'14-'15 Flames' 23 Man Roster

[InfinityIggy]

Hudler – Backlund – Möller*


Möller has awesome chemistry with Backlund and is one of the best euro free agents. He is way better than Cervenka.

So you question Colborne on the 2nd line wing, and then suggest Moller of all people?

 

[Pirate King Luffy]

So you question Colborne on the 2nd line wing, and then suggest Moller of all people?

Colborne has displaced Mollers.

 

[Lunatik]

So you question Colborne on the 2nd line wing, and then suggest Moller of all people?

I thought that was funny, but then again he also said Moller is not different than Vrbata too.

 

[Anglesmith]

vrbata is soft also, diffrence with möller and vrbata is nothing.

But what has Moller proven at the NHL level? Vrbata has proven quite a bit. I wouldn't take either, though. I don't think they are better than options we have already in the system.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

But what has Moller proven at the NHL level? Vrbata has proven quite a bit. I wouldn't take either, though. I don't think they are better than options we have already in the system.

What player on the Flames has ever reached the 30+ goal plateau that isn't Cammy (UFA) or Glencross (technically came close and if you prorate only)

 

[Anglesmith]

What player on the Flames has ever reached the 30+ goal plateau that isn't Cammy (UFA) or Glencross (technically came close and if you prorate only)

Well, as we're in a rebuild, I think it's prudent to evaluate players based on what they're going to do in the future, not what they've done in the past. Otherwise, we're saying Vrbata would be better for us than Monahan.

 

[Lunatik]

Well, as we're in a rebuild, I think it's prudent to evaluate players based on what they're going to do in the future, not what they've done in the past. Otherwise, we're saying Vrbata would be better for us than Monahan.

I think it is only prudent to look at all of it. Vrbata would be better for us than say Ferland, possibly even better for us than Baertschi at this point in time. Having a veteran there to fill the gap while the kids develop properly into NHL contributors can be extremely important.

 

[Anglesmith]

I think it is only prudent to look at all of it. Vrbata would be better for us than say Ferland, possibly even better for us than Baertschi at this point in time. Having a veteran there to fill the gap while the kids develop properly into NHL contributors can be extremely important.

Sure. Right now as wingers available in the system we have Hudler, Glencross, Colborne, Jones, Bouma, Galiardi, Granlund, Byron, Reinhart, Baertschi, Gaudreau and possibly Cammalleri. As long as six of those guys are at a position where only the NHL is going to help their game (and I think the first eight I listed fit that criterion), then we don't need to be adding more veteran wingers. I think Vrbata has been a good fit in Phoenix, but I'd be worried about moving him out of that system that he's become accustomed to and that he may be reliant on.

 

[Lunatik]

Sure. Right now as wingers available in the system we have Hudler, Glencross, Colborne, Jones, Bouma, Galiardi, Granlund, Byron, Reinhart, Baertschi, Gaudreau and possibly Cammalleri. As long as six of those guys are at a position where only the NHL is going to help their game (and I think the first eight I listed fit that criterion), then we don't need to be adding more veteran wingers. I think Vrbata has been a good fit in Phoenix, but I'd be worried about moving him out of that system that he's become accustomed to and that he may be reliant on.

Not all LW can play RW though. You may have listed a dozen wingers, but the reality is only 3 of them (Hudler, Colborne, Jones) have proven themselves to be effective on the right side so far. Others like Galiardi, and Baertschi (in Abbotsford) have been tried and highly ineffective on RW. Byron was okay but nothing special when used as a RW in Abbotsford, Granlund was ineffective as a winger in general this year when used as such. Gaudreau has a lot to prove, we have to wait and see if he will be tried at RW.

So in reality someone like Vrbata would only really have to outplay Jones to improve the team. I am not saying Vrbata is the answer, personally I'd rather see Setoguchi get a show me type deal.

 

[Mr Lebowski]

The RWers we have that could play in the NHL next year are Hudler, D.Jones, Byron, Reinhart, Colborne and maybe Cammalleri. Doubt both Hudler and Cammy are here next year so that makes 5.

