1) With the Columbus Blue Jackets reportedly open to moving down from 3rd overall a lot of people have pointed to the Calgary Flames as a natural fit.
The Blue Jackets would want to remain near the top of the draft to give themselves an opportunity to pick one of the top centers in Logan Brown or Clayton Keller. At 6th overall both players would almost certainly be on the board.
Meanwhile the Flames need help on the wing - particularly on the right side - and they desperately want a power forward-type for their top-6. It just so happens that Jesse Puljujarvi is a 6'3' right winger and, at a sub $1 million cap hit, even the cap-strapped Flames would be able to afford him.
Where things get tricky is the asking price.
Top picks are rarely moved as the asking prices are always ludicrously high.
At the absolute minimum I think it would take something like Mikael Backlund, one of Rasmus Andersson/Oliver Kylington and 6th overall. Even then I'm not sure it's enough to get a deal done.
That's why I think the Flames would probably be best off staying where they are, retaining their assets and taking the best player available (Alexander Nylander?) at the six spot. There will be difference makers still on the board.
2) On Friday the Flames dipped into the international free agent market once again as they signed Czech goaltender David Rittich to a one-year deal.
The 23-year-old Rittich posted a .919 save percentage and 2.50 goals against average while appearing in 48 games this past season.
Unsurprisingly, he was one of the better goaltenders in the league.
2015-16 Czech Extraliga Goaltenders pic.twitter.com/ROCZSL2iAp
— Ian Fleming (@imfleming16) May 26, 2016
Rittich ranked 4th in the league in goals saved above average per 60 minutes. Of the three goaltenders ahead of him only Matej Machovsky, 22, is younger.
Time will tell but Rittich seems like a guy worth taking a shot on.
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