Flames 2015-2016 Roster

[MAC331]

You know where you can stick "fancy stats". Both the players in question have had sporatic NHL playing periods either due to time in the league or in Backlund's case staying on the ice. I will take Colborne's ability to win faceoffs and control the puck down low over Backlund. The fact that Stajan is signed likely leads to the Flames keeping him vs Backlund and as for Stajan all I can say is a total misuse of him on the 4th line.

Jooris could end up being a winger.

[darth_henning]

Well with the playoffs our opinions have probably changed on things.

 

Bennett is looking good on Left Wing and may not be a center going forward - but then that leaves us with too many decent Left Wings to really play. Ferland has played himself onto the team for next year. Raymond has definitely played himself off.

 

Our lack of D-depth has really been highlighted as has our lack of solid RW after Hudler.

 

So revamping my original suggestions:

 

 

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler <---- top line scoring

Bennett - Backlund - Poirier? new? <--------- secondary scoring

Bouma/Ferlund - Stajan - Jones<-------- shutdown with scoring upside

Wolf - Jooris - Colborne<------------- energy

 

Extra :Granlund, Byron? Arnold?

 

Giordano - Brodie

Russell - Wideman

Schlemko - Diaz

Engelland

 

Hiller

Ramo

(likely a deadline trade of one to make room for Ortio after a callup)

[MAC331]

First thing I would be doing is get Ramos re-signed.

On D we need someone like Regher to play with Wideman and move Russell down to play with Engelland.

On our forward lines there are all kinds of options of line combinations that could be considered. If these playoffs showed us anything we will need to get bigger and protect the smaller players.

I like the idea previous to take players that are not in the plans and at least get some draft picks. Raymond and Jones come to mind. I would keep Bollig only because concussions scare me and the way Ferland plays I would keep the size around. Wolf IMO will see some action up but likely isn't quite ready to step in full time.

Moving Raymond allows Bennett and possibly Granlund the playing time they need on LW.

 

I don't think I would keep the Gaudreau, Monahan and Hudler line together. The top line needs some size and I would be looking for a RW player to fit the bill.

Hudler could serve us well playing on the 2nd line with possibly Colborne at C and Bennett at LW to have some veteran influence for them.

 

Will they keep both Stajan and Backlund will be a key question this offseason ? they could but then that backs up the system for advancing others. I think one of them may be traded to shore up either our D or RW. I prefer Backlund over Stajan so I will set up without him.

 

Forwards

Gaudreau, Monahan, new RW

Bennett, Colborne, Hudler

Bouma, Backlund, Jorris

Bollig, Shore, Ferland

 

Defense

Giordano, Brodie

new LSD, Wideman

Russell, Engelland

 

Goalies

Ramo, Hiller

[JTech780]

One guy I am curious about signing from the UFA pool is Jim Slater. He's a good 4th line center who won 59.6% of his faceoffs this year. He's good on the PK and will help with the gritty play and battles.

After seeing how much Nate Thompson meant to Anaheim in this series, I would like to see some more grit down the middle.

FF would have a better scouting report on Slater and how he would fit into our lineup.

[Cowtownguy]

Eric Francis today said he will be surprised if Backlund is not traded in the off-season. I have no idea how he came to that conclusion, but that is what he said.

[Heartbreaker]

I'd hate to see him go, but I've been thinking that for awhile. I don't have any sources, but does it not make some sense? He's a highly skilled player on a good contract in the right age group to fetch some important assets. The Flames have some depth at centre (finally!), and he's (probably) slotted for number three.

If it comes down to Backlund or Stajan, you get a lot more for the former.

Love.

[The_People1]

Eric Francis today said he will be surprised if Backlund is not traded in the off-season. I have no idea how he came to that conclusion, but that is what he said.

 

I've mentioned in the Backlund thread that if the Flames want to sign Backlund long term and eat up a couple of his UFA years, then it's going to cost at least $5-mil-per.  So, something like a 5-year deal worth $25-mil.  In other words, we should entertain a trade if the offers are good.