RW UFA's are

Name | Last contract | Age | Team
Marian Gaborik | 7m | 32 | LA Kings
Jarome Iginla | 6m | 36 | Boston Bruins
Ales Hemsky | 5m | 30 | Ottawa Senators
Brian Gionta | 5m | 35 | Montreal Canadiens
Ryan Callahan | 4.725m | 28 | Tampa Bay Lightning
Radim Vrbata | 3m | 32 | Phoenix Coyotes
Devin Setogouchi | 3m | 27 | Winnipeg Jets
Nikolai Kulemin | 2.8m | 27 | Toronto Maple Leafs
Steve Downie | 2.8 | 27 | Philadelphia Flyers
Lee Stempniak | 2.5 | 31 | Pittsburgh Penguins
David Moss | 2.1m | 32 | Phoenix Coyotes
Ryan Jones | 1.5m | 29 | Edmonton Oilers
Patrick Eaves | 1.2m | 30 | Nashville Predators

 

[Pirate King Luffy]

Iginla won't be back. Gaborik is never coming to the Flames. And screw Callahan.

Other than that the list is fine.

 

[Mr Lebowski]

Iginla won't be back. Gaborik is never coming to the Flames. And screw Callahan.

Other than that the list is fine.

Who would you want to sign?

I just want someone with a good two way game or truculent. Downie or Kulemin would be great

 

[Wheels of Poirier]

Who would you want to sign?

I just want someone with a good two way game or truculent. Downie or Kulemin would be great

As I've mentioned previously, I'd really like to sign Dale Weise to an offer sheet..

 

[Mr Lebowski]

I think Max Reinhart deserves a spot after his playoff performance and after 3 years there's nothing else he can learn from the AHL. Keep Hudler because Sven and Hudler can really benefit from playing with him.

CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
Flames
FORWARDS
Curtis Glencross ($2.550m) / Mikael Backlund ($1.500m) / Max Reinhart ($0.618m)
Johnny Gaudreau ($0.925m) / Sean Monahan ($0.925m) / Joe Colborne ($1.500m)
Sven Baertschi ($0.894m) / Matt Stajan ($3.125m) / Jiri Hudler ($4.000m)
T.J. Galiardi ($1.250m) / Brian Boyle ($1.700m) / Lance Bouma ($1.200m)
Brian McGrattan ($0.750m) / David Jones ($4.000m)
DEFENSEMEN
T.J. Brodie ($2.125m) / Mark Giordano ($4.020m)
Ladislav Smid ($3.500m) / Adam McQuaid ($1.567m)
Kris Russell ($2.600m) / Anton Stralman ($3.500m)
Ed Jovanovski ($4.125m)
GOALTENDERS
Karri Ramo ($2.750m)
Chad Johnson ($0.900m)
BURIED
Shane O'Brien ($1.075m)
RETAINED SALARIES (1.48% of upper limit)
Dennis Wideman ($1.050m—20.00%)
------
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $52,149,167; BONUSES: $2,566,250
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $18,950,833

This is a big team with lots of leaders and many young players. Any forward line could be the 1st line. We'd have a very strong D corps. And Good enough goaltending

GONE: Cammalleri, Westgarth, Butler, Byron (BOS), Wideman (DET)
NEW: Boyle (FA), McQuaid (BOS), Stralman (FA), Jovanovski (FLA)

Jovo was to make the floor, any cap dump would be fine on D but he's a leader

 

[Pirate King Luffy]

None of them preferably but because we might need to I would go with Vrbata.

I also don't like the bottom 4 we have that you made.

Gio- Brodie
Smid-Mcqauid
Russel- Stralman

Our D gets worse after those moves. A Russell/Stralman d pairing would be a disaster in the west.

The roster as a whole is laughable, if anything we get worse than last year. Personally I would Gaudreau to start in the AHL, he won't need to clear waiver and it's th smarter choice. The top line you having is a 3rd line at best on some teams. Reinhart shouldn't be given first line duties off the bat.

 

[Mr Lebowski]

the first line has Glencross who'll bring truculence and scoring. Backlund will grow with more minutes and hopefully can score 50 points. Reinhart plays with players he can lean from. We've talked about the Gaudreau - Monahan - Colborne line. Gaudreau has too much talent for the AHL IMO. Baertschi and Hudler had chemistry last year and Baertschi will really benefit from playing with vets. Galiardi had a really bad year so he'll have a chance to redeem himself. Boyle adds truculence and makes us hard to play against. Bouma is a beast. That line will be hard to play against. Jones will be more deticated if he starts as a scratch. McGrattan will be our enforcer.

Brodie and Gio were a legit top pair last year and that will be continued. Smid is back as our 3rd Dman. He's big and really tough to play. McQuaid is a big RHD that's also hard to play. He's an upgrade over Wideman. Russell can hopefully build on his career year. Stralman has played like a top pair DMan this playoffs and late this year. He's an upgrade over Butler. Jovanovski is to make the floor and just another leader. Like in the Avs rebuild they had many leaders off ice. And we do, plus the AVs had a mature young player in Landeskog. WE have Monahan. Yet we're bigger than last year. And younger. Make a splash next off-season.

