With the NHL draft just a couple days away rumors are coming out fast and furious.
Some thoughts on the latest and greatest as it pertains to the Calgary Flames:
1) The Flames have been linked to yet another goaltender in their search for a starter.
The reliable Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports is reporting that Colorado Avalanche netminder Semyon Varlamov is one guy the Flames have their eye on.
As you know Flames are looking for a goaltender and #avalanche Semyon Varlamov is a goalie they're looking at. 1/2
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) June 21, 2016
Lavoie went on to say that he's not sure if Varlamov is available but, again, the Flames are keeping tabs on him.
We know Flames GM Brad Treliving is thorough in everything he does so it shouldn't be at all surprising that he is doing his due diligence and checking in on a plethora of goaltenders.
That said, I don't think Varlamov is the ideal target. The cost of acquisition surely wouldn't be cheap and over the last two years the likes of Mike Smith and Antti Niemi have posted better numbers at 5 v 5. The Avalanche's poor defense hurts Varlamov's cause, obviously, but the numbers are still very discouraging.
Given the asking price for Marc-Andre Fleury, Ben Bishop, Varlamov et all I continue to believe retaining assets and signing James Reimer is probably the best route to take.
Reimer isn't a big name but over the last two seasons he has posted a better 5 v 5 save percentage than Bishop, Varlamov, Frederik Andersen and Martin Jones, among others.
2) Rumors of the Flames wanting to trade up will not die.
I'm convinced Calgary will try to get to No. 3 to draft Puljujarvi and would probably take a contract back to do it. https://t.co/8CDuTMJrbQ
— Eric Duhatschek (@eduhatschek) June 21, 2016
Moving up for the 3rd overall pick is one thing. Giving up a plethora of quality assets *and* taking on a bad contract to do so is another.
The Flames cap situation is not very pleasant. They have to re-sign Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan as well as Joe Colborne, among others, and they also need to find a starting goaltender, which presumably won't be cheap.
If anything they need to rid themselves of a bad contract or two. Matt Stajan, Lance Bouma and Dennis Wideman are all making far more than they are worth.
How the Flames could afford to throw another bad contract into the mix is beyond me but I guess we'll cross that bridge (if and) when we come to it.
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