Flames Retool

Team: 2023-24 Calgary Flames

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 25, 2023

Published: Jun. 16, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

The logic....

Calgary enters the year with re-tool in mind. Not trying to tank, but also lowered expectations for this year with the sights on a bounce back the year after.

The UFAs are top priority and Conny handles them as follows:
- Signs Lindhom for an 8 year deal in the $8-9M range. He is #1C for years to come
- Signs Backlund to a hometown discount, using the C as a chip. 3 years $4M
- Tanev has been a warrior, but doesn't fit with the long term vision. I've seen trade proposals from BF fans trying to get him. The 2nd is a must, the additional pick could be negotiated
- Toffoli's stock will never be higher, and LA is in now mode. LA knows Toffoli will sign an extension and be happy to be in LA. Flames fans want a 1st, but Turcotte has enough potential that a 2nd seems reasonable
- Hanifin wants out. Detroit is being aggressive. Flames get a good prospect and a 1st out of it. Zadina is a reclamation for Calgary, and a cap savings for Detroit.
- Boston free's up over $1M in cap and gains a younger player in Coleman, who brings something Boston could use. Hall is a Calgary boy who accepts a trade home. He replaces what Toffoli brought for the Flames.
- After freeing up the cap space, the Flames leverage it to help out The Leaf. Leafs replace Murray with Vladar, who Tre is very high on. They save considerable cap, and the Flames get a 1st for their help. Vladar gone creates room for Wolf.

This lineup leaves lots of opportunities for younger players to earn a spot on the roster. There is a Top 6 winger spot up for grabs, which Peltier or Coronato seem likely to fill.

The 3rd line still has Backlund as the anchor, and Dube replaces what Coleman brought. Backlunds winger spot has long be a great place to put rookies.

The 4th line is will be young, but also get less minutes than under Sutter. A good place to ease some players into the NHL.

On D, the loss of Hanifin and Tanev is noticed. Kylington coming back is a question mark, but he was a Top 4 D two years ago. Dumb is brought in as the #4 (Could be someone else that better fits, though Dumba being a Calgary boy has its bonuses). Stetcher was great to end the year in Calgary. He signs on to bring stability to the bottom pair.

Markstrom will bounce back, and Wolf will get a nice introduction to the NHL, with plenty of support.

3 Firsts and 3 Seconds plus a couple of prospects help restock the prospect pool.

Not going to win the cup, but will be competitive and well positioned. Similar approach that Dallas took, and it worked well for them.

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