FlamesNation 2013 UFA Open Thread

 

– pic via Rob the Hockey Guy

 

For those of you who aren’t still embroiled in the McGrattan post below (which I think takes the shortest post/longest comment string award by a mile), share your hopes, fears and thoughts today as the free agent frenzy gets underway.

Although, it may not be that much of a frenzy given the names involved. A few guys are going to get paid – like David Clarkson – but it’s pretty thin gruel this year overall. With the addition of TJ Galiardi and David Jones recently, Calgary does’t have much need to wade into the fray since there aren’t a lot of obvious upgrades out there. Mikhail Grabovski is the obvious exception, of course, but if the club doesn’t claim him on waivers I don’t see them being able to successfully woo him once he is bought out.

Mason Raymond is a name that has been circulating a bit heading into today. A native Calgarian, Raymond is lightning fast, but has struggled with scoring and consistency, especially since suffering a terrible back injury a few years ago. Like Jones and Galiardi, he’d be an okay middle rotation addition, but isn’t the sort of bet with a the potential to pay off big.

That said, the Flames true goal today should be not to make any big mistakes. Calgary has a lot of budget space, but there is absolutely no reason for the club to go whale hunting given its low potential for success next season. Not to mention the fact there isn’t a single big name UFA talent who could significantly change the team’s fortunes. Any deals the Flames sign today and for the rest of the summer should be relatively cheap and short. Calgary’s ample cap space gives them flexibility and power going forward. They don’t need to invest too much of it in unnecessary pieces or bad bets.