cross16

I'd be shocked if Stone was a waiver claim but I also don't think they would sign him unless he was making the NHL team. Can't imagine he's interested in the AHL at this point.

Also Stones lives in Calgary full time and skates with the regular group. I also heard he has turned down contract offers this season because he only wants to play in Calgary. This might be the Flames doing him a solid too.

Only downside to that rotation idea is Eakin has been the worst of that group for several years now. it would be disappointing I think if he winds up getting a contract.

No Rodrigues for Flames

It’s a PTO and i get it but it’s not a very good move imo if he makes the team. He’s well past the stage of being helpful to a team.

Looks like training camp has unofficially started

Well that is why you bring him in on a PTO... But what do we know about Sutter? he prefers vets on his 4th line and kids that come up come up to play more than just a few mins a night in a reduced role. I'm not sure Chiasson is the one doing the blocking there..... But I also think this who idea of "blocking" isn't fair anyway. Flames have proven over the last few years if they are not happy with a vet and think a kid can do better they'll make the move. Chiasson can easily go to the A or to the press box in favor of someone else.

Sounds like Rodriguez still has interest so I will be surprised if you get him on a PTO. Only way I see him getting a PTO if he goes to a team on a pre arranged deal but they need to use a PTO to get around LTIR or something. I'm not a huge fan of the PTO route because I'd rather give the ice time and the competition to players already on the roster. Flames have a deep enough camp as it is that I don't see the need for more camp bodies. The only 2 players I would maybe have interest in is Motte and Chaisson. If the Flames are not going to make a D for forward trade, or sign Rodriquez although that doesn't sound as probable, their 4th line has the makings of a black hole right now. They could use players like Motte or Chaisson to help that line stay above water.

So Kadri did a pretty cool thing with this new $

With even the NHL now acknowledging they expect a big jump in the cap in 2 years I don’t think these deals are going to age as poorly as we thought we they were first signed. risk on them would go down significantly with a 90-100 million cap.

Tkachuk had a lot to say about how that contract was structured. Not sure if that's fair to label a "mistake".

Depends on how you define easier I guess. Weegar has been on one of the best dman in the league for shutting down zone entries for several seasons now. And Gudbranson was a turnstile in the playoffs.

Vegas has about 13 mill going on LTIR next year with Lehner and Weber so they won't have any cap issues. While they do only have 6 day under contract the 7th is Hague who is an RFA without arbitration and I imagine they'll get him signed before the year. They did all their cap maneuvering this offseason and are pat the point they need to dump/players salary. They'll even have space to add during the year if they want.

I am a big fan of Chychrun but at this point I don't see the point of pursuing him. The cost is huge and the Flames IMO no longer need a dman of that calibre. They got one in Mackenzie Weegar who IMO I would rank higher than Chychrun or at the very least at the same level

From Friedman. As much as I do like the fit of Rodriguez I do think plan A should be exploring to see if you can trade a D for a F. Obviously there is a surplus there but in addition to that I think Plan A would be trying to see if the Flames can add a forward for their middle/bottom 6 who has some control. With half of their forwards UFA in the next 2 seasons it would be ideal if a trade acquisition could give them some depth for more than just a year or 2. I don't think they have the assets to acquire someone who is a top 6 player but a good/above avg bottom 6 player would help too. Not super easy to do so for nothing but a contract I certainly understand the appeal to Rodrigues.

that was the Stoll deal. When they couldn’t come to terms they traded him to the Leafs but fax was too late so trade wasn’t upheld and Stoll went back into the draft

No can't do that either. They took Jarret Stoll out of the WHL and he didn't sign.

Flames drafted Tim Erixon out of Sweden and he also refused to sign. Guess we should stop drafting Swedes too.

If he doesn't sign, the Flames will trade him and likely get back a good return. This worrying about US college players is such a waste of time.

I would like Rodrigues. I think he'd add some depth but mostly he'd add a RS and some faceoff ability to the middle and bottom 6 to give them some flexibility. Outside of that I don't think any of the rest of the FA make sense to me. Steel isn't going to work playing for Sutter, nor will he work in a bottom 6 role and I don't think Milano is a fit anymore. If you can't get Rodrigues then either pursue a trade or let their own depth/prospects compete for a job.

I've been in that room too and honestly I thought that video made it look way worse than it is. Of course you would prefer a new one but I don't think the locker room is a big issue to be honest, it is fairly nice. The rest of the rooms on the other hand..... Different angle on it too

Yup. 20-21 season Weegar finished 8th in Norris trophy voting. Finished 14th last year. Hardly scientific but then there are these player cards: again not trying to say this guy is gospel but Weegar is well throughout of too

Yup Norris Trophy winners or candidates never makes mistakes. oh wait....

Weegar is and I think Andersson could be with some more consistency to his game.

I just think this is such flawed analysis/argument the "every cup winning team has X so we need one" argument. Winning a championship is so complex, and so much driven by luck too, that breaking it down to this binary of a level is flawed. Europeans weren't supposed to be able to win cups until they did. European captains weren't supposed to be able to win cups until they did. St Louis Blues didn't win their cup with a Norris caliber dmen (Pietrangello isn't it). I don't know that the Capitals did either considered that when they won the best Carlsson had ever finished was 5th. Weegar finished 14th last year. Pens in 09 didn't (and depending on where you fall on Letang they may never have). I'm not sure I'd argue that Letang is a massive upgrade over Weegar. Canes didn't have a Norris level D. I'm not even arguing the Flames should be in that conversation in terms of wining a cup, I just don't understand that level of analysis.