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Snapshots: Canes, Hertl, Fleischmann, Gagne

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The Carolina Hurricanes have not qualified for the playoffs since the 2008-09 season but hope to change that this year. As Chip Alexander of The News & Observer reports, the team’s chances of breaking their seven year playoff drought will rely heavily on a talented, albeit young, group of players. Jeff Skinner, Victor Rask, Teuvo Teravainen, Justin Faulk, Brett Pesce, Noah Hanifin and Ryan Murphy are set to see a lot of ice for the Canes and none are over the age of 24.

One of the squad’s few experienced players, Lee Stempniak, a veteran of 11 NHL seasons, says he has never been part of a team with so many youngsters expected to fill important roles:

“Not really, not with young guys playing this prominent of a role, especially the defensemen. It’s young. I think it’s a team with a lot of potential. I think a lot of the success for our team is going to be harnessing our potential. Guys need to take the next step individually and the new guys coming in need to fit in and complement the players who are here and find a role.”

If anyone would know, it would be Stempniak, who has suited up for 10 different clubs during his career, including four over the last two campaigns. He hopes his stay in Carolina is a bit longer after singing a two-year deal worth $5MM this summer.

Of course young teams are inherently inexperienced and some might feel that factor could derail Carolina’s chances of a successful campaign. Not so, says another of the team’s elders, defenseman Ron Hainsey, who at 35 will is 11 years the senior of the second oldest regular blue liner, Justin Faulk:

“This is a young man’s league. I don’t think it’s a danger. Speed, skill is the name of the game.”

Despite the talent and skill, Carolina’s path to a playoff berth will not be an easy one. The Metro Division fielded five postseason qualifiers in 2015-16 while the Hurricanes finished 10 points behind the eighth-seeded Philadelphia Flyers.

Another factor which may work against the Canes is their goaltending. Carolina ranked 29th among 30 teams in save percentage but did nothing this offseason to upgrade the position. In fact, the team elected to re-sign longtime netminder Cam Ward to a new, two-year contract; a deal many pundits thought was curious.

Elsewhere in the NHL:

  • Positive news in San Jose where Tomas Hertl skated today at the Sharks first training camp workout and showed no lingering ill effects from the MCL injury he suffered during the Stanley Cup Finals, reports Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. Hertl finished fifth on the club in scoring with 46 points during the regular season and contributed another 11 in the postseason. According to Pashelka, Hertl is preparing to play either center or wing though today he skated as the pivot between Joel Ward and Nikolay Goldobin. Hertl skipped the World Cup, electing not to represent the Czech Republic in the tournament in order to further rehab his knee injury. It appears the extra rest may have helped as Hertl looks to be on track to open the season at 100%.
  • Tomas Fleischmann, who was set to appear at camp with the Minnesota Wild, has apparently failed his physical, according to Mike Russo via Twitter. Russo is unsure if that would be the end of Fleischmann’s brief time with Minnesota or not. Fleischmann was again attempting to catch on with a club after being forced to accept a PTO offer rather than a guaranteed contract. Last year he earned a one-year deal with Montreal in training camp and would record 10 goals and 20 points in 57 games with the Canadiens. He was dealt to Chicago at the trade deadline with Dale Weise and would tally another four goals and five points for the Blackhawks.
  • The Ottawa Senators announced via their team Twitter account that they have signed forward Gabriel Gagne to an ELC. Gagne was the Sens second-round pick in 2015, going 36th overall. He split last season between Victoria and Shawinigan of the QMJHL and combined to register 36 points in 42 regular season contests. Gagne was even better in the postseason, tallying 22 points in 21 games.

 

Compelling RFA Cases For 2017: Wennberg, DeHaan, Zibanejad

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Jacob Trouba, Johnny Gaudreau and Nikita Kucherov highlight a strong and deep group of restricted free agents that remain unsigned at the moment. While they will each ultimately cash in and receive substantial contracts for the 2016-17 campaign and likely beyond, their status as restricted free agents has certainly complicated their respective negotiation processes.

Next summer, another quality group of players are set to hit restricted free agency, unless they can agree to terms on a new deal prior to the 2017-18 league year. In a series of posts, Pro Hockey Rumors will profile the top pending 2017 RFAs and examine what kind of contract they could elicit assuming they put up a strong performance during their platform year. Today we continue in the Metro.

