Speculation: Armchair GM thread: Hamonic frequencies

[Sparky93]

Why buy out Bouma when there's teams like Arizona that will struggle to reach the cap floor? If we're really intent on moving on from his contract that I'm sure we could do work something out with them

I don't think Bouma is going anywhere, this year.

 

[Mobiandi]

I don't think Bouma is going anywhere, this year.

My bad, I saw the word buy-out and also read Brouwer as Bouma

 

[Sparky93]

Lomberg I could definitely get behind, Klimchuk I don't think is close enough to his potential yet to fast track his development in the NHL.

Ryan Lomberg wearing Flames silks and busting heads would be awesome though, I'm sold.

I think ideally we upgrade Ferland and force 3rd line players, into 4th line roles with our depth.

 

[Mr Snrub]

Team has repeatedly shied away from retaining salary basically on principle which I think is a smart move so I doubt Brouwer gets traded with retention. Honestly the guy has only played one season for us and it was the worst of his career, maybe we should let him play another season first before deciding that he's so bad we'll pay for him to play for another team

 

[Calculon]

Would be very surprised if the Flames go with internal options with their backup now. With no first round pick in 2018, I can't see them being okay with relying on a potential Rittich/Gillies combo to carry them once the inevitable injury to Smith occurs. Not to mention the salary retention on Smith suggests Treliving wants/is okay with overpaying for a veteran backup.

If not Johnson, they'll probably look at Bernier, Pavelec, Nilsson and Condon.

Smith's probability of missing time due to injury (which was, maybe still is a silver lining up until the Flames moved their first rounder) still means Rittich/Gillies, maybe even Parsons will get some games in within the next two years so at least there's that.

As for Brouwer, full NTC until next season. Can't imagine the Flames asking him to waive at this point. If/when he stinks up the joint again next season, they might try something fancy next summer when he's down to a modified NTC, but the lack of picks means it's going to be hard to get rid of him.

 

[Flames Fanatic]

Would be very surprised if the Flames go with internal options with their backup now. With no first round pick in 2018, I can't see them being okay with relying on a potential Rittich/Gillies combo to carry them once the inevitable injury to Smith occurs. Not to mention the salary retention on Smith suggests Treliving wants/is okay with overpaying for a veteran backup.

If not Johnson, they'll probably look at Bernier, Pavelec, Nilsson and Condon.

Smith's probability of missing time due to injury (which was, maybe still is a silver lining up until the Flames moved their first rounder) still means Rittich/Gillies, maybe even Parsons will get some games in within the next two years so at least there's that.

As for Brouwer, full NTC until next season. Can't imagine the Flames asking him to waive at this point. If/when he stinks up the joint again next season, they might try something fancy next summer when he's down to a modified NTC, but the lack of picks means it's going to be hard to get rid of him.

Condon or Bernier are my picks for backup.

 

[Sparky93]

Team has repeatedly shied away from retaining salary basically on principle which I think is a smart move so I doubt Brouwer gets traded with retention. Honestly the guy has only played one season for us and it was the worst of his career, maybe we should let him play another season first before deciding that he's so bad we'll pay for him to play for another team

It makes sense, even next year. If the retention is the same as the buyout cost, with half the term, it's just a smart hockey move. Mistakes are made all the time, sometimes you just have to swallow hard and own up to it. I don't even hate Brouwer, but $4.5 is way too much, for what he brings to the table

 

[Johnny GODreau]

wouldn't mind Bernier, but I think he stays in Anaheim.

 

[Mr Snrub]

I'm fine with either a backup signing or Rittich. With the way he played last year in Stockton I'm confident he could play 30 games and look at least as good as Karri Ramo did.

 

[Sparky93]

I'm fine with either a backup signing or Rittich. With the way he played last year in Stockton I'm confident he could play 30 games and look at least as good as Karri Ramo did.

Rittich didn't look very good in his NHL game, guys have ceilings. That's the worst thing about goalies, it's next to impossible to tell, until they're in the position to fail.

 

[Fig]

Give Rittich some preseason games. If he looks shaky, then acquire a leftover backup for cheaper than during UFA?

 

[Fig]

Lomberg I could definitely get behind, Klimchuk I don't think is close enough to his potential yet to fast track his development in the NHL.

Ryan Lomberg wearing Flames silks and busting heads would be awesome though, I'm sold.

I like Lomberg more than Klimchuk and both are of similar age. Mangiapane is younger than those two.

Lomberg as 4LW would be a great story.

 

[Mobiandi]

Give Rittich some preseason games. If he looks shaky, then acquire a leftover backup for cheaper than during UFA?

I think if we wait until then, only Antti Niemi will be available

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Why buy out Bouma when there's teams like Arizona that will struggle to reach the cap floor? If we're really intent on moving on from his contract that I'm sure we could do work something out with them

Could definitely trade him with salary retained - Bouma at 50% is a lot more palatable for a lot more teams, and really isn't much different than stashing him in the minors aside from being available in the playoffs.

 

[Sparky93]

I really wouldn't mind giving Ramo a nice cheap, one year deal, if he's healthy. People forget he posted a .909, in 2016, on a very poor team, with a bad defensive system. The guy could always stop the first one, just that positioning! I think with a vastly improved defence and a much more responsible system, he could be a pretty passable backup.

