What a day free agency frenzy must have been for Mikael Backlund hey? With a nine year offer for Brad Richards on the table the flames affectively told Backlund that they did not believe he has the potential to be a number one center. There are a glut of centers but Backlund seemed to have an edge looking at training camp. Langkow is older, hasn't really played on a year and going into his ufa year. Jokinen found a great chemistry with Bourque and Glencross. Stajan is the personification of useless. Yet Brad Richards gets the huge offer. What does this do to Backlund heading into camp?
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As it stands the flames actually have too many forwards and not enough d. Hagman and Stajan are the two pieces that seem to not fit. Stajan obviously has that stupid contact that is worse than a no trade because it is simply a no talent clause. Hagman is different though and I'm surprised they haven't moved him yet.
Prior to last year Hagman put up 27, 22, 25 goals each year. That is great consistency and teams look for it. With the crazy dollars being thrown around for average talent it's hard to believe Hagman has not a new home yet.
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Stamkos and Parise. If you want to get them to sign an offer sheet then you better be prepared to spend 7.8 mil or more and give up four firsts. The more likely route is trade for firsts and offer them to the teams for their rights like the Kessel deal.
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The flames need d. Look giving up Regehr is okay, not getting a d to take those minutes is not. Butler is okay, a good 5th, gio, bouwmeester, sarich are top four guys. That leaves a top four guy and two spots for Brodie and whomever earns a spot in camp.
S>O>
Jokinen found great chemisty with Glencross and Moss last year, not Bourque
Richards wouldhave put us back in playoffs. worth the shot. Backlund may find himself #1 centre and Im actually OK with that.
What do you think of Mcabe for 2 years @ 2.5-3.0M per yr?
would rather stay away from McCabe.Some UFA dman i would prefer are; Kaberle, Babchuk or... ahh the free agent list is so weak... we need to fill our D slot via trade
wow for whatever reason my blog posted 6 times, i deleted, sorry about that. Glencross 16 min Average ice, Bourque had 17 min average ice, Jokinen had 17 minutes...moss 13. Moss may have filled in once in a while but was not on the 2nd line, also missing 30% of the year. Mccabe and Kaberle are both highly over rated. Babchuck i'd be okay with, he played well here.
I don't think we would have what it takes to trade for Stamkos but what kind of a package would everyone be willing to give for him? I wouldn't be willing so sign to an offer sheet and give up 4 first round picks but maybe two first round picks and Bourque, Hagman and Stajan :)
Brodie, Backlund, Bourque and a 2nd
look at it this way, Bartschi/Erixon/Nemisz/ Backlund for Stamkos. Make up your own minds if that is value or not...
Bourque Stajan Hagman is over 9m in cap hit. If they were willing to pay 9m, Stamkos wouldn't be potentially available.
Question is, is it money? If so, maybe Vinny can be avail. to us like a Stajan for Vinny to give them space to sign him. Just thinking.
If I were Feaster I would do anything I could to get Stamkos; I don't care what it costs (except Iggy). We have to start building for the future to compete with teams getting younger like Edmonton.
You have to think that he is asking for Crosby/ Ovechkin type of money... Feaster should offer him 100 mill/ 10yrs.... especially after what he was prepared to offer Richards....
@Kevin R They have the space to sign him... there must be more to it.
They do have Hedman to resign next year
But who knows. Id trade the 30 year old Vinny before Stamkos if it came down to it.
That's the issue, Flames probably don't want 30 year old vinny. They want budding superstar center. In my fantasy GM mode I try for the injured Malkin. Backlund Bouwmeester 2nd for Malkin and a d.
Hear we signed Babchuk, not sure on terms yet.
It's 2 yrs at 2.5 per year, im very happy with it