1. The NHL Draft
This one is first because, quite frankly, it's the only thing on this list that is 100% guaranteed to happen. The Flames scouts and management got together recently to hammer out their final draft ranking, and the Flames are going to need it with 4 picks in the first 2 rounds and 9 picks total. The Flames head into the draft with the 6th overall pick, and while it's unlikely they will find someone who can step in and fill a need right away(unless they can find a way to maneuver themselves into a higher pick) finding the Best Player Available is going to be crucial for the long term success of this team. If they can find the right guy, they'll have themselves a very good NHL player on their hands, and another young player for Flames fans to salivate over.
Probability: 100%. Baring something catastrophic, the NHL draft is happening June 24th-25th.
2. The Time is Right to Find a Goalie
Speaking of the NHL draft, and all the picks the Flames hold in the first 2 rounds, I'd say the draft floor is the perfect storm for the Flames to walk away with their new number 1 goalie. Regardless of whether NHL expansion is green lighted or not(we will find out on June 22nd), there seems to be a plethora of teams that will be looking to shed their extra goaltender. (Namely Anaheim and Pittsburgh). While I have reservations about the Flames 6th pick being in play, I could see them package up one or two of their second round picks for "their guy".
Probability: 85%. There's an off chance that Flames delv into the free agent pool for their goaltender, but the free agent class isnt a strong one and I personally think the Flames will take advantage of the goalie market and make a trade.
3. The Coaching Search Should Be Coming to an End
This is not something that I have any inside information on, it's just me trying to connect dots.
With the Draft just a couple weeks away, I'm sure the Flames would like to bring in their new head coach, even if it's just to shakes hands and forge relationships with any new draftees. However, this is not imperative.
For me, the reason I think the Flames will hire their guy before the draft, or maybe just after, is because a week after the draft the new head coach will be running a prospects camp. The organization would be doing themselves, and their new coach, a disservice by not rounding out the coaching staff and giving them enough preparation time heading into it.
Probability: 75%. Flames brass constantly talk about how they'll wait till training camp if it means finding the right guy. I have no doubts they'd do it too, but I really don't think they have too. The sooner the better, so I have to believe the Flames will have a new coach before the end of the month.
4. Locking up the Future
It's no secret that the biggest item on Treliving's agenda this off season is signing his 2 young stars, Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, to long term deals. While, like hiring a coach now, signing these guys right now isn't imperative, it's definitely something that you'd think Treliving would like done sooner rather than later.
I'm sure there's a group of free agents (although I doubt anyone with a big price tag) Treliving would like to try and sign on July 1st, and doing so will be much easier if he knows exactly how many dollars he has to work with. In that sense, signing Johnny and Mony now makes a lot of sense.
Probability: 50%. It tough to tell where they're at with negotiations. Treliving has shown a tendency in the past to get his big work out of the way quickly (ie the Gio extension) but I'm not sold that these deals will be done before July 1st hits.
5. More Activity?
Listening to some of the talking heads and insiders of the NHL, one might be under the impression that there are some teams looking to make more changes than usual.
I have no doubts that the Flames are one of them.
And there's no better time to try and make things happen then when all 30 teams are represented under one roof.
The Flames are a rebuilding team that are trying to transition into a playoff and,eventually, a Stanley Cup contender, but there are holes on the roster and cap issues creeping up.
The good news is that the cap issues are short term (lots of money coming off at the end of next season), and holes may very well be filled internally(a number of young players will hopefully push for spots sooner rather than later), so the Flames don't need to desperately go out and do something.
Still, I'm sure the Flames would like to rid themselves of a couple older, overpaid defenders in Wideman and/or Smid, and free up that cap space for another spot on the roster.
Joe Colborne is an interesting case as well. The big bodied winger/center had himself a career year, yet there doesn't seem to be a big appetite by management to hand him a big deal. (Burke's commented on how they are not going to pay Colborne 3.6 mill, which they feel he will get in arbitration). The Flames would probably like to keep him, as they like wingers with size who can go to the net and put up points.
Still, Colborne's somewhat soft for his size and the Flames want to get more physical. That, combined with the contract situation and his inability to be consistent offensively, means you could see Colborne on the move, but only if the Flames can't get him to sign a bridge deal and feel they are heading to arbitration.
Probability: 10%. Any big money deal could take some time to come to fruition, and Colborne himself isn't guaranteed to move.
