Calgary Flames RFA’s – AHL

With maybe one exception (Paul Byron) all of the Flames current NHL RFA’s are no-brainers to retain. It’s the other 10 minor leaguers who make things a little bit tougher to predict. Let’s take a look at the rest of Calgary’s RFA class and see if we can determine who will stay and who will go. 

This was a critical season for the eldest of the Reinhart brothers. The former 3rd rounder made huge strides last year, scoring at a near PPG pace after a very uneven rookie season. Nevertheless, needed to continue that momentum in 2014-15 in order to maintain his spot in the pecking order. The arrival of Sean Monahan, Sam Bennett, Bill Arnold, Markus Granlund and Drew Shore has rapidly clogged up the organization’s centre depth chart.

Unfortunately for Reinhart, his offense reverted back to completely underwhelming levels this year with just 12 goals and 29 points in 59 games. The clever pivot thinks the game well, but is fairly underwhelming in almost all other aspects, including strength, speed and shooting. To make it to the NHL in a bottom-6 role, you need at least one of those other things to make dent. Or be able to punch people.

All of which is the long way to say Reinhart probably won’t be retained. At least, not in any role outside of “veteran depth for the farm”.

Prediction: Released to free agency

Although he didn’t tear down the walls and force himself onto the Flames roster, Calgary brass must be somewhat impressed with David Wolf. The second highest scorer on the farm this year has proven himself a bit more useful than just hired muscle. He even showed well during his brief cup of coffee in the show this year, though it’s clear he will have to improve his conditioning to be anything more than a 8 minute per night grinder. 

Wolf is a good bet to be retained.

Prediction: Re-signed for 2 years at $900k per year.

Like Reinhart, this season was kinda Ramage’s last year to make an impression. He stuck in the AHL this time around, rather than being dropped into the ECHL like last year, but he hasn’t had a sniff at the show, even with Calgary in desperate need of blueline help up top.

The organization may re-sign Ramage because of his relative maturity and leadership for the farm, but he’s done as a Flames prospect. 

Prediction: Re-signed to an AHL deal.

Arnold had a good rookie pro season, often centering the Adirondack Flames top line before being injured. The organization seems to like him and his development is in line with expectations. He’ll definitely be re-signed.

Prediction: Re-signed at $975 per year for two years.

The Flames seemed very interested in Cundari when he first arrived, but that interest plummeted almost immediately afterward for whatever reason. Like Ramage, Cundari might be kept around because the farm needs bodies on the back-end, but my guess is both parties agree to move on. 

Prediction: Released to free agency

Free agent signing is frequently a healthy scratch on the farm despite lacklustre blueline depth. 

Prediction: Released to free agency

It was a very slow start for the speedy Yale alum, but he has come on recently in the absence of guys like Emile Poirier, Sven Baertschi and Markus Granlund. Agostino will likely finish third or better on the Adirondack Flames in scoring and is trending in the right direction, which usually helps in off-season contract negotiations. 

Prediction: Re-signed at $850k per year for 2 years. 

The other prospect garnered in the Jarome Iginla trade is in a less clear situation. Hanowski is older than Agostino and bigger, but also a much worse skater. Hanowski is reaching the age when most guys who are going to make the NHL already have and he was never once considered for a call-up by the Flames this season, instead bypassed by guys like Granlund, Poirier, Wolf, Ferland and Baertschi. 

I think the team may keep him around for farm depth, but he’s no longer really considered a prospect.

Prediction: Re-signed at $650k for one year.

The feisty, undrafted winger managed 14 goals in a depth role for the farm team this year, but his future might be in jeopardy after suffering a severe concussion during a fight recently. Elson is a high energy “glue guy” that teams like to have in the organization, but we may have to see how he recovers from this unfortunate incident before prediction his future with the team.

Prediction: Re-signed for 1 year if healthy.

The big winger took some strides in his sophomore season, coming strong out of the gate and earning himself an early call-up. A concussion in the NHL de-railed his season somewhat, but he recovered enough to earn another recall recently, though he has spent more time as healthy scratch than on the ice so far. 

Ferland has shown well in the NHL, with strong forechecking and relatively good puck management. He has a way to go before he’s an NHL regular, but could take the same track that saw similar players like Lance Bouma and Josh Jooris to the show.

Prediction: Re-signed at $825 for 2 years.