That would be fine if he signed an extension next season for four years with a cap hit of $2.5 million per. Maybe at that salary the Flames could afford to bring in another top end talent which would allow Iginla to play second fiddle. That could be tough as top end talent is few and far between, especially as a reasonably young free agent. Looking down the road at 2013 free agency there are only a few guys coming up that might be worth chasing.
Jordon Staal, Nathan Horton, Travis Zajac, Ryan Clowe, Ted Purcell, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Stephen Weiss
That would be fine if he signed an extension next season for four years with a cap hit of $2.5 million per. Maybe at that salary the Flames could afford to bring in another top end talent which would allow Iginla to play second fiddle. That could be tough as top end talent is few and far between, especially as a reasonably young free agent. Looking down the road at 2013 free agency there are only a few guys coming up that might be worth chasing.
Jordon Staal, Nathan Horton, Travis Zajac, Ryan Clowe, Ted Purcell, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Stephen Weiss
That would be fine if he signed an extension next season for four years with a cap hit of $2.5 million per. Maybe at that salary the Flames could afford to bring in another top end talent which would allow Iginla to play second fiddle. That could be tough as top end talent is few and far between, especially as a reasonably young free agent. Looking down the road at 2013 free agency there are only a few guys coming up that might be worth chasing.
Jordon Staal, Nathan Horton, Travis Zajac, Ryan Clowe, Ted Purcell, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Stephen Weiss
Could the Flames snag one of them? Doubtful?
The Flames already have a lot of cap flexibility in the near future, so the team can add at least one or two high-end FAs, including this year. While there are some bad contracts on the roster, many of them expire within the next 2 to 3 years.
maybe it's the euphoria of one win but I'm thinking a measured approach is maybe the right way to do things instead of a full blown rebuild, for example:
Next year's 4 lines:
Tanguay-Cammy-Iginla will still be a top line next year.
Re-sign Jokinen and give him 2 new wingers - one would be Baertschi. The other a RW from UFA, maybe David Jones, Shane Doan or even Semin.
Glencross goes to 3rd line.
Pick between Stajan or Backlund for your 3rd line center. Move the other for an asset (early 2nd round pick or young defenceman, e.g. Brian Dumoulin from Carolina)
Choose between Stempniak, Moss and Comeau for 3rd line RW.
Jones, Jackman, Bouma, Byron, Horak, Nemisz fill out a really strong 4th line.
maybe it's the euphoria of one win but I'm thinking a measured approach is maybe the right way to do things instead of a full blown rebuild, for example:
Next year's 4 lines:
Tanguay-Cammy-Iginla will still be a top line next year.
Re-sign Jokinen and give him 2 new wingers - one would be Baertschi. The other a RW from UFA, maybe David Jones, Shane Doan or even Semin.
Glencross goes to 3rd line.
Pick between Stajan or Backlund for your 3rd line center. Move the other for an asset (early 2nd round pick or young defenceman, e.g. Brian Dumoulin from Carolina)
Choose between Stempniak, Moss and Comeau for 3rd line RW.
Jones, Jackman, Bouma, Byron, Horak, Nemisz fill out a really strong 4th line.
In other words, zero change.
If we can get a big body on the wing (Doan/Jones) then Jokinen shouldn't be as difficult to be let go. Stajan has proved that he needs talented wingers to produce, Backlund shouldn't be given up on so quickly.
Cammy/Stajan/Backlund/Jones
Doesn't look great but a top 6 RW makes it easier to swallow.
maybe it's the euphoria of one win but I'm thinking a measured approach is maybe the right way to do things instead of a full blown rebuild, for example:
Next year's 4 lines:
Tanguay-Cammy-Iginla will still be a top line next year.
Re-sign Jokinen and give him 2 new wingers - one would be Baertschi. The other a RW from UFA, maybe David Jones, Shane Doan or even Semin.
Glencross goes to 3rd line.
Pick between Stajan or Backlund for your 3rd line center. Move the other for an asset (early 2nd round pick or young defenceman, e.g. Brian Dumoulin from Carolina)
Choose between Stempniak, Moss and Comeau for 3rd line RW.
Jones, Jackman, Bouma, Byron, Horak, Nemisz fill out a really strong 4th line.
I would only move Cammalleri to center if Olli walks and I think its better to shelter Beartschi's minutes a little so I see something more like this.
I am not overly fond of Cammalleri being a centerman next year because if he is centering our top line it means there is not a single forward that we can rely on actually play defense on a regular basis (I am not saying they can't, I am saying they don't).
I would also let Jones walk and not retain him, I like him but I really think we need to focus on faceoffs next season and he really is not the answer to that. But I expect he will return as will most of the lineup, but I would prefer more sweeping changes.
If we can get a big body on the wing (Doan/Jones) then Jokinen shouldn't be as difficult to be let go. Stajan has proved that he needs talented wingers to produce, Backlund shouldn't be given up on so quickly.
Cammy/Stajan/Backlund/Jones
Doesn't look great but a top 6 RW makes it easier to swallow.
I would REALLY like to see some bigger moves this summer by the Flames. I want the team to try and acquire a centerman, I would be wiling to move Giordano, Backlund and our 1st to land a #1 centerman. I can't help but wonder if that package could land Ryan Getzlaf.
