As the calendar flips over into Canada Day, the free agency courting period turns into the free agency signing period players are beginning to make decisions. The Calgary Flames have reportedly come to terms with two forwards this evening. Per Sportsnet‘s Elliotte Friedman, the Flames have inked center Derek Ryan to a three-year contract and winger Austin Czarnik to a two-year contract.
Cap hits for the two deals aren’t currently available, which makes it a bit of a challenge to judge the moves as of yet.
Word is CAL closing in on Derek Ryan (three-year deal) and Austin Czarnik (two-year deal)
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2018
In terms of fit, though, it’s hard to argue against either move.
Ryan, 31, broke into the NHL in Carolina under Bill Peters and it’s hard to argue against the fit. He’s a right shot center, something the Flames do not have, and effectively replaces Nick Shore (who replaced Matt Stajan briefly) as the fourth line pivot. A three-year deal brings him until he’s 34. Bob Stauffer tweeted that the cap hit is north of $3 million, but TSN’s Frank Seravalli noted that Ryan left money on the table – it’s a very thin free agent class at center.
Czarnik, 25, is a right-shot winger who broke into the NHL with the Boston Bruins but hasn’t really cemented himself as a regular yet. He had 17 points in 59 NHL games, but at the very least has established himself as a very good AHLer with 155 points over 157 AHL games. We don’t even have idle media speculation about cap hits for him yet.
Update: Cap hits!
Hearing Ryan deal is approx 3×3.125 and Czarnik 2×1.25 in CAL; word out of VAN is Beagle is 4×3 and Roussel 4×3.25
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 1, 2018
The Flames needed right-shot forward options. Lads and ladies, Brad Treliving has seemingly found right-shot forward options.
ARTICLE BROUGHT TO YOU BY SPORTS EXCELLENCE
Founded in 1950, Sports Excellence Corporation represents over 150 family-owned independent hockey retailers across Canada and the United States. Our highly knowledgeable hockey specialists are available to assist all your equipment needs. Find your closest Sports Excellence retailer here: Find a location near you!
I prefered Shore over Ryan and believe 3 years is 1 year too many, but not nearly as bad as other years and Ryan does seem like a right shot Stajan so not muvh to really complain about. The Czarnik signing seems to be a great bet and a good signing.
As far as Shore is concerned I think Calgary should still sign him. Canucks army did a great article showing how he could be a hidden gem. https://canucksarmy.com/2018/06/27/analyzing-four-centres-the-canucks-could-target/
I’m not sure the rules of posting inks but it is a nation network site so I think it should be good.
Also the more I read about Czarnik the more I like the signing, could turn out to be among the best value contracts of free agency this year. I guess he is essentially a replacement for Shore so no longer need to resign hm, I think Treliving might be done as the team is looking quite full, also we the influx of right shots I have a feeling Lazar might end up down in Stockton if he makes it through waivers. Going to the AHL could be just what Lazar always needed instead of being put in the NHL before he was ready.
Looks like Brouwer won’t be bought out, but that’s not the worst decision Calgary has no cap problem this year and can afford to have his cap hit this year. I would waive him as this team is simply better without him.
I would also waive him.
Derek Ryan- no surprise
At $3M, he left money on the table?
Czarnik wass Baalzamon’s choice, so he’ll be happy.
I don’t mind the idea of Czarnik, he was buried in Boston by their depth. He’ll be cheap, probably 2way contract.
Looking at some of the other deals on Capfriendly these are right in line with the market. I figured Vanek would sign a 1 year deal for around $3m; I still think he would have been a good fit here for 1 year. Perron did not get paid what most people thought he would. The JvR deal is going to look really bad in year 4/5; maybe even earlier I’m glad we stayed away from that.
These are 2 decent moves. Low cost,low term on players that will push the young guys.
There was no magical signing of James Neil at 3 years $5 mil per that was going to happen.
Looks like we dodged a bullet on Roussel.
I didn’t want the flames to be chasing Perron or Neal, but that seems like a good price for Perron. I’d take him at 4×4 over Ryan at 3×3.125.
Czarnik and YeastMode seem like very comparable players.
I’m not so sure. Mangiapane is several years younger and outscored Czarnik last season.
A little too much on Ryan buts it’s F.A.Day
Yeah, basically we save cap space mostly to afford to pick up otherwise free assets in free agency. Cap space doesn’t do much all on its own.
I like the signings…..I predicted that Hamilton would go ….I’m predicting another veteran D will be moved this week to make room for Anderson and someone else. Either Stone or Brodie is going and I hope we get a good return. A goalie will also be coming here…
Brodie isn’t going anywhere (he’s gonna be paired with Gio again), though I could potentially see Stone being moved for picks and bumping Andersson up from the AHL.
I really hope stone is moved. Makes way to much for a 5/6 d and need to make room. Would be nice to make competition between kulak andersson and valamaki
Yeah, Stone is the one they should move, moving Hamilton essential says the Flames are going back to Gio-Brodie.
