Todd Cordell: Grading the Calgary Flames' off-season moves

I really view Valimacki as the Brodie replacement. I know that isn't what the plan is right now but I feel that it will come to be sooner than we think. This will put Tanev in the bottom pairing who can move up to top four when needed. An overpayment for Tanev but I don't think he'll be relied on as much as we think.

I agree with most of your assessments in the article.

Markstrom is an above average goalie, but I don't like the cost/term when he has a NMC. For someone his age at his position, that's just not realistic. I've heard it speculated that we'll likely regret the last year or two of the contract. Probably sooner rather than later, unless he weathers better with a stronger D-corp. in front of him. Maybe I'm being unrealistically optimistic in thinking that Wolfe and Chechelev will be knocking at the door long before that six years is up.

Completely bang-on regarding Tanev being the Hamonic replacement with similar stats and concerns and grade.

Liked your view on Simon and his ability to slide up an down the lineup. Just to be clear, though, if he's in our bottom-6, then we're not going to get 30 points out of him, but his game is solid enough that he'll be a strong support to whomever he's with.

Leivo has potential, but the one thing I've not heard addressed is his skill as a skater, which may be suspect and which may have kept him from climbing the depth charts elsewhere.

I must admit that I disagree with you about Nordstrom. He was never picked up to address depth scoring/putting up points. The sole reason for his presence is to consistently shut down opposition as a grinder and on the PK. Anything on top of that is gravy (though it won't be much of anything).

My two cents, for what it's worth.

Love how Todd’s analysis of Tanev just looks at his season in a vacuum being compared as worse defensively than his other seasons. It’s almost as if he spent most of his time on the ice paired with an undersized rookie who sucks in the corners.

I really view Valimacki as the Brodie replacement. I know that isn't what the plan is right now but I feel that it will come to be sooner than we think. This will put Tanev in the bottom pairing who can move up to top four when needed. An overpayment for Tanev but I don't think he'll be relied on as much as we think.
- Flames in 6 04

Not sure how you make the Brodie Valamaki comparison. Brodie played the right side & Valamki is left side. That is certainly not pushing Tanev to bottom pairing. It may speculate why we may consider moving Hanifin if they feel Valamaki can step in & play beside Anderssen.

Your cruising for a disappointment if your grading Simon an a. Got most of his points playing with Sid. Basically invisible in bottom 6. Now if you are looking for a guy who won’t hurt you... hence invisible... not bad. But this is not a depth scoring option for the flames.

I really view Valimacki as the Brodie replacement. I know that isn't what the plan is right now but I feel that it will come to be sooner than we think. This will put Tanev in the bottom pairing who can move up to top four when needed. An overpayment for Tanev but I don't think he'll be relied on as much as we think.
- Flames in 6 04

4/4.5m is a lot if you want him bottom pairing. Top 4 money with diminishing skills but 2 years would’ve been fine. Not great value is to be expected.

I don't view Nordstrom as anything more than a 13th F. Without even taking in account Gawdin making the roster, there are 12 better forwards that should play most of the games. And you have the possibility of Rinaldo as the 14th instead of Gawdin.

Is he less of a defensive hole than Rinaldo? Does he provide some grit and the off-chance of outscoring Janko from last year? Maybe.

Love how Todd’s analysis of Tanev just looks at his season in a vacuum being compared as worse defensively than his other seasons. It’s almost as if he spent most of his time on the ice paired with an undersized rookie who sucks in the corners.


- fry

Hughes made Tanev seem better than he was not vice versa. No offence & break out ability will show up. Lots of heart & will block shots & solid PK.

If Leivo is over his knee cap injury he will be more than good value. Cheap very low risk with underrated offensive ability.

Marky is very solid but 6yrs & the NMC are a burden. Cleaned up early weak goals but it hasn’t disappeared. Give him 3 good years outta 6.

You think Dominik Simon is the Flames best off-season move? Lay off the edibles.

