the following:


Gaudreau-Monahan-Okposo/Lucic/Backes/Nichushkin

X-Bennett-Matthews/Laine/Puljujarvi/Dubois/Tkachuk


__________________________________________________ _______________


3. WHO TO SIGN AND FOR HOW MUCH


The following players will be RFA/UFA at the end of this season:


Forwards

1. Johnny Gaudreau

2. Sean Monahan

3. Joe Colborne

4. Josh Jooris

5. Kenneth Agostino

6. Freddie Hamilton

7. Drew Shore

8. Bill Arnold

9. Derek Grant

10. Turner Elson

11. Bryce Van Brabant


Defence

1. Tyler Wotherspoon



Goaltending

1. Joni Ortio

2. Kevin Poulin


Out of that list, the players that Brad Treliving should target and resign for the NHL squad are:


NHL

1. Johnny Gaudreau - $6.5-7.5 Million AAV/7-8 years

2. Sean Monahan - $5.5-6.5 Million AAV/6 years

3. Joni Ortio - $900k/1 year (prove it contract)

4. Joe Colborne - $1.5 Million AAV/2 years

5. Jakub Nakladal - $1.0 Million AAV/2 years

Total: $15.4 - 16.4 Million




AHL

1. Kenneth Agostino

2. Freddie Hamilton

3. Derek Grant

4. Bill Arnold

5. Tyler Wotherspoon

__________________________________________________ _______________

4. EXPENDABLE PLAYERS


For the 2016-17 these are the players that have their contracts up and hopefully will result in great trade assets for the deadline or during the season. Even greater if Brad Treliving can deal with these players this summer and allow for players in the farm to develop in the NHL for the next season as their is a logjam, especially at defense.


1. Wideman, Dennis

2. Smid, Ladislav

3. Raymond, Mason

4. Engelland, Deryk

5. Bollig, Brandon


__________________________________________________ _______________


Overall if the right moves are made and Brad Treliving completely gets rid of all the negative contracts (highly unlikely) our lineups for both the NHL and AHL could DREAM to look like the following for the 2016-17 season:



NHL

Gaudreau-Monahan-Okposo

Frolik-Bennett-Laine

Ferland-Backlund-Colborne

Bouma-Stajan-Hathaway


Giordano-Brodie

Jokipakka-Hamilton

Wotherspoon-Nakladal


Andersen

Ortio


AHL

Shinkaruk-Grant-Poirier

Mangiapane-Arnold-Agostino

Klimchuk-Jankowski-Smith

Pollock-Hamilton-Carroll



Kylington-Kulak

Culkin-Morrison

Sieloff-Anderssson

Kanzig

Gilmour




Gillies

Simpson

[flamesforcup]

#1 would be goaltending but #2 priority would be trying to clear out some of the dead weight we have

[Roof-Daddy]

My off-season wish list:

1. Draft top 5, hopefully get a player that can slot in next season. Matthews would be a dream, one of the Finns would be great too.

2. Clear out some cap, Wideman, Engelland, Smid, Stajan, Raymond. Whether it's trades, buy outs, LTIR, whatever, just clear some cap.

3. Add a young top six forward, try to pry Hayes or Kreider out of NYR. Both are RFA's along with Miller and all will be getting raises so maybe they look to move one.

4. Sign Reimer to be the starter, and get/keep a young back up that can push him. If it's Ortio great, if not maybe look to trade for Kuemper out of Minnesota, or Raanta as a UFA.

5. Hamonic is available, and wants to be in Western Canada. Get him, he will solidify our D-core with a big, mobile, defensively responsible PMD, and better us than Edmonton, Vancouver or Winnipeg.


Gaudreau - Monahan - Hayes
M Ferland - Bennett - Frolik
Colborne - Backlund - Laine
L Bouma - D. Grant - Hathaway
Bollig/Jooris

TJ Brodie - Hamonic
Giordano - Hamilton
Jokipakka - Nakladal
Wotherspoon

Reimer
Ortio


Assets available to trade for Hayes and Hamonic:

Stars 1st/2nd
Flames 2nd
Panthers 2nd
All other picks besides Flames 2017 1st
Shinkaruk, Poirier, Jankowski, Klimchuk, Hickey, etc

Pretty much anything but what's on the above roster, the 2016 or 2017 1st round picks and Gillies.

[Samonadreau]

I could see Grant looking for a 1 way deal. That would make things interesting.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

I could see Grant looking for a 1 way deal. That would make things interesting.

Unfortunately for him he hasn't proven he deserves a 1-way deal with his play in the NHL.

[dying4acup]

Find a goalie. Leaning toward Raanta. Will accept Ward @4m or less. Reimer....meh. I'd sign Ortio to QO.

Buy out Raymond
LTIR Schmid
Trade Wideman(even if retaining 1-2m)
If there is interest trade Engelland too

Re-sign Nakladal.

After re-signing RFAs, evaluate cap space and target RW

[PeteMoss]

I'd rather trade for a guy that pay someone like Raanta or other guys who've never been a starter big money.

[Huntingwhale]

Getting a solid goaltender should be the #1 priority. I can live with having some holes on the backend or on the wing. But goaltending makes/breaks franchises. More so then any other position. If BT doesn't solve the goaltending issue, we can look forward to another season like this one. If he does happen to find a solid G, the entire team will take a step forward.