[JTech780]

I've mentioned in the Backlund thread that if the Flames want to sign Backlund long term and eat up a couple of his UFA years, then it's going to cost at least $5-mil-per. So, something like a 5-year deal worth $25-mil. In other words, we should entertain a trade if the offers are good.

I would be surprised if he got over $4 mill a season but even at $4mill I would look to trade him.

He doesn't score enough to be a 2nd line center. He also doesn't have the size, grit, or faceoff ability to be a really effective shut down center. I think if we package him with a 2nd round pick we can get a quality defenseman.

[KACaribou]

Not sure what to do with this team. I like every single player and would hate to see any go. But to improve some must leave. Many young guys will get even better in the next year or two. Some may have leveled off already. New stars on the rise presently and lots coming into the AHL this year.

 

In goal: I can't see how we could have done a lot better than now. Yes I know Price is Gawd. But is he really? Could he have such Gawdy save numbers with the Flames? I doubt he'd be much better than Hiller or Ramo. Blasphamy I know.

 

But yet, how do we give Joni Ortio a fair chance if we keep them both?

 

Lines

1) Johnny Hockey - Monahan - Hudler

2) Bauma - Backlund - Colbourne

3) Ferland - Bennett - Jones

4) Granlund - Stajan - Jooris

 

Bollig - Porrier - Shore - Byron

 

Defence

Gio - Brodie

Russell - Wideman

Schlemko - Engelen

 

Diaz

 

Wotherspoon - Back the AHL. Not yet ready.

 

Raymond - Trade bate. I like his speed but he's too small and soft. Too many small guys now, he could be a good fit on a large team.

Wolf - Trade bate. I think his skill set needs some work still, and his skating. Could be a good fit elsewhere. Too many LW here.

Shmid - Trade bate. Too slow, might be a good 7 for someone needing size.

Hiller - Trade bate. Could get a real player for him, or a 1st rounder.

[travel_dude]

Eric Francis today said he will be surprised if Backlund is not traded in the off-season. I have no idea how he came to that conclusion, but that is what he said.

The guy is a hack. Tell me one thing he predicted that came to pass. Ask him where he though Johnny was going to play after the first month?

We don't have a replacement yet for Backs. Trading him makes us the worst possession team in the NHL.

When you have a replacement, then go ahead and trade him.

[Flyerfan52]

One guy I am curious about signing from the UFA pool is Jim Slater. He's a good 4th line center who won 59.6% of his faceoffs this year. He's good on the PK and will help with the gritty play and battles.

After seeing how much Nate Thompson meant to Anaheim in this series, I would like to see some more grit down the middle.

FF would have a better scouting report on Slater and how he would fit into our lineup.

I like Slater but he's a 3-4 center @ best. We now have Bennett knocking on the door for a winger position @ worst but I see him as @ least a #2 center by the end of the 2015-16 season.

So we have Monahan, Bennett as our 1-2 center punch before next season ends.

Stajan can fill that 3-4 role now that he's remade himself.

 

If we trade Backlund in a deal for help on the blueline we will need a Slater type (I'd like him & Stajan centering the 2 lower lines) as I still see Jooris & the rest as needing more seasoning (good temps but not mainstays).

We could use Slater's sand but we don't have room unless we trade or convert Backlund or Stajan.

 

I like the team better with Slater over Backlund due to the grit.

[darth_henning]

I don't think we should be trading Backlund before the trade deadline IF we decide to trade him.

 

Right now he's #2 for center depth. This time next year? That most likely becomes Bennett centering the second line. But he's not ready yet.

 

Going forward, I'd rather have Backlund over Stajan. He may have a slightly higher cap hit, but I feel he brings more even though he doesn't have much in the way of grit and we have more years with him as a potential asset. His possession numbers don't have a replacement either on the team or in the system. 

 

If we could get a top RW or an upgrade on D for him (+Raymond or Bollig)? Then I'd consider it, but otherwise no.

