Ek's note: Trevor wrote this while John was on vacation--John is back but I wanted to post this piece. Thanks Trevor!
I don’t think it takes a genius to look at the UFA additions to the Flames and detect a certain truculent aroma to each of the four players coming into the organization. Blake Coleman, Tyler Pitlick, Nikita Zadorov, and Trevor Lewis. One could even say these additions have a certain “Darryl Sutter” to them. The consistency of those additions deviates from Brad Treliving’s normal MO. Let’s look at the notable players Brad has added in free agency for each given year:
2014: Deryk Engelland, Mason Raymond, Paul Byron, Devin Setoguchi, Raffi Diaz
2015: Michael Frolík, Derek Grant
2016: Troy Brouwer, Kris Versteeg, Nicklas Grossmann, Matt Bartkowski, Linden Vey
2017: Kris Versteeg, Micheal Stone, Jaromír Jágr, Tanner Glass, Marek Hrivík, Luke Gazdic
2018: James Neal, Derek Ryan, Austin Czarnik, Alan Quine, Dalton Prout
2019: Tobias Reider, Zac Rinaldo, Brandon Davidson, Michael Stone
2020: Chris Tanev, Joakím Nordstrom, Josh Leivo, Dominik Simon, Nikita Nesterov, Brett Ritchie,
2021: Trevor Lewis, Blake Coleman, Nikita Zadorov (technically by trade), Tyler Pitlick
One thing I find to be repeating it’s self is that he seems to add one or two players a year that are a prototype of truculence, then proceeds to sprinkle in players that are good statistically, but aren’t keeping anyone up worrying about lining up against them the next day. That process, in my opinion, is why the Flames haven’t achieved playoff success in the Treliving era. When the opposition gets those breaks from physical play, it takes a toll on the top 6. Especially when the blue line backing them up isn’t particularly mean either.
With a top 6 like the Flames have ran in the Monahan/Gaudreau era, the team should not have the option of adding players to the bottom 6 that aren’t finishing their checks. The top 6 is just too soft for that.
There is certainly a change in this year’s additions to the team. Everyone brought in is hard to play against. The obvious deduction is that Sutter has been heavily involved in discussions regarding who Brad Treliving should bring in. A few weeks ago, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Flames were also trying to sign Nick Ritchie. That was after the other additions. Given that report and a laterreport that Friedman does not think the Flames are done yet, here are a few more guesses at who might be on Sutter’s list:
Scott Laughton — I’ve been a fan of Scott Laughton since his OHL days. Laughton plays a hard game and would fit well into Darryl’s system. He can play wing or center. He’s a dependable penalty killer and I think him and Lindholm would be an absolutely dominant pairing. He has some latent offence to his game that translated well into a deep playoff run in 2020. He wouldn’t be free, but there have been rumours of him being available for a couple years now.
Evgeni Svechnikov — Svechnikov was left unqualified as an RFA this offseason and is now available as a UFA at the age of 24. He plays a hard game and has at least some element of offence to his game. He could be used as the 13th forward and could learn a lot from Trevor Lewis. A small bonus is that Evgeni plays right wing; a position that the Flames are most lacking. Evgeni is most likely seeking a one-way contract and a spot in the line up, but perhaps he would be ok with waiting for the first injury for his chance.
Josh Manson — Manson would likely cost a 1st, which is a tough pill to swallow for a player on the last year of their contract before unrestricted free agency. That said, he is a big, mean defenseman and the Flames could do with more of that. The addition of Manson would complete a transition into a blue line with a physical threat on each pairing.
Giordano-Andersson
Hanifin-Tanev
Valimaki-Nesterov
Stone
To
Hanifin-Tanev
Manson-Andersson
Valimaki-Zadorov
Mackey
Christian Fischer — Christian Fischer is a big, right shot RW who knows how to use his body. He was 9th in the NHL in hits last year (10th was Scott Laughton) and he has proven he has some scoring ability from a 33 point, 15 goal campaign in 17-18. He actually finished out last year scoring 4 points in 5 games. That said, it was an 11 point season. His production is dwindling and he may want a change of scenery. He, at very least, would be on the cheaper end to acquire
Adam Erne — Erne has had some growing pains on the stat sheet, but man does the guy work. He hits and it hurts and his effort would never be the issue. Erne would be a great leader by example if the intent is to grind down the other team every night. He just signed a 2x2, but I’m sure he could be had for a 2nd or 3rd round pick depending on the market next year.
Garnet Hathaway — Admit it. You miss him. Now that Lucic is patrolling the ice, he wouldn’t have to fight the heavyweights. He is absolutely a Sutter type and I have no doubt Sutter would get the best out of him. It doesn’t hurt that he is a right shot RW, 6’2” and 212lbs.
Brandon Tanev — This is a bit of a pipe dream. The cap hit is 3.5 until the end of the ’25 season and he’s a left shot left wing. On top of that, it seems like the Kraken are setting high prices and not getting many customers. That said, he goes hard. He can produce enough to justify his contract too. A Tanev Brothers situation would be glorious to behold.
This last one I think is the most fun.
Anze Kopitar — Alright. Calm down. Let’s make a case here:
1.) He might waive his limited NTC. Sutter covets big, elite centers. Sutter has won cups with Anze. Anze has a couple years of tread left at 33 and two years left on his contract at 10 million. I think they would both like another shot at the cup before it’s too late and Sutter knows Kopitar can be that #1 center.
2.) The Flames might not have to trade Mony. I know the public opinion on Monahan is low, but it doesn’t take a lawyer to make a case that Kopitar and Monahan are better to have on a team than Jack Eichel alone. It might require moving Backlund (who has a 10 team trade list according to capfriendly.com) or including extra picks for retention.
3.) He would be much cheaper to acquire. Still most likely a first and a good asset, but he’s 33 now. Their best prospects played in the AHL last year, Gabe Vilardi aside. They’re not going on a run for the next two years. They just aren’t. Now would be the time to move him if they intend on getting assets while they can. Although, they may just want him to mentor Byfield. I’m sure the LA Kings brain trust would at least heavily discuss getting an extra first and a decent prospect for him.
Thanks for reading!
Trevor Neufeld
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