Flames Day One Analysis

10 years ago

So, with most of the expected signings having been reported and Jay Feaster having talked to the media, day one of free agency in the Saddlesphere seems to be done. There were a couple of new names, a couple of familiar ones and still some UFA targets that haven’t signed.

The Old

G Karri Ramo: 2 years, $5.5 million. The Flames presumptive starter. If he can provide league average goaltending, this is a very good deal. Even ~.918 goaltending still makes this okay. Ramo has been profiled here.
D Chris Butler: 1 year, $1.7 million. A bottom-pairing defenseman likely being given a deal due to loyalty and not much else. He’s likely being paid under the assumption he’s really 2011-2012 Chris Butler and not 2012-2013 Chris Butler.
RW Brian McGrattan: 2 years, $1.5 million. A fist on skates. See Kent’s post for analysis.
RW Greg Nemisz: 1 year, $725k. Probably not an NHLer, so this is more of a former 1st round pick/AHL body deal.
C Corban Knight: 2 years, $1.8 million. Knight’s contract is only $900k in base salary/signing bonuses, but bonuses bring his cap hit to $3.75 million (only counted if he achieves the bonuses). Knight could be the Flames’ 3rd line centre, and was profiled in depth here.

The New

D Kris Russell: 1 year, $1.25 million. The Flames traded a 5th round pick for his RFA rights as they didn’t want to pick up a contract with arbitration linked to it, which they would’ve had to do had they plucked him from waivers. His underlying numbers are just okay, even as a 5th dman with somewhat sheltered zone starts. Apparently he has some offensive potential (three 20 point seasons), but I highly doubt he’ll play well in anything other than bottom-pairing minutes.
D Chad Billins: 1 year, $925K. Billins had 10 goals and added 27 assists in 76 games last year in Grand Rapids, for an NHLE of 17. He likely has some upside and will battle for a bottom-pairing spot next year. He’ll be 25 when the season starts and was undrafted. He spent 4 years at Ferris State, where he had NHLEs of 14, 9, 14, 23. Strikes me as a Clay Wilson 2.0.

Yet To Sign

C Mikael Backlund
C Lance Bouma
D Mark Cundari
D TJ Brodie

Moneypuck Options

C Kyle Wellwood: Has not signed. Probably no longer an option for the Flames due to the amount of bottom-9 forwards they currently possess.
C Boyd Gordon: Oilers, 3Yx3M. A liittle more than I would’ve committed in terms of years but the dollar figure looks about right.
C Alexander Burmistrov: Has not signed.
C Marcus Johansson: Has not signed.
C Jordan Schroeder: Has not signed.

RW Clarke MacArthur: Senators, 2Yx3.25M. Good bet for the Sens here, and will be a 2W for them now that Bobby Ryan is in town.
LW Viktor Stalberg: Predators, 4Yx3M. I’m honestly shocked he got this much. If he plays 3W minutes, this is an overpayment.
LW Nathan Horton: Blue Jackets, 7Yx5.3M. Huge commitment to what was the best winger available in this year’s free agent crop. I was thinking 5×5 was going to be the max.
RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard: Islanders, 1Yx2M. If he can score 35-40 points this year, it’s a bargain. I think he’ll probably start on the top line with Tavares and Moulson, so might be the best value signing from this crop. Assuming he can stay healthy.
LW Benoit Pouliot: Rangers, 1Yx1.3M. Good signing here by Sather – will fit well on either the 2nd or 3rd line.

D Jared Spurgeon: Wild, 3Yx2.6M. Really good value for an offensive top-4 guy. This offersheet would’ve cost the Flames their 2nd round pick.
D David Rundblad: Has not signed.
D Mike Lundin: Gone to the KHL.
D Alexander Sulzer: Has not signed. Not a lot of room on the Flames due to the amount of bottom-pairing defensemen they currently possess.

G Ray Emery: Flyers, 1Yx1.65M. Really great deal by the Flyers here. Should get the majority of starts for the Flyers next year.
G Thomas Greiss: Coyotes, 1Yx750K. Jason Labarbera went to the Oilers, so Thomas Greiss has a new home.

Still Available

C Derek Roy
C Mikhail Grabovski
RW Peter Mueller
LW Guillaume Latendresse
RW Damien Brunner
LW Mason Raymond
RW Matt Halischuk
LW Nathan Gerbe
D Jonathon Blum
D Ian White
D Tom Gilbert

Conclusion

While GM Jay Feaster did well in staying out of the insanity the day had to offer, there are still some gaping holes in the Flames depth chart – 1C and 4D. In my opinion, there’s only three players the Flames should be calling from here on out. The Flames are flush on the wings and bottom of the defensive rotation.

During this afternoon’s press confrence, Feaster also said they have a second offer out to Backlund and a first offer out to Brodie.