Alexander Wennberg (Columbus) – Wennberg was the Blue Jackets first-round pick in 2013, selected 14th overall. He debuted in the NHL during the 2014-15 season and finished with 20 points in 68 contests. He bumped his production up significantly in year two, recording 40 points in 69 games and flashing top-six potential.

Wennberg is more playmaker than goal scorer as his career 4-to-1 assist-to-goal ratio suggests. Washington’s Marcus Johansson posted similar career numbers through the expiration of his ELC with 33 goals and 62 assists in 183 contests; good for a points-per-game rate of 0.52. Johansson would sign a two-year contract worth $4MM total following the 2012-13 campaign.

The career production numbers between the two pivots should look similar given Wennberg tallies 40-plus points in close to a full slate of games in 2016-17 and would therefore be looking at a bridge deal right around the $2MM mark annually. Given Johansson’s second contract will be four years old, inflation could take that figure closer to $2.5MM per year. A longer term would appear unlikely as the Jackets will still have several inflated contracts on the books, including those of Scott Hartnell, Nick Foligno, Jack Johnson and Brandon Dubinsky.

Calvin de Haan (New York Islanders) – Now 25, de Haan is now at the age many defensemen peak in terms of production. Originally the 12th overall selection in the 2009 draft, de Haan has already established himself as one of the Islanders best defenders and will once again fill a spot in the club’s top-four. If he can stay healthy for a full slate of games and perhaps contribute a touch more in the offensive end, de Haan could set himself up for a nice raise on the $1.97MM AAV his current contract calls for.

Teammate Travis Hamonic, drafted by the Islanders in the second-round in 2008, is a bit more prolific offensively but should help us gauge de Haan’s potential value as a top-four defender. Upon the expiration of his ELC, Hamonic signed a seven-year, $27MM deal with an AAV of $3.857MM. By that time, Hamonic was already averaging better than 22 minutes of ice time and 0.33 points-per-game. If the two parties explore a long-term arrangement, it’s likely de Haan can point to Hamonic’s deal as a comparable.

Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers) – As part of their overall team commitment to get younger and quicker this summer, the Rangers acquired the 23-year-old pivot from Ottawa in exchange for fellow center, Derick Brassard. Zibanejad, the Senators first-round pick in 2011, sixth overall, has steadily improved his offensive production since debuting as a regular during the strike-shortened 2012-13 campaign. Last season was Zibanejad’s best, with the Swede compiling 21 goals and 51 points in 81 contests.

A player with a similar pedigree, former high first-round choice and relatively consistent point-producer, Nazem Kadri, inked a six-year extension worth $27MM in April and that deal should serve as a reasonable target for Zibanejad. Kadri has averaged 0.59 points-per-game over the three seasons prior to his extension – 134 points in 227 games. Zibanejad, meanwhile, has averaged 0.57 points-per-contest the last three years – 130 points in 230 games.

Zibanejad is entering the final season of the two-year bridge deal he signed with Ottawa, paying the five-year veteran $2.625MM per season. A repeat of his 2015-16 performance this upcoming season should give Zibanejad a good chance to match the level of Kadri’s extension. But, if Kadri takes the next step in his development and makes a push for the 60-point threshold, he could see his value escalate to $5MM and up per season.

Snapshots: Panthers, Girardi, Tlusty

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Fresh off a team record 103-point season and just the franchise’s fifth playoff appearance, the Florida Panthers were not content to rest on their laurels. After a surprising front office shakeup highlighted by the promotions of Dale Tallon and Tom Rowe, to president of hockey operations and general manager respectively, the Panthers hit the ground running in the offseason. Looking to add puck-moving and skill to the team’s blue line, Florida dealt veteran stay-at-home defenseman Erik Gudbranson to Vancouver while acquiring Keith Yandle and Mark Pysyk in separate trades. They topped off the summer shopping spree by signing Jason Demers as a free agent.

With Jaromir Jagr, Reilly Smith, Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau and Aaron Ekblad all returning plus the club’s new additions, expectations have never been higher in the South Florida hockey market, as George Richards of the Miami Herald writes. The Panthers organization, from ownership on down is embracing those expectations.

Nick Bjugstad:

 “We all expect to win, have a winning mentality that has been introduced the past couple of years. Us younger guys have learned it’s not acceptable to miss the playoffs. That has been instilled by our veteran guys, our coaches, our organization. We’re all buying in. Everyone wants to win here, not just the players.”

