Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: Remaining Off-Season Questions

It’s been quite a slow last month and a half for the Calgary Flames, but there are still a few off-season questions left to ask. Let’s discuss them.

Hello Calgary Flames fans and welcome to another edition of Monday Roundtable! The segment that we here at Flame for Thought bring you on Mondays. Basically, I ask the other writers here questions surrounding a specific topic each week and we have a virtual roundtable discussion about it.

Last time one of our other writers, Dan, did the roundtable (thanks Dan) where we discussed where the Flames will finish this upcoming season. Today, let’s talk about some remaining off-season questions.

The season is approaching (37 days left) and pre-season games start in less than a month! We don’t have to suffer for too much longer with no hockey. But let’s face it, since the beginning of July, it’s been quite the slow off-season. The biggest topic is Jaromir Jagr coming to Calgary rumors (we’ll get into that).

Related Story: Roundtable: Predicting Where the Flames Finish this Season

Come on, Treliving. I’m bored. Do something exciting.

Nonetheless, since it’s been slow, we should discuss the few off-season questions that are still remaining. Let’s have a virtual roundtable discussion.

Question 1: With these Jaromir Jagr rumours/conversations going around, how would you feel if he actually came to the Calgary Flames?

Jonathan Boulanger

Personally I feel as though its a low risk, low reward. However, If he comes, I don’t think he will put up the numbers that we’re used to seeing from him (10-15 goals, 25 points is my guess) but then again, this is Jaromir Jagr we’re talking about, so you never know. That being said, I think it will certainly help sell tickets and bring more league-wide attention to the Calgary Flames, which is certainly not a bad thing. I know I’m buying a Jagr jersey if he signs.

Ian Gustafson

I would love if Jagr came to the Flames. He is still contributing decent numbers for a player his age and he could be valuable to the youth on the team. The only downside I see is it might be tough to fit him in the line up and he might not be fast enough for the Flames pace of play. He will most likely be asking for quite a bit of money too.

Tomas Oppolzer

I would be ecstatic. Jagr is a living legend and having a name like that associated with the team I cheer for would be a dream come true. On top of that, though, he’s also still a damn good hockey player. Unlike most players that reach his age, Jagr is still capable of putting up around 50 points a season (He dropped 46 last year and 66 the year before) and is generally great at pushing play in the right direction.

While he’s not the fastest player (he never was) Jagr doesn’t need to rely on speed. His superior hockey sense helps him know just where to be and that would be a huge asset on any Flames line. He also has the reputation of helping Claude Giroux develop into the player he is today by being a good influence and having that around Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Sam Bennett, and Matthew Tkachuk could be huge for them too.

Related Story: More Jaromir Jagr to Calgary Talks

Benjamin Prokopy

I am really torn on this one.

On one hand, he played all 82 games last year, contributing 16 goals and 46 points. His even-strength Corsi and Fenwick numbers were similarly positive last year, indicating his team had possession of the puck more than half the time when he was on the ice.

Assuming Jagr spends the bulk of his time on the third line with Sam Bennett and Kris Versteeg, it isn’t likely he will score at last year’s pace. His old linemates, Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov, are simply more offensively gifted.

What is likely is that he will play mentor to Sam Bennett. And I can think of nobody better. If Bennett can’t find his NHL game with a living legend in his ear between every shift, then all is truly lost.

All this upside is tarnished for me by the fact that Jagr is on the wrong side of 45 years old. Though his disciplined diet and fitness regimen are well documented, age will catch him eventually. He’s slowing down; that won’t stop.

So, what if this is the year that the ageless wonder begins to look his age? What if this is the year he is simply unable to keep up? Last year, Jagr’s cap hit was $4M. Even if Treliving gets him for $3M, that’s a lot of money to be sitting in the press box every night.

It’s a risk/reward scenario that is more risk than reward for me.

