Follow Colin on Twitter!: @ColinDJD
With much discussion with respect to what the Calgary Flames roster may look like next year, I felt that I should discuss a few of the players whose names are likely to be tossed around when it comes to trades and or extensions.
The first is of course, Mike Cammalleri.
The biggest name on the roster who needs to be re-signed this off-season, Cammalleri will have an important decision to make; re-sign and help develop the Flames roster, or move on to bigger and better things…so to speak.
It should be of no surprise to anyone that I maintain it will be the latter scenario which will be more appealing to Mike and his agent, and as such, I will provide my thoughts on it. While I’m sure that Brian Burke won’t be “against… signing Cammalleri to an extension given the room which they have under the cap and also the fact that Mike can take some weight off the shoulders of the youth, but it will boil down to Mike wanting to take his talents elsewhere.
I know I’ve previously mentioned that Burke will extend Mike, but what I saw in his play toward the end of the year lead me to believe that he actually doesn’t supply a ton of “veteran leadership… to this group. For that reason, let me go on record to say that Mike gets moved on/before draft day for a 2014 2nd round pick.
Outside of Cammalleri, the “bigger… names who require extensions will be Joe Colborne, Kevin Westgarth, Paul Byron, Chris Butler, and Mark Cundari when it comes to most discussions. Those remaining (Chris Breen, Tj Galiardi, Chad Billins, Joey MacDonald) do not fall as higher priorities for this team, in my opinion, and could go either way.
Outside of the five players above who I feel will be resigned, there is still one free agent remaining in Lance Bouma. I do not personally believe that Bouma will be extended. I feel that he has fallen down the depth chart and with the several acquisitions over the 2013-14 NHL/AHL season, the Flames can replace him with ease. I know many of you may feel otherwise, but I have reason to believe that this particular player won't be in Burke’s plans.
Of those who I feel will be extended, it will be Paul Byron who gets a nice pay raise after a rather successful 2013-14 campaign which he demonstrated just how hard he can work and what he can offer.
With 21pts in 47 NHL games this year, Byron will continue to provide a welcoming competitive edge to the young Flames players who are trying to earn full time spots. He and Joe Colborne will be looked upon to take on bigger roles this upcoming season with the team.
Who do you feel, out of the free agents, deserves a pay increase?
Are there players who I left out that you feel the Flames should extend?