A Brand New Flamettes

[MatthewFlames]

Can you keep up with who's a Flame? Cause the Flames GM certainly can't. The cost cutting for the bankrupt Flames began in the off-season with the trade of Niklas Backstrom and concluded with a whimper as the Flames had to pay the Tampa Bay Lightning to take four contracts from the Flames as they exceeded the 80 player rule.

OUT: Pavel Datsyuk, Dan Hamhuis, Niklas Backstrom, Zybanek Michalek, Paul Gaustad, Steve Ott and Eric Tangradi. The most notable player not too move was Dion Phaneuf, despite 8 months of negotiations on various fronts. In the interim the Flames landed and then traded away Mark Eaton, Matt Cullen, Kyle Quincey, Jussi Rynnas.

INCOMING: Holy hells... who are all these players?

Ray Emery - G
Trevor Lewis - F
Joe Colborne - F
P - Ryan Murphy - D
P - Oscar Dansk - G
P - Mattias Ekholm - D
P - Adam Clendening - D
P - Matt Frattin - F
P - John Klingberg - D
P - Martin Gernat - D
P - Tyler Beskorowany - G
P - Martin Maracin - D

The final tally of extra picks:

2013 LAK 2nd
2013 NSH 2nd
2013 ANA 2nd
2013 EDM 4th
2013 DET 4th
2013 NYI 4th

2014 VAN 2nd
2014 NYI 2nd

2015 PHI 5th

Cash
$2,000,000

The Flames salary is now at $32 million for the remainder of the season. With re-signings of RFA players this summer they're expected to bounce back at around $45 million next season - so expect more cost cutting with the likes of Phaneuf, Emery, Umberger and Brouwer on the way out as the Flames will try to run at or below $35 million.

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[MatthewFlames]

In a round of classic bad planning the Flames signed 3 free agents recently that caused them to go over the 80 player limit.

They all just signed NHL contracts for the first time as well:

Gabriel Beaupre - Big physical defenseman has shown enough props at the AHL level that the Avs have signed him to an ELC.

Sergei Andronov - Big Russian forward was drafted in the third round and has taken his time to develop. The late bloomer has enjoyed a positive first season as a pro. Technically a good player and excellent skater, he lacks the hands to be a point contributor at he next level but he could find himself a role in the bottom 6 in St. Louis.

Markus Lauridsen - Danish defender was undrafted and signed to an AHL deal after being noticed in the USHL. His first season in the AHL has shown that he posses a solid all around ability and if he continue to develop could make his way onto an NHL roster. Also an Avs signing.