Dale Tallon:
“We had our best season ever, so the guys are confident and aware. They feel good about themselves and know they can get to the next level.”
On paper the Panthers and Lightning would appear to be the two best bets to come out of the Atlantic Division and to challenge for the Eastern Conference crown. Nothing is certain, of course, until we see the actual product on the ice but it’s clear the Panthers are well under way to building a winning culture in South Florida.
Elsewhere in the NHL:
  • Prior to the 2015-16 campaign, New York Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi was known to be a reliable and steady defense-first blue liner on a team noted for being among the stingiest defensive clubs. The Blueshirts finished in the top five in goals allowed in each season from 2010-11 through 2014-15. Last season the club ranked 15th overall and the decline in play from Girardi and fellow defenseman Marc Staal attracted much of the blame for the drop-off. The question the Rangers had to ask themselves was whether Girardi’s regression was injury-related – he played much of the season with a cracked knee cap – or the result of years of wear-and-tear finally catching up. The team is banking on the former and Girardi himself is confident he will play at a much higher level in 2016-17, according to Steve Zipay of Newsday. The Rangers will need the 10-year vet to be much better this season if they plan to contend for a Stanley Cup.
  • Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar (via the team’s Twitter account) broke the news that Jiri Tlusty, recently inked to a PTO to attend camp with the club, had failed his physical. It’s unclear at this point what caused the veteran forward to flunk the physical but it could be related to the wrist  surgery he underwent in January. Obviously this is a setback for Tlusty, who coming off a disappointing season in New Jersey was likely facing an uphill battle to make Colorado’s roster. It’s feasible the two parties could look to renew the relationship once Tlusty is healthy or he could look to latch on somewhere else if the opportunity with the Avalanche closes.

Perry Set To Join Exclusive Hockey Group

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If Team Canada and Corey Perry are able to win the World Cup, one of hockey’s most elite groups will double in size. In an article by The Hockey News’ Ken Campbell, he points out that only Perry’s former teammate and current Ducks assistant coach Scott Niedermayer has won a Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold Medal, World Championship, World Junior Championship, Memorial Cup, and World Cup. With everything else all checked off, Perry just needs three wins to join his friend in hockey’s winningest (albeit obscure) group.

Perry, who was a late addition to Team Canada following the injury of Jeff Carter, is just happy to be on the team and hasn’t given much thought to his potential history-making achievement. Ironically, it all began with him being a late addition to another team. Perry barely made Canada’s World Junior team in 2005, where he played alongside future team mate Ryan Getzlaf, Sidney Crosby, tournament MVP Patrice Bergeron and more on one of the best World Junior teams of all-time. After easily taking the Junior tournament, Perry returned to the OHL’s London Knights, where he finished off a 130-point season with help from Dave Bolland, Marc Methot, and more and then led the team, with a stellar playoff performance, to the Memorial Cup title. Perry made his NHL debut the next year, in 2005-06, and just one year later, he contributed 44 regular season points and 15 postseason points en route to the 2007 Stanley Cup championship.  With the stats and titles to back him up, Perry was an easy choice for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and again in 2014 in Sochi, winning a gold medal at each Games. Finally, Perry won a World Championship for Canada this past spring, joining the team after the Ducks were upset early in the playoffs.

Perry, who is also a three-time All-Star, Hart winner, and Maurice Richard winner, among many other accolades, still holds on to his humility. Although he is on the cusp of joining a group that Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux could not even make it in to, his sights are still just set on helping out his team mates and winning for his country. He’s grateful just to be on the team and to get the chance to enjoy the opportunity. Perry is a proven winner, and don’t be surprised to see his name join more elite groups as his decorated career continues.

Blues Re-Sign Alexander Steen

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The first day of 2016-17 training camp was also the first and only day that Alexander Steen was an impending free agent. The St. Louis Blues forward has signed a four-year extension, the team announced today. The deal is reportedly worth $23MM, a cap hit of $5.75MM through 2020-21.

Steen has been a consistent producer throughout his career, and will try to continue to be a reliable scorer and defender for the Blues. After a strong start to his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, during which he scored 122 points in his first three seasons, Steen was traded to St. Louis in 2008-09 alongside Carlo Colaiacovo in exchange for Lee Stempniak. Steen has been a mainstay in the Blues’ top six ever since. With great awareness on the ice, which allows him to be a great play maker and two-way player, Steen can be counted on for at least 50 points and special teams excellence in every season that he is healthy. In fact, Steen scored over 60 points in back-to-back season in 2013-14 and 2014-15, while also being a Selke candidate.

