420since1974

Like last season, the Flames are capable of winning if they get at least league average goaltending.

Trevor Kidd started in the Flames organization as a first round pick in 1990 (18 years old). He stayed with the Flames until the end of 1996/1997 (6 years/177 NHL games) when he was traded to Hartford for Andrew Cassels and J S Giguere. J S Giguere was with the Flames organization from 1997/1998 (20 years old) until June 10, 2000 (4 years/15 NHL games) when he was traded to Anaheim for a 2nd round draft pick. That pick eventually ended up with Washington who chose Matt Pettinger. I am unable to find what/who Calgary received in return.

I'm not conflicted. Hiller has his faults but he is steadier than Ramo.

Thank you for the link. So Brad Trevling once fought Gino Odjick? Apparently, our GM can be fearless.

I believe that Ramo was signed only because management isn't yet completely sold on Orito as a NHL backup. A real solid camp could potentially change their minds, but so far, Joni has still showed poor positioning & moments of panic during the Development & Training Camps. Orito & Gillies could be a formidable pair in goal for Stockton in 2015/2016, and barring injuries, that's the scenario that I feel will happen.

I can't see the Flames management/owners sending any player with a salary over $3M to the AHL. I don't remember them ever doing it in the history of the team, even adjusting the dollars for any year in the past.

Unless one of Hiller or Ramo totally stumble out of the gate or get injured, I foresee Orito being waived to Stockton. I know that there is a risk of Orito not clearing waivers, but there is little market for trading veteran goalies at the start of the season.

Play-offs or not, the Calgary Flames have been very entertaining to watch for the last 1-1/2 seasons and Trevling has been one of the reasons for it. He has helped gather players that buy into Hartley's "work hard, team first" attitude that has led to the major improvements we have seen lately. In hindsight (always 20/20) his early contract signings were sub par, but he's been hitting it out of the park most times since then.

The Flames really need one of their prospects to progress up to a 2nd pairing D position within 2 - 3 years. There shouldn't be any problem at all replacing the current 5th - 7th D from within the system.

A definite miss by BT in one of his first deals. But, if Trevling can get rid of Raymond before his NTC contract expires at the end of 2016/2017, I'll be happy enough.

I'm basically happy with Brad Trevling's transactions so far. A little bit of a rough start with some over-payments, but top notch moves lately. I'd be totally impressed if he can rid the Flames of some "difficult" contracts, one year before they expire. Moving Engelland ($2.912M/yr.), Raymond ($3.15M/yr.), & Smid ($3.5M/yr.) by the end of 2015/2016 would be sweet. The Flames could really use that $9.562M to help re-sign their upcoming 2016/2017 UFAs & RFAs. UFAs: Giordano (31), Hiller (33), Jones (30), Nakladal (27), Ramo (29), & Russell (28). In my mind, Giordano & Russell are almost "must haves", though I wouldn't be willing to grossly overpay in salary or term. Giordano at $7.5M/yr. for 4 years or $7M/yr. for 6 years would be what I'd shoot for. I would not re-sign Jones at his present $4M/yr. salary, I'd be more tempted to trade him at the TDL, or just let him go to UFA, and see if he can be re-signed for less. I'd attempt to sign Russell somewhere in Backlund's range ($3.75/yr. for a 3 year term). RFAs: Colborne (25), Gaudreau (21), Granlund (22), Grant (25), Monahan (20), Orito (24), & Wotherspoon (22). A lot will depend on their performances in the 2015/2016 season, before I could get a good idea on what it will cost to re-sign them. Finally, who will play goal for the Calgary Flames in 2016/2017? All 3 have expiring contracts. I have to admit that I'm terrible at predicting goalie's performances, so no guesses here.

The Glencross trade was an excellent decision. With or without Baertschi, he had been passed on the depth chart by the Flames prospects. I appreciate everything he did for Calgary during his years here, but it was time to move on. Props to Trevling for getting some decent value out of him before UFA.

I think that Bollig, Engelland, & Raymond were signed to be place holders until our prospects developed. The unexpected progress of the young players made those signings redundant much sooner than management thought.

The only trade that I can envision for Hiller would be at the trade deadline, to a play-off bound team with an injury to one of their goalies.

