A snapshot of the Flames organizational depth chart

The Calgary Flames have done some moving and/or shaking over the past week, adding and subtracting a few players from the organization. With a bit of a brief lull before Friday’s free agent insanity (at least for the Flames, so far…), we felt it would be helpful to present a brief overview of the organization’s assets as of right now.

All tables below are sorted by age.

The Flames are reportedly negotiating with RW Joe Colborne and RW Josh Jooris. Most likely leaving the organization are wingers Drew Shore, Kenny Agostino and Bryce van Brabant, and centers Derek Grant, Turner Elson and Bill Arnold. Four of the six jettisoned players got NHL time in 2015-16, which may have been one last audition for them. Fundamentally-speaking, Pollock and Jankowski joining the pro side of the organization pushed out Elson and Arnold. Mason Raymond’s exit leaves the Flames with just one forward over the age of 30.

The right side is still pretty gnarly, even with the Flames adding Chiasson and Pribyl since the end of the regular season. If they try to do anything in free agency, the goal will probably be to beef up that right wing depth.

The Flames are reportedly still negotiating with Jakub Nakladal and Joni Ortio. But aside from that, the primary change for the Flames has been in goal. Of the five goalies under NHL deals last season that the Flames and Heat used, four of them (Jonas Hiller, Karri Ramo, Kevin Poulin and Niklas Backstrom) are likely done with the organization. And possibly Ortio as well.

I guess that’s what happens when both the NHL and AHL clubs have rough goaltending.

Smid, Engelland and Wideman have contracts that expire following the 2016-17 season, and then the team’s defense gets quite young in a hurry (and if you compare the blueline group to basically every other position, it’s markedly older). Presumably, the goal for the developmental side of the organization will be to get some of those younger defenders ready for NHL duty by the time they get rid of that 30+ trio.

The Flames have many, many unsigned centers. It’s unclear precisely what Karnaukhov’s return to Europe does in terms of his progression. Harrison probably isn’t a prospect of note anymore. Matthew DeBlouw is most likely leaving the organization, as he’s aged out of the NCAA and won’t be offered a contract.

Rafikov’s likely not a prospect of note anymore. Hickey and Fox are generally the standouts in this group – one good college player on either side. Ollas Mattsson is a wild-card, as he was quite good in SHL and at the World Juniors but might be a victim of the organizational defensive depth, particularly on the left side. John Gilmour may be going down the same path as DeBlouw.

The Flames have 35 contracts on the books for 2016-17 out of their 50 contract limit, though Schneider will almost definitely be in the WHL and so his contract won’t count against the limit. In terms of the salary cap, the Flames have committed $52.7 million (including bonuses) on a goalie, seven defensemen and eight forwards.

So the Flames have roughly $20.3 million to re-sign Gaudreau and Monahan, secure a back-up goalie, and then add four other forwards.