With David Backes now gone, Steen’s role on the Blues will be somewhat different starting this season. He will have more responsibility, both in the locker room and on the ice, and will be looked upon as a leader more than ever. However, being locked up long-term with fellow stars Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz has to give Steen some confidence as to his role on the team, and the Blues were smart to get an extension done as soon as possible this season, allowing Steen to focus on getting St. Louis to that elusive Stanley Cup.

The Anaheim Situation

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No training camp in the entire NHL will be getting as much attention as the the Anaheim Ducks. As Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register writes, there are so many question marks still remaining for the reigning Pacific Division champs. With less than a month to puck drop on a new NHL season, there is a lot of work to be done on the Ducks.

The most important story line to follow is the status of unsigned restricted free agents Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell. Both players are coming off strong seasons and have shown success and sustainability early in their careers. Lindholm may actually be Anaheim’s best all-around defenseman, while Rakell provides much-needed offensive depth. Yet, neither former first-rounder has signed on for the new season. The young Swedes don’t have much bargaining power, since they are RFA’s with no arbitration rights, but a scenario has already occurred this off-season where an unhappy RFA has signed elsewhere, with Dallas’ Valeri Nichushkin bolting for the KHL. The Ducks have just $7.5MM in cap space as of right now. Can they find a way to bring back their young talent, or at least trade one or the other, or will Lindholm and Rakell decide to play outside the NHL in 2o16-17?

Should Lindholm sign, not only will Anaheim face a cap crunch, but they will also have a logjam on defense to deal with. The Ducks have the best defensive depth in the NHL, with recently re-signed Sami Vatanen, 2015 acquisitions Kevin Bieksa and Simon Despres, and veteran Clayton Stoner, as well as up-and-coming prospects Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour. The odd-man out in all of this could be home-grown star Cam Fowler, who’s name has been on the trade block for months now. The Ducks simply cannot keep all of these defenseman, and Fowler may have overstayed his welcome in Anaheim after the first mediocre season of his young career in 2015-16. While teams would be lining up to trade for Lindholm, Fowler would have quite the market as well. Whatever decision the Ducks decide to make about shipping out a defenseman, many believe that it begin a series of reactions across the league as one D-needy team agrees to a deal and the others finally lock up market stragglers like Kris Russell and Jakub Nakladal.

If Rakell doesn’t sign, the Ducks will be even more eager to make a trade for some help up front, as their depth right now is currently lacking. Top-six mainstays Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, and Andrew Cogliano are in place, but without Rakell, more pressure to produce will be thrust upon newly-signed veteran Antoine Vermette, swift winger Jakob Silfverberg,  grinder Ryan Garbutt, and the unproven Nick Ritchie. The Ducks would like to alleviate some of that pressure by adding another body up front, hence their interest in the trade market, as well as their camp invites to David Booth, Sean Bergenheim, and most recently David Jones. Even if Rakell does return, expect Anaheim to be in the hunt for forward talent.

As if roster management concerns weren’t enough, the Ducks also have a “new” coach in Randy Carlyle and a new dynamic in net, with John Gibson taking over for the departed Frederik Andersen as the starter and trade acquisition Jonathan Bernier looking to hold off three or four legitimate threats and win the backup job. There is still a long way to go and a lot of questions that need to be answered for the Anaheim Ducks. Stay tuned.

Snapshots: Franson, Conacher, Cleary, Bradford

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Cody Franson is hoping that a number change might bring him better luck in his second (and final) season with the Buffalo Sabres. Last summer’s Kris Russell, the negotiation war for Franson lasted until mid-September, when he finally signed a two-year, $6.65MM pact with Buffalo. Expected to be a big piece of their back end, Franson was instead a huge disappointment, playing in just 59 games and scoring a career-low 17 points. Franson stated earlier today that his first season with the Sabres, wearing #46, was the “worst” of his career. Now switching over to #6, Franson looks to get back on track with a number that he “likes”.

More probable than the luck of a jersey number is that Franson’s struggles in 2015-16 were medical. Sabres beat writer Bill Hoppe reports that the big defenseman was in fact having visual processing problems on the ice, with his right eye tracking faster than his left. This makes sense given Franson’s specific issues on the ice last season, as a normally-skilled possession defenseman had a hard time moving the puck and making and receiving passes. With the medical problem now fixed, Franson seems likely to have a comeback season in a contract year.

