[Rumour] UPD: Gustafsson plans to head to UFA unless Flames up their offer

[sureLoss]

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
There haven't been any contract talks between the #Flames and D Erik Gustafsson. As of now, the 28-year-old is planning on testing the UFA market next month.

Ryan Pike @RyanNPike
This is consistent with what I've been told by sources close to the situation. #Flames

[Lil Pedro]

Pat Steinberg is gonna be pissed

[SeanCharles]

I would have liked to see him come back if the price/term was right but he might be looking for too much.

If that is the case I actually wouldn’t mind them trying out Andersson/Valimaki/Kylington on the top PP next season.

I think Kylington has similar offensive upside as Gus.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Not shocked.

Gustafsson wants to get PAID, but i have my doubts he’ll find it with what’s going on in the world.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Hard player to evaluate. His passing, including in transition is impressive. And he adds an element on the PP. But he is far from a complete dman.
So what's that worth? I have zero clue.
I could see him signing for a shocking contract that seems like an overpay. I can also seem him hanging out there and signing for a bargain.
Literally no idea.

[Erick Estrada]

How much do you pay a 3rd pairing defenseman with some offensive skills? I didn't think he flashed enough offensively to warrant much in the way of term and high dollar.

[Torture]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Hard player to evaluate. His passing, including in transition is impressive. And he adds an element on the PP. But he is far from a complete dman.
So what's that worth? I have zero clue.
I could see him signing for a shocking contract that seems like an overpay. I can also seem him hanging out there and signing for a bargain.
Literally no idea.

IMO he'll be left without a chair and sign somewhere for a bargain. We got him for a song at the deadline and teams don't have the cash or cap room right now.

[agulati]

Surprised that no talks have been held. Does that mean absolutely no conversation on contract demand, or just no negotiations.

He probably would have, in any regular off-season, made bank as a free agent. Don’t expect so much this year.

[GioforPM]

I think he's in for an awakening and very well may come back here after testing the market.

ETA: I doubt he was first on Treliving's to-do list anyway, plus it's not bad negotiating to make him sweat to the deadline. I see this communication as Gustaffson trying to get Treliving moving. And I think Tre is shrewd enough not to take that bait.

[Icon]

i've voiced it a few times this off season, but my reaction to this news is... GOOD

Gus was, ok.

He brought a presence to the PP, though it didn't pan out much. But it felt like you could see at times WPG & DAL knew it was there.

That said, he was absolutely atrocious in his own end, both defending, and more visibly with the puck on his stick. His play resulted in way too many turnovers or missed passes that ended up as neutral zone scrambles at best, or mis-timed icings. Had he also been contributing offensively, this would be at least somewhat overlooked. But he wasn't.

ZERO interest in bringing him back for anything more than a replacement level amount. Sure, pay him 1.5 on a 1yr show me (or we trade you at the deadline if we suck and you have some sort of value) deal. But beyond that, I would much, much, MUCH, rather see what the guys on the farm could bring instead and spend the cap space elsewhere.

Someone else will give him a 3x3 or something, and grats to him for it, and who knows, maybe it turns out. Good for them if it does. I just know if we give him any significant dollars it's so-far unearned on this team and could have been better spent elsewhere.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

His passing, including in transition is impressive.

I felt I noticed him causing turnovers way more than a good pass out of the zone.

It may be that a good transition out of the zone should be routine and un-noticeable, but the fact it felt like if it was a bad turnover it was often Gus on the other end sure stuck out to me.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

David Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
There haven't been any contract talks between the #Flames and D Erik Gustafsson. As of now, the 28-year-old is planning on testing the UFA market next month.

Ryan Pike @RyanNPike
This is consistent with what I've been told by sources close to the situation. #Flames

Wasn't there a report a couple weeks ago that they weren't even close? Perhaps a huge gap led to the end of talks before they really got rolling?

[Erick Estrada]

Treliving probably saw the asking price and said; "We may as well target Barrie if that's the ask for this guy." I feel that's a guy the Flames may key in on being right hand shot.

[VladtheImpaler]

Who cares? The only UFA that should be kept, if he is keepable, is Brodie. The rest are all garbage that should be replaced by ELC (or similar-priced) players.

[Flash Walken]

The rumour from the trade deadline was that Gustafson planned on returning to Chicago because of how much his family enjoyed it there.

[Scroopy Noopers]

It was kinda weird how meh he was. Following his stats for fantasy purposes prior, I was surprised at the cheap return they got for him. And watching him it’s clear he has hands. But, he’s still a 3rd pairing guy who can play on your PP. And by play on your PP I mean he can fill that role if you need to, but he doesn’t elevate it.

I thought they’d keep him with Brodie walking (likely). But I don’t imagine his next cheque is significant to a teams cap.

[shadowlord]

This year, I think he was on-pace for a 40 point season (prorated to 82 games); and played on the top-pairing in Chicago last season, scoring 60 points.

What would be the going rate for that level of player? If it's $5-6 million AAV, that's too rich for me. Even at $4 million/yr, I'd like to see some of the kids get more of an opportunity and use our cap space elsewhere.

[Flames_F.T.W]

I feel like Kylington is being groomed to fill this role at some point

[activeStick]

I'm very okay with this. Not good defensively, though he is good offensively. Leaves a spot for the prospects to earn like Valimaki or Mackey. And no, I don't think Valimaki should be penciled into the Top 4 which I've seen on CP for about 2 years now. He will have to earn a spot like everyone else and expecting him to be able to play against top NHLers for 16-18 minutes a night is unfair to the kid and going to disappoint those who unreasonably put him there.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

I feel like Kylington is being groomed to fill this role at some point

Be terrible defensively while only being useful on the PP? He's already half way there!