Todd Cordell: The Calgary Flames Should Stay Away From Matt Martin

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Todd Cordell: The Calgary Flames Should Stay Away From Matt Martin
- ToddCordellCGY

Nah. Seems like a Burke type player. He will be BTs response to Edmonton landing Lucic.
4x3 mill

Flames are buying out Raymond. That will open up a little more cap space.

Nah. Seems like a Burke type player. He will be BTs response to Edmonton landing Lucic.
4x3 mill
- Iggysbff

Yeah the difference is when Martins contract expires, Oilers will still have 3-4 more years of Lucic on their 4th line at 6.5 mill. Have fun with that.

Yeah the difference is when Martins contract expires, Oilers will still have 3-4 more years of Lucic on their 4th line at 6.5 mill. Have fun with that.
- Kevin R

True

True
- Iggysbff

You know I would overpay for Lucic up to 7.0 mill if needed, as long as the contract didn't exceed 3 years & you'll probably get 2 awesome years of that 3 year deal & 1 year will be meh.

The Flames have also invited Brayden Burke to development camp. I still can't believe he wasn't drafted but I'm glad they're giving him a look... really smart player. 109 points in 72 games this year as a 19 year old for the Hurricanes.

For real? This is the best news since drafting Tkatchuk. A Mangiapane type player, he was the single biggest factor in turning the worst team in the WHL to elite in a single year. I hope and expect him to do well there and earn a contract.

Matt Martin is a dying breed in this game and as such, he is a rare commodity that a lot of teams want. I would love to have him.

The NHL is guiding the game to finesse/speed/skill. They're phasing out the bruising and physical-minded players. It's a bummer. But, the few that are in the league are highly sought-after.

For real? This is the best news since drafting Tkatchuk. A Mangiapane type player, he was the single biggest factor in turning the worst team in the WHL to elite in a single year. I hope and expect him to do well there and earn a contract.
- JallHockey

Well, it wasn't just him... They did have 7 20G scorers... but him and Tyler Wong were really the 2 catalysts for offense for sure.

An excellent coach definitely helped too.

Matt Martin is a dying breed in this game and as such, he is a rare commodity that a lot of teams want. I would love to have him.

The NHL is guiding the game to finesse/speed/skill. They're phasing out the bruising and physical-minded players. It's a bummer. But, the few that are in the league are highly sought-after.
- Hank3Henshaw

There's still room for physicality in the game, but it can't come at the expense of actual skill... and it certainly can't represent too much of your team cap or you're going to hamstring your team.

Nah. Seems like a Burke type player. He will be BTs response to Edmonton landing Lucic.
4x3 mill
- Iggysbff

nah that will be hartnell

You know I would overpay for Lucic up to 7.0 mill if needed, as long as the contract didn't exceed 3 years & you'll probably get 2 awesome years of that 3 year deal & 1 year will be meh.
- Kevin R

It's gonna be more than 3.

I'll bet he's pushing for 6 years. While I'd actually be ok with 5.
He'd be 32 at the end of 5 seasons. I think there's A very realistic chance he could remain the same type of player through those years

nah that will be hartnell
- numbear

I'd be ok with that... Columbus is apparently willing to retain salary. Hartnell for 3 years at 50 or 60 percent of his cap hit would be just fine.

I'd be ok with that... Columbus is apparently willing to retain salary. Hartnell for 3 years at 50 or 60 percent of his cap hit would be just fine.
- jtommyt

I wonder if we are positioned to take a run at a qualified higher end RFA that isn't on the greatest terms with their club & see if we can acquire at a reasonable cost & through the money Colborne wanted at them, Nichuskin

It's gonna be more than 3.

I'll bet he's pushing for 6 years. While I'd actually be ok with 5.
He'd be 32 at the end of 5 seasons. I think there's A very realistic chance he could remain the same type of player through those years
- Ihateallofu

Even 5 years you have to be concerned. It's fine & dandy to put a big lug on your top 2 lines that can score but once they start hitting 30, they lose a step & then they can't keep up to the young guys they are supposed to ride shotgun for. You guys will probably have to cough up 6.0-6.5 for 7 years because you will be competing with numskull Benning. If Chia does that then he truly hasn't learned anything from his Boston cap disaster days.

Even 5 years you have to be concerned. It's fine & dandy to put a big lug on your top 2 lines that can score but once they start hitting 30, they lose a step & then they can't keep up to the young guys they are supposed to ride shotgun for. You guys will probably have to cough up 6.0-6.5 for 7 years because you will be competing with numskull Benning. If Chia does that then he truly hasn't learned anything from his Boston cap disaster days.
- Kevin R

There's always a concern with players that play that kind of game and the miles they put on

But it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility he can maintain it without breaking down.
Backes is the same age now as lucic will be st the end of 5 seasons and db is as violent and rough as ever. Would I've paid backes those dollars for the last 5 years? Unreservedly yes.

But yeah, u start to get into 6-7 years- it's gonna be bad value in the end.
But just for argument sake; chia needs to think about winning now. 3-4 years of good outweighs the end

I wonder if we are positioned to take a run at a qualified higher end RFA that isn't on the greatest terms with their club & see if we can acquire at a reasonable cost & through the money Colborne wanted at them, Nichuskin
- Kevin R

He's reportedly heading to the KHL. I'd be interested in Palmieri though.