[travel_dude]

The one trade involving Backlund that would make sense to me would be Berglund for Backlund.

I don't know how the Blues feel about the player, but Backlund would fit their system to a T.

Berglund would give us that gritty big center we don't have. Maybe we have to add to make it

work, but I think this trade makes both teams better.

[kehatch]

My personal opinion is that Treliving will be very active this off season. Key guys I think will be moved (and some we won't like):

- Backlund. Love the guy. But he is really injury prone, lacks the size you want for his role, and the depth chart is going to push him out. You have Stajan, Bennett, and Monahan as locks next season. Plus you have Shore, Jooris, Granlund, Arnold, etc that are looking for a roster spot.

- Wideman: People will hate this one. But he is inconsistent from season to season. A year ago we were talking possible compliance buy out. He is 32 and with Russell, Brodie, and Giordano we have lots of offence from our D. This may be a chance to sell high.

- Hudler: This is a tough one for me because he is so good with the kids and he had a fantastic season. Plus he plays well at RW, a position we are pretty shallow on. But he is 31 with one year left under contract. The Flames may not want to commit a long term contract to him. Especially if they want to get bigger on wing. He is another guy the Flames can sell high on, and that is smart asset management.

If the Flames trade Hudler, Wideman, and Backlund they are getting some serious assets back in return. They can translate those assets to players that fit the long term vision more.

This was a fantastic season. But Treliving (smartly) doesn't seem ready to sway off of the long term plan. If that is true those three guys make sense to move.

[darth_henning]

I can see trading Wideman if we can get an upgrade in defense. That's a possibility, but I'm not sure its likely.

 

Backlund I don't like, but for a good return maybe.

 

Hudler? That's not as bad as trading Monahan or Bennett, but close. We don't have a 30goal RW anywhere in the system and we need some vets up front on this team

 

Raymond has to go. Jones is potential trade bait, and Bollig probably isn't long for the team either. That leaves Stajan and Hudler as the only real veterans up front.

 

Hudler isn't someone that I trade. No, I don't lock him down for 5 years or anything, but he's worth paying high for for another 2 years to help bring in the youth and get the team over the hurdle to being a competitor, THEN consider trading him with 1 year left or at a trade deadline.

[Fowl]

With the positive happenings in Calgary, the Flames should be able to secure a strong UFA or two. Hartley is a top flight coach, and the franchise is moving in the right direction with a bright future. The kids will be bigger in the next two seasons, and adding the right free agents will keep the Flames in the Cup chase. Things roll in cycles. I believe the Flames are about three years off from being dangerous good.

[KACaribou]

Eric Francis is doing nothing more than the rest of us. He's no better or worse. It's all guess-work. We and he - no doubt - thinks it is fun playing GM. Possession doesn't mean squat if we keep playing good D. Keep shots outside, or blocked. Convert on our scoring chances which will be better opportunities if the other team doesn't play defence as well which most do not.

The guy is a hack. Tell me one thing he predicted that came to pass. Ask him where he though Johnny was going to play after the first month?

We don't have a replacement yet for Backs. Trading him makes us the worst possession team in the NHL.
When you have a replacement, then go ahead and trade him.

[MAC331]

It is always rewarding to be wrong about players. Eric Francis would not have stood alone thinking Gaudreau should start in AAA.

Look at Jooris who came out of no where to contribute.

 

I would sign Hudler to another contract only because he has good value for us. I wouldn't necessarily be keeping him around for our top line. he could be instrumental in building another good scoring 2nd line.

 

I think they have to make a decision between Stajan and Backlund to C the 3rd line, trade one or the other.

 

Wideman could stay or go. If he stays you have to get someone bigger and stronger to play with him on the LS.

[JTech780]

I like Slater but he's a 3-4 center @ best. We now have Bennett knocking on the door for a winger position @ worst but I see him as @ least a #2 center by the end of the 2015-16 season.

So we have Monahan, Bennett as our 1-2 center punch before next season ends.

Stajan can fill that 3-4 role now that he's remade himself.