Elsewhere around the league:

  • As training camp begins for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Cory Conacher acknowledges that this may be his ” last chance” at the NHL. The former “future star” is happy to be back with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where his NHL career got off to a hot start with 24 points in his first 35 games in 2012-13, before he was traded to the Ottawa Senators for Ben Bishop in one of the more lopsided deals in recent history. After struggling to find success with several different teams over the past few years, Conacher is back where it all began, looking to carve out a role for himself in the Tampa system the fit him so well.
  • Dan Cleary is also getting another chance to extend his playing career, as he has signed a one-year deal with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, the team announced. Clearly had previously been invited to Detroit Red Wings camp, but after signing with their affiliate, he is guaranteed a contract for the coming year, while keeping his hopes alive of returning to the NHL. A veteran of almost 1,000 NHL games, Cleary played for Detroit for a decade, from 2005 to 2015, before being relegated down to the AHL level last season. While the numbers have certainly tailed off for the old two-way forward, he still brings leadership, a great hockey sense, and a genuine love of the game to the ice. While it seems unlikely that Cleary will make it back to the big leagues, fans should root for one of hockey’s great guys as he keeps living the dream.
  • One athlete who never got his chance to play pro hockey, but has found success (and plenty of money) elsewhere is new Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford. In a story by Chris Tomasson of Pioneer Press, he outlines how Bradford is “right at home in the State of Hockey”. As a great young hockey player, Bradford had NHL aspirations that some believed were actually reasonable. However, the struggles of making hockey fit into the life of a multi-sport student-athlete in Oklahoma were too much. Travel and time constraints eventually led to Bradford committing to football. A Heisman Trophy, number one overall selection, NFL Rookie of the Year Award, and more money already than most NHLers make in their whole career seem to prove that he made the right call, but Bradford’s love for hockey is still alive. While the Minnesota Wild likely won’t need his services this season, if he can lead the Vikings to success this season while supporting and frequently showing up at Wild games, he’ll soon make people forget all about Teddy Bridgewater.

Flames Re-Sign Freddie Hamilton

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One of the last unsigned restricted free agents is off the table, as the Calgary Flames have extended forward Freddie Hamilton. The deal, which was first reported  by TVA’s Renaud Lavoie, is for two years at only about $613K per season. Surprisingly though, it is a one-way deal as well, meaning Freddie will either stick around at the NHL level with brother Dougie Hamilton or face waivers in order to be sent down to the AHL. This portion of the contract was likely the hold-up that kept the RFA center from signing earlier in the off-season.

In his first season with the Flames organization in 2015-16, Hamilton played in just four games with Calgary, recording two points and finishing +1. While that may not sound impressive, relative to the 24-year-old’s earlier NHL action it was quite a step up. In 29 games with the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche the two years prior, Hamilton had just one point and was -7. Hamilton also had his best AHL season last year with the Flames’ affiliate, the Stockton Heat, putting up 43 points in 62 games.

While some opine that Freddie is simply in Calgary as a measure to keep little brother Dougie happy – and his NHL numbers seem to support this – the Flames are also in need of some role players in the bottom six, a position that Hamilton can fill. Should he struggle this season though, the lengths that the Flames will go to to keep the reportedly temperamental Dougie Hamilton content will be tested. A waiver claim of his big brother in the midst of another down season could see Dougie try to force himself out of Calgary like he did Boston.

Snapshots: McKenzie’s ’17 Draft Prospects, ‘Jackets, North America

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It’s never too early to scout talent. Bob McKenzie released his preseason top 15 prospect list for the 2017 NHL Draft and the top slot wasn’t even close. Brandon Wheat Kings center Nolan Patrick is the clear #1 prospect, being voted the top prospect by ten out of ten scouts McKenzie spoke with. Though it’s not clearly as exciting as the Jack Eichel–Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews-Patrik Laine debates, the report on Patrick is his ability to score goals. But he doesn’t boast the same franchise type standing as McDavid, Eichel, Matthews or Laine. After Patrick, however, the draft seems to dip in terms of overall talent. McKenzie writes that the draft is “not as exciting a group” as years past.  Further, McKenzie reports that the top ten talent isn’t nearly as defined as in the past. McKenzie lists Patrick, D Timothy Liljegren, F Klim Kostin, F Maxime Comtois, F Eeli Tolvanen, F Gabe Vilardi, F Kristian Vesalainen, F Owen Tippett, D Cal Foote, and F Lias Andersson as the top ten best prospects in the 2017 Draft.

