bosn111

The Flames re-structured the goalie coaching staff back in December. Sigalet is now Director of goalie staff, basically overseeing from the top including drafting. LaBarbera is now NHL goalie coach with Speer being the AHL and prospect coach based in Stockton. Speer was formally head of US national hockey goalie development. I think we have less to worry with Sigalet and development now. I would say we have some goalies to be excited about, but also need to be realistic about odds. I honestly think Parsons is essentially out of the picture for the Flames unless he all of a sudden shines in camp and to start the season. I would think that they are hedging their bets with one of Wolf, Chechelev or Sergeyev to develop into a starter in 3-4 seasons. None of them are ready to be back up to Markstrom so they grabbed Vladar while Werner likely gives AHL experience in net to keep pressure off of whoever comes in to play (looks like Chechelev). Wolf likely overage back in Junior, Parsons loaned out or traded. Sergeyev in USHL.

In the history of the Flames, including Atlanta, they have only drafted 5 goalies who have played more than 100 games in the NHL, only 3 of whom did it for the Flames, the last one being Kidd in the 90s. They drafted Anderson, but he didn’t sign and re-entered the draft. Krahn had potential to be an all star but was derailed by injuries, bad luck. Broissoit could still hit 100 GP, but not with Calgary. Wolf is the next option as it appears Parsons fell to the same injury curse as Krahn.

So looking at goaltending, what I see as the depth based on Elite prospects would be NHL Markstrom Vladar AHL Werner Parsons Wolf (could play overage in Junior) Chechelev USHL Sergeyev ECHL Shortridge Greenfield Due to the crease congestion, I could see Wolf playing as overages in Junior, especially with last season being so short. That still leaves 3 goalies fighting for 2 spots on the Heat or being loaned out. I would think we may see Parsons get loaned out from the start, or maybe after a few games to see if he can step up. I just have no real idea what they will do with the extra goalies.

Chechelev signed AHL contract with Stockton. Adds more intrigue to the depth and who plays where.

Sorry, I looked at the wrong box on CapFriendly, cap hit not salary. Qualifying offers are 110 percent of current salary. So the QO will be 9.9 mil for Tkachuk which is even worse. Gaudreau has better numbers throughout NHL career each comparable season. Covid shortened is only season Tkachuk got more points so JG should be asking for more than Chucky.

The issue with Gaudreau and the reason for the chatter comes from a few places and some is conjecture, some is business. JG is UFA after this year, and he likely is looking at a raise. How much he is looking at, we don’t know for sure. We can assume, based on stats over the past few years that the Gaudreau camp won’t accept less dollar value than what Tkachuk will be getting. Tkachuk is also up for a new contract as an RFA and qualifying offer is 7.7 million so you know that Gaudreau will be looking for 8+. That eats up the savings of dead cap from Brouwer, so the Tkachuk raise eats into cap directly. With a flat cap, it makes no sense to have 2 LW as your 2 highest paid players making a fifth of your total cap. Mangiapane is also up for a solid raise and the Flames only have 9 NHLers signed after this season. What all this means is that to improve the team, the idea of bringing in someone like Eichel at 10 mil becomes even harder. Sure he can be fit in this year, without losing either of Gaudreau or Tkachuk, but can we keep all 3 next year and still be able to fill the roster with quality depth? So from a cap situation, we may have no choice but to trade one of Tkachuk or Gaudreau. Others may say that the idea is they want to go elsewhere (we can call this the Fox phenomenon), but the truth is that the Flames likely don’t have a choice but to move one or both. The Tkachuk rumours are more that he would like to play for St. Louis rather than wanting out of Calgary. Same really for Gaudreau. Flames just can’t let either leave for no return which leads to the trade talk.