4/4.5m is a lot if you want him bottom pairing. Top 4 money with diminishing skills but 2 years would’ve been fine. Not great value is to be expected.
- Nighthawk

Good point 4 x 4.5 is a lot for a 3rd pair D man that will be exposed to Seattle.... The good news is we don't have Luongo 2 x 3.5, Sven 3.36, Beagle 2 x 3, Sutter 4.375, Loui 2 x 6 and Roussel 2 x 3 sitting on our CAP so we can tolerate the luxury.

“ they lost a really solid defenseman in T.J. Brodie and replaced him with a lesser, more injury-prone player in Chris Tanev.”

No. They replaced Brodie with a younger, growing actual right shooting D in Rasmus Anderssen. Tanev effectively replaces Travis Hamonic.
When you look at it from this perspective, it’s an ok signing. Still too long but not terrible.

Like someone else mentioned Andersson is the replacement for Brodie. Tanev will play behind him with Hanafin unless Hanafin gets traded. As a right side second pairing dman I think this should at least be a C, and I actually think he will mesh well and will surprise some naysayers.

Nordstrom is a penalty killing specialist to replace Reider. He had one of the higher pk minutes on the bruins last year despite playing 21 less games. He is very good at killing penalties. Weather that means he should be a regular in the lineup remains to be seen.

Simon is a good value pick up for sure, Lievo I think will definitely help the middle six..

Now you keep forgetting and I haven't seen you mention Nesterov yet. I think he was a great pick up, and will be fighting for the 6 7 dman position with Kylington and Petrovic is on a mission to prove he belongs in the NHL, who knows maybe he will be a Reider this year just on defense...

And I guess you are expecting Domingue to play in the AHL next season but he should be counted in the grading for off season pick ups...

Todd Cordell: Grading the Calgary Flames' off-season moves
- ToddCordellCGY

Nesterov, Petrovic, Domingue?

Like someone else mentioned Andersson is the replacement for Brodie. Tanev will play behind him with Hanafin unless Hanafin gets traded. As a right side second pairing dman I think this should at least be a C, and I actually think he will mesh well and will surprise some naysayers.

Nordstrom is a penalty killing specialist to replace Reider. He had one of the higher pk minutes on the bruins last year despite playing 21 less games. He is very good at killing penalties. Weather that means he should be a regular in the lineup remains to be seen.

Simon is a good value pick up for sure, Lievo I think will definitely help the middle six..

Now you keep forgetting and I haven't seen you mention Nesterov yet. I think he was a great pick up, and will be fighting for the 6 7 dman position with Kylington and Petrovic is on a mission to prove he belongs in the NHL, who knows maybe he will be a Reider this year just on defense...

And I guess you are expecting Domingue to play in the AHL next season but he should be counted in the grading for off season pick ups...
- Nomad2112

Also while I believe kinvall was added not long after the shutdown in March I would consider him an off-season addition as well.

11 points in 8 games in the SHL we should really start talking about him as a legitimate option on the 3rd pair. With an impressive 19-20 season it boggles my mind how no one has talked about him.

Thank you for taking out Vancouver's trash.

Thank you for taking out Vancouver's trash.
- Heywood Jablome

You’re welcome. You can keep Baertchi and Ferland that’s 7mil right there.

You’re welcome. You can keep Baertchi and Ferland that’s 7mil right there.
- K-man25

Exactly what I was thinking. We sure dodged a bullet on those two.

Disagree about Leivo. I think with the right linemates and IF he can stay healthy, he could hit 20G. He's got a bomb of a shot.

Being one of the few RH players means he could very well end up on PP2 too.

Love how Todd’s analysis of Tanev just looks at his season in a vacuum being compared as worse defensively than his other seasons. It’s almost as if he spent most of his time on the ice paired with an undersized rookie who sucks in the corners.


- fry

Not sure what the point of this chart was...? He put up far worse numbers with Edler than Hughes. And overall he's been the possession anchor over the years in all cases.

“ they lost a really solid defenseman in T.J. Brodie and replaced him with a lesser, more injury-prone player in Chris Tanev.”