Stone isn’t going anywhere. Other than Gio and Harmonic, he is he most aggressive D in flames Jersey with some high power shots.
Peters may well play 7 defensemen when needed. It’s been done before. Welcome to the game Mr. Prout.
Peters has got the smarts to pull it off, and to double shift Johnny and Byng.
Won’t be. It will be Stone in the NHL, Andersson in the AHL, unfortunately.
Gaudreau Monahan Tkachuk
Bennett Backlund Lindholm
Mangipane Ryan Frolik
Lazar Jankowski Czarnik
Kick out Lazar for Dube
That actually looks half decent, with Brouwer and Hathaway on the shelf as extras rotating in. If this is it, there will be many options for lines once Peters configures his key pairs. At this point Monahan-Gaudreau and Backlund-Frolik are the only historical pairs of note, and one of the key early decisions that will have ripple effects throughout the line-up is whether Tkachuk can play RW, and especially 1RW or whether Lindholm gets that spot. Once that is settled, most of the rest will fall into place.
Peters might go to Backlund and Lindholm as a new pairing. Can’t see him breaking up Gaudreau and Monahan. That’s until Mony does his two week swoon, where he forgets how to play hockey. He seems to do that every year.
Tkachuk could likely play defence if Peters gave him a couple of weeks notice. Byng’s hockey IQ is amazing.
You get trashed because you write things that smell of garbage…
Me? So I guess you won’t be picking me up to go to bingo then. Thanks for the heads-up.
I also wouldn’t put it past Spencer Foo to show up and push Czarnik for 4RW.
Who is the GM again? Peters has made all the off season moves so far. How did it work out in Carolina. Tre has essentially put his job in the hands of Mr Peters.
Better then being on the hands of PC. He is a joke just like the entire Oilers organization
Why does every post have to turn into something hating the Oilers? I understand the hatred and i hate them just as much as the next flames fan but man, why cant we just talk flames stuff and leave the trolling atleast until the season starts.
Just because he is a known Oilers troll.
“How did it work out in Carolina“
Carolina had two goalies who couldn’t stop a beach ball. They easily would have made the playoffs even with league average netminding.
Spotting the rest of the league about $15M a year doesn’t help either.
Kind of nonsense. They are working to utilize everything they have as insight, as a management team, which I like. You could just as easily infer Ward was the final insight needed on Dougie Hamilton, since he coached DH in Boston before he got traded the first time.
Who’s trashing this. It is all true.
Joe Haggerty of NBC Boston said this about Czarnik.
“He is a tweener. Just not enough speed or strength to be a consistent NHL player.”
Some people said the same thing about Jonathan Marchessault just a few years ago…. Boston had one of the deepest forward crops in the league last year. If I am betting on someone who was a “tweener” with more upside somewhere else Boston’s castoffs are a good place to look.
Same thing said about Fleury zuccarello and st.louis
That was never said about Theo Fleury. His criticism was size, no one ever doubted his speed, strength on the puck … or of course skill.
Cept the Oilers also wanted in on this tweener. And the flames won again lmao.
Not much news to report from Shelbyville ?. Don’t worry, Im sure you’ll find a few guys with no other options
Ryan is a need (face offs, Rhys) and Czarnik is trading camp fodder or more points than Hathaway? Lost out on Reaves and now they sign dwarves.
Dwarves that can play Hockey are a lot more effective than tough guys that really can’t. Don’t forget about Gaudreau he’s a major dwarf. How are we even sill having this argument in 2018 after watching teams like Pittsburgh, Vegas, TB, Boston, etc loaded with skilled undersized forwards taking over the league.
Until they hit a wall…deep, deep into the playoffs. You’re still going to need a blend of size and skill when the whistles get put away if you want to win it all.
Man, Reaves is getting a bad ride in the can’t play hockey dept.
Sometimes the difference in value perception between fans & actual NHL Managers is quite huge. Engellend was described as a complete tire fire on this site for how long. Yet his grit on the blueline looked amazing on Vegas, because he sure is heck wasnt a faster player last year. Reaves is considered a pylon but we saw a Pitt GM give a 1st round pick for him & we saw a team eat a big chunk of salary as part of acquiring him. I for one had no problem finding a spot for McGrattan & he wasnt a possession or offensive juggernaut. Like it or not, our team has gotten smaller with Ferland & Hamilton leaving. Cant wait to read these boards next march when the playoff race gets full speed & nasty seeps into the games & the refs put their whistles in their pockets & allow a lot of dirty crap happen. Can see it happening already.
Yeah, we’re on the same page again. Sure the league is going smaller and faster.
But you still need that one guy who shuts shyte down when things get out of control. They tried to replace Engelland with Hathaway. That simply is not going to work.
WoW we are getting to be a pretty soft team. Its going to be hard to watch when we get pushed around and slapped around. For real
Czarnik is here to compete in the same way Foo is. Both RHS who did well in the AHL but have not proven yet to NHL players. If neither of them make the big club then SF should be happy. This still leaves us needing another C for the big club and another top 9 winger IMO. I would not be surprised if they circle around and sign Shore as a 5th center.
