Gaudette Celly

Welcome back, Jake. Got some job security now, keep working your way to consistency and up the lineup. Plenty of options cap-wise, even now. Benn alone whether waived or bought out would save $1mil if moved. Baertschi another obvious choice, but unless off the books any ELC replacement won't save much.

Markstrom no longer has Clark, and a potentially poorer defensive team in front of him now. You cannot simply add Stecher to Tanev to make him worth more than Schmidt. Juolevi himself could already be better, or one of the other prospects, or even the other dman they are purportedly looking to acquire. Toffoli was replaced with Boeser -- the inverse was the intent he was brought in for. Hawryluk is depth, as is Nordstrom. Flames have yet to cover their losses, let alone deal with their playoff-weak no-show roster. Otherwise it's going to be same-same -- likely make the playoffs but be an easy out.

Even the media there has finally realized that JonnyHoggy had to be moved, so a lot will depend on what kind of return they can get, which speculatively isn't all that great. Perhaps if they could have moved him and signed Hall as replacement, but they'll need his production to offset any regular season slippage that moving him will incur. The alternative is to continue with the same crew that is decent in the regular season but no-shows in the playoffs.

Ha, Oiler fan reaction be golden.

Willy MeLander was in 2014 with Virtanen, 2016 was Alex.

Will Lockwood and Jasek will also be vying for a spot on the roster.

1.85 -- last year they (seemingly) always split the difference.

Giordano and Tanev Russell and Barrie

Yup, I think they likely want Leivo back, and sounds like Vancouver's his preference as well. Pretty cost-effective for what he brings.

Things could work out quite well for us in the short term. Whereas the Leafs are saddled with 4 forwards making $40mil, we'll likely sign them to bridges in the $6-8mil range.

Figured his re-up wouldn't be much, maybe around $1.2mil, but to be still under $1mil is great.

There's no "learning". Established veterans were acquired for the bottom-6 to support the young players in the top-6. As was said, once we had bottom-6 level prospects develop into NHLers (see: MacEwen, Jasek, Lind, Bailey,, etc.) they would take over those spots.

The "medical" (but completely unscientific and arbitrary) tyranny continues... and people love it. Truly astounding how most embrace it so eagerly and give their God-given freedoms and liberties over without nary a whimper.

Latest member of the Dubas 700 Club.

I'd rather a playoff team with a young core and its cup window opening.

With Klefbom possibly out for the entire season, does Barrie adequately replace him? Offensively yes, overall... not so sure. They'd probably be wise to use OK's LTIR to sign someone more defensively solid.

Has shown he can fill in 3rd pairing when needed. Sautner, Brisebois, Chatfield, Juolevi, Rafferty, Rathbone -- getting a decent stable of prospects that are at or near NHL-readiness.

Buyers remorse showing already. Must sting to know they helped make it happen. https://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Todd-Cordell/Calgary-Flames-miss-the-boat-on-Nate-Schmidt-trade/202/107893

First JT Miller, now Nate Schmidt. JB out picking up others' trash, cleaning up on those 'cap dumps'.

I think I'd consider it. The buyout is somewhat better (over $800K saved first year versus $300K, and $400K hit vs $600K next year) but the bigger thing is he fills a need. Put him on the 3rd pairing to mentor/shelter Juolevi, versus Eriksson who really doesn't have a role here. Gets rid of a lightning rod 15th forward and fills your veteran 3-RD spot... provided Boychuk can still play, of course.

Leivo. He and Gaudette should combine for or under $3mil, not much more than Sutter's savings.

Twitter, instagram, local media, HF Boards, even CDC -- Jet Black dropped the hammer from the top rope, alright.

That's the part I don't get. Okay fine, give a player away for next to nothing to get the cap space, but to a up-and-coming divisional rival that fulfills a real need of theirs?