Todd Cordell: On testing Lindholm at center, a bigger role for Bennett, and more

Appreciate the blog Todd!

Does anyone foresee a time when either side (mainly on the Tkachuk contract) starts to play hardball and draw lines in the sand? I'm just wondering how long this goes before it gets nasty?

Lindholm is a capable center if you leave him there for more than a couple games at a time.

Peters didn't give him many long looks there in Carolina except for one stretch when Victor Rask was hurt, and even then he had some middling at best linemates.

He won't carry a line on his own, but if you give him some talent to work with he can be effective as a C, I think.

What is with the rumor that Tkachuk might not sign and be traded? I know the Blues would offer a big package in return.

I don't see how Lindy gets the ice time he needs or frankly the Flames need him to have playing as a 3C.
No doubt he could play center in the NHL but we need him on the ice 19-20 minutes a night.

The rumor that Tkachuk might not sign and be traded is nothing but BS and we certainly have not heard that rumor in Calgary.
It would take an enormous offer to even get Calgary to begin the discussion.

What is with the rumor that Tkachuk might not sign and be traded? I know the Blues would offer a big package in return.
- IBleedBlu1

Its about the same validity as a Hockeybuzz rumor...

The idea of Lindholm moving to centre is purely because Backlund has proven he is no defensive specialist, especially when it comes to handling elite centres like MacKinnon, which you will see 90% of the time in the playoffs. THAT is why the idea of Lindholm (or Kadri) at centre is even a thought...they have a shot at doing it. If Backlund could handle other teams' elites, you wouldn't even think about breaking up the top line. The combos of Monahan/Gaudreau and Lindholm/Tkachuk is the appeal if it works. Backlund as your third centre instead of your second makes by blood pressure go down just talking about it...

Simple...old school..
https://www.nhl.com/flame...rsey-unveiled/c-309105068

I would like to see this experiment.

The idea of Lindholm moving to centre is purely because Backlund has proven he is no defensive specialist, especially when it comes to handling elite centres like MacKinnon, which you will see 90% of the time in the playoffs. THAT is why the idea of Lindholm (or Kadri) at centre is even a thought...they have a shot at doing it. If Backlund could handle other teams' elites, you wouldn't even think about breaking up the top line. The combos of Monahan/Gaudreau and Lindholm/Tkachuk is the appeal if it works. Backlund as your third centre instead of your second makes by blood pressure go down just talking about it...
- sideshow03

Not sure I agree on your Backlund assessment but I do think Lindholm would make an excellent shut down C. If you're proposing using Backlund as a 3C & Lindy and Mony as 1 & 2 C's, we would be better served trading him and letting Ryan, Janko, Bennett, Dube & Quinne battle for 3C and 4C. Backlund would bring back an excellent package as 3/4 of the league would love to have him as their 2C.

I think the delay on signing Tkachuk & Mangiapane is coming from the Flames, not the players. BT needs to do something to create cap-space, it isn't the players fault that the team hasn't had any cap space all off season

I think the delay on signing Tkachuk & Mangiapane is coming from the Flames, not the players. BT needs to do something to create cap-space, it isn't the players fault that the team hasn't had any cap space all off season
- Saskabush

It's 95% on the players that they're not signed yet. If Tkachuk was willing to sign a reasonable deal, he'd be signed by now. It's the same situation with all the other RFAs. Can't blame them for wanting to get paid, but it's on them for not signing yet.

What is with the rumor that Tkachuk might not sign and be traded? I know the Blues would offer a big package in return.
- IBleedBlu1

Depends on the offer. If anyone can get him to take a hometown discount, it would be Blues.

It's 95% on the players that they're not signed yet. If Tkachuk was willing to sign a reasonable deal, he'd be signed by now. It's the same situation with all the other RFAs. Can't blame them for wanting to get paid, but it's on them for not signing yet.
- Hunkulese

We have 7 million in space to sign 2 players. We knew from day 1 that it was going to take more than 6.75 to sign Tkachuk. Signing 1 of these players would leave us vulnerable to an offer sheet on the other.

We will be paying for BT's summer fuccK ups for the foreseeable future. Over 7.5 million dollars in wasted cap on Lucic, Brouwer and Stonex2. This is Brad's mess to clean up.

It's 95% on the players that they're not signed yet. If Tkachuk was willing to sign a reasonable deal, he'd be signed by now. It's the same situation with all the other RFAs. Can't blame them for wanting to get paid, but it's on them for not signing yet.
- Hunkulese

Depends on the situation and what you consider "Reasonable."


to me, a reasonable contract for Tkachuk eats up more cap space than the Flames actually have right now.

