The Team So Far
 

42 expected contracts on the books so far...

NHL Forwards (11)
Alex Tanguay - Roman Cervenka - Jarome Iginla
Sven Baertschi - *Mikael Backlund - Mike Cammalleri
*Blair Jones - Matt Stajan - Curtis Glencross
Lance Bouma - Tim Jackman - Blake Coumeau

AHL Forwards (15)
Michael Ferland - *Paul Byron - Greg Nemisz
Roman Horak *Akim Aliu - Max Reinhart
Ryan Howse - Mitch Wahl - Carter Bancks
Turner Elson - David Eddy - Gaelan Patterson
Ben Walter - Krys Kolanos - Bryan Cameron

NHL Defenseman (6)
Jay Bouwmeester - Mark Giordano
T.J. Brodie - Dennis Wideman
Chris Butler - Derek Smith
Anton Babchuk

AHL Defenseman (6)
Christopher Breen - Clay Wilson (one way contract but AHL likely)
Brady Lamb - James Martin
Joe Piskula - Brett Carson

NHL Goalie (2)
Miikka Kiprusoff
*Leland Irving

Depth Goalie (2)
Henrik Karlsson
Joni Ortio

So, 42 of 50 contracts already spoken for, 19 NHL contracts including the 5 expected *RFA's, need another 4 NHL bodies here to get to 23. Looks like room for 4 more two way contracts, 1 to Karri Ramo maybe, another to Danny Taylor perhaps (if Karlsson leaves) Calgary needs a 3rd string goalie in the AHL. As it stands at this moment, it appears the last 2 AHL contract positions would likely go to 2 defenseman, but then the Flames don't want to be right at the 50 contract limit either.

Anyone have a list of players that the Flames have the rights too but havent signed yet? Theirs gotta be a few.


EDIT: Added Wideman and Comeau.

Without adding free agents into the mix, I would expect something along the lines of this, to start the season anyways...

Alex Tanguay - Matt Stajan - Jarome Iginla
Curtis Glencross - Mikael Backlund - Mike Cammalleri
Sven Baertschi - Roman Cervenka - Greg Nemisz
Lance Bouma - Blair Jones - Akim Aliu
x Jackman

Defense
Jay Bouwmeester - Chris Butler
Mark Giordano - T. J. Brodie
Derek Smith - Clay Wilson
Brady Lamb

Goal
Miikka Kiprusoff
Leland Irving

The Flames will lend The Anton's awesomeness to a team in Europe needing his services. All other teams in that European league will declare September 28 a day of mourning as a result.

If the Flames dip into the UFA pool, I would expect a depth winger, and a 2nd pairing defenseman.

With that kind of lineup, I expect us to finish 10-13th place in the West.

If we are looking to make the playoffs, please sign at least 1 UFA! (mainly a defender)

34th place, hey? Should guarantee us a top 5 pick for the next 3 years.

haha, meant to say 13th place.:laugh:

does anyone have any predictions for surprises we could see in camp this year? Players to watch for, that kind of thing.

Players I can think of so far who could have a crack at the roster:

Aliu
Reinhart
Lamb
Eddy
Nemisz
Irving
Bartschi
Wilson
Ferland

Anyone else, or do some of these guys not have a chance?

I was thinking

Iginla, backlund, bartschi
Tanguay, jokinen, glencross
Jagr( if they signed him, cervenka, cammy
Jackman, horak, bouma/ aliu/ jones/ Byron


Gio, smith
Butler, hannan
Brodie, Matt carle

Kipper, karlson

As it stands, realistic needs are:

1 top 4 defender
1 bottom pairing defender with toughness
1-2 RWers for 2nd and 3rd lines
1 FO specialist

That is 4-5 signings. I'd say from the list above the most important is a top 4 defender and a FO specialist.

Id add a top 6 center to that mix. None of Stajan, Backlund or Cervenka should be our go-to center when the season starts or I think we are gonna be in trouble.

Agree as I too would like to see a top 6 center added. Though they do not grow on trees and the price, we can simply not afford to trade for one. It puzzles me why they are letting jokinen walk, but none the less we need a top 6 center.

The bolded ones have a shot, the unbolded ones probably no chance. Would love to be surprised by someone though.

Lamb really? Didn't we just sign him.

Yeah, he was signed as a UFA out of college (played his 4 years) so its not like he's a 18 year old kid or whatever. Big guy, right handed shot. I like what little I've seen of him.

He's got as good a chance as anyone else.

Exactly, and our blue line needs a physical presence. From what I've read, he can bring that to some capacity.

It seems like guys finishing College can sometimes come out of nowhere. But, he may just be AHL material, coin toss as far as I can tell.

I think either way we should see what he can do in the AHL before we bring him onto the main squad. Unless he has an unreal camp.

fair enough. But unless Feaster has a plan to revamp our blue line Lamb might not have to show to much to earn a spot.;)

I see us signing Boyes to fill a hole on RW. Pretty obvious we need a top 4 D man to.

I would add Byron to that list

I legit lol'd

Tanguay - Stajan - Iginla

They showed chemistry towards the end, and Stajan is actually capable of winning a faceoff.

Glencross - Cammalleri - UFA/Baertschi

Cammalleri looked great as that 2nd line center. Glencross is likely a lock for this line as well. Baertschi could add a huge offensive boost to this. Brad Boyes wouldn't look bad on the RW here. Maybe Stempniak?

Cervenka - Backlund - UFA/Baertschi

I personally don't see Backlund as a top 6 guy yet. I'm also hesitant to throw Cervenka into the top 6 right off the bat. If Baertschi doesn't fit, Moss, Stempniak, or Boyes could be a good fit again.

Bouma/Jones - Aliu - Jackman/Nemisz

because... why not? We have a plethora of guys who are capable of playing on the bottom line.

Scratches:
Horak, Byron - Potential, but could use some more time in the AHL. If he makes the team, he'll likely be on that bottom line. Same with Byron.

As for the defense... yikes. I'm praying we snag a UFA or two.

Having guys like Tanguay, Glencross, Cammy, and Jagr below Backlund and Baertschi is pretty unlikely.

People putting Stajan on the first line should be shot.

I would rather never win a faceoff again then put him anywhere close to the top 2 lines.

I'd say switch cervenka to the right side and put Bartschi on the third line as a LW. Then sign/trade for a RW for the second line, grab 2 defenceman from free agency and we could do alright next year

Why?

You clearly didn't watch the last 10-15 games of the season.