StarkRaving
-
Posts
393 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
9
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Videos
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by StarkRaving
-
-
I think it's going to be a tough year in Stockton. There's going to be lots of talent there, but not a great deal of experience.
It'll be very interesting to see how Andersson and Killington respond. I think either of them could wind up being top pairing guys in Stockton this year, and I'm willing to bet that Killington gets into a couple NHL games.
-
It'll be very interesting to see how things shake out in Stockton this year. As a team, I expect they'll struggle due to youth and lack of experience. At the same time though, all of those young players can surely see the lay of the land in Calgary and they know there'll be opportunities in the future.
I'd really like to see some progression for some particular players in Stockton. Poirier needs to step it up, as does Klimchuk. I'd like to see significant growth from Killington. I'm very curious to see how Gillies performs over a full season.
-
From the looks of the offer, I think that ship has sailed. We still have numerous options available from the remaining NHL goaltenders looking for work. We are well positioned already for this season with very good options at the end of next season.
It seems to me that this is BT's end game. He's trimming things down and preparing for some bad contracts coming off the books at the end of the season. He should be very well positioned to make significant moves next summer.
-
I am still not ready to predict a playoff and think we should be a bit skeptical that it's going to happen. The team has a lot to improve on and only showed limited glimpses of it the past few years. They have to play consistently for it to happen. Goaltending helps, but it only helps so much if the team still gives up so many scoring chances and puck time (possession). This team has a long way to go and the goaltending is the start.
Our young players are going to improve for sure, but is it enough? I am going to wait and see before I make predictions.
I'm willing to make a prediction; the Flames will be a lottery team this year.
Realistically, they'd have to improve on last year's record by 20 points in order to contend for a wildcard spot. (If the Pacific division continues to stink, maybe a 12-point improvement gets us into the wildcard fight)
Elliott is a very significant upgrade in goal. And we can look forward to a healthy Brodie to start the season along with a Hamilton who's acclimated to Calgary. On the other hand, it may take some time to get up-to-speed on whatever system Gulutzan introduces.
The Flames got out of the gates with a 2-8 record last season. Honestly, I'll be happy if they're .500 or better when November rolls around.
-
1
-
-
I'm very pleased with the Elliott pick up. On one of these threads, I said it'd be nice to get a UFA on a one year contract. The cost of getting Elliott for one year is probably cheaper than a UFA like Reimer would've been, and we would've had to give him term.
The Flames are a better team today than they were a few days ago. More importantly, I think BT has positioned himself to be very active next year when some of the bad contracts come of the books and the expansion draft jockeying starts.
I like the Parsons pick. It's hard to gauge him because he was on an exceptional team, but he's statistically excellent.
-
Y'know, none of the goalie options are really blowing me away. Some options have a cost/benefit issue that doesn't sit well with me, while others seem like a lateral move from where we were this past season.
I'd like to pick up a UFA goalie and sign him to a one-year deal. That's probably going to be a very hard sell, but it'd give BT a ton of flexibility at the expansion draft next year when (1) he has one less player to protect and (2) there's a ton of money coming off the books.
-
I'm not at all sold on Reimer. I think he's a darn good backup, maybe a 1B. I'd prefer to give him a one year deal and let the chips fall where they may. Better goalies will likely be available this time next year.
-
Is there something about Vasilevskiy I'm missing? If anything he has the same experience as Anderson if not less, comparable stats, yet some people seem sold on him. Anyway 5.5mil is still too much for either of them.
Also, where does this new Czech (Rittich?) kid fit in? Aquire a seasoned starter with a high potential/low cost back up leaving both Ramo and Ortio in the wind?
I don't think Vasilevskiy is starter material at this point. He doesn't have a lot of NHL games under his belt and his NHL stats aren't great.
I think Rittich is expected to backup Gillies in Stockton. I wouldn't expect much more from him. He could even end up in the ECHL.
I expect Ortio to be the backup this season, and I don't believe Ramo will get an offer.
-
A posting on flamesnation.ca says that Smid is not a buyout candidate as he's not fully recovered. So, I expect that Raymond will be bought out. Wideman should probably be a little nervous.
Edit: the posting was on Darren Haynes' site -> http://www.flamesfrom80feet.ca/
-
MAF wouldn't be my first choice, but he'd be a decent stop-gap until one of our prospects emerges.
I think Colbourne is a good example of "sell high". I think he's a decent trade chip right now.
Phoenix, are you saying that BT said he knows who the next coach will be?
-
If true he would have signed in Calgary 2 years ago & if he was that good he'd be with Gaudreau now rather then a 3rd liner.
Monahan seems to be doing just fine centering JH & the 2 seem to get along pretty well off ice as well.
Hayes probably wants a raise for his 36 & 45 point seasons so I'd trade F/A for his RFA rights. If NYR re-signed him to a cap friendly contract I'd look @ him but the Rags need cap friendly decent players more than we do.
Hayes doesn't fill a need. Get over the romantic notion that ex-linemates in little league will be magic. It makes as much sense as the idea having 2 brothers (or players by accident of birth coming from the same country) on the same team = magic.
Thank you! This is something that always drives me batty. Some people have a notion that the Leafs would pay a premium so Alex and William Nylander can play together. Others think the Leafs would pay a similar premium so that Tkachuk could be re-united with Marner.