In other hockey news:

  • Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno can’t wait to see the new talent make their way to Columbus writes Alison Lukan. Foligno was one of many Jackets to congratulate the prospects in Cleveland who captured the Calder Cup this past summer. Now, Foligno is ready to welcome any of those prospects who can make an impact in Columbus.

“If you’re going to come and help us, we’re going to welcome you with open arms. We’re excited to see who is going to rise to the occasion and come and help our group. But it’s my job to be competitive and push everybody. If you want to be here, then you’ve got to beat me.”

Lukan reports that after a disappointing 2015-16 season, the Jackets will look to their younger players to push for playing time and help the team improve this year.

  • Team North America captured the attention of the hockey world, and gave a glimpse of the future of the NHL writes the Chicago Tribune’s Chris Kuc. Canada coach Mike Babcock called the “young guns” team “one of the most exciting things of the tournament,” while saying that they would garner the attention of a whole new group of fans. Kuc described the North American team as the “darlings” of the tournament with a style of play that caused fans to experience “whiplash.” Amalie Benjamin adds that it was hockey at its “most brilliant, most entertaining, and most delightful.”

2016-17 Season Preview: Calgary Flames

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As the NHL season is now less than a month away, we continue our look at each team’s offseason and preview the upcoming year. Today, we focus on the Calgary Flames.

Last Season: 35-40-7 (77 points), 5th in the Pacific Division.  Did not qualify for the playoffs.

Remaining Cap Space: $7.9MM per CapFriendly.

Key Newcomers: Brian Elliott (G) – trade with St. Louis; Chad Johnson (G) – free agent (Buffalo); Troy Brouwer (RW) – free agent (St. Louis); Alex Chiasson (RW) – trade with Ottawa; Linden Vey (C) – free agent (Vancouver).

Key Departures: Jonas Hiller (G) – free agent; Karri Ramo (G) – free agent; Joni Ortio (G) – signed in Sweden; Mason Raymond (LW) – signed with Anaheim; Joe Colborne (RW) – signed with Colorado; Josh Jooris (C) – signed with New York Rangers.

Players to Watch: Johnny Gaudreau and Brian Elliott. Gaudreau and Elliott’s performance this season will determine whether the Flames make a post-season push or whether they will be angling for a lottery pick. That is, of course, if and when the Flames sign Gaudreau.

Johnny Gaudreau is still an unsigned RFA after failing to come to terms with the Flames this offseason. As of writing, Gaudreau’s camp is reportedly firm on around $8MM per season, while the Flames are reportedly in the $6–6.5MM range. Not an insurmountable gap, but one that will only close after one side blinks. Gaudreau led the team in scoring last season with 30G and 48A in 79 games—15 points more than Sean Monahan who re-signed this summer for $6.375MM a year contract. The young winger’s impressive performance in the World Cup of Hockey only adds pressure on Calgary to lock up their potential future star. Look for both parties to settle around the $7.5MM range.

Brian Elliott comes to the Flames looking to shed his inconsistent label once and for all. Despite posting a .930SV% and a 2.07GAA last season, the St. Louis Blues opted to keep a young Jake Allen, and instead traded Elliott to the Flames. Unlike St. Louis, however, Elliott was brought in to be the clear starter, and this is a role that should allow him to finally establish himself despite years of consistent performance.

Key Storylines: Will the Flames make it back to the post-season after suffering a setback last year?

Two years ago the Flames made a surprising playoff run in a year where many predicted that they would challenge for a top-five pick. Both Gaudreau and Sean Monahan excelled in their 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively, and broke 60 points. In retrospect, goaltending looked to hold that team back from even higher heights.

But last year Calgary took a step back and missed the playoffs with largely the same team. This season is a chance to prove that the anomaly was last season, not the season prior. Monahan and Sam Bennett are one year older, and the Flames brought in Troy Brouwer to round out the scoring. Assuming they re-sign Gaudreau, the Flames can mount an exciting offense. The question mark lies in the team’s defensive capabilities. They did not drastically improve their blue line, but they did completely switch out their goaltending. It might not be enough to compete in the Pacific, but this team has been written off prematurely once before.

 

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