Flames aim for financial flexibility
CALGARY — Some have been calling it ‘salary-cap gymnastics.’
As he completed his own mathematical manoeuvring and finalized his openingnight roster, Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving came up with a better description.
“Needless to say, we’re involved in some cap Cirque du Soleil,” Treliving quipped.
Since even before the training-camp auditions were complete, Treliving and his Saddledome deputies have been busy with that budgetary balancing act, those economic acrobatics.
Seeking as much financial flexibility as possible, the Flames didn’t name any spares to their opening-night roster ahead of Thursday’s curtainraiser against the Jets in Winnipeg, submitting 20 names instead of the maximum 23.
That’s why defenceman Oliver Kylington and forwards Derek Ryan and Zac Rinaldo were on waivers earlier this week. All unclaimed, they have now been stashed on the taxi squad for cap-savings reasons.
According to the fine folks at PuckPedia, presumably with better high-school math grades than anybody in the sports-writing business, the current bare-bones roster configuration — a dozen forwards, six defencemen and a pair of puck-stoppers — would leave the Flames
with US$2.09 million in projected salary-cap space. That number, previously estimated in the $225,000 range, will change with any call-up or transaction.
Especially as you deal with injuries or inch toward the trade deadline, every little bit helps.
And it’s not like Kylington, Ryan and the rest of the taxisquaders will be skating in some sort of exile.
They can practice with the team.
They can travel with the team.
At any point prior to 5 p.m. on a game-night, they can be promoted to the active roster. It will be commonplace to hear the afternoon guys on Sportsnet 960 The Fan analyzing news that one of the extras has been bumped up and will be in uniform that evening.
Also on the substitute list are goalie Louis Domingue, rookie rearguard Connor Mackey and right-winger Buddy Robinson.
“The way we explained it to our players, there’s really no difference,” Treliving said shortly after Tuesday’s roster deadline. “The difference between the taxi squad and the regular roster is that if you’re on the taxi squad, we have to make a transaction with the league to put you on the roster. But those players on the taxi squad could be put in the lineup at any particular time.
“Call it what it is — a guy like Derek Ryan, we think, is going to be an important part of our team right now. But there are cap implications for having him on the taxi squad for certain days, in terms of accumulating cap-space. So, I think you’ll see with us, as probably with a number of teams in the league, that you’re trying to maximize your cap-space. That’s the business side.
“