Dan Raicevich

I would embrace it, thoroughly. Sure, the old man Jagr is 45 years old. In his defense, he is a living legend who trains as hard as anyone in the league today. Not only can he provide great mentor-ship to players like Sam Bennett, Johnny Gaudreau, etc., but he can still chip in on the offensive side of the puck. While his skating might not be what it once was, his hockey IQ is still billowing off the charts. Not to mention, Jagr is one of the strongest players with the puck to ever play the game. That ox-like strength never left the Czech native, as he still can maneuver his way around defenders like pylons (that means you, Dion Phaneuf). Jagr would be a great addition to a team on the cusp of seriously contending in the Western Conference, make it happen Brad Treliving.

Ramina Shlah

I agree with Jonathan, I’m definitely buying a Jagr jersey if he signs. However, like Benjamin said, there are some risks. But I disagree with it being a high-risk/low-reward.

There were rumours that he may sign for $3.7 million, but if that’s the case, it may be a little expensive. If the Calgary Flames can sign him at around $3 million or less, I’d be happy. It’d be awesome to have a guy like Jagr on the team and like the others said, he can definitely be a mentor. It’d be nice to see him on a third line alongside Bennett and Versteeg.

Question 2: Why do you think it’s taking so long to re-sign Sam Bennett?

Jonathan Boulanger

Because Bennett is a wildcard and no one including himself is quite sure what type of player he is. It’s certainly going to be south of 6 million and a bridge deal, since he still has a lot to prove.

Ian Gustafson

It’s probably taking so long for them to sign Sam Bennett because he’s probably asking for more than Treliving is willing to give. I really don’t think it will take them much longer. They will have him signed by the start of the season.

Tomas Oppolzer

I think the sides just want something different. With Monahan and Gaudreau both sides obviously wanted longer term deals, both players had performed well on their ELCs. With Bennett, though, he hasn’t really. The Flames probably still see a lot of promise in him and think this is their chance to get him to a long, low cap-hit contract. Meanwhile, Bennett’s side almost certainly wants a lower term (1-2 year) deal so Bennett can prove himself. I’m sure the deal will get done, but the negotiation can’t be easy.

Benjamin Prokopy

I wrote about this very topic in one of my first Flame for Thought articles about a month ago. So, rather than go into it all again, I’ll expand on it a little.

Related Story: What's Taking Sam Bennett's Contract so Long?

If the Jagr rumour is true, then I would think signing Bennett would be a priority for no reason other than understanding how much cap room is left to pay number 68. Having said that, if Flames fans have learned anything about Brad Treliving in the last few years, it is that he is in no rush to make these deals. We all remember Gaudreau’s eleventh hour signing. Heck, even Treliving’s own contract didn’t materialize as fast as some would have preferred.

I’d speculate that the GM’s patience comes from a number of different places.

First, he’s willing to wait these players out to get the deal he wants. Gaudreau’s salary, for instance, is very agreeable considering what he means to the Flames. I’m sure Bennett, like Gaudreau, is asking for more money and a longer contract term than perhaps Treliving is willing to give. If that is the case, it would seem that he will not be pressured by such deadlines as the start of training camp to sign an agreement he does not believe benefits the team.

Secondly, such delays may be the NHL’s new normal when dealing with higher profile RFA’s. Recall last year that Nikita Kucherov did not sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning until October. Similarly, that other team in Alberta did not come to terms with Leon Draisaitl until mid-August.  It may be a new standard operating procedure to extend these negotiations.

Finally, I believe that Treliving wants to explore his options thoroughly. In my article, I mentioned that Bennett is the Flames most movable asset. He’s got tremendous upside, but the team is rich at the centre ice position. He’s got top-6 potential, but will remain on the bottom six unless Sean Monahan falls into a deep, dark hole. He is the team’s best option for obtaining either a serviceable right-winger, a 2018 draft pick sometime before the 4th round, or both. As such, a sign-and-trade situation is not out of the question.