No. They replaced Brodie with a younger, growing actual right shooting D in Rasmus Anderssen. Tanev effectively replaces Travis Hamonic.
When you look at it from this perspective, it’s an ok signing. Still too long but not terrible.
- TandA4Flames

Which is annoying because Hamonic sucked. We finally got out of it and now he's being replaced by a more injury-prone version on a longer, more expensive deal.

Also while I believe kinvall was added not long after the shutdown in March I would consider him an off-season addition as well.

11 points in 8 games in the SHL we should really start talking about him as a legitimate option on the 3rd pair. With an impressive 19-20 season it boggles my mind how no one has talked about him.
- RedC21

I believe Kinvall won't be coming over until after the SHL season has concluded so he won't have much impact if at all. But he is ripping it up over there and watching some film from him running the pp, I really think AT MINIMUM can be a 3rd pair guy that plays on the 2nd pp unit.

The growth of Andy/Vali plus whatever Tanev can bring(with the right D partner, he can bounce back and be a solid #4) more than makes up for the departures of Brodie/Hamonic.

If Tanev doesn't fit well playing with Hanifan or Gio then maybe Seattle grabs him in expansion, freeing up that cap room for another move next summer. The Tanev deal isn't as bad as everyone's making it out to be.

I'm not convinced Hamonic is done in Calgary either, the market has dried up and so has his opportunity to get a multi-year deal in a market close to home. It could be mutually beneficial to squeeze him in on a 1 year deal to anchor that 3rd pair and groom Vali or Kylington.

I believe Kinvall won't be coming over until after the SHL season has concluded so he won't have much impact if at all. But he is ripping it up over there and watching some film from him running the pp, I really think AT MINIMUM can be a 3rd pair guy that plays on the 2nd pp unit.

The growth of Andy/Vali plus whatever Tanev can bring(with the right D partner, he can bounce back and be a solid #4) more than makes up for the departures of Brodie/Hamonic.

If Tanev doesn't fit well playing with Hanifan or Gio then maybe Seattle grabs him in expansion, freeing up that cap room for another move next summer. The Tanev deal isn't as bad as everyone's making it out to be.

I'm not convinced Hamonic is done in Calgary either, the market has dried up and so has his opportunity to get a multi-year deal in a market close to home. It could be mutually beneficial to squeeze him in on a 1 year deal to anchor that 3rd pair and groom Vali or Kylington.
- JallHockey

My gut feeling says you’re right about hamonic. I think if he was going to sign with the jets like many suspected it would have happened by now.

Assuming his first choice is to still play in western Canada we are realistically the only team with a spot open for him. Also he really shouldn’t be any more than what ceci or jack Johnson got on a 1 year deal.

It's been said that Tanev could be left unprotected for the expansion draft. For that matter, we could see Gio exposed. Also possible, though far less likely to also be exposed (solely based on the NTC or M-NTC) are Monahan and Backlund. While I could see the Flames choosing to expose Tanev or Gio at that point, or even asking Lucic to waive his NMC and allow himself to be expose, I seriously doubt that Tre would expose Monahan or Backlund.

I believe Kinvall won't be coming over until after the SHL season has concluded so he won't have much impact if at all. But he is ripping it up over there and watching some film from him running the pp, I really think AT MINIMUM can be a 3rd pair guy that plays on the 2nd pp unit.

The growth of Andy/Vali plus whatever Tanev can bring(with the right D partner, he can bounce back and be a solid #4) more than makes up for the departures of Brodie/Hamonic.

If Tanev doesn't fit well playing with Hanifan or Gio then maybe Seattle grabs him in expansion, freeing up that cap room for another move next summer. The Tanev deal isn't as bad as everyone's making it out to be.

I'm not convinced Hamonic is done in Calgary either, the market has dried up and so has his opportunity to get a multi-year deal in a market close to home. It could be mutually beneficial to squeeze him in on a 1 year deal to anchor that 3rd pair and groom Vali or Kylington.
- JallHockey

I’d say Hamonic probably isn’t going to play this year unless there’s a COVID vaccine that comes out.