 

[Mr Snrub]

It makes sense, even next year. If the retention is the same as the buyout cost, with half the term, it's just a smart hockey move. Mistakes are made all the time, sometimes you just have to swallow hard and own up to it. I don't even hate Brouwer, but $4.5 is way too much, for what he brings to the table

It simply does not make sense. First of all, Brouwer just played the worst season of his career, even with retention do you really think we'd be getting a fair return for him? As opposed to holding onto him for one more year where he'll almost certainly look better, and then if you still want to trade him you get significantly more?

Next, unless you're Chayka apparently, you reserve your retention trades for guys you simply need off the team out of necessity. We're not in a big enough cap pinch as it stands to justify that. Maybe if we have to sign Bennett and Tkachuk in two years and we really need the space, Brouwer's contract becomes a problem, but that's a last resort.

Third, the logic behind not retaining is simply sound. You don't pay a guy to play against you, end of story.

Last, to circle back around, Brouwer just had an awful year, worse than his rookie campaign. He will likely never be worth 4.5 million, but if he turns it around and plays like he did out east, he will be close enough that retaining 1.5 million would be more than the amount he's actually overpaid.

Rittich didn't look very good in his NHL game, guys have ceilings. That's the worst thing about goalies, it's next to impossible to tell, until they're in the position to fail.

Personally I think Rittich looked fine up here, and evaluating a goalie's ceiling via his very first NHL game for a team he's had maybe one practice with is foolish.

Give Rittich some preseason games. If he looks shaky, then acquire a leftover backup for cheaper than during UFA?

Via trade, or...?

 

[Lunatik]

MM, I like most of the GM work you've done.

Although, I wouldn't sign iggy, and I'd buyout Bouma (penalty isn't bad over 2 years).

Sign Vrbata and re-up Versteeg, he was a great PP guy and a catalyst on a lot of nights.

Gaudreau-Monahan-Vrbata
Tkachuk-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Bennett-Lazar
Versteeg-Stajan-Brouwer

Gio-Hamilton
Brodie-Hamonic
Kulak-Stone

Smith
X

If you need more cap flexibility send Stajan off to someone like OTT for peanuts.

I have no interest in Vrbata, he wasn't good in Vancouver before the bottom fell out there. He seems to only do well without pressure. Not a risk worth taking since I think he'll get 3.5+

I also wouldn't buyout Bouma because we don't need to. I'd rather pay him this year and not have any buyout penalties next year when Backlund is up because just the expiration of the Raymond buyout will get us within a million of what we need for Backlund.

Also no interest in bringing back Versteeg. I find him useless when he's not producing and he doesn't use his linemates all that well. If we're going to pay a PP specialist, which is all Versteeg is, I'd rather pay Iginla who brings more to the table in terms of intensity and physicality. Plus then maybe Gully will stop using a forward at the point on the PP.

 

[FLAMES666]

I really wouldn't mind giving Ramo a nice cheap, one year deal, if he's healthy. People forget he posted a .909, in 2016, on a very poor team, with a bad defensive system. The guy could always stop the first one, just that positioning! I think with a vastly improved defence and a much more responsible system, he could be a pretty passable backup.

**** that, there is a reason he doesn't have an NHL job.

 

[Lunatik]

I like Lomberg more than Klimchuk and both are of similar age. Mangiapane is younger than those two.

Lomberg as 4LW would be a great story.

Neither are NHL ready IMO, especially Lomberg. Mangiapane is closer but he's not a 4th line type guy, even Klimmer would he better off with Backlund or on the 3rd line.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

Zack Kassian got re-signed



good comparable for Ferland.

 

[Lunatik]

Zack Kassian got re-signed



good comparable for Ferland.

Yeah that's an excellent comparable. Ferland should get 3 years @ 1.75 to 2 million

 

[Sparky93]

Zack Kassian got re-signed



good comparable for Ferland.

Ewww, that's a little high, but close to what I was expecting for Ferland. I was thinking $1.8

 

[Mr Snrub]

Neither are NHL ready IMO, especially Lomberg. Mangiapane is closer but he's not a 4th line type guy, even Klimmer would he better off with Backlund or on the 3rd line.

Mangiapane is kind of a Cammalleri without quite as much brawn, I think learning to grind in a bottom six might be a good move for him and help him round out his game. Not opposed to letting him marinate in Stockton some more but learning a heavier game sooner than later might be smart.

Guy is also pretty stocky for 5'10" at almost 190lbs, I don't think he'd be outclassed even given his height.

 

[Mr Snrub]

Zack Kassian got re-signed



good comparable for Ferland.

For a minute I misread that as 5.85 AAV and I almost choked on my lunch

 

[Anglesmith]

**** that, there is a reason he doesn't have an NHL job.

I think it's probably his health more than anything. Not sure if he was able to get back to form after his surgery.

If he was able to play just like when he was here, and if he would sign cheap, that's a no-brainer. He was a good goalie for us, and at times dominant. Realistically, he was similar to Brian Elliott during their respective tenures.