I'd like this to be something of an open thread so everyone can share their impressions of the Flames activities this summer. I'll get things started, please add your own in the comments if you're so inclined.
- Alex Tanguay for 25th pick. Thumbs down.
Even given the restraints of the situation (Tanguay unhappy, NTC, need for cap-space) I still don't like the Tanguay deal. In the end, the Flames gave up an elite ES player (whose contract suddenly looks pretty damn good) for a late first round pick. It's going to be tough to replace his contributions.
- Mike Cammalleri for 17th pick. Thumbs up.
Cammalleri is a 26 year-old center/winger who has already scored 30 goals and 80 points in this league. He's already a significant threat on the PP and still has room to grow to his ceiling. At 3.35M, his should be one of the better value contracts on the team.
- Rene Bourque for a second round pick. Thumbs up.
Even before the deletions of Tanguay and Huselius the Flames were thin on the wings. Bourque is a low-cost acquisition who is a proven NHL player. He fills out the organizational depth, has room to improve and is fairly inexpensive (1.3M).
- Tim Ramholt for Kyle Greentree. Thumbs up.
I'd already given up on Ramholt as a prospect, so I see this a potential "something for nothing" deal. After watching him in two straight preseasons and looking at his AHL numbers, it was pretty clear that the Swiss Miss had stalled in his development and had been passed by a couple of younger guys in the Flames system.
On the other hand, Greentree is a big, scoring winger who managed 24 goals in his first professional season last year in the AHL. His play even warranted a couple of games in the big league with the Flyers. He'll be a welcome addition to the organizations prospect cupboard in general.
- UFA signing - Curtis Glencross. Thumbs up.
GlenX. Glengarry Glencross. Flames killer. Whatever you want to call him, Glencross is a clear upgrade over many of the guys the Flames had skating in the bottom 6 last year, even if you take his nice little run in Edmonton as a bit of a fluke. He's as fast as Lombardi, aggressive and has the potential to actually score every so often. Best part is, he's cheaper than Primeau.
- UFA signing - Daymond Langkow. Thumbs up.
Langkow has been the model of consistency since becoming a Flame (and for most of his career). Whether for 4.5M per or 5M per, he should provide value for his contract, at least through years one and two. The length of the deal may prove problematic, but that remains to be seen.
- UFA signing - Todd Bertuzzi. Thumbs down.
Even as a hockey move, the Bert signing is a questionable one. He's injury-prone, on the decline and his rates/reviews from last season are hardly positive. There were and are currently better options on the open market (eg: Gelinas, Willaims).
The price and term are good, meaning relatively low risk. If Bert excels then I'll change my mind.
Other: Giordano re-signing (thumbs up), Van Der Gulik resigning (thumbs up), Prust re-signing (thumbs down - only because it's a one-way deal), McElhinney re-signing (thumbs up), Nystrom re-signing (ambivalent).
Did I miss any? Agree/disagree?