Just see more important needs than signing more bottom 6 forwards. The Flames loaded up with Leivo, Simon and others last year hoping one might step up into top 6. It appears to be the same strategy this year regardless of how it didn’t work last year. They keep bringing in experience depth players when young guys like Ruzicka should have a chance from the start, not just a couple Meaningless games at the end of the season. Does this create competition? Maybe, but the Flames have holes to fill and bottom 6 isn’t one of them with what we have signed. Including Froese and Ritchie, Flames have 12 signed forwards. What will Dube sign for? They only have 3 D signed with Zadorov, Valimaki, Kylington and Mackey all needing contracts. The Flames don’t have a backup G, and have less than 13 mil to fill all these spots without a good top 6 RW. Mangiapane should be LW but is likely on the right. Without trading one or more of Tkachuk, Gaudreau or Monahan, the team sits as Gaudreau Monahan?? Tkachuck Lindholm Mangiapane Coleman Backlund Pitlick Lucic ?? Lewis Dube, Ritchie Zadorov is minimum 3.5 to re-sign, Valimaki and Mackey each around 1 mil and Kylington 870 K. That leaves less than 8 mil for a top 6 RW and a backup G. My issue isn’t that the team has added forward depth, and likely upgraded over last year in the bottom 6, but instead it is doing so without filling big holes we have already. Can they still make trades? Yes. So I guess I can temper my annoyance … for now.

Lewis confuses me. Pitlick, Ritchie and now Lewis as bottom 6 RW but still no top 6 RW, no 3rd RD and no backup G.

Looks like Edler to LA. Do he, Danault and Anathasiou move the needle much for the Kings?

Wow, Grubauer to the Kracken hurts Colorado. They now don’t have a starting G. Buffalo has no NHL level G, nor does Boston. Where does Rask sign? Back with Boston or will Colorado grab him? Will Lundquist be signed? Does Dubnyk get signed? Do the Rangers trade one of Georgie or Shesterkin? The goalie situation is intriguing.

With respect to a backup for Markstrom, should the Flames look at Anders Nilsson or Linus Ullmark for the 2 - 3 mil range? Both are big Swedes who played on poor teams and still put up ok numbers. Buffalo has no goalies signed. Are they pushing hard on Grubauer and keeping Ullmark as their second choice? Who else is really available for Buffalo?

Kylington and Mackey are both LD, meaning yes they still need another RD. Hanifin, Valimaki and Zadorov block both Kylington and Mackey on the left side. Only way either gets a shot is if there is an injury or Valimaki falters (unlikely).

Well I guess that answers the question of whether they have belief and in Mackey being ready for a full time NHL role. Zadorov likely pushes Mackey back to the AHL. Not the best move having Mackey at 7 unless it is more of a platoon with Zadorov rotating depending on team played. But I doubt that. If Zadorov gets a multi year deal, likely means Mackey will only ever see spot duty at best with the Flames. Also means Kuznetsov and Solovyov likely don’t see time with the big club for at least the length of the Zadorov contract.

Sorry TD, you say we haven’t brought up prospect D in the past couple of years? What about Andersson and Valimaki? Both put in time in Stockton before moving up. Kylington also put in time in Stockton before coming up but couldn’t grab and hold a spot. Mackey has been paying his dues all season prior to a late call up and had put in time in college first. I would argue that prospects are getting shots at the team, whether they succeed or not depends on the player. The biggest problem for Kylington has been the LD depth with Giordano and Hanifin holding top 2 spots and then Valimaki has a higher ceiling. Would he have a full time spot on another team? Likely yes, but stylistically I would think Mackey is now ahead of Kylington due to being move defensive. We also are now waiting on Kuznetsov and Solovyov to see how they develop. The big issue as you say is the lack of drafted depth. For years the Flames had too many drafted D over ripe in the AHL, such as Kulak etc. So the team stopped drafting D. But once moved on from, the D was now empty and they have filled by signing out of college and Europe to little success as none have been brought up to the NHL. This is similar to goalies though we tried bringing guys like Ramo over directly when drafted goalies weren’t developing and they were not able to carry the team. Current prospects I expect to get chances at the big club over the next few years are in basic order Mackey Ruzicka Pelletier Zary Kuznetsov Wolf Those with a chance, but less likely Phillips Tuulola Pospisil Pettersen Duehr Kinvall Lerby Duehr Solovyov Parsons I am leaving off most recent draft picks from this year as I don’t know what the team will look like in 3-4 years. Unless the team trades for or starts drafting more D, I don’t see the situation changing in the near future. Graduating 2 D every 3 to 4 years is not a great average unless you already have a young, signed long term, quality D core. Flames are half that right now with Hanifin, Andersson and Valimaki. Tanev will need replacing in 2 - 5 years depending if they extend him. Still need another RD who will likely be of an age to be replaced in 5 - 6 years. Mackey, Kuznetsov and Solovyov will be competing to replace the 3rd LD (Kylington or someone else). The thing is other than those few D, the Heat need to fill out the D somehow. Not sure what that will look like as Kuznetsov is still in University. I would like to see Mackey given a long look on 3rd pair, Sutter would have fits over such a young D. If they bring in a LD I would hope for Nemeth or McCabe, but a 1 or 2 year deal on Edler or Yandle would not be terrible for Kuznetsov to finish University and ripen a year in the AHL. Anyways, not sure how to solve the prospects to NHL level if we don’t have many D draftees to start with.