If we trade Backlund in a deal for help on the blueline we will need a Slater type (I'd like him & Stajan centering the 2 lower lines) as I still see Jooris & the rest as needing more seasoning (good temps but not mainstays).

We could use Slater's sand but we don't have room unless we trade or convert Backlund or Stajan.

I like the team better with Slater over Backlund due to the grit.

I agree. I like Stajan as 3rd line shut down center better than Backlund. Then if you add Slater as 4th line center who can jump up to the 3rd line at times, it gives you that grit and we become much better in the dot as well. I like our chances with Monahan, Bennett, Stajan and Slater down the middle next year.

If Bennett isn't ready for that 2nd line role then I think we can put Colborne there to start the year. I like him as a center, but Hartley seems to prefer him on the wing, he's the expert so I am not going to argue his choice there.

[JTech780]

My personal opinion is that Treliving will be very active this off season. Key guys I think will be moved (and some we won't like):

- Backlund. Love the guy. But he is really injury prone, lacks the size you want for his role, and the depth chart is going to push him out. You have Stajan, Bennett, and Monahan as locks next season. Plus you have Shore, Jooris, Granlund, Arnold, etc that are looking for a roster spot.

- Wideman: People will hate this one. But he is inconsistent from season to season. A year ago we were talking possible compliance buy out. He is 32 and with Russell, Brodie, and Giordano we have lots of offence from our D. This may be a chance to sell high.

- Hudler: This is a tough one for me because he is so good with the kids and he had a fantastic season. Plus he plays well at RW, a position we are pretty shallow on. But he is 31 with one year left under contract. The Flames may not want to commit a long term contract to him. Especially if they want to get bigger on wing. He is another guy the Flames can sell high on, and that is smart asset management.

If the Flames trade Hudler, Wideman, and Backlund they are getting some serious assets back in return. They can translate those assets to players that fit the long term vision more.

This was a fantastic season. But Treliving (smartly) doesn't seem ready to sway off of the long term plan. If that is true those three guys make sense to move.

I would be surprised if Hudler was traded. Backlund and Wideman, wouldn't surprise me. I haven't been the biggest fan of either player. That's not to say that I don't appreciate what they bring to the team, I just think they are replaceable pieces. Wideman makes a lot of money, if we are going to trade now is the time. He's coming off a career year, I believe he was 4th in defenseman scoring this year. He is getting older and slower, he isn't great in the defensive zone. I see him being a PP specialist for the most part. Trade him while his value is at its highest. I would rather use his money and get Sekera.

[travel_dude]

I would be surprised if Hudler was traded. Backlund and Wideman, wouldn't surprise me. I haven't been the biggest fan of either player. That's not to say that I don't appreciate what they bring to the team, I just think they are replaceable pieces. Wideman makes a lot of money, if we are going to trade now is the time. He's coming off a career year, I believe he was 4th in defenseman scoring this year. He is getting older and slower, he isn't great in the defensive zone. I see him being a PP specialist for the most part. Trade him while his value is at its highest. I would rather use his money and get Sekera.

 

We don't need to save dollars to sign Sekera, if that is your target.  Wideman earned that contract this year, and there is reason to believe that he is improving.  He will never be a defensive specialist, so take him for what he brings; a great point shot.

 

I am not saving a trade is out, but you better get a King's ransom.  He accounted for a good portion of our scoring this season.  You better get back a similar offense, plus that punishing type of hitting and defensive responsibility.

 

I would give up Backlund if we got a D-man back that replaces his defensive responsibility.  That and we were assured that that shut-down center position was replaced internally. 

[UKFlamer]

I see a lot of people saying trade for picks. Really? you think that we are in a position right now where we should be looking to add picks? We had a lucky season. We worked very hard for it to be sure and we had a couple of players who really played very well. Can they play as well next year? can we work as hard again? well guess what, if we do that, expect to finish 8th and get knocked out in the second round. Status Quo.

