Flames fans breathed a collective sigh of relief after captain Mark Giordano’s future with the organization was extended another six years, with a cap-friendly average annual cost of 6.75 million. The contract extension ensures the Flames’ captain will have the option to retire with the famous flaming C on his sweater, as he will be 39 years old at the contract’s closure.
Unlike his colleagues, Steve Yzerman and Ron Francis who both have failed to extend their franchise cornerstones, Steven Stamkos and Eric Staal, Flames GM Treliving secured his team’s top defencemen with almost a year before contract expiration. This signing is crucial for the Flames’ future, as Calgary now boasts the deepest defence corps in the league, with Giordano, Hamilton, Brodie, Russell, Wideman, Engelland, and up-and-comers Kenney Morrison and Brandon Hickey in development.
Yet, the signing has fanned new discussions on the tightness of the Flames 2016/17 cap, with rookie sensation Johnny Gaudreau and the skilled Sean Monahan, reaching restriced free agent status and big, new contracts of their own. No doubt Treliving will now focus on locking up these two players to long-term deals prior to opening night on October 7 against the Canucks.
If the signing of Ottawa Senators prized forward Mark stone is any indicator, it is likely that Gaudreau will be getting a contract in the ballpark of 4-6 million per annum. Monahan will get similar figures. Judging by Dougie Hamilton’s six year contract, Treliving will be wanting the talented duo for six years as the building blocks of the Flame’s first line. If this is the case, then let’s examine the impact on the Flames’ potential cap situation.
After this year’s campaign the following core players will be free agents: goaltenders Jonas Hiller, Kari Ramo, defencemen Kris Russell, and forwards Jiri Hudler, David Jones and Joe Colborne each have expiring contracts, as summarized in the following table.
The cap situation after extensions to Gaudreau and Monahan will be manageable. It will be in the best interest of the team to award Jonas Hiller a contract extension for another three seasons and for the Flames to negotiate a short-term contract extension with Ramo. This will solidify Hiller as the number one goaltender, having Ramo as the backup and leaves room for developing prospects Joni Ortio and Jon Gillies to be called up when necessary. Ortio has achieved success in the AHL, with a 21-13-1 record with .908 SV% and a 2.52 GAA last season. Yet, Ortio still needs another year of development, as his NHL game career sports mediocre stats with a career SV% of .899 and a 2.52 GAA.
It will be interesting to see how contract talks with Jiri Hudler playout, especially near the NHL trade deadline in the spring. Hudler had a career year last season, with career highs in goals (31), assists (45) and points (76), and sporting a pleasing +16 +/- rating. At age 31, Hudler is in the prime of his career and will be earning a pay increase for his efforts, but the dollar figure will be an area of contention. Hudler’s 2014/15 stats are elite numbers, but are significantly higher than his previous career average of 57 in 2008/09. If the asking price is too high, Calgary might be able to move him for a more cap-friendly, younger option.
The rest of Calgary’s upcoming NHL free agents are waivable/tradeable assets, with the exception of Joe Colborne. Colborne deserves a contract extension, as the 2008 first round pick has plenty of upside, and has shown continual improvement.
Kris Russell should be on the trading block, as Calgary needs to make room for their deep talent pool of defence. David Jones will also be on the trading block, as no fourth line right winger deserves a $4.0 million salary. By parting ways with Russell and Jones, the Flames will have plenty of cap space to extend Gaudreau, Monahan, leaving the rest up to Treliving to decide where the cap costs are most greatly needed. One thing is certain: Treliving will have to be a financial wizard to settle the books after this year.
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