Depends on what level of D you want / expect. Suter, Yandle and Edler are all experienced, solid defenders but definitely not going to be in Norris discussions anymore. Cost would likely be reasonable but shouldn’t be considered for top pair anymore. I would prefer younger at same or lower cost. Dougie Hamilton is likely the top name available but also highest cap hit and I would say that ship has sailed. When it comes to age, price and results, my targets would be Nemeth and Montour. Neither should likely be top pair, but they would allow for more balance on D. Hanifin Tanev Nemeth Andersson Valimaki Montour Young guy with experienced guy. None are fully top pair, none fully bottom pair. Just 3 solid D pairs to play even minutes.

Bottom 6 RW. Not a lot of offence, doesn’t take many penalties but seems defensively responsible. Not great possession metrics but gets mainly D zone starts and is a career +12 including seasons with Edmonton and Arizona. For a 4th round pick, cap hit is a little high for what he does, but averages about 2 hits and 1 block shot per game in his career. Could be much worse, but could also be better.

Even with Giordano taken in the expansion draft, the Flames only have 18.625 million in projected cap space with only 14 players signed. When you consider that there is a need for at least 20 contracts, most teams carry 22 or 23, the Flames need to use a good portion of the space just to ice enough players. RFAs Dube 1 mil +. Say 1.5 Gawdin 800k Valimaki (over 1 mil) say 1.5 Kylington 900k Mackey 950k Leaves about 13 mil cap space That gives the Flames Gaudreau Monahan?? Tkachuk Lindholm Mangiapane Dube Backlund Pitlick Lucic Gawdin Ritchie Froese Hanifin Andersson Valimaki Tanev Kylington ?? Mackey Markstrom ?? So to ice a team, Flames have 13 mil for a top 6 RW, Bottom pair RD and a backup G. Should be easy enough to do. G and D could be fairly easy holes to fill signing UFAs, but not really a top 6 RW. Palmieri and Armia are likely best options, but both are more middle 6. This team doesn’t scream improved to me, more like downgraded. Ryan > Gawdin Giordano > Kylington Unknown top RW and Backup G Not really filling top RW Unless Treliving finds the perfect RW for Gaudreau and Monahan, I just don’t see the Flames even competing for a playoff spot, let alone the cup. A combination of Nemeth and Montour would improve the D significantly but that will eat up likely around 7 or 8 mil of the cap. Palmieri likely in the 4 - 5 range and Armia in the 3 - 4 range. If we really want to improve, we need to trade out a good player (not a high cap, low output player) in order to get a high end RW in exchange. This likely means one of Gaudreau or Tkachuk needs to be moved. Monahan would be preferred but I think the return for him with injury history means his value is less. I don’t know which RW to target as it depends who is traded, but I just don’t see the Flames improving enough without trading something of quality. Gaudreau Lindholm RW Mangiapane Backlund Palmieri? Dube Zacha Armia Lucic Ruzicka Pitlick Hanifin Tanev Nemeth Andersson Valimaki Montour Mackey Markstrom G This lineup is much stronger on the back end, improves the bottom 6, allows for more cap to afford trading in the 2 top 6 RW that could be had in trading Tkachuk and Monahan. Monahan would likely get Zacha+, at 2.25 and even signing all of Palmieri, Armia, Nemeth and Montour to upper end numbers (17 mil), subtract Tkachuk (traded for RW) and Monahan (13.375 combined) and the difference is 6 million more spent on 5 players than 2. Dropping Gawdin and Kylington contracts means the Flames would have about 9 mil for the top RW and backup G which is very reasonable to achieve. Just my opinion but the second lineup looks much stronger and more balanced while still giving at least 1 young guy a shot. If out of playoffs at TDL, can always trade Gaudreau as a rental if he hasn’t signed extension and bring up a young guy like Pelletier to finish the season. Some ideas to consider anyways.