 

[Lunatik]

Wait, so Reinhart is going to be moved to his off win and thrown immediately on the top line? Are you trying to turn the kid into a bust? He has shown nothing at the NHL level to indicate he is ready for top 6 minutes, let alone ready for 1st line minutes.

Gillies, I think you have officially run out of ideas because you are really starting to reach.

 

[MuffinMerc]

I lol at the lineups with Gaudreau already pencilled in.

 

[Mr Lebowski]

Wait, so Reinhart is going to be moved to his off win and thrown immediately on the top line? Are you trying to turn the kid into a bust? He has shown nothing at the NHL level to indicate he is ready for top 6 minutes, let alone ready for 1st line minutes.

Gillies, I think you have officially run out of ideas because you are really starting to reach.

I guess having no hockey for so long has gotten to me . But isn't Reinhart at RW?

 

[Lunatik]

I guess having no hockey for so long has gotten to me . But isn't Reinhart at RW?

Nope, C/LW

 

[InfinityIggy]

I lol at the lineups with Gaudreau already pencilled in.

Why? Look at our wing depth. It would not be at all surprising to see him make the team out of camp, assuming we don't bring a bunch of Free Agents in on wing.

 

[CraigsList]

The RWers we have that could play in the NHL next year are Hudler, D.Jones, Byron, Reinhart, Colborne and maybe Cammalleri. Doubt both Hudler and Cammy are here next year so that makes 5.

RW UFA's are

Name | Last contract | Age | Team
Marian Gaborik | 7m | 32 | LA Kings
Jarome Iginla | 6m | 36 | Boston Bruins
Ales Hemsky | 5m | 30 | Ottawa Senators
Brian Gionta | 5m | 35 | Montreal Canadiens
Ryan Callahan | 4.725m | 28 | Tampa Bay Lightning
Radim Vrbata | 3m | 32 | Phoenix Coyotes
Devin Setogouchi | 3m | 27 | Winnipeg Jets
Nikolai Kulemin | 2.8m | 27 | Toronto Maple Leafs
Steve Downie | 2.8 | 27 | Philadelphia Flyers
Lee Stempniak | 2.5 | 31 | Pittsburgh Penguins
David Moss | 2.1m | 32 | Phoenix Coyotes
Ryan Jones | 1.5m | 29 | Edmonton Oilers
Patrick Eaves | 1.2m | 30 | Nashville Predators

Whether we like it or not, Hudler will be staying with the Flames.

 

[Johnny Hoxville]

I don't get why people are insisting it's best for Gaudreau to start in the AHL before he even has a camp under his belt, for what reason?

I want to state that every player needs to earn their spot and that includes JG and Sven. But I think it's quite clear that Gaudreau's skill level is already at an NHL level. So assuming he's ready, what benefits will there be for him playing in the AHL? IMO, the only reason he won't make team is because he needs to adjust to the speed of the game. The size and physicality of the competition he will be facing will be the same no matter where he's playing.

I personally think he'll make it based based on what I've seen, but I don't want to see any player gifted spots no matter what their name is.

 

[Lunatik]

I don't get why people are insisting it's best for Gaudreau to start in the AHL before he even has a camp under his belt, for what reason?

I want to state that every player needs to earn their spot and that includes JG and Sven. But I think it's quite clear that Gaudreau's skill level is already at an NHL level. So assuming he's ready, what benefits will there be for him playing in the AHL? IMO, the only reason he won't make team is because he needs to adjust to the speed of the game. The size and physicality of the competition he will be facing will be the same no matter where he's playing.

I personally think he'll make it based based on what I've seen, but I don't want to see any player gifted spots no matter what their name is.

I agree with this and the something Treliving said really resonates with me.

The team wants to develop players until they are ready to contribute at the NHL, not just ready to play at the NHL level.

 

[CraigsList]

Johnny will be playing the whole season. He's ready.

Temper expectations no more, he played well in not only the NCAA, but his NHL debut and the world championship as well. The WC had NHL players with great talent and Johnny still played well if not better than others.

He will play a full season and get 50+ points. For those saying he's not ready, he is ready. He's been playing against people that see bigger than him his whole life, it doesn't look like it's hurting the way he plays one bit. In fact, I think he's adapted to the way the bigger people play, his hockey IQ is off the charts.

Of course, everyone has to earn their roster spot. But Johnny is probably the most NHL ready prospect we have, and he can easily take Cammalleri's roster spot. He's probably why I am not that sad that Cammy most likely won't resign with us, because I believe he can easily slot into Cammy's spot on the team.