NHL Free Agency: Calgary Flames Top Five Targets

As of this morning, the Calgary Flames, along with all other NHL teams, have the ability to meet and talk with players who will be unrestricted free agents on July 1st. Calgary had a successful season last year, surprising many on their way to clinching a playoff berth and winning their first round series over the Vancouver Canucks before being knocked out of the second round by the powerful Anaheim Ducks.

Though the Flames had a solid season and thoroughly exceeded expectations, it doesn’t mean they don’t have any holes to fill. The group of free agents this year doesn’t have any franchise players on it, but there are many who could make this a better team next season.

The Flames overachieved for sure this year, and could use some help both in their top six forward group, and also on the blue line behind their top three of Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie and Dennis Wideman. Their top line of Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreau and Jiri Hudler doesn’t need any work, but the second line could use a winger to play alongside Sam Bennett and Mikael Backlund.

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The Flames may decide Backlund and Bennett are best suited to play center, and that would give them fantastic depth down the middle in Monahan, Bennett and Backlund. This would leave a few huge holes on the wing on the second line as both veterans Mason Raymond and David Jones struggled to match the production that their big contracts promise.

The Flames goaltending also appears to be in flux. Karri Ramo is a pending UFA and looks to be on his way out, but there have been rumours that Jonas Hiller could be on the trade block. This would leave Joni Ortio as the only returning goaltender, but he only has 15 games of NHL experience and would need a veteran to share the crease with him.

With the reasoning that the Flames definitely need to add a top six winger for next season, the fact they could use a fourth defenceman who is a true top four defender in this league, and the realization that they are slowly building toward being a truly elite team in 2020, not 2016, here are the top five free agents that the Flames should be on the phone with right now.

4. Michael Frolik – Winnipeg Jets

Apr 20, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets right wing Michael Frolik (67) celebrates the goal of defenseman Tyler Myers (not shown) on Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen (31) during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

The Flames desperately need to add someone to play the wing on their second line and Frolik would be a great fit. He can play either wing, has won a  Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in the past and is a great two way player.

Frolik, at 27 years of age still has many good years of hockey ahead of him and would be a perfect complementary piece to the Flames core group of forwards which includes Monahan, Bennett and Gaudreau.

Frolik was drafted 10th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2006 NHL Draft, and scored 21 goals in each of his first two seasons in the NHL. He was dealt to the Blackhawks in 2011 and was asked to play a more defensive depth role, which led to his offence falling off a bit.

After winning the Cup in 2013, Frolik was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets where he saw his offence return once he was given more of an offensive role. The 27 year old forward scored 42 points in each of the past two seasons with Winnipeg and will now try his luck on the open market.

In his four full NHL seasons when he was not a Chicago Blackhawk, Frolik has seasons of 45, 43, 42 and 42 points. He has been remarkably durable and consistent throughout his career, and would be penciled in for 40-45 points while playing on the second line with Sam Bennett in Calgary for the next few seasons.

Frolik will likely be looking for a four year deal with a cap hit near $4.o million per year.

3. Mike Green – Washington Capitals

Apr 8, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green (52) skates with the puck as Boston Bruins right wing Reilly Smith (18) chases in the first period at Verizon Center. The Capitals won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Just a few short years ago, it would have been unconceivable that the Washington Capitals would allow Mike Green to walk away for nothing. However, after signing Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen to monstrous contracts and with the continued development of Karl Alzner and John Carlson, it looks like Green will be free to sign where he pleases next week.

It seems like he’s been around forever, but Green is still just 29 years of age and is far from over the hill. He is a fantastic skating, puck moving defenceman who can carry the puck with ease, make a great pass out of the zone and quarterback a power play.

Green is not the best defensive defenceman in the entire league, but his defensive zone coverage and physical play has come a long way from his “pond hockey” days of 2007-10 when he was scoring nearly a point per game.