Virtanen has had a rough career so far. Called out for lack of focus on the game over the past few years, coming into training camp out of shape. That alone is a reason that his buyout makes sense and why he should be avoided. Initially he was being sued for sexual assault in May but is now being investigated by police for criminal charges. While not in court yet, it is a red flag. If he was at the level of a P. Kane, might be worth a look, but not with the combination of factors currently against him. Once his legal situation clears courts, he is likely headed overseas, even if found not guilty. Either that or heading to a small market, not hockey focused team like Arizona.

The_People1 I think you misread my statement. I never said winning now and later, I said middling as in flirting with first round playoffs the Flames have done for the past decade, while building for the future. This I do believe is possible by making the right moves. JJ and others want a full collapse in hopes of grabbing Wright and Bedard. While that could be nice, we can see how well that has worked for Edmonton and to a lesser extent Toronto. Also look at floundering Buffalo. Yes it worked out for a few years for Pittsburg when they got Crosby and Malkin, but there are more teams that have stuck in the basement for far too long even with many high draft picks. My idea is that the Flames could trade the likes of Gaudreau, Monahan, Tkachuk and Giordano for a combination of good to very good players, prospects and draft picks. The cap savings would allow the signing of good middle aged players which would allow the Flames to continue middle of the pack while allowing prospects to develop to become better. Also waiting on a higher cap to grab big names later. While my suggested lineup may not scream cup contender, I see it as at least pushing consistently for the playoffs. Mangiapane / Lindholm / Necas (CAR) Crouse (ARI) / Backlund / Kyrou (STL) Dube / Zacha (NJD) / Phillips Lucic / Ruzicka / Pospisil Hanifin / Parayko (STL) Valimaki / Tanev Nemeth (UFA) / Andersson Mackey / Stone Markstrom ?? Prospects to try and acquire in the trades: NJD Mercer RW Foote LW CBJ Dunne C There are other prospects I know but I have typed enough already. As I said, it may not be a cup contender, but it would likely push for the playoffs every year. Graduating a few prospects, and when Contracts end for the likes of Lucic, Backlund and Tanev, other prospects should be ready to step in. Players should have enough value to be traded to make room as well. Basically it would be based on Tkachuk + to STL for Parayko and Kyrou. Gaudreau to NJD for Zacha + 1 of Mercer or Foote (both preferred even if Flames need to add). Giordano + to Arizona for Crouse. Monahan to Carolina for Necas. There may be tweaks needed, but those would be the basics of moves. All of this adds size overall, gets younger, creates cap space, cap control and shows prospects that there is capacity to make the team. But these are just my thoughts on how Flames don’t need to full on tank to have success.