-
The troops are really getting stir crazy for some solid Flames news.....
Indeed. If there's not some action soon, I'm going to start making stuff up.
-
He is eligible, as he's on loan to Mississauga from his Swedish team. That said, I think he'd be better served playing in junior for another year.
And, he doesn't belong to the Flames yet.
-
In the case of Hickey, he's not really a tangible asset at this point. The Flames own his rights, but he's not under contract. I believe he has two (maybe one) years remaining in college and then he could re-enter the draft if he was so inclined.
-
If we get Gibson, does that make Gillies redundant? Do you package him in a trade for Gibson?
I have a hard time believing Anaheim would let Gibson get away. He looks to be a bargain at $2.3M per year through 2019.
-
How will they populate their minor league team(s)?
-
Maybe I am off base, but for you to offer sheet, you have to have those picks of your own available for compensation. You can't use ones you received in a trade. So the 1st rounder is out, since it's currently a to 5. Have to go the trade route or offer less in an OS.
If you offered $3.6m even, you would only use a 2nd. We have that. But would Anaheim match? Most likely since the compensation is too low.
Yes, I mentioned in my post that we'd have to use our draft pick, not the one we received from Dallas.
I also mentioned that I'm not in favour of offer-sheeting someone. I was just pointing out that the offer sheet compensation rules are an indicator of what kind of compensation the Ducks (or any team) might be looking for.
Honestly, I'm curious to see how BT manages this problem. Personally, I can't think of a goalie I want at a price the Flames can afford.
-
Interesting thought. Might be useful for a goalie, but also should we not manage to move up in the draft, I would almost be more inclined to package it with our 1st to see if we could move into the top 3 to get that RW we need.
Andersen would be the most interesting for me of the ones I'm aware of. Not sure what his cost would be off the top of my head.
Agreed on Ortio in terms of contract. Though I wouldn't assume backup minutes. I would say split the time between him and whoever we bring in, see if Ortio is up to tandem or not.
Andersen will be an RFA, so if the Flames signed him to an offer sheet it'd probably cost a 1st and a 3rd. (Assuming a salary between $3 - $5M) There's a good explanation of the rules here -> http://www.silversevensens.com/2015/6/25/8773751/nhl-offer-sheet-explained-rules-guide
I'm not in favour of signing anyone to an offer sheet, as I believe it creates a bidding war and someone will always end up over-paying. (Also, the compensation would have to be our first round draft pick, not Dallas') However, the compensation guidelines could serve as a conversation starter.
-
This may sound like a bit of a stretch, but I think Dallas' playoff run this year could impact our goaltending situation next year. If they manage to get to the conference finals, we get their first draft pick. That pick would be a useful tool in prying a starter away from another team.
For the record, I'm not thrilled with any of the UFA/RFA goalies who'll be available this summer. (I'm semi-interested in Frederik Andersen and Calvin Pickard, but that's it)
Also for the record, Joni Ortio is the only goalie from last year's group that I would offer a contract to this year. I'd expect to pay him backup money and play him backup minutes.
-
I have no problems with kicking tires and potentially adding Lyon to the pool, but this doesn't address the immediate need.
I'd be happy to have Ortio in a backup role & making backup money in 2016-2017. As for the other three (Hiller, Ramo, Backstrom) the Flames should thank them for their service and wish them well in free agency. Then the Flames need to go out and find a starter who can carry the mail next season.
I had hoped that the Flames could work a trade for Frederik Andersen before he becomes an RFA. He's out with a concussion now though; concussions are a HUGE red flag for me. I don't think they ever completely go away.
-
I think the average career length of an NHLer is considerably shorter than 5.5 years, which would mean a higher rate of turnover. I'd say 6 players per year.
I like the Flames' recent draft history. Last year, I think the Flames called up 13 players from the minors, which suggests to me that they have at least 13 players that they believe have NHL potential. I'd be more inclined to say that they have a 5 or 6 *probable* NHLers in the hopper.
Edit: My apologies, jjgallow. According to Google, you were right about the average length of an NHL playing career.
-
It hasn't been much of the goalies fault so far. The Flames have played really poorly. I think waiving Ramo sends the wrong message, like we are blaming this bad start on goaltending.
The goaltending has definitely been part of the problem, and this begins to address the logjam at the position.
The last time the Flames had a GAA this bad, they got Sam Bennett as a consolation prize.
-
I'm glad to see Ramo on waivers, although I don't think he's the root of the problem. I was at the game last night and I was steaming by the end of the second period. I got mighty tired of seeing odd-man rushes going the other way.
I've seen enough of Gio+Hamilton. They're obviously good players, but there doesn't seem to be any chemistry between them.
There are a few bright spots. JH (obviously), Frolik and Kulak come to mind. I'm rapidly becoming a Frolik fan.
-
1
-
-
Ortio definitely had my pulse racing a few times last night. I'm sure he'll get it sorted out though.
-
1
-
Stockton Heat Updates [2016-2017]
in Calgary Wranglers and Flames Prospects
Posted
Jankowski played on a line with Mangiapane and Frattin. I wonder if Pribyl will replace Frattin once he's healthy. (Has anyone heard anything about his status?)