Calgary Flames: 2016-17 Salary Cap Situation

Calgary Flames Facing Difficult Decisions in 2016-17

Calgary Flames are having an up-and-down rollercoaster type season. Finding consistency from all three positions at the same time is a signficant contributor. 2015-16 began with the NHL’s worst goaltending trio in Karri Ramo, Jonas Hiller, and Joni Ortio. A slow-start defensively put the Calgary Flames among the worst in goals against to open the year. They now boast the second-worst GA with 116, next only to Columbus at 120.

Next Year’s Cap Situation

Based on the current roster, eight forwards and six defense are signed to contracts for next season (2016-17). Among the 14 players, the Calgary Flames have committed $48.17 million dollars against the cap (average of $3.44/million year). Latest figures suggest next season’s cap is to range between $73 to $74 million.

UFA’s and RFA’s

Unrestricted Free-Agents

G Jonas Hiller, G Karri Ramo, D Kris Russell, F Jiri Hudler, F David Jones, D Jakub Nakladal

Restricted Free-Agents

F Johnny Gaudreau, F Sean Monahan, F Joe Colborne, F Josh Jooris, F Markus Granlund, D Tyler Wotherspoon, F Drew Shore, F Bill Arnold, D Kenny Agostino, F Derek Grant, F Freddie Hamilton, G Kevin Poulin, G Joni Ortio, F Bryce Van Brabant, F Turner Elson

No Goaltenders on the Books

With Karri Ramo and Jonas Hiller set to become free-agents, there’s much uncertainty for Calgary in the crease. There’s a chance the Flames could bring one of the two back on a short-term contract. The future in-goal likely falls on the shoulders of Jon Gillies or Mason McDonald, but that could be a few years down the road.

If the Calgary Flames decide to re-sign one of Ramo or Hiller, they may opt to move forward with Joni Ortio serving as backup in 2016-17. Given the amount of potential available options on the trade market, Calgary is best suited to explore that avenue for temporary relief until one of Gillies or McDonald is ready to man the crease.

Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan in 15-16, Bennett in 16-17

Three young players facing expiring entry-level contracts in the next couple seasons. After 2015-16, Calgary needs to lock-down their top two forwards in Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan. With murmurs of top 10 NHL player talk surrounding Gaudreau lately, the pay raise should be hefty. Signing either one (Gaudreau or Monahan) to a bridge-contract would open up much-needed cap space to address other holes on the roster. After the 2016-17 season, Sam Bennett is also due for a pay raise, only further complicating matters.

Wrap-Up

Money doesn’t become an issue for the Calgary Flames, that is, until they extend both Gaudreau and Monahan.

Nov 20, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) controls the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the overtime period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Johnny Gaudreau in particular will not be a cheap re-sign. Salaries continue to climb, and there’s no argument about him being the team’s most productive player. After all, it doesn’t matter how well you play defensively if you can’t put the puck in the net. Gaudreau in his second season, is already a near point-per-game player, and likely has more left in the tank.

Gaudreau is probably signing in the vicinity of $6.5 to $7.5 million dollars/year. It’s only his second contract coming off his entry-level deal. He could sign a short bridge deal, in hopes that a rising cap and salaries would garner him more money in a year or two.

Monahan is another big piece to Calgary’s offense, although he won’t garner as much salary as Gaudreau. A safe range for salary assumption with Monahan would be around $5.5 to $6.5 million dollars.

If we conclude that Johnny Gaudreau receives an average of $7 million/year, and Sean Monahan is given $6 million/year, Calgary Flames total salary for 2016-17 rises to $61.166 million dollars. If next season’s cap hits $74 million, that would leave the Flames with $12.834 million to spend on four forwards, one defenseman, and two goaltenders for the 23-man roster. That’s an average of $1.83 million/per player.

The two major needs will be a top line right-winger, along with at least one goaltender (it’s just too unlikely that Jon Gillies can man the crease next season). If you give three of four remaining forwards an average of $800k/year, along with the one remaining defenseman, and goaltender, that’s $4 million dollars. That leaves the Calgary Flames with $8.834 million to spend on a starting goaltender and first line winger. Good Luck.

Reality of the situation is likely to leave GM Brad Treliving with few options but to relieve himself of a big contract. Even to lose Mason Raymond or Matt Stajan‘s contract could go a long way to opening necessary salary to add appropriate pieces. It’s unlikely any suitors are lining up to pay their lucrative contracts, so there’s a greater chance we see a player such as Dennis Wideman moved.

Next: Florida Panthers Sit Atop Atlantic Division

GM Brad Treliving will be faced with extremely difficult decisions next offseason. The Calgary Flames digressed in 2015-16 just as expected after overachieving in 2014-15. Holes in their offensive depth, and zero NHL quality goaltenders on the books for next season, one has to wonder what Calgary is thinking. The Flames have experimented with Jiri Hudler, Michael Frolik, and David Jones alongside their young stars on the first line, but none have provided quality enough play to be a top line winger. With so many needs, and so little money to spend in 2016-17, one would assume changes are on the way, especially if this team finds themselves in the Draft Lottery.

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