Calgary Flames : Be a GM
1) Be a GM Preview
2) 14-15 Season Preview
3) Jan 1st UFA Report
4) Trade Deadline and Season Recap
5) 2015 NHL Draft
2016 Season Preview
Off Season
The Flames have to think about the future as well so they couldn't go signing big name free agents when they have Monahan and Gaudreau as RFA's next off season. But, GM Brant King didn't want to leave empty handed so he made some depth signings.
Player | Years | AAV
Jonas Gustavsson | 1 | 1.175
David Booth | 2 | 0.875
Ruslan Fedetenko | 1 | 0.875
- Jonas Gustavsson is a quality backup goaltender who will have that role under lock and key as soon as the Flames figure out whether Cam Ward or Antti Niemi is their starter, and which one will be traded. GM Brant Kings word's :
Jonas is a great guy who will be a great leader for our relatively young Flames Squad. We are glad to have him for this year, and as long as he meets expectations, we'd love to have him back.
- David Booth was purely a depth signing. At this point in time he isn't even in the NHL so he may not be seen in the Flames lineup this year. GM Brant Kings word's :
David Booth is currently not in our NHL lineup nor our spares. That being said, he still has every opportunity to show us he can still play.
- Ruslan Fedetenko is the definition of a veteran. He too is not in the plans in the NHL but he has always been a quality playoff performer. So, near the end of the year, watch for him to maybe get his chance. GM Brant Kings word's :
Feds is going to get his chance this year, but until then he is going to be able to teach the youngsters down in the AHL how to conduct themselves and also help the coaching staff develop the prospects into impact NHL players.
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GM Brant King said his top priority this off season was re-signing Cody Franson and he got that done. Along with that signing, he resigned valuable youngsters like Tim Erixon, Tomas Vincour, and David Rundblad. He also got deals done with prospects that could grow into producing Bottom 6 forwards.
Player | Years | AAV
Cody Franson *LNTC | 5 | 4.500
David Rundblad | 2 | 1.550
Tim Erixon | 3 | 1.550
Tomas Vincour | 1 | 0.800
Devin Setoguchi | 2 | 0.800
Teemu Pulkkinen | 3 | 0.725
Max Reinhart | 2 | 0.700
GM Brant King also got an ELC done with 5th overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft, Nicholas Meloche.
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The Flames made a blockbuster trade that could potentially change the course of their franchise. GM Brant King gave up alot in the deal but the return could overlook all prices if the superstar performs.
To Calgary | To Arizona
Mikkel Boedker | Jiri Hudler
Henrik Samuelsson | Mike Santorelli
| 1st '20
| 3rd '16
With the progression of Tim Erixon (82) and David Rundblad (83) Jason Garrisons services would no longer be needed on the back-end for the Calgary Flames.
To Calgary | To Florida
2nd '16 | Jason Garrison
Brant King made 2 other trades, sending Carl Soderberg to Minnesota for Matt Cooke (50% Retained); and moving out Christian Ehrhoff and a 4th '16 for Andrej Mezaros.
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Season Preview
Forward Preview
The Calgary Flames had an outstanding offense last season but they felt they could have been a little more consistent and a lot less streaky. The forward group this year has only gotten better and add in the fact that they still have Sam Bennett and Tomas Vincour in the minors, and this Flames team looks pretty good.
The Flames now have a more all-around bottom 6 and a legitimate star LW (Boedker). Sean Monahan shouldn't have any issues developing into a franchise center and to put with all of this Johnny Gaudreau, Antoine Vermette and Riley Smith haven't been mentioned so this Flames offensive core seems pretty solid.
This is their opening night forward group :
Gaudreau 85| Monahan 85| Wheeler 87
Boedker 89
| Vermette 84| Smith 84
Foligno 82
|
Lindholm 82
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Trochek 78
Cooke 81
| Colborne 80|
Cluterbuck 82 - Red indicates rookie
- Purple indicates new addition
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Defense Preview
The plot thickens. This defense core has 2 new members. This group welcomes rookie David Rundblad and newcomer Andrej Meszaros. Cody Franson has new expectations to meet following his raise but through all, the top pairing remains intact ... for now.
