Headlines

Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Flames Rumors

Dead Space: Bought-Out, Buried, And Retained Salaries For Every Team

at CDT | by 3 Comments

It’s something that often goes unnoticed, but with the cap showing minimal growth the last few years, teams are starting to feel the crunch more than ever. Buyouts have become more common, especially with players with under three remaining years on their contracts. And it’s not just the big name busts that have seen the ax lately – we’ve seen lesser names at lesser money take the fall for their respective teams, then needing to scramble for work elsewhere in the league. Additionally, salary retention in trades has become a more utilized tactic as of late. Teams with “unmovable” contracts have offered to retain part of a poor contract in order to entice a team into giving them some relief.

All this said, some teams have been better with foresight than others. Some teams have shown a track record of being entirely unable of handing out poor contracts over the past five or so seasons. Considering many teams showed some progress in being more frugal this off-season, it seems a wise time to review the dead space every team has accumulated, either due to poor management decisions or poor luck.

Colorado Avalanche – $4.83 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – Francois Beauchemin buyout; Cody McLeod retained

Arizona Coyotes – $4.61 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Mike Smith retained; Mike Ribeiro, Antoine Vermette buyouts

Columbus Blue Jackets – $4.025 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Fedor Tyutin, Jared Boll, Scott Hartnell buyouts

Carolina Hurricanes – $3.71 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Eddie Lack retained; Alexander Semin, James Wisniewski buyouts

Toronto Maple Leafs – $3.28 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2021-22 – Tim Gleason, Jared Cowen buyouts; Phil Kessel retained

Nashville Predators – $2.83 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Viktor Stalberg, Eric Nystrom, Barret Jackman buyouts

Boston Bruins – $2.73 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved 2019-20 – Dennis Seidenberg, Jimmy Hayes buyouts

New York Rangers – $2.61 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2022-23 – Dan Girardi buyout

Minnesota Wild – $2.5 MM in 2017-17, issues resolved after current year – Thomas Vanek buyout

Los Angeles Kings – $2.4 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2023-24 – Matt Greene buyout; Mike Richards termination/recapture

Edmonton Oilers – $2.33 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Lauri Korpikoski, Benoit Pouliot buyouts

Anaheim Ducks – $2.21 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2023-24 – Mark Fistric, Simon Despres buyouts; Patrick Maroon retained

Vancouver Canucks – $2.13 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2021-22 – Roberto Luongo, Jannik Hansen retained; Chris Higgins buyout

New Jersey Devils – $2.09 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2023-24 – Mike Cammalleri, Devante Smith-Pelly buyouts; Ilya Kovalchuk recapture

Tampa Bay Lightning – $1.83 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2019-20 – Matt Carle buyout

Calgary Flames – $1.82 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Mason Raymond, Lance Bouma, Ryan Murphy buyouts

Detroit Red Wings – $1.67 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2020-21 – Stephen Weiss buyout

Dallas Stars – $1.5 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19- Antti Niemi buyout

Philadelphia Flyers – $1.5 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – R.J. Umberger buyout

Winnipeg Jets – $1.46 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Mark Stuart buyout

Florida Panthers – $1.33 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after 2018-19 – Jussi Jokinen buyout

Las Vegas Golden Knights – $1.1 MM in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – Alexei Emelin retained

Ottawa Senators – $350,000 in 2017-18, issues resolved after current year – Andrew Hammond buried

Buffalo Sabres – Minimal in 2017-18, increased issues ($791,00) resolved after 2022-23 – Cody Hodgson buyout

 

 

Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks,  Montreal Canadiens – No dead cap space

After compiling the list, it became clear that utilizing these options isn’t a complete hindrance to competing in the NHL. In fact, most clubs have between $1 MM and $3 MM in dead space. That said, of the teams that have not needed to utilize the buyout or retention options, there has been a great deal of success. And among the five worst offenders, the Leafs, Hurricanes, Blue Jackets, Avalanche, and Coyotes, none has moved past the first-round in multiple years. It’s hard to draw massive conclusions without taking the context of each individual situation into account, but there is something to be said for making every dollar of cap space count. Perhaps this is merely a byproduct of past success rather than an indicator of future success, but considering how amenable many managers have become to the option, it bears consideration.

(All totals courtesy of the fantastic CapFriendly.com)

Latest On Calgary’s Contract Talks

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Flames have had preliminary talks with agent J.P. Barry regarding a contract extension with center Mikael Backlund, GM Brad Treliving told Sportsnet 960 in Calgary.  He noted that hopes that talks will pick up once the arbitration hearings finish off over the next couple of weeks.  Considering that his contract doesn’t expire until next July, Treliving added that there’s no immediate rush to get something done:

“There’s no time pressure at this point right now. But we think Mikael is a really good player, an important player here, and we’d like to see if there’s a way to get something done and we’ll explore that.”

