After an outstanding regular season and playoff face plant in 2018-2019, the Flames take a small step back during the regular season in 2019-2020 finishing second in the Pacific division, but use the lessons learned from the prior playoff exit and the ups and downs of the season to get to the Western Conference final where they lose a tough 7 game series with the Nashville Predators. With two years left on the Gio + Johnny contracts, their window to win it all with them is winding down. GM Treliving must make moves to keep this team in the Stanley Cup hunt, while preparing for the Seattle expansion draft.
2019 Offseason that Affects this Roster
Bennett 3 x $2.75M.
Tkachuk 6 x $7.5M.
Rittich 2 x $2.75M.
Hathaway signed elsewhere for more money.
Valiev, Rychel & Foo sign 1 year deals.
Lazar traded for Ho-Sang who was signed to a 2 x 975k.
Brodie, Jankowski, & 2019 first moved for Drouin & 2019 3rd.
In 2019-2020 Andersson, Hanifin, and Kylington were tried out as RD alongside Giordano on the top pair. Hanifin showed promise, but was better alongside Hamonic as #2LD. Andersson had the most success, while Kylington looked decent playing in TJ Brodie's former role.
2020 Offseason
Re-sign Mangiapane to another shorter term deal after he built on his successful back half of the 2018-2019 season with a 15 G, 15A campaign in 2019-2020 (2 x 2.25M).
Lock up Andersson to what Flames managers hope is a Josi-like bargain contract after he gets 35P in 2019-2020 playing alongside Gio on the top pair for parts of the year (6 x 4.75M).
Kylington is bridged after getting 25P in 2019-2020 quarterbacking PP2 and periodically playing as a RD in the mold of TJ Brodie who was shipped out. (2 x 2.25M).
Sign Roman & Tuulola prior to rights expiring.
Valiev, Rychel & Foo do not make enough progress and are not resigned.
Hamonic offered a 2 x 4.25M to stay on a contender during the Johnny + Gio window. I expect he would accept and move on afterwards for his last big pay day.
Expansion Draft
If both Bennett and Dube progress to and achieve at minimum a 40 to 50 point season they would both be protected and Backlund left exposed. Otherwise Backlund is protected and one of Bennett or Dube remains exposed to expansion draft. I will assume both don't reach the 40 point plateau next year.
Protecting - Rittich (G), Valimaki (D), Andersson (D), Hanifin (D), Gaudreau (F), Monahan (F), Tkachuk (F), Lindholm (F), Drouin (F), Backlund (F), Bennett (F)/Dube (F)
At Risk - Giordano, Bennett/Dube, Kylington, Hamonic
Trade Options - Seattle receives 2021 CGY 2nd Round Pick for selecting James Neal or 2021 CGY 3rd Round Pick for selecting Travis Hamonic in the expansion draft. Shop Bennett/Dube + Kylington and trade to a team with open protection slots for picks.
Islanders may be looking to move him due to attitude issues. Could be a fit in Calgary as they are looking for strong puck carriers with a bit more offensive flair in their system.
I love this post. You could see a lot of thought went into it. Only thing I would change would be to protect Bennett and Dube instead of Backlund. I would make side deals for them to select Backlund and slide Dube into his role. Unpopular Opinion Coming: Gio must be traded next offseason. We can't protect him and need to make room for Kyl on his natural side. Gio is a great player and I don't think any reasonable side deal could be made to keep him on our team post-expansion draft. He is also bound to tail off so might as well trade him while we can get a good return
I love this post. You could see a lot of thought went into it. Only thing I would change would be to protect Bennett and Dube instead of Backlund. I would make side deals for them to select Backlund and slide Dube into his role. Unpopular Opinion Coming: Gio must be traded next offseason. We can't protect him and need to make room for Kyl on his natural side. Gio is a great player and I don't think any reasonable side deal could be made to keep him on our team post-expansion draft. He is also bound to tail off so might as well trade him while we can get a good return
I definitely was tempted to protect Dube & Bennett outright over Backlund, but I think until they put up 40 points playing against the top lines of our opponents that the Flames still may keep Backlund (as he has done this the last few years). Would not have an issue if they leave Backlund exposed to stay younger though.
As for trading Gio prior to the expansion draft, there is definitely logic in that move, but I don't think as an organization we do that unless they miss the playoffs next season. He is the captain and career Flame, so I think they instead make a deal to keep him safe. Removing emotion from the equation, you would probably just leave him unprotected, and if Seattle takes 38 year old Gio then so be it.
Treize131 liked this.
Reply
Yelesin,
CapFriendly
CapFriendly