Czarnik has a longer history of being much better at the AHL level than Foo does.
True and therefore should be more likely to win the job at camp. I think there are deals still to be made but if BT put his phone away for the rest of the day he may avoid making a costly mistake; I still think there will some more big paydays like JvR signed today.
Agreed and I think Foo can push for that spot (with Czarnik).I like his signing, because Foo showed great things in the second half, but I would like to see that continue before anointing him a spot with the big club. I don’t like the third year for Ryan, but the club wanted him and did what they could to get him. I see him 3rd rw (keeping Janks at c) that can take draws when needed. Peters loves having that and now he has it on the 1st and 3rd lines. I agree that Shore can still be signed then to be the 4th c. I would have liked to see Bennett in the top 6, but this looks like it keeps him in the 3 lw.
Jonny Monny Lindholm
Byng Backlund FRolik
Bennett Janks Ryan
Mang – Shore/Lazar – Brouwer/Hathaway/Czarnik/Lazar
Or…
Jonny Monny Byng
Bennett Backs Lindholm
Frolik Janks Ryan
Mangi – Shore/Lazar – Czarnik/Hathaway/Brouwer/Lazar
I see Foo pushing on that right side by the 20 game mark. Also, I’d MUCH rather have Shore in that 4c spot than Lazar.
The descent into becoming the Calgary Hurricanes continues. Pedestrian moves by a pedestrian GM.
And what exactly what you have done Derzie?
Both signings are a joke.
I can live with this… Ideal scenario being that Ryan comes in at maybe 2.75M? Or is that being too hopeful? Czarnik as a lower risk addition makes sense too. Anything else the Flames might be looking at out there, other than a Stone trade?
Training camp fodder
RH shots, jeez auto correct
It’s ok. You’re the best spelling pizzaman I know.
Treliving is officially an idiot
Tre is doing what good Managers do. They hire qualified people and let them put together their own team. This is BPs team and Tre is helping him assemble it.
That is a bad strategy. Coaches have way too many petty biases. But I am okay ith Ryan.
That second for Lazar is looming large right now.
Great pick ups.
And we have first rounders floundering in Stockton. You win some and lose some. If Lazar ends up as an extra forward that’s ok. Most 2nd rounders never make it that far.
Forwards are pretty crowded right now (11:41 PST).
As reported, the Ryan contract does not appear a good one for a 31-year old career busher. Czarnik? What we don’t have enough nobodies in Stockton who aren’t good enough to stick in the show, so we have to lasso a Boston castoff. Absolute wasted money on Czarnik unless he is going to take a job from a lifer in Stockton.
What do you want? A young, RHS, thats not a reclaimation project, history of scoring more than 40pts a season, with short term and low AAV??
Stop looking for a Goldilocks signing where everything is perfect. This is the real life and you have to compromise on deals. The Flames got a quality bottom 6 player who yes is on the wrong side of 30s but has relatively low numbers of NHL games for his age and is considered a late bloomer. 40pt guy and can win faceoffs, but yeah lets short change the guy with a 1/2 year offer…
Some guys were making a case a few years ago on 01 July that the Brouwer signing was a quality signing and if the contract was a bit of an overpay, the grit and character Brouwer would bring to the club more than offset the high price tag.
I accept the Ryan overpay such as it is, but not the Czernik reported contract. Guys like Czernik should not be going off the board on Day 1 of free agency. He should be a late August depth signing. If Tre is focusing his attention on minnows like Czernik now, what whales is he choosing not to watch? Czernik does nothing to help the 2018-19 Flames move a point closer to the playoffs, which defeats the real purpose of signing free agents–to instantly make your club better.
He adds depth dude. Which helps teams through out the season.
I disagree. The point of FA signing is to supplement the core, which the team should have drafted or traded for. These depth signings make the entire organization better, from Stockton to the big club. If Czarnik doesnt work out in the NHL, it at least gives the prospects in the AHL a competent linemate to play with. So many people on here just expects every signing to be a blockbuster but thats not how winning teams are made
Could this be the team?
Johnny , Money, Lindholm
Bing, Backs, Frolik
Benny, Ryan, Brouwer
Mangy, Jankow, Czarnik
Lazar, Hathaway
Gio, Brodie
Hanafin, Hamonic
Kulak, Anderson
Prout
Smith
Trade Stone to Ottawa for Anderson
slight changes, keeping top two lines the same
Bennett – Jankowski – Czarnik
Mangiapane – Ryan – Foo
Brouwer, Hathway
Defence keep the same, but swap Prout for T-spoon. Prout we need in the especially with Andersson graduating the RD options in Stockton would be real thin.
Still need a top line RW. Goal is still huge ? mark also. Ryan does not help with youth movement. Like him but 3 yrs to Brouwer like. FA Day often bad in long run to all orgs.
My concern now is how small our bottom six just got. I guess Brouwer and Hathaway have pretty well defined roles. If they want to play they need to provide some grit and physical presence.