Sportsnet is reporting the re-signings of Craig Conroy, Eric Nystrom, Curtis McElhinney and Daymon Lankgow. Conspicuously absent: Owen Nolan and Eric Godard (although there's lots of time left).
Nothing surprising here. More analysis when the dollars and terms are released.
UPDATE - Flames have also extended qualifying offers to Brandon Prust, David Van Der Gulik and Adam Pardy. All three of these guys should be fighting to make the big club this year.
That leaves the likes of Ryan Donnally, Derek Couture and Tomi Maki (no doubt upsetting his best and only fan, WI) out in the cold. Couture and Maki played for Omaha last year while Donnally plied his trade in the ECHL. None of them are - or will be - NHL calbier players.
Finally, Lefebvre and Cruickshank also confirm that Rhettro will indeed be bought out. Also:
Morris says Warrener is disappointed his time in Calgary — four seasons — comes to an end in this fashion.
"But in one breath, he's happy he's got his freedom . . . at a time when people are coveting defencemen," Morris said Friday afternoon as he awaited the formal buyout notice. "He still has some play in him. I would expect that there will be opportunities for him.
Warrener strikes me as a great guy and a tough competitor - but it'll shock me if he plays in the NHL this coming season. Besides being painfully slow and terrible with the puck, he's is pretty much always injured. Unless Warrener's willing to up-root himself for a league minimum salary, chances are he'll be facing un-official retirement a la Tony Amonte and Jeff Friesen.
UPDATE II - According to Inside the Flames (these guys rule), Calgary has also qualified Cam Cunning, Andrei Taratuhkin and Tomi Maki. Im pretty surprised about the latter two, given that both are going to be playing overseas next year.
10 comments:
Yeah, a little surprised Conroy is back and wondering at what price; it isn't the cost its the value, right? If he's playing at 1.5 fine, if its 2.5 that's no good. It does bump down Boyd on the depth chart though, now behind Langkow,Lombo, and Conroy. Just more reason to cut loose Primeau. Got no real problems with Nystrom and McE, I'm assuming those guys are going to get pro forma raises.
Yeah, everything depends on dollar amounts. I hate how this organization insists on "not releasing figures as per club policy". For Christ sake guys, the terms eventually get released through other means anyways!
As for Boyd, I have a sneaking suspicion he's going to be moved to the wing this year. Unless he centers the 4th line with Wayne "1.4M worth of not-a-whole-lot" Primeau on the 4th unit. Which would suck. The kid needs some ice-time with guys that can play with him in order to progress.
I'm with Joe, don't mind that Conny is back but depends on his figures. $1 million sounds about right, maybe $1.5.
Hey, Flames don't release figures, Oilers don't even release who they qualify!!
Hey, Flames don't release figures, Oilers don't even release who they qualify!!
Calgary hasn't done this either. I believe guys like Van Der Gulik and Pardy were scheduled to become RFA's this week. I assume that they've been given their qualifying offers but haven't heard anything from head office.
Yay for transparency!
Heard Sutter on TV tonight (TSN or Sportsnet?) saying the Flames would have veteran leadership at centre and youth on the wings. I take that to mean Primeau as fourth line centre (shudder). I guess MG, your hunch was right, maybe they'll try and play Boyd on the wing.
Kind of sad to see Warrener go out like this, but if hockey was only for good guys then Andrew Ference would be a shoo-in hall of famer. Warrener: three times in the Cup finals, three different teams, three time loser!
Rob "Verbal Poet" Kerr has a report on the length of the contracts
Langkow - 4 years (so if we go with Sutter's Puzzles of Disclosure, that means he WASN'T signed for 5 mil per - nice)
Conroy - 2 years
Nystrom - 2 years
McElhinney - 1 year
http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/robkerr/2008/06/27/flames-sign-4/
By the way, we're totally getting juiced back home on NHL gear...I'm in Philly right now, and a $30 t-shirt back home costs...$10 here.
At the risk of looking TOO far ahead, next summer looks quiet for the Flames. Assuming this years' free agents will sign multi-year deals, the only real UFAs the Flames are going to have going into 09-10 are Aucoin and Cammalleri. If Cammy has a good year, and Aucoin has a bad one, then most of that money just slides over. Of course it depends on if any short term rentals arrive at the trade deadline this year, but this summer's FA signing might be the last opportunity to really change the team for the next couple of years. Good or Bad the Flames are really starting to be set in cement.
P.S. I guess if Primeau is outstandingly bad he might be bought out next summer too.
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