You'd still have to pay to get Monahan in my opinion. My bet is someone will pay a 3rd or a 4th.

Is Monahan expected back for next season or no?

We’ll take the third or send him somewhere else

I can't see Calgary paying that to dump 1 year of Monahan. Contrary to the Flames fans beliefs though, he does not have even average positive value but rather low positive value (like a 6th or 7th for him). I could see Monahan for a 6th happening. I'd be willing to take a flier on him for a 6th.

Even though I like the moves made there are still things missing. Neither Veleno nor Zadina is good enough for a 2nd line and we're short of defenders that can play on PK and PP, You also forgot to sign Söderblom.

I assume so, surgery was in April, six months should put him ready in October, maybe November.

don't try to be sneaky.. it's at least a 3rd for Pete

Too much risk and caphit in a cap strapped league. Under normal circumstances, probably, but right now, he's likely to go for anywhere from a 6th as low positive value, to having to package up as high as a 3rd with him as a dump as negative value. I ultimately see a team giving a late pick to take a gamble on him.

Calgary isn't giving up a 1st to move Monahan, If we're lucky we might get a 3rd along with him but that's about it.

Pretty sure that Mikko Koskinen is signing overseas with the HC Lugano.

Yzerman is like Holland and doesn't believe in offer sheets, he wants to have a great rapport with other GMs. And offer sheet their players is not the way to go about it.

Koskinen is playing in Switzerland next season. Gagner over Stephens. Stevie won't offer sheet anyone but if he did I'd use one on Hague. No one would be pissed if McCrimmon got F'd.

He should be, Had his surgery in April and it's a 6 month healing process.

I’m trying to be optimistic on Zadina, Veleno. Veleno played well in replacement of Larkin to finish out the year. I think 2C is above his weight class but I don’t think Det gets anybody though FA worth their contract to fit there either.
Zadina should start the year glued to Vrana’s hip until someone takes it from him.
Oh well at Soderblom, I don’t see him above GR regardless

Yup Koskinen just signed with HC Lugano the big Swiss club. Yup and i'll take Gagner over Stephens as well. At least Sam Gagner should be good for 10 goals 20 assists for 30 points which isn't bad for only $800,000 to $900,000 per season.

Yes and Gags provides leadership for the young guys coming in. I think he started playing in the NHL at 18 or 19 years old. I'm getting old. I remember his dad. Dave Gagner.

Playing Veleno on the top line may work because both Bert and Raymond are self-playing pianos that don't need a playmaking centre to perform. Playing Veleno on a 2nd line with Vrána and Zadina is a disaster, none of them is a playmaker. You're putting two defensive forwards with our best sniper with no one to feed him.

Both Gags and Staal are great locker room guys. Wouldn't mind having both back on a reasonable one year deal.

Agree, I think both are resigned and probably get an “A” between them. I’m just not sure where to put them in this lineup outside of 7th D and 13th F respectively

Based on CGY's cap issues, they'll definitely have to pay to move Monahan. They'll need every dollar to pay Tkachuk, Gaudreau, Mangiapane, and Kylington and still improve the team. I can see CGY attaching a sweetener to get a pick back. I'm sure they'll try to move Lucic first (though, that may require more sweeteners, like a 1st round pick), but Monahan may cost less to move.

Moving Lucic and/or Monahan isn't just about resigning the FAs, they need to improve the team too. Standing pat isn't going to be an option, so while they may have some money after resigning those 4, they need money to get better too. Not much help on the horizon without going outside the org. The 4 FAs will cost ~$23M/year, leaving them with ~4M to improve the team, which isn't going to get them what they need.

I agree with some points and disagree with others.

Lucic won't require a 1st to move. A 2nd? Maybe, I could see it. He only has 1 year left on his contract, is only owed 1m dollars, and is still a very serviceable player. He was a prominent player on a cup winning team, he's extremely well spoken, appears to be a good leader and the guys a monster. He still plays a valuable roll and the contract provides some benefits to certain teams.

Calgary does have room for growth internally. Dube still has another level he can get to. Ruzicka dipped his toe in and proven he belongs. We have 3 top 4 defense that are 25 and working to solidify their game. Mackey looks like he might be ready to make the step and will be battling with Valimaki for a spot. Pelletier could push for a top-9 role after his phenominal AHL rookie season.
There's still alot of room for internal growth in the flames roster.