Backlund is entering the final season of a three-year deal that carries a cap hit of $3.575MM and is coming off a strong season for Calgary, one where he posted a career high in goals (22), assists (31), and points (53) which ranked him third in team scoring.  Between that and the fact that centers are in high demand and short supply, he has positioned himself nicely for a sizable raise on this next contract whether it’s finalized this summer or later on.

Another center that is in need of a new contract is restricted free agent Sam Bennett.  The 21-year-old is coming off his entry-level contract and struggled in his second full NHL season; his offensive numbers actually declined from his rookie campaign down to just 13 goals and 13 assists in 81 regular season games.  He was ineligible for arbitration this time around and Treliving cautioned that it may take some time before they come to terms on a new contract:

“We continue to work at it. We’ll see. Those are interesting. If you look back here in the history – not just with our team, but really throughout the league of some of those players coming out of their entry-level contracts – history has shown that they tend to take a little bit of time.”

While a lot of teams have eschewed bridge deals in recent years, Bennett’s case is one where it still would make a lot of sense.  Clearly, the Flames believe the former fourth overall pick from 2014 still has a lot of upside to offer but given the step back he took in 2016-17, the prudent move here may be to go for a short-term contract to get a longer look at what they have before committing the bigger money and term.

After inking goalies Jon Gillies and David Rittich to new deals on Saturday, Bennett is one of three remaining restricted free agents that the Flames need to re-sign.  The other two are defensemen Brett Kulak and Tyler Wotherspoon.

Flames Sign Jon Gillies and David Rittich

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Calgary Flames have announced deals to secure their organizational goaltending depth, by signing both Jon Gillies and David Rittich to one year, two-way contracts. Gillies and Rittich have 80 minutes of NHL game experience between them, but should constitute a solid duo in the AHL affiliate Stockton. Either could be called up in case of injury, but Gillies is the more intriguing signing of the two.

For an organization who needed to clear the pipes after an embarrassing first-round sweep at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, the team found two capable goaltenders in Mike Smith and Eddie Lack. That said, it is important for the Flames to have options in the eventuality of injury and/or poor performance. Gillies in particular has the potential to improve mightily this year. He had his NHL debut, a 4-1 win, last season, in addition to splitting the starting role (39 GP) in Stockton. The Providence alum has impressive size at 6’6, which makes him quite appealing. If he were able to bring his save percentage up from last season’s .910, he could get his fair share of action in the near future. His biggest test will be the sheer amount of games he will be relied upon this year – he’s never played more than 39 games in a season, pro or college. He does have poise going for him, and the pedigree he brings as a third-rounder means GM Brad Treliving and crew will be keeping a close eye on his progression.

Rittich also saw NHL action this season, in relief for a single period against the San Jose Sharks in April, where he conceded only one goal. Rittich, 6’3, was signed last year from the Czech Extraliga, but came quite in handy when Gillies went down to injury. He posted better stats (.924 save percentage) through his 31 games, and became the starting goaltender for the team in the playoffs where the team was quickly bounced. The Flames will want to provide Gillies solid competition to regain his net, and Rittich certainly fits that bill. His athleticism is not nearly on par with that of Gillies, but the technical aspects of his game are more refined at present. Going undrafted and being nearly a complete unknown, Rittich will need to prove that last year’s performance wasn’t a fluke if he wants to secure his North American future.

These deals are interesting in part because it seems to indicate that Calgary is still not totally certain of its long-term future when it comes to goalies. Neither of these players are certainties, while both of their NHL goaltenders are on short-term contracts. Lack, 29, only has one year remaining, while Smith, 35, has only two. Naturally, the Flames have selected goaltenders in early rounds in the past few years to stock the pipeline. Their 2014 second-round pick was utilized on Mason McDonald, then of the Charlottestown Islanders, while their 2016 second-rounder was used on London’s Tyler Parsons. McDonald struggled quite mightily in his over-age years in Charlottestown, and only played one game for Stockton in 2016-17 before spending the season in the ECHL. With the Rittich/Gillies duo locked up, he doesn’t have much of a path forward. Parsons looks far more promising, as the starter for London showed a moderate improvement in numbers while holding steady through the team’s playoff run. Still, at only 19, it’s nearly impossible to determine how he will progress from here. He could theoretically turn pro this season, as mentioned by the team’s goalie coach, but these signings will provide him with stiff competition for playing time. Calgary is certainly hoping that he can shine in the near future, but there are no guarantees. Ultimately, it’s a goaltending free-for-all in the Flames organization, and management is  hoping that at least one of their prospects will pan out.