 

We need to improve now if we want to move up the league and in the post season. The longer we wait, the more prospects we have to hope work out so that we can replace Hudler, Wideman and even Giordano, or at least Giordano for a quarter of the season, which is what he's missed every year for the last 4 years. Are we expecting to re-sign these guys next time round and have them play in to their mid 30's and onwards?

 

Yes, trade off the dead weight for what we can get and that might only be picks, but look to make smart trades to improve the team now.

 

The series against the ducks showed us how much we do need to improve. We worked hard but really that should have been a sweep for the ducks. If you could put the Ducks roster next to ours and then say, right, pick a team of 23 from those players - what team would have the most players? I think 7 from the Flames would make it in, maybe 8.

 

We need to be bringing in players who can significantly improve the team now. Lets look at that and not at keeping players who will only keep us in 8th place or trading out for pucks.

[Wreckening]

Here's my take:

 

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler

Ferland - Bennett - Poirier or FA signing (preferably big and skilled)

Bouma - Backlund - Colborne*/Poirier (If Colborne is moved)

Bolig - Stajan - Jooris

 

Giordano - Brodie

Wideman* - Russell

Engelland - ?

 

Ramo/Ortio

 

*Wideman is a question mark because I think he is a player we could see moved.

*Colborne, although a good player, just doesn't use his size as much as I would like to see. He shows flashes but then disappears.

 

I see us having decent cap room again for the 15/16 season. We could part ways with the likes of Wideman, Colborne, Byron, Hiller, Potter, Jones and Smid (depending on his health) just to name a few. This leaves us lots of wiggle room to sign a big name D man or a Right Winger in free agency and if we can garner a few picks along the way we continue the building of the franchise. Top of my wish list though is a big RW skill player.

[travel_dude]

Here's my take:

 

Gaudreau - Monahan - Hudler

Ferland - Bennett - Poirier or FA signing (preferably big and skilled)

Bouma - Backlund - Colborne*/Poirier (If Colborne is moved)

Bolig - Stajan - Jooris

 

Giordano - Brodie

Wideman* - Russell

Engelland - ?

 

Ramo/Ortio

 

*Wideman is a question mark because I think he is a player we could see moved.

*Colborne, although a good player, just doesn't use his size as much as I would like to see. He shows flashes but then disappears.

 

I see us having decent cap room again for the 15/16 season. We could part ways with the likes of Wideman, Colborne, Byron, Hiller, Potter, Jones and Smid (depending on his health) just to name a few. This leaves us lots of wiggle room to sign a big name D man or a Right Winger in free agency and if we can garner a few picks along the way we continue the building of the franchise. Top of my wish list though is a big RW skill player.

 

That 2nd line looks pretty suspect.  Ferland is a great guy, but I don't expect him to be a bona fide 2nd liner at this point.  On a good roster, Bouma is slotted about right.

 

I might like to start Bennett with Johnny and Hudler.  Put Mony with Granlund and Poirier.  Have Bouma/Backs/Colborne(Jones) and Ferland/Stajan/Jooris.  Lots of extras to deal with - Shore, Raymond, Bollig, Byron, etc.

 

In my mind, you have 2 scoring lines.  Mony develops chemistry with two solid players, who bring in a physical game that our top line lacks.  Bennett is a scoring threat for guys like Johnny and Hudler to pass to, and vice-versa.  Now you have your 2nd line as a scoring threat, and the other two alternate scoring with shut-down defense.

[The_People1]

I see a lot of people saying trade for picks. Really? you think that we are in a position right now where we should be looking to add picks?

 

Agreed.

 

There's a time in a rebuild cycle to go after picks and that time has ended before our eyes.  Moving forward, our focus needs to be NHL ready players who can make an impact either right away or within two years.  What we should look into right now for example is a 2nd round pick for a 25-year-old Rene Bourque, a young Kristian Huselius, a young Kiprusoff, etc.  Those were the kind of trades that moved the Flames from the basement to a legitimate Cup contender in the mid-2000s.  We should look at those kind of moves again.