420since1974

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?

Wow, I wasn't trying to start a big debate. I'm just amazed at and proud of how many shots the Flames do block. I don't care about the reasons; they are doing it and winning, that's what counts to me.

After 66 games, the Flames have given up 1918 shots on goal (27.6/game). What's really astonishing is that they have blocked an additional 977 shots on goal. Essentially, they are blocking every 3rd shot directed at the net.

For next season only, I'd be tempted to keep much of our current defense. Giordano - Brodie Russell - Wideman Schlemko - Engelland Smid Engelland and Smid's contracts make them untradeable for the near future. Don't resign Diaz or offer him an AHL contract. Draft & Trade for D prospects who project to be 1st & 2nd pairing. Calgary has Giordano & Wideman for a couple more years (more if resigned) but the team has to be ready to replace them and the cupboards aren't exactly stocked. I don't see anyone currently in the system who looks like they will turn into Top 4 Ds.

Thanks for the chart Pyro!

A new arena will have to be centrally located very close to a LRT station. Any other location will limit fan accessibility. NHL hockey is a business, they will have to do everything to maximize income.

The Flames have some options: * Let Ramo leave at the end of the season to UFA for nothing. (I hate losing something for nothing) * Resign Ramo and trade one of the 3 goalies before next season starts. * Resign Ramo, trade no one, and risk losing one of the 3 to waivers. * Keep 3 goalies on the NHL roster (seldom if ever works) As well, unless one of them clears waivers, our farm team will be in rough shape in goal. There's no guarantee that Gillies will pass on his senior year at Providence. Thiessen and Carr sure won't get it done.

Sorry, I did know about his one way contract but forgot about his waiver eligibility. I don't feel that any of the three goalies would clear waivers, so what do the Flames do? Resign Ramo and trade a goalie or lose Ramo to UFA for nothing?

Or sign Ramo and pay Orito his NHL salary to play in the AHL. I like our Hiller/Ramo tandem. It's not like the Flames don't have the cap space to do this for one year.

Hudler definitely deserves a letter if he wants one.

Orito is on a one way contract for next season.

Agreed. With Orito out for 6 - 8 weeks, Ramo must stay until the end of this season. Then, it's either resign him or lose him to UFA for nothing. My worries are for next season, who plays on the farm if Gillies decides to finish college? The Flames have a system wide shortage of goalie prospects.

So, with Orito being injured and out of action for 6 weeks, Ramo obviously won't be traded by the deadline unless we receive a goalie in return. Does Ramo get offered a new contract before he becomes a UFA July 1? Orito is on a one way contract next season and could backup Hiller, but who will play in the AHL? There's no guarantee that Gillies will forgo his senior year to join the Flames farm team. McDonald is 3 years away at least. Our goalie prospect cupboard is almost empty.

I like our top 4 just fine. Improvements on 5 - 7 are my wish.

I hope that the Flames keep both Hiller & Ramo for this year. Orito can move up next season if his play warrants it. Calgary is not very deep in goalie prospects, though I'd rather keep what we have and try to improve the defense first.

Kanzig pulled two players out of a scrum at the same time. No problem with physicality/toughness there. His upside is limited to how much he can improve his skating. He definitely needs at least a year in the AHL, but if he puts it together, look out.

I would not like to see Kessel in Calgary due to his contract and his one dimensional play. But mainly his contract, he just isn't worth it to me.

Sounds like Kent (The Magic Man) Nilsson.