[killer_carlson]

I want a proven winger on our top line. I don't want to try someone and hope they perform.

Give me Okposo or Lucic

[Street Pharmacist]

Both of those guys will get at least 6x6, likely more. You really want that?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Both of those guys will get at least 6x6, likely more. You really want that?

I would, they fill a huge need (especially Okposo). Treliving would just have to find a way to get out from underneath of two or three bad contracts to compensate. Easier said than done obviously, but that's his job. People act like it will be impossible but other teams do it all the time. If BT is handcuffed by players like Wideman to the point where he can't improve the team in other areas, I guess he's just not a very good GM then. Personally, I think he's going to figure it out as another year like this one will put him on the hot seat and he knows it.

[blender]

Next season is critical for the team. The poor results this year can justifiably be explained away on goaltending and special teams. Not that there isn't room to improve other areas, too, but with league-average netminding and pp, the Flames are far from the basement, IMO.

Next year, however, they must show something or the rebuild will be in question. I think the team still needs an identity that they can bring every night, and some consistency in the face of adversity. They won't be young forever.

I think Hartley's leash will be short if they are not off to a good start, and the pressure for this core to perform will be high, as it should be.

Despite the reality of the standings, I think it is ridiculous to compare this squad to some of the worst-ever Flames teams, BUT another failure next season and all bets are off.

[Jakester]

Goaltending is the number one priority IMO. Hiller appears to be done as an NHLer and while Ramo has been good in stretches he's not consistent enough to be a true number 1. Ortio may still surprise us, but I suspect he'll be Ramo v. 2.0. This years UFA crop seem to mostly be guys who have never been starters (Raanta, Darling), or who came from a 1a/1b situation (Reimer). Only Ward has had any real success as a starter, but his career numbers are average at best and he'll likely be expensive. If the Flames do go the UFA route, Carter Hutton might be an interesting choice. He's out-performed Raanta and Darling this year and probably wouldn't be too expensive.

Andersen is probably the best candidate for next year. He's relatively young and could still develop into a starter. I doubt Mrazek will be available. The Wings would sooner trade or buy out Howard than give up Mrazek IMO. If Howard were a few years younger or on a shorter contract, he might be a good guy for the Flames to pick up, but as things stand, I wouldn't be interested. As for the longer shots, Mason might be an interesting choice. He's quietly put up good numbers in Philly even if he hasn't had a super win-loss record.

The Flames second priority should be special teams IMO. This is likely a coaching issue, so it may be time to cut ties with the coach responsible (Gelinas?) and bring in someone new. Better goaltending would also help the PK.

Wideman is likely gone come fall. The Flames would also do well to ship out Stajan, Raymond, and Engellland if possible or perhaps buy them out.

Forward depth is a fairly low priority IMO. The Flames are middle of the pack in terms of goals for (even with a terrible PP) and if they had even average goaltending and special teams, they'd probably be in a playoff spot right now. Monahan, Bennett, and Backlund give them good depth up the middle and they have several young forwards in their system who have had success at lower levels (Klimchuk, Mangiapane, Poirier, Agostino, Ferland, Shinkaruk, Arnold, Jankowski) but are as of yet unproven in the NHL who could potentially help fill out the roster for next year. Come the draft, they will add one of Puljujarvi, Laine, Tkachuk, Nylander, Gauthier or (if they win the draft lottery) Matthews. Bottom line, I see no reason to spend 5-6 million on a top flight winger. If the team is in contention next year but needs some more scoring, perhaps it may be worth looking at acquiring a top 6 forward at the deadline.

[spuzzum]

Originally Posted by blender

Not that there isn't room to improve other areas, too, but with league-average netminding and pp, the Flames are far from the basement, IMO.

I'd politely disagree. Opening up the newspaper during coffee time this morning, we are at or near bottom. I don't think any of us expected this season to be as bad as it has been.

[Strange Brew]

Goaltending is #1 and nothing else is even close. I understand many fans sentiment that they want some of the roster's overpaid dead weight being moved out. At this point I would advocate being patient and moving these guys out at the deadline next year or just letting their contracts expire. I would rather do that than give up assets to move them or take back bad contracts. By the end of next year most of the dead weight is gone.

For me the bigger priority is not taking on any new dead weight this offseason, which means sitting still on July 1.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by spuzzum

I'd politely disagree. Opening up the newspaper during coffee time this morning, we are at or near bottom. I don't think any of us expected this season to be as bad as it has been.

That's because the team hasn't had anywhere near league-average netminding and PP. Did you read what blender said before politely disagreeing?

[Buck Murdock]

Backes...It would be great to begin to build the "heavy" team Burke and Treliving have been talking about. Backes is big, skilled, and has a mean streak that the Flames are lacking.

[Sakic19]

Number 1 for me is changing "Need's" in the thread title.

[killer_carlson]

who else is in the market for a starting goaltender this offseason?

[spuzzum]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That's because the team hasn't had anywhere near league-average netminding and PP. Did you read what blender said before politely disagreeing?

Yes and terrible special teams. Goaltending and several factors have made this team bottom. That's my point. It'll be a challenge fixing both of these items to becoming even league average. Those are two huge areas among others.