travel_dude

With Kinnvall, there seemed to be a mutual lack of interest. The other guy not qualified was Parsons. I am a little surprised with Phillips and Poolman. Poolman, Phillips and Tuulola all have arbitration rights. Not that that matters much.

I think it comes down to the structure of the deal. The expectation is that is 8 years. The extra year helps BT manage the AAV. It may even be set up to allow a buy out in the final year, since we know that BT builds those in on deals taking the player to 35 or 36. In theory, you find out from the agent what types of things his client is looking for and structure it that way. Don't know if that took place. As far as insiders, they know nothing. BT has never tipped his hand in other negotiations. Insiders "suggest" we have a plan B of Kadri. I will believe that if he signs. We have lots of needs. I would like to see us do more than just negotiate one contract. Trades are possible, even now that the draft is done. We had a group of players that took us to the 2nd round in the playoffs. Should be looking to solidify the team. They know Tkachuk is going to be a tough negotiation, so explore trade options there. Doing nothing suggests that BT only thinks in one dimension. Johnny wants to see improvements to help us get to the 3rd round. The other teams are trying to get to the playoffs, so he would need to be wary of going to a rebuild team or a team stripping to sign him.

Why should he take a discount? It's not going to be used to keep Monahan. Last deal, he backed down and accepted a deal he really didn't like. But pressure from his family made his take it. I get the idea that FA is not about money, but really it's about annual salary. He might be looking at close to $10M right now, over 8 years. But a team has to outbid other teams for UFA's. $10.5 x 7 sounds good, and he might get that offer from 2 teams. Assuming Philly is ready to strip down the team to do it. They would need to if it's $9M, $10M or $10.5M. So, what I am getting at is that the deal's structure may be more important than the total $$. Paying $15M now and $7.5 in the future or majority signing bonus may be the key. The Flames get the 8th year to balance it out. A 7 year deal has to balance it out in less time.

I get the sense that Philly has moved on, knowing full well they aren't signing Gaudreau. They have no cap space and still have Tippett and Frost to sign. Not that those are big money deals, but they would have a ton of work to get under. Risto and Sanheim might give them a bit of room but not enough.

It looks like CHI has decided to move on from Strome. He will be a UFA. Not that fast, but are we a team that should ignore a C available that may not cost a ton? He's played on so many bad teams, it's hard to say what he really is.

Interesting player. Wonder what he will get in the market. If it was in the 5's, then yes we could target him. Similar stats and age to Nichushkin. Think COL will focus on Nichushkin. If he went to market, he would be preferable over Kane. Read somewhere we ahd interest in Kane? Seriously?

There are 4 guys to look at in the Dev Camp.... G Cooper Black (21) A Michigan kid, Black played with the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers and led the league in save percentage. He’s a tall kid, listed at 6’8″ and 194 pounds. He’s headed to Dartmouth College in the fall. D Jake Lee (20) Lee has aged out of junior, having spent his overage season with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. He had 46 points in 66 games for the Rockets. He was named to his division’s all-star team for his performance. D Chris Sedoff (20) A Finnish import, Sedoff plays with the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels. He had 61 points in 65 games and was named a divisional all-star. He’s eligible to return to the Dub as an overager, or go pro. RW Carter Wilkie (22) A Calgary product, Wilkie is a right shot forward who just finished his freshman season at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He had 30 points in 37 games and was named his conference’s top rookie. The one sounding interesting is Sedoff. To be able to put up that many points as a player new to NA hockey is quite something.

That's good to see.

Sven wasn't a bad pick, perhaps we should have chose otherwise, but guys like JT Miller did nothing in the draft year. Sven was a productive player. It was annoying that we picked both Granlund and Wotherspoon first. That was a fail. I heard the story about avoiding talking to Johnny's coaches, since that would signal interest. It was smart. Sometimes you play smart poker but still bet too much on nothing burgers.

Evan Boucher from the Mooseheads was invited. Played his rookie year in H'fax. 25g and 15a in 37 games. 6' 200 pound C. 20 years old. Late starter, but worth a look. I haven't heard about any other invites, but just wasn't really looking. EDIT: Rhett Rhinehart Jagger Joshua Croix Kochendorfer

The only thing about that pic is that it shows how close Mony is with JH. It's a tough situation. I recognize most there; JH, Mony, Bread, Coles. Is that Guddy? Other guy no idea.

That sounds like a coy way of saying everyone was. But he also didn't want to make any announcement at the draft. So that implies an inpersonal announcement from the Flames I hate trying to parse what people mean when they say something. I'm a gonna sit back and wait for BT to make any real statement about the few that are key.

Right. I'm assuming they can still QO him.

Tuulola and Phillips both eligible for arbitration, as are Pooly nd Kinnvall. Not that they would get anything great. I think ET actually is starting to up his game...finally. Since Kinnvall signed in Europe, they might extend an offer to keep his rights. Not sure how that part works. Poolman didn't do much. Parsons would not surprise me if they let him walk. As I said though, they didn't really say "all" were qualified. Was very careful in how he put it.

BT was saying that those that needed a QO have received them. He wasn't clear if every player had received them though.

So, if you have any interest at all in seeing what the market will bear, then what good is it to sign before the draft? Now that some of the draft splash is over, the teams left are a bit clearer. BT is unlikely to say FU and enjoy FA. His job is on the line. He's not going to nickel and dime the deal. If it comes down to a $11M offer in FA, he will match it or even offer something else. Don't get me wrong. I don't support the agent screwing the Flames. He's there to get the best deal that his client wants. Up to today was posturing. This weekend is the hard work. JH is going to start pressuring him to make a deal, assuming he even wants to be here. Gross will tell him this is how it works, but he's basically a lawyer trying to get his client to sign a settlement. Not the agent's decision, just the arguing.

Oh, I was thinking it was drunk uncle on the coach. Probably his dad. Last one to hug, maybe not a big hugger. LOL

Who did he miss?

There's no benefit to the negotiation. In fact it works opposite. People on the fence start thinking that he ain't worth it. Also how it impacts negotiations with Tkachuk. Let me look at it a different way. If Gross comes back a week after the offer with a counter, then he has to go sky-high or he loses any leverage. He comes back without a number and just says nope, then what is that saying? Better to not come back to counter. It's not a game of chicken for Gross. He doesn't have to do anything. The final offer may not be what he expected, but that's not his decision, he has to get JH to decide. MKedia says there is no talk. BT says there is. FS seems to imply JH is wrapping his head around the impact of his signing to the team. Probably a lot of advice came as a result of the last few days (draft etc). Is Philly even a player now. Tony D needs a deal. Need a backup. NY has a lot of work to sign the players they had. NJ is positioned well, but not sure how they get to playoffs this year.

Well somebody might sign him to an AHL deal. Think that a NHL deal would not slide....

He said it's believed to be something like $9.5M. Very possible it was leaked for a reason if it's accurate. I just don't buy into the fact that they actually know it. Gross isn't going to leak it.

Can never have too many LHS LW's. LOL Was that the sound of JJ's head exploding?

So they lose a top 4D and have to replace a top 4D. Kulak might be able to do that. Doesn't make them any deeper. Likely a sideways move. Even with the retirement, they don't have enough for Kane. They could I guess if they dipped into the LTIR overage. Not sure they can keep Pooly regardless.

Old rules for those long term deals.

Is he taking media lessons from Sutter? LOL. A rebuild can be fun. A rebuild done right is really fun. Now, go trade form Moneyhands.