Andrei Sekera is rumored to be on the move because of his high salary. Despite being payed 3 million more dollars than his last contract, Sekera had 11 less points than the season prior. His +/- only raised by 2 and that isn't that great factoring in that this Flames team is way better than the Carolina Hurricanes he played for. Team interested include :
- Dallas Stars
- Edmonton Oilers
- New York Islanders
- San Jose Sharks
- Vancouver Canucks
The asking price is suspected to be a better quality top 2 defender or a top 4 defender and a 2nd Round Pick. With GM Brant King seeing the Flames window open for now, he is suspected to move Sekera within the coming days, before seasons start.
*UPDATE :
To Calgary | To Islanders
Travis Hamonic | Andrei Sekera
| (no-name prospect)
| 5th Round '16
Their opening night Defense corps :
Hamonic 86
|Green 87
Meszaros 84
| Franson 85
Rundblad 83
| Stone 83
(Erixon 82)
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Goalie Preview
This is the area of the team that has the most worry and controversy. With 3 (possibly 4 if you include Joni Ortio) NHL-Ready goaltenders, this team needs to change it up. Annti Niemi and Cam Ward will battle it out for the starting job while Jonas Gustavsson will await his turn as the backup goalie. Joni Ortio has been told he will remain in the minors for the entirety of this year and there is some likelyness he will be traded for atleast a 3rd Rounder. Both Ward and Niemi had average seasons, but it was clear come playoff time Niemi was the better of the two. Now, whether that gives him an advantage heading into this year has yet to be seen but let's just focus on what in inevitable
; one of them has to go.
They both have won a cup, but who has more experience? Ward has been in the league longer but hasn't played in the playoffs since he won the cup in 08-09. Niemi has been in the league for less time but has endured many more playoff stinits than Ward. So the questions boils down to
"Who is more reliable? vs. Who has more trade value?" They both ae UFA's at seasons end, but Niemi carries a price tag of 3.000M to Wards 5.300M. Thats 2.300M$ in savings that a team could get a bottom 6 forward for. Therefore i9n the end, Niemi has more trade value. But you also have to factor in that the Flames GM Brant King wants to win now so anything can happen.
Goaltending depth chart for 2015-2016 :
Niemi 84
Ward 86
Gustavsson 82
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UFAs
GM Brant King will have his work cut out for him at seasons end. With this Flames team on the rise, he has to resign RFAs like Gaudreau and Monahan while the culture Calgary has has enticed every UFA to stay except Ruslan Fedetenko (retiring).
Jonas Gustavsson has given the team conditions that he will only stay if he plays atleast 15 games and 1 of Niemi or Ward are traded.
Antoine Vermette, Antti Niemi, and Cam Ward have all expressed their interest to stay, but one goaltender and possibly Vermette will be leaving due to cap issues and younger competition. While the cap is expected to go up, the Flames will still be tight on money if they decide to keep Vermette. So, instead of letting him walk for nothing rumor has it he could be traded at the deadline for a younger, more skilled center.
Matt Cooke is depth forward on the 4th lin currently. He has stated he would like to test the open market at seasons end but the door is not at all closed on a return to Calgary. He is expected to be quite far down on the list of priorities for the Flames, so this will most likely be his only season in Calgary.
Here is a list of some of the teams RFAs and UFAs :
RFA's | UFA's
Johnny Gaudreau | Antoine Vermette
Sean Monahan | Cam Ward
Marcus Foligno | Annti Niemi
Michael Stone | Matt Cooke
Joe Colborne | Ruslan Fedetenko
Vincent Trochek |
Elias Lindholm |
Tomas Vincour |
NEXT UP, TRADE DEADLINE AND SEASON RECAP...
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