Calgary Flames Sign Juuso Valimaki To ELC

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Calgary Flames have signed their first-round pick from the recent draft, inking Juuso Valimaki to a three-year entry-level contract. The salary and bonus structure has not been released, but you can bet he’ll come in at the maximum $925K with some Schedule A perfomance bonuses.

Valimaki was selected 16th-overall last month after an outstanding season with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. The Finnish defenseman put up 61 points in 60 games, while also suiting up for his country at the World Junior Championships (where he registered two points). The 6’2″ 212-lbs defender may not have the offensive upside that his point totals suggest, but would rank close to any other defender in the draft in terms of two-way consistency. Those who critiqued Timothy Liljegren—who went just after Valimaki to the Toronto Maple Leafs—for his poor decision making skills could never say the same about the newest Flames prospect, as Valimaki is hardly ever caught out of position or turning the puck over.

While he still has some developing to do if he wants to be the two-way rock the Flames are hoping for, they can afford to wait with the group they already have in the NHL. Valimaki can be brought along slowly and eventually replace some of the minutes Mark Giordano will be ready to give up as he heads into his mid-thirties. As Pat Steinberg of Sportsnet points out, Valimaki’s entry-level contract will likely slide until the 2019-20 season unless he’s brought up sooner than that for more than nine games. If he does pan out as an NHL defender, his entry-level deal would end just as Giordano’s current deal is coming off the books.

Johnny Gaudreau Talks About Playing In South Jersey One Day

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Johnny Gaudreau was on Philadelphia CBS radio this morning, and gave a quote that partially stopped the hearts of many Calgary Flames fans listening in.

This can probably be put up there with Drew Doughty’s comments on playing in Toronto from earlier this offseason, as something said just to appease the listeners of the radio program Gaudreau was on at the time. After all, he did sign a long-term deal with the Flames last summer and said at the time that he’d like to play his whole career with Sean Monahan in Calgary if he could. Still, it’s something to remember for the summer of 2022 when a 28-year old Gaudreau is destined to be an unrestricted free agent.

Flames Re-Sign Garnet Hathaway To One-Year Deal

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Flames have come to terms with one of their remaining restricted free agents, announcing that they’ve come to terms with winger Garnet Hathaway on a one-year, two-way contract.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hathaway split 2016-17 between Calgary and their AHL affiliate in Stockton, a role he will likely apprise next season.  In 26 games with the Flames, he had a goal and four assists while averaging a little over nine minutes per game of ice time.  In his NHL career, he has eight points (1-7-8) in 40 games, all with the Flames.

At the minor league level, the 25-year old has been more productive.  This past season, he had eight goals and 12 helpers in 31 games with the Heat and has tallied 77 points over the past three years.

With the signing, Calgary now has five remaining restricted free agents.  Of those, only Sam Bennett is a full-time NHL player.  Their other RFAs are goalies David Rittich and Jon Gillies as well as defensemen Brett Kulak and Tyler Wotherspoon.

Eetu Tuulola Heading Back To Finland For 2017-18

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

  • The Calgary Flames will watch Eetu Tuulola return to Finland for the upcoming season, leaving the Everett Silvertips where he had played in 2016-17. Tuulola was a sixth-round pick of the Flames in 2016 and tried his hand in the Canadian junior ranks with 31 points in 62 games. He’ll play for HPK in Finland’s Liiga next year, a professional team that can offer a bit more development opportunity than Everett.

Flames Notes: Ferland, Bennett, Iginla

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

Micheal Ferland re-signed this Thursday with Calgary, and apparently he’s slotted for big things this year. Adam Gretz of NBC Sports reports that Ferland will play on the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. Ferland will be playing as the third wheel to the talented duo, but should be a productive member. Ferland has yet to cement himself as a consistent offensive producer, so this vote of confidence should be taken as a sign of his internally perceived value. With only 25 points last season, he’ll need to find a bit more of a knack for playmaking in tight spaces. As Gretz mentioned, he has posted a positive Corsi (52%) in the minutes he paired with the Gaudreau-Monahan duo. If nothing else, he’ll open up room for the line with his heavy forechecking style and if he stays with those two long-term, look for his next contract to be a good deal more expensive.

