Calgary won't be paying to take on other teams' long term cap problems.

Both players are interesting options, but the Flames have plenty of middle of the lineup players.

I see the Flames targeting more high skill, bad defensively players like Kuzmenko, because that's what they currently lack.

I would absolutely take a shot on Kotki

Not at nearly 5 million a year for 6 more years I woudn't.

He has a solid 2-way game and is still young. I don't expect us to acquire him but I view him as a potential Backlund like player

They like KK because he brings things to the mix they need same as Staal's have for decades.
Necas can do what he does because KK does what he does and Aho creates room for them both by Proxy
It makes no sense to break that up especially with Jarvis in the mix now.

28m to sign 8 people next year isnt hard when the next next year 62m is free.
Most of their pending UFA's will return and many will do it for less money as Staal did to stay
But some like Teravainen are going to be leaving for somewhere they can have a bigger role and more money like CHI where he won his Cup.
TT with Bedard i think could create endless highlight reel goals but i digress

Point is they're not like TBL or FLA of screw themselves cap wise and lose players because of it.
CAR only has term past two years committed to 2 players under 5 years and 3 over 5 years
They got the cap going up on their side and a pretty good group of tight nit veterans who want to win together.
I hate to give it to them but the built a pretty solid Team Unit built for Playoff games not just NHL Games.

CGY getting Gaudreau back i think would be a fun thing to explore given the current climate in CBJ
He's declined since leaving CGY and i think it'd be ironic is he went back and sparked Huberdeau and his careers again
I think with a full NMC given the decline in popularity there for Laine and Gaudreau among fans that Johnny Hockey might want to finish playing out his Prime years where it all began.
He'd be so over again and in a better position in CGY who acquired a lot of good youth pieces via draft or trade since he's been gone.

CBJ new GM would have Cap Flexibly to build his team
Gaudreau's not a typical capdump though he's just struggling on a struggling team but still leading them
He's just in a weird position where he might actually waive his full NMC to go back to CGY where he'd arrive to a lot of good pieces CGY didnt have when Johnny Hockey was there last.