Dan Raicevich

I personally believe this is the main reason Jagr hasn’t signed with the Calgary Flames, Sam Bennett remaining unsigned. I think the Flames and Bennett’s camp might be taking time to mull over a shorter, bridge deal while contemplating a long term deal as well. While his agent is trying to get the former high end draft pick the most money possible, I think Sam Bennett would be smart to settle for a bridge deal at around 2-2.5 million per year.

Bennett is unquestionably a full time NHLer. We are past that phase of debating that statement. Now its a matter of where he fits into the lineup. He will have a bounce back year in 2017-18, but I think Bennett needs to just focus on being the most complete player possible. He has a compete level through the roof, a skill set that is second to none. Sam Bennett could improve and be on his way to being a dominant third line center or even a very good second line center as well.

Ramina Shlah

Like everyone else said, Treliving and Bennett both probably want different things. I think he’ll definitely be signing a bridge-deal for somewhere around $2-3 million. I actually analyzed how much he’ll be making, and it was somewhere between $2.75 million and $3.3 million, but now I don’t think it’ll be more than $3 million with how long negotiations are taking.

When Brad Treliving wants a deal, he normally gets his way (he’s a great negotiator in that way), so I don’t think Bennett will end up getting more than what Flames management wants to give him. And we definitely won’t be a seeing a Jagr signing before the Bennett signing is done.

I just hope he doesn’t miss training camp because of negotiations taking this long.

Question 4: If Troy Brouwer starts the season off like he did last season, do you think we’ll be seeing an early trade with him? Or even before the season starts?

Jonathan Boulanger

Hopefully. Brouwer has enough potential for 20-25 goals but he has to perform up to the standard of hi high-dollar contract.

Ian Gustafson

I don’t see him being traded before the season starts but maybe during the season if he’s playing poorly. Let’s hope that it was just a down season and he will be back to the Troy Brouwer we all know and love.

Tomas Oppolzer

I think we should see a trade involving him. That contract for Brouwer was likely going to be an anchor from the moment it was signed. Do I think they can move him though? No, not unless they massively overpay another team to take on his contract. That or another GM falls seriously ill and Brad Treliving convinces them to trade for Brouwer in one of their fever dreams. Sadly this is a contract the Flames are likely stuck with, and he along with Matt Stajan will form the most expensive fourth line you ever saw.

Benjamin Prokopy

Trade Brouwer….to who?  For what?  Last I checked, the market for overpaid underachievers was pretty thin.

Sure, some teams with cap space will take on a bad contract, but usually a draft pick has to go with it. The Flames have few of those to spare.

Even if Treliving could hypnotize another GM into a deal, Brouwer would need to waive his No-Trade Clause. The barriers seem pretty insurmountable.

I’m afraid I’ve got 2 words for anyone that wants Troy Brouwer gone: “buy” & “out”.

Related Story: Why Teams Should Trade for Troy Brouwer

Dan Raicevich

Troy Brouwer is going nowhere. He is anchored by a $4.5 million dollar cap hit, as well as he has a full no movement clause (NMC) in his contract. It is highly unlikely he would waive that full NMC. Next summer could be a possibility as that NMC becomes a partial NMC, with 15 teams Brouwer can put on a no-trade list. Sorry, Brouwer is going absolutely positively nowhere.

Ramina Shlah

As much as the Calgary Flames could use that free cap space, it won’t happen. But then again, the last couple of season, Treliving has been an awesome negotiator so we never know. But no way the Flames would be able to trade him and not retain some of his salary.

However, if the Flames were considering trading him and retaining some of his salary, I don’t think it’ll be in the middle of the season either. Unless they’re really struggling, but I don’t see that happening either.

And hey Tomas, it’ll be an expensive fourth-line, but remember! The Flames bought out Lance Bouma! So not only will we be seeing someone else on that fourth line, but there’s that Bouma money they’re still paying for on top of that. So it’s even MORE expensive.

Next: Michael Frolik's Case for the Non-Olympics

And that’s all in this week’s roundtable! Is there another UFA you’d like to see join the Calgary Flames roster, or would you rather see a prospect in the lineup instead?