Depends on the situation and what you consider "Reasonable."


to me, a reasonable contract for Tkachuk eats up more cap space than the Flames actually have right now.
- BINGO!

Let's say Tkachuk would sign 6 years at 7.5 million. Biggest contract in team history, more than they gave Gaudreau, enough money to set him up for life, and he'll be a UFA at the perfect age to get a ridiculous payday.

He'd be signed already if he'd accept that, and the Flames would have figured out the cap. There's a 100% chance they have a plan to figure out the cap and paying Tkachuk up to 9 million.

We have 7 million in space to sign 2 players. We knew from day 1 that it was going to take more than 6.75 to sign Tkachuk. Signing 1 of these players would leave us vulnerable to an offer sheet on the other.

- Saskabush

Offer sheets aren't real. If anyone was willing to offer sheet Tkachuk, it would have happened by now. If someone really wanted to pay Mangiapane more than a million, it would have happened by now.

Let's say Tkachuk would sign 6 years at 7.5 million. Biggest contract in team history, more than they gave Gaudreau, enough money to set him up for life, and he'll be a UFA at the perfect age to get a ridiculous payday.

He'd be signed already if he'd accept that, and the Flames would have figured out the cap.
- Hunkulese

Sure, but that's not what the market says he's worth.

The dollar figure of contracts signed previously are irrelevant. It's about the percentage of cap hit now. And an $8 million per year contract is about 10%.

The other thing is that a 6 year contract gives up one season of UFA eligibility for him, a year where he likely would be able to sign for an awful lot more than $7.5 million.

Offer sheets aren't real. If anyone was willing to offer sheet Tkachuk, it would have happened by now. If someone really wanted to pay Mangiapane more than a million, it would have happened by now.
- Hunkulese

Aho got one.... it was a pathetic offer that got him locked in for a pretty reasonable dollar amount, but it technically was one.

Sure, but that's not what the market says he's worth.

The dollar figure of contracts signed previously are irrelevant. It's about the percentage of cap hit now. And an $8 million per year contract is about 10%.

The other thing is that a 6 year contract gives up one season of UFA eligibility for him, a year where he likely would be able to sign for an awful lot more than $7.5 million.
- BINGO!

Again, good on the players for holding out for as much money as they can squeeze out of the teams, but they'd all be signed if they'd accept reasonable offers. Provorov just signed a reasonable deal. 7.5 million would be almost the exact same cap percentage as Gaudreau signed for.

Hopefully, none of the GMs crack, because the system is broken and unsustainable if players are getting near max contracts after 3 years. I can't imagine the players are really that thrilled with it.

Again, good on the players for holding out for as much money as they can squeeze out of the teams, but they'd all be signed if they'd accept reasonable offers.

Hopefully, none of the GMs crack, because the system is broken and unsustainable if players are getting near max contracts after 3 years.
- Hunkulese

Nobody is getting near a max contract.

The only guy that has ever gotten a max contract was Brad Richards, who got $7.8 million per in 06-07.

That's the equivalent of a $16.3 million per year contract under today's cap structure.

Player salaries have not kept up at the inflation rate of the cap.

$7.5 is not a reasonable contract number for him. It's a good number for a short bridge, but not if you're signing him longer term.

Teams didn't adapt well to the cap. They've spent far too much money on mid tier UFA's instead of spending it on locking up young, elite talent.

Offer sheets aren't real. If anyone was willing to offer sheet Tkachuk, it would have happened by now. If someone really wanted to pay Mangiapane more than a million, it would have happened by now.
- Hunkulese

A 3rd round pick would be a pretty sweet deal for Mangiapane. The Flames would easily be able to match a $2 million dollar deal right now though (and we likely would).

However, if BT signs Tkachuk to 7.5 as you suggest (bringing us right to the cap ceiling, if not through it) matching that offer would be much more difficult if not impossible (especially if no other teams step up to take Frolik off our hands during that window).

Again, good on the players for holding out for as much money as they can squeeze out of the teams, but they'd all be signed if they'd accept reasonable offers. Provorov just signed a reasonable deal. 7.5 million would be almost the exact same cap percentage as Gaudreau signed for.

Hopefully, none of the GMs crack, because the system is broken and unsustainable if players are getting near max contracts after 3 years. I can't imagine the players are really that thrilled with it.
- Hunkulese

Tkachuk landing in the middle of Aho (8.45 x 5) and Provorov (6.75 x 6) would be 7.6 per. Get the damn contract signed already!

Tkachuk landing in the middle of Aho (8.45 x 5) and Provorov (6.75 x 6) would be 7.6 per. Get the damn contract signed already!
- DEDDIE

We only have 7 million in cap space, that's the problem.