Green played primarily as the Capitals number five defenseman last year and scored ten goals, 35 assists and 45 points. He wouldn’t be a perfect fit on the Flames, since they already have Brodie and Wideman on the right side. However, if Green were signed, he could play on the third pairing and power play, or could allow Brodie to move back to the left side, and then Green could play with Giordano where his odd defensive miscue would be covered up.

Green will be expensive to sign, as he is coming off a three year deal with a cap hit just north of $6.0 million per year. It would like cost the Flames a shade under $6.0 million on a five or six year deal to sign Green, but his offensive game is so enticing, you have to make the call and see if something can be worked out.

2. Carl Soderberg

Mar 19, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Boston Bruins center Carl Soderberg (34) prepares to shoot on Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond (30) in the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

Returning to the forward ranks, a perfect fit for the Flames next season would be Carl Soderberg, The Boston Bruins player played some center and some left wing in the past two seasons with the club and has proven to be a solid source of depth offence.

Soderberg only has two years of NHL experience and is 29 years old. You’d expect someone with just 161 games of NHL experience to be younger, but Soderberg had a great career in his home country of Sweden before signing on with the Bruins late in the 2013 season.

Soderberg was one of the best players in the Swedish Elite League for many years, and scored 48 points in 73 games as a rookie in 2013-14. He followed that up with 13 goals, 31 assists and 44 points in 81 games for the struggling Bruins this season, mostly as a third line center/winger.

The Flames are stacked down the middle with Monahan, Bennett and Backlund, but you can’t have too many versatile players and Soderberg could be a perfect fit on the second line with Bennett, no matter who plays the center ice position and which one of them plays left wing.

It’s hard to peg what Soderberg will make on the open market, as he is a very versatile, reliable two way forward, but he also only has two years of NHL experience. There will be many suitors in a thin free agent class, but I’d expect a four year deal at $4.0 million per year would be enough to get a deal done with the Swedish forward.

1. Cody Franson – Nashville Predators

Feb 24, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Cody Franson (44) tosses the puck to the referee after a stoppage in play during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

This isn’t a banner year for free agents, and though Franson is not a franchise defenceman, he is definitely the best one available and would be a great fit with the Calgary Flames. Another player who has been around a long time, and is younger than you may expect at just 27, Franson has a lot of good hockey left in him.

Franson is a huge defender at 6’5″ and 213 pounds which is exactly what the Flames management team has claimed they are looking to acquire this summer. Franson plays a physical style in the defensive zone, but also has a booming shot from the point that makes him a threat in the offensive zone as well.

Franson was dealt to the Nashville Predators at the trade deadline last year after playing three and a half seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He scored 36 points last season and 33 the year before proving he has the capability to add some offence from the back end.

As a right shot defender, there are a few options to how Franson would fit on the Flames blue line. He could play on the top pairing with Giordano which would allow Brodie to play on the second pairing with Wideman, though splitting up one of the best pairings in the league may not be a great idea. Franson could also play on the second pairing, which would drop Wideman down to a third pairing and power play specialist spot.

Either way, adding Franson would add much needed depth to the Flames back end. It would knock overpaid and over-played Deryk Engelland out of the top six and give the Flames an incredible right side of their D with Brodie, Franson and Wideman.

Franson’s mixture of size and skill should make him the first player the Flames call when the courting period begins this morning. General manager Brad Treliving mentioned he wants to add size, and bringing in Franson would solve that, while also giving the team a huge dose of talent on the blue line as well.

Franson didn’t really fit well with the Predators though they were playing him behind Shea Weber and Seth Jones which made it difficult to stand out. he would be a better fit as a number three guy on the Flames roster, and they can hope that his four points in 23 games with the Predators will knock his asking price down.

I’m guessing he will still want a six year deal after several one year contracts with the Maple Leafs, and will likely be looking for a cap hit of $5.75 million per season. It’s a huge contract, but he would be the best fit of all free agents and would be worth the hefty contract for Calgary.