  • Sam Bennett is the only major RFA the Flames have yet to sign. He’s also a bit of a confusing commodity. He really regressed offensively in a manner no one was anticipating last season, and it’s hard to ascertain how much that will impact his upcoming deal. The Flames would likely like to lock him up for some of his UFA years, but Bennett seems to think he can prove his value in the immediate future. He remarked to the National Post’s Al Charest after their first round series that he’s “just getting started”, and it’s easy to believe him. He has incredible hands and seems more well-rounded than when he entered the league, even if he struggled to produce in 2016-17. His Corsi only went down slightly (.6%) while his Fenwick went up, and he did face a tougher quality of competition. Odds are that Bennett bounces back and earns a heftier long-term contract down the road. For now, somewhere around $3 MM seems a safe bet.
  • The two parties haven’t been linked, but at this late date might Calgary show an interest in reuniting with Jarome Iginla? Iginla has wanted a place on a contender for the last half-decade, and Calgary has shown that they could compete in the immediate future. Adding Mike Smith in net, adding Travis Hamonic and re-signing Michael Stone on the back-end, and with the youngsters another year older, they could do some damage come spring. One of Alex Chiasson or Kris Versteeg might need to slot down a healthy lineup on occasion if it were to happen, but Iginla would provide some invaluable leadership for the young core on a dirt-cheap deal. They have the cap room to make it happen if they so desire.

Calgary Flames Sign Curtis Lazar

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

The Calgary Flames have continued to lock up their restricted free agents, this time signing Curtis Lazar to a two-year contract that carries an average annual value of $950K. Lazar did not have arbitration rights, but was issued a qualifying offer by the Flames in order to retain control of his rights.

After an incredibly poor season in which Lazar scored just four points, the first-round pick is at a crossroads. Will he join the list of top picks that struggle to adjust to the NHL, and carve out a successful career in the minor and European leagues, or will something click as he enters his mid-twenties and allow him to fulfill the potential the Ottawa Senators saw in him. It cost the Flames a second-round pick to acquire him at the deadline, and they clearly believe in his upside by giving him this deal, a contract that seems overpriced for what he’s brought to the NHL so far.

Lazar won’t turn 23 until February of next year, meaning he still has plenty of time to develop into the power forward-type he was expected to be, but it will take more than just an improved shooting percentage (amazingly he shot just 3.8% last season) to get him there. His play with and without the puck just simply hasn’t been good enough to trust with a bigger role, and in Calgary behind a deep forward group he’ll have to do more with limited minutes.

The $1.9MM gamble is definitely worth it for the Flames, who have plenty of money coming off the books next season and need depth players to help on their Stanley Cup run the next few years. If Lazar can turn in even a slightly improved performance he’ll be earning a solid salary, while if not they could bury him in the minors for no cap hit at all. This year since the minimum NHL salary increased to $650K, the amount saved with any buried one-way contract is $1.025MM, though last year’s amount would have worked for Lazar too. That slightly higher number may also ward off teams from grabbing him off waivers, allowing the Flames to hold onto him even if his performance isn’t up to snuff.

Flames Re-Sign Micheal Ferland To Two-Year Deal

at CDT | by Leave a Comment

7:19 PM: The Flames have officially announced the two-year contract worth a total of $3.5MM.

4:36PM: The Calgary Flames and Micheal Ferland are working on a two-year deal that would pay the restricted free agent $3.5MM total according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. With his arbitration hearing set for July 22nd, the two sides have just over a week to work something out or have to live with an arbitrator’s decision.

A two-year deal would take the 25-year old Ferland to unrestricted free agency, which is why the team can keep the cap hit so low. Though he doesn’t have much of a track record, Ferland found some solid success last season in his limited chances with Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, scoring 15 goals and 25 points despite playing less than 12 minutes a night.

That success comes with an added physical presence and a good amount of defensive awareness, making him an interesting option that can play up and down the lineup. With the Flames still having plenty of wing options for the top six, and bringing Kris Versteeg back, Ferland can again slot in as a depth option and play to his strengths away from top competition.

The team still has to make decisions on Sam Bennett and Curtis Lazar, both of whom are ineligible for arbitration this summer. If they want to lock up Bennett long-term, it would eat up a fair bit of their cap space even coming off a down season. The former fourth-overall pick still has plenty of potential, and buying out free agent years wouldn’t come cheap.

That said, Ferland’s deal leaves them with enough room to sign both RFAs and even make another addition if they so chose. After acquiring Travis Hamonic, Mike Smith and Eddie Lack and re-signing Versteeg and Michael Stone the Flames are poised to take a long run at the Stanley Cup this season. Players like Ferland are integral to any contending team, able to move up the lineup if injuries happen and grind out long playoff series with their in-your-face style.

Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

scroll to top