Todd Cordell: Calgary Flames: On Milan Lucic, Draft Targets At 6 & More

I dont know Lucic cant skate well enough to keep up with pace. Not worth a huge ticket

The Flames have the cash for Lucic, and they need to make a solid pitch. I don't care if he gets overpaid, they desperately need a guy like him. This team is going to be ready to compete soon, especially if they get a legit #1 goalie. Waiting around for some size and toughness to develop through the system is going to take too long.

"On the surface Lucic seems like a good fit. It would cost a ton of money - money the Flames don't have "

Todd, you say this often. I would really like for you to explain why you think the Flames don't have money. By my math, CGY is just fine in that dept. I've said plenty of times on here, signing Johnny and Mony to a combined $14-15 mil, buying out Raymond and either buying out Smid, putting him on LTIR or burying him in the minors gets us to right around $60 mil. That leaves $13 mil to sign 2 G's, one of which I expect to be Ortio at around $750,000 Wotherspoon and Nakladal at around $1 mil each and possibly Jooris at another $750,000. That leaves just around $9.5-10 mil remaining for a #1 G and Colborne if they don't trade him. If they keep him I expect him in the $2.5 mil range. Bouma got $2.2 because his scoring was fairly consistent the whole year whereas Colborne got a lot of his points when the playoff dream was pretty much done; no pressure. And Treliving has already said that's a big factor in these kinds of contract negotiations.

Would Calgary consider Sanhiem, Neuvirth and 18th overall for 6th overall and a 2nd or 3rd?

You guys could probably move up easily from 18 to grab Bean and keep the Hitmen D pairing together.

The Flames have the cash for Lucic, and they need to make a solid pitch. I don't care if he gets overpaid, they desperately need a guy like him. This team is going to be ready to compete soon, especially if they get a legit #1 goalie. Waiting around for some size and toughness to develop through the system is going to take too long.
- The-O-G

Honestly, all things considered, I would rather CGY try to grab Hartnell in a trade for #3. He scored more goals than Lucic, point totals were close, Hartnell is already signed and for only 3 more years and will no doubt be cheaper than what Lucic will cost. He may be older, but to get Milan, term is going to take him pretty close to Hartnells age at the time their contracts expire. I see Lucic breaking down in just a couple of years at the most.

I dont know Lucic cant skate well enough to keep up with pace. Not worth a huge ticket
- Popcorn Kid

Agreed!

Honestly, all things considered, I would rather CGY try to grab Hartnell in a trade for #3. He scored more goals than Lucic, point totals were close, Hartnell is already signed and for only 3 more years and will no doubt be cheaper than what Lucic will cost. He may be older, but to get Milan, term is going to take him pretty close to Hartnells age at the time their contracts expire. I see Lucic breaking down in just a couple of years at the most.
- TandA4Flames

If taking Hartnell gets us to 3 then do it ASAP!!!

Hartnell is an old. Is moving up that clear cut to payoff?
I'd be interested in Simmonds, now that Philly fan posted. Not for the 6th, but...something.

"On the surface Lucic seems like a good fit. It would cost a ton of money - money the Flames don't have "

Todd, you say this often. I would really like for you to explain why you think the Flames don't have money. By my math, CGY is just fine in that dept. I've said plenty of times on here, signing Johnny and Mony to a combined $14-15 mil, buying out Raymond and either buying out Smid, putting him on LTIR or burying him in the minors gets us to right around $60 mil. That leaves $13 mil to sign 2 G's, one of which I expect to be Ortio at around $750,000 Wotherspoon and Nakladal at around $1 mil each and possibly Jooris at another $750,000. That leaves just around $9.5-10 mil remaining for a #1 G and Colborne if they don't trade him. If they keep him I expect him in the $2.5 mil range. Bouma got $2.2 because his scoring was fairly consistent the whole year whereas Colborne got a lot of his points when the playoff dream was pretty much done; no pressure. And Treliving has already said that's a big factor in these kinds of contract negotiations.
- TandA4Flames

Don't forget that you have to extend Bennett as well, and that's likely going to be another $5-$6 million if he improves even more next season.

If you factor in the $14-15 mil for Johnny and Monahan; add $6 mil for a starting goalie, and account for the inevitable Bennett extension, that will exceed the available cap space that Calgary has. Not saying you guys are pinched for room, but it's not as much breathing room as you think.

Honestly, all things considered, I would rather CGY try to grab Hartnell in a trade for #3. He scored more goals than Lucic, point totals were close, Hartnell is already signed and for only 3 more years and will no doubt be cheaper than what Lucic will cost. He may be older, but to get Milan, term is going to take him pretty close to Hartnells age at the time their contracts expire. I see Lucic breaking down in just a couple of years at the most.
- TandA4Flames

Yeah but Hartnell is a female dog....I think if you get Lucic this team would have a whole new swagger, and the overpayment would be worth it! Just imagine him on a line with Bennett...

Don't forget that you have to extend Bennett as well, and that's likely going to be another $5-$6 million if he improves even more next season.

If you factor in the $14-15 mil for Johnny and Monahan; add $6 mil for a starting goalie, and account for the inevitable Bennett extension, that will exceed the available cap space that Calgary has. Not saying you guys are pinched for room, but it's not as much breathing room as you think.
- TommyHawk

Well if you want to consider that then you have to consider all of Calgary's expiring contracts this year.....

Wideman 5.75
Smid 3.5
Engs 3.0
Bollig 1.25
MayRay 3.2

Lots of room.......

The flames currently have $21.41 million in cap space. According to the Cap Central link here.

They need that room to sign a goalie, monahan, johnny, colborne and jooris.

14-15 mill for Monahan and Johnny leaves 6m left for goalie, Colborne and Jooris. That puts BT in a bit of a tough spot so I wouldn't be surprised if Wideman and his 5.25 mill contract is dumped somewhere else asap.

Next year we get $18.79 million off the books in the following expiring contracts: (if we don't dump any contracts)

Mason Raymond 3,150,000
Brandon Bollig 1,250,000
Sam Bennett 925,000
Dennis Wideman 5,250,000
Ladislav Smid 3,500,000
Deryk Engelland 2,916,666
Jyrki Jokipakka 900,000
Patrick Sieloff 894,166

We will need to resign Bennett and maybe Jokipakka and Sieloff.

If Bennett gets 4-6 million that still leaves us with 13-15 million in cap space + any cap increases next year.

We also have options as many people have mentioned here with burying Raymond in the minors next year to save cap space and putting Smid on LTIR.

There is definitely some wiggle room to make some plays and potentially take Hartnell to help get to the 3rd overall.

"On the surface Lucic seems like a good fit. It would cost a ton of money - money the Flames don't have "

Todd, you say this often. I would really like for you to explain why you think the Flames don't have money. By my math, CGY is just fine in that dept. I've said plenty of times on here, signing Johnny and Mony to a combined $14-15 mil, buying out Raymond and either buying out Smid, putting him on LTIR or burying him in the minors gets us to right around $60 mil. That leaves $13 mil to sign 2 G's, one of which I expect to be Ortio at around $750,000 Wotherspoon and Nakladal at around $1 mil each and possibly Jooris at another $750,000. That leaves just around $9.5-10 mil remaining for a #1 G and Colborne if they don't trade him. If they keep him I expect him in the $2.5 mil range. Bouma got $2.2 because his scoring was fairly consistent the whole year whereas Colborne got a lot of his points when the playoff dream was pretty much done; no pressure. And Treliving has already said that's a big factor in these kinds of contract negotiations.
- TandA4Flames

It's easy to say "buy him/them out" when it's not your cash. If history has shown us anything, it's that flames owners don't like paying guys to not play. They probably feel it's bad enough they have to still pay Hartley.

Hartnell is an old. Is moving up that clear cut to payoff?
I'd be interested in Simmonds, now that Philly fan posted. Not for the 6th, but...something.
- FLflames34

Simmonds probably isn't moving anywhere. Hextall refused to include him in a trade for Ekblad and he only went on top have his best year since then. I do think Sanhiem or Morin could be dangled for either a pick or young comparable forward talent though.

The flames currently have $21.41 million in cap space. According to the Cap Central link here.

They need that room to sign a goalie, monahan, johnny, colborne and jooris.

14-15 mill for Monahan and Johnny leaves 6m left for goalie, Colborne and Jooris. That puts BT in a bit of a tough spot so I wouldn't be surprised if Wideman and his 5.25 mill contract is dumped somewhere else asap.

Next year we get $18.79 million off the books in the following expiring contracts: (if we don't dump any contracts)

Mason Raymond 3,150,000
Brandon Bollig 1,250,000
Sam Bennett 925,000
Dennis Wideman 5,250,000
Ladislav Smid 3,500,000
Deryk Engelland 2,916,666
Jyrki Jokipakka 900,000
Patrick Sieloff 894,166

We will need to resign Bennett and maybe Jokipakka and Sieloff.

If Bennett gets 4-6 million that still leaves us with 13-15 million in cap space + any cap increases next year.

We also have options as many people have mentioned here with burying Raymond in the minors next year to save cap space and putting Smid on LTIR.

There is definitely some wiggle room to make some plays and potentially take Hartnell to help get to the 3rd overall.
- zipfel

I'd like to see him resign Nakladal too.

Halak for a 3?

Simmonds probably isn't moving anywhere. Hextall refused to include him in a trade for Ekblad and he only went on top have his best year since then. I do think Sanhiem or Morin could be dangled for either a pick or young comparable forward talent though.
- hereticpride

Thing is we are pretty stacked in the pipe on D. Don't use last years goals against as a case against our D. If we have a Bishop or Fleury in net, it's a different story.
So to give up the #6 for Sanhiem & the #18 isn't really addressing our needs & I really like Sanhiem. Would even be Ok getting Neuvirth or Mason off you guys but not if #6 is part of this equation.

Halak for a 3?
- Sec111

Does Halak have a NMC?

If not, then could you guys at least take fcking Raymond & a 3rd.

It's easy to say "buy him/them out" when it's not your cash. If history has shown us anything, it's that flames owners don't like paying guys to not play. They probably feel it's bad enough they have to still pay Hartley.
- dr_soiledpants

I realize that. But I'm not on here to say what an owner is willing to do, that's a different conversation.

Obviously, when any of us discuss trade proposals, acquisitions, signings etc. It's with the thinking that our GM has been given the green light the do whatever he needs to to improve the team. All I'm offering is a possible solution to improving our team. All parties on both sides need to agree on things, obviously none of us has an actual say.

Does Halak have a NMC?

If not, then could you guys at least take fcking Raymond & a 3rd.
- Kevin R

Don't believe so but no Raymond unless you take bailey, lol

Yeah but Hartnell is a female dog....I think if you get Lucic this team would have a whole new swagger, and the overpayment would be worth it! Just imagine him on a line with Bennett...
- The-O-G

Lucic is on the decline, he's going to be looking at a big money contract for his last contract in the NHL. THE FLAMES DON'T NEED HIM!

Lucic is on the decline, he's going to be looking at a big money contract for his last contract in the NHL. THE FLAMES DON'T NEED HIM!
- FlamesFan1230

Hahaha ok then, your turn...besides a goalie, what do the Flames need the most? Oh, and please explain how he is on a decline?

What is the likelihood that the Flames trade for Corey Crawford?

What is the likelihood that the Flames trade for Corey Crawford?
- BMWChiFan

Depends on return. If you want the #6 back discussions won't go too far.