Buying out Raymond hey...nice!

What are the flames gonna do with all this cap space?

There's always a concern with players that play that kind of game and the miles they put on

But it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility he can maintain it without breaking down.
Backes is the same age now as lucic will be st the end of 5 seasons and db is as violent and rough as ever. Would I've paid backes those dollars for the last 5 years? Unreservedly yes.

But yeah, u start to get into 6-7 years- it's gonna be bad value in the end.
But just for argument sake; chia needs to think about winning now. 3-4 years of good outweighs the end
- Ihateallofu

My worry would be signing him at the expense of trading Hall. Though I know the plan is to get a dman with Hall, I would, were I in the Oilers position, much rather move a Nuge/Draisitl/Eberle/Pouliot than Hall. With an elite playmaker in McDavid, I think you want that finisher on his wing, and count on Puljujaarvi to elevate the 2nd line centre.

I would envy the Oilers first two lines to some degree when you consider the potential for (depending on who you keep)

Hall McDavid Eberle
Lucic Draisitl Puljujaarvi

Trade Nuge and Pouliot out of town to clear cap space though, they will need it shortly...

That's pretty sick. Yeah, you will get potentially a bigger asset for Hall than the others, but I don't know that you will ever get a #1 dman for anyone other than McDavid right now. If you are getting a 2/3 guy, move someone less important to your offense IMO.

As for Matt Martin, I think Prust has proven that getting into a bidding war for that type of player is just not worth it. Ferland is a more skilled version of Martin, and it's easy to find guys in the AHL that will run around and hit people, so let's not tie up valuable cap space in that type of player. If the Flames are in it to drive up his price, more power to them IMO - whoever ends up with him, if they are paying more than $1.5-2MM over 3 years or more, they are going to regret that contract in a big way.

Buying out Raymond hey...nice!

What are the flames gonna do with all this cap space?
- The-O-G

Sign Bouma to an 8 year, 4 mill/per extension...

I think they would be well served to hold onto that cap space for now - when truly ready to compete, use it to get the vets that will get you over the top (who have little term remaining).

If they move Wideman, door opens to guys like Okposo, but I am very leery of taking on big deals this year with expansion and a way better potential FA class next year:

Benn
Hedman
Burns
Bishop
Thornton
Elliot
Shattenkirk
Steen

Guys like Lucic/Okposo are tempting, but if Tbay blows their wad on Stamkos, one of Bishop or Hedman are available next year.

Burns is older than I thought, so a real possibility he makes it to FA as well

Hedman and Benn are the class of the crop, no doubt about it, and there is no expansion draft to be worried about either...

Next summer could be one of the best classes in recent memory in free agency

It's gonna be more than 3.

I'll bet he's pushing for 6 years. While I'd actually be ok with 5.
He'd be 32 at the end of 5 seasons. I think there's A very realistic chance he could remain the same type of player through those years
- Ihateallofu

40-50 point guy

My worry would be signing him at the expense of trading Hall. Though I know the plan is to get a dman with Hall, I would, were I in the Oilers position, much rather move a Nuge/Draisitl/Eberle/Pouliot than Hall. With an elite playmaker in McDavid, I think you want that finisher on his wing, and count on Puljujaarvi to elevate the 2nd line centre.

I would envy the Oilers first two lines to some degree when you consider the potential for (depending on who you keep)

Hall McDavid Eberle
Lucic Draisitl Puljujaarvi

Trade Nuge and Pouliot out of town to clear cap space though, they will need it shortly...

That's pretty sick. Yeah, you will get potentially a bigger asset for Hall than the others, but I don't know that you will ever get a #1 dman for anyone other than McDavid right now. If you are getting a 2/3 guy, move someone less important to your offense IMO.

As for Matt Martin, I think Prust has proven that getting into a bidding war for that type of player is just not worth it. Ferland is a more skilled version of Martin, and it's easy to find guys in the AHL that will run around and hit people, so let's not tie up valuable cap space in that type of player. If the Flames are in it to drive up his price, more power to them IMO - whoever ends up with him, if they are paying more than $1.5-2MM over 3 years or more, they are going to regret that contract in a big way.
- rmull905

I dont think it forces them to trade hall at all.
Unless you're getting the stud defender you hoped, lucic is not a suitable replacement for hall by any stretch.

Could be nuge or eberle instead. (Especially if any of the left handers maroon/lucic/pouliot can play right wing)
Or a package of pouliot and yaks for something to free that left wing spot up

Lots of options.

We'll see

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I dont think it forces them to trade hall at all.
Unless you're getting the stud defender you hoped, lucic is not a suitable replacement for hall by any stretch.

Could be nuge or eberle instead. (Especially if any of the left handers maroon/lucic/pouliot can play right wing)
Or a package of pouliot and yaks for something to free that left wing spot up

Lots of options.

We'll see


- Ihateallofu[img][/img]

Rumour was that Hall was on the block for a dman (from TSN) - IMO, that's a mistake if you are the Oil, and am in agreement that you move one (or more) of the others not named McDavid