I think that a lot of people are saying similar things with the same basic notion, but going about things differently. There are some here who disagree but it seems most are on board. The big concern is that the team as it is just is not where it needs to be and has not been able to get it done when it really matters. This means that change needs to happen, the question is how. While ideally moving on from the Lucic contract to add a more skilled player, the cap benefits would be short term. With Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Mangiapane all needing new contracts in a year, that basically eats all of the 5 million you save by losing Lucic. So unless the needle moves enough to win this year, there is little that accomplishes long term. You will need to make other moves regardless. Giordano, Lucic and Monahan are up for contracts in 2 years with only Backlund, Lindholm, Tanev, Hanifin, Andersson and Markstrom signed beyond that. So unless there is a big jump in the cap, the team will be redone in large part over the next 2 years regardless as they won’t be able to retain everyone. So there will definitely be a re-tool to some degree, it is how deep and how soon that are the questions. So what is the plan going forward? What will Treliving do? What should he do? As I have stated before, I am all about asset management for the betterment of the team short and long term. I don’t want an extended wallowing at the bottom waiting for high draft picks. As the cap will not likely increase much in the next few years, we won’t be able to retain all of Monahan, Gaudreau and Tkachuk while bringing in other big names. Simple math here folks. So time to move at least some, if not all, for longer, cheaper contracts. Can keep middling short term while building for a brighter future. Don’t need to crash to get better. My thoughts anyways.

I don’t think we NEED to sign another LD. If you look at what the Flames have already in place even without Giordano (including RFAs but not UFAs): Hanifin Valimaki Mackey / Kylington Poolman Kuznetsov Solovyov Lerby Yes it is a very young D with need for growth but it isn’t terrible. Sutter would prefer a more aged D corps, but cost becomes a challenge either contract/cap or to acquire. On the right we have: Tanev Andersson Kinvall Yelesin Tanev provides the veteran leadership and mentoring for the D. Could Kinvall or Yelesin be ready? In reality, the Flames should be looking for at least 1 more middle experience RHD. A more experienced LHD who could help stabilize would be nice but less necessary. Cost to acquire that LHD would likely be prohibitive. RHD targets would be: Montour UFA Parayko STL Van Riemsdyk WSH Pulock NYI **Dumba MIN (cap hit and cost to trade are higher than I would want, but he would be an upgrade for sure) LHD Oleksiak UFA Nemeth UFA Zadorov CHI RFA They are all in the age range and quality I would be aiming for. TVR on the low end, but cost for a 3rd pair RD short term to add stability at low cost would work. Basically a younger Stone who won’t move the needle, but also won’t hurt but makes much higher cap room for other moves. Pulock and Parayko are both higher cost on cap and acquire but are also better players. All 3 LHD are solid middle pairs at reasonable cost. Just my thoughts.

Mackey had an assist for the Americans in the loss as well.

Here are a couple thoughts that are somewhat opposed to each other, but both could be reasonable moves. They are based on Giordano being taken by Seattle. Mackey showed quite well known in limited viewing and has done well at the IIHF worlds. With Giordano gone we still have Hanifin, with Valimaki and Mackey RFA but fairly easy re-sign on LD. On the right side Andersson and Tanev. Stone is a serviceable and willing 7th D. So the Flames need a RD to fill out the lineup. So option 1 to keep Sutter happy would be to sign either Brandon Montour (preferred) out of Florida or David Savard out of Tampa. Both experienced RD that would fit anywhere. Option 2 would give Sutter fits but would set the team up better long term. Trade with Detroit for Moritz Seider. He has a lot of potential, size and skill though limited North American experience and no NHL games played. You could platoon Stone and Seider to help the young guy develop. This would also be easier on the cap. I think both are good options and wouldn’t mind both moves as Seider could maybe use a year or 2 in the AHL as well. Just my thoughts anyways.

Yeah, I guess the standings not updated. TSN shows Kazakhstan at 10 points and Canada at 9. Oh well, I guess we will know in a few hours.

Mangiapane with an assist in a losing cause. Canada lost in shootout so won’t make the quarters. Finish behind Kazakhstan and at least one of Germany or Latvia as they play each other later today. Mackey and the States will be in the playoffs, currently beating Italy. Nesterov and Russia will also be in the quarters. MEP and Norway, Solovyov and Belarus are out. Guess our focus turns to Mackey and how he handles the pressure of worlds level playoffs.