I think we're back to keeping Hiller, re-signing Ramo (my number would be $3.4M/yr for 2 years), and hope Orito will clear waivers at the start of the season. Possibly trade Hiller at the 2015/2016 trade deadline if the other two goalies are playing well.

My only worry with options 3 & 4 is that Orito may not clear waivers. I'd hate to lose him for nothing.

I know that many fans want a trade to accelerate the Flames rebuild, but I feel that they are progressing fine just as they are. They are already ahead of schedule, I'd be tempted to stay with the same lineup next season with the only tweaks coming from within the current organization. Until Calgary can rid themselves of bad contracts such as Smid, Engelland, & Raymond, I'd stay the course.

The Flames definitely need more Top 4 D depth for the future. The question is where do they find it? This season, I recall only 3 D of that quality moving in trades, Boychuk, Leddy, & Myers.

+1 for sure.

That's a tough one. They all play about the same minutes and none of them appear especially tired. On a whim, I'd say Russell 'cause you know he has to have bumps/bruises from all the shots he blocks.

I'm not comfortable with Hiller or Ramo as the Flames #1A goalie. However, I feel they work very well as tandem 1Bs and would like them both back for 2015/2016. I would resign Ramo for 3 years at $3.75M/year or 2 years at $4M/year. I'd gamble that Orito will clear waivers at the start of next season as most teams have their pairings set by then. Hiller would be on the final year of his deal and could be trade deadline bait. Ramo and Orito for 2016/2017.

Personally, I'd like to keep the term to 5 years but am willing to pay more ($8M range) to do so . If the Flames offer more term, I'd prefer to see the $ go down in the last couple of years. I hate seeing defense-men in their late 30s making first pairing money, when they have been slowed to 3rd pairing by declining skill/pace.

Calgary just signed Brodie for 5 years at $4.6M per. I'd start the offer to Russell at 4 years and $3.6M per.

Spotrac shows Russell signed to the of 2015/2015 at $2.6M/yr. He will be a UFA. http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/calgary-flames/kris-russell/

"I think Gio has been playing like a top 10 dman the last two years and if he shows the same next year by all means pay him like a top 10 guy. Just dont do it for 7 more years when he is 38 and his game has slowed down and everyone starts to regard his contract as an anchor. Average cap hit for a top 10 dman = 6.9785 Player Cap Number Final Year Term Age weber 7.857 2027 14 41 suter 7.538 2026 13 40 letang 7.25 2023 8 35 campbell 7.14 2017 8 37 doughty 7 2020 8 30 dion 7 2022 7 36 chara 6.917 2019 7 41 pieterangelo 6.5 2021 7 30 karlsson 6.5 2020 7 29 green 6.083 2016 3 30 AVG 6.9785 2021.1 8.2 34.9 Dion, Campbell, Letang are 3 contracts Im sure those teams would like to have back. Im sure even Boston would like to shed Chara and his contract right now. Weber and Suter at least have the benefit of time so that in 8 years when they are slowing down their respective cap hit compared to the overall cap should be smaller in comparison to what their body can produce. Gio at 4 yrs for 6 mil would be team friendly Gio at 4 years for 7 mil would be pretty fair Gio at 4 years for 8 mil would be player friendly Thats the starting points imo. Cap likely wont change much next couple years due to CDN dollar adjusting for any rise in overall revenue. If he wants more term or overall dollars then we can add retirement years to lower cap hit for the term of the contract. What we shouldnt do is pay him as a top 10 dman for the next 7 years because he wont be a top 10 dman for the next 7 years. In 4 years if he is still producing like that by all means give him another good contract but dont give term AND dollars and bet on Gio being that generational player like Lidstrom/Bourque that produces well into his late 30's." Flameslogic I'd be tempted to add an extra year term to all 3 of your Giordano scenarios but pretty much agree with your whole post. Next season, extending Russell's contract (with a raise) would be another of my priorities. Potter & Diaz will both be UFAs, they each made $700k this season, do the Flames resign one or both of them? Acolatse, Cundari, & Ramage will all be RFAs, who require qualifying offers of $770k, $725k, & $760k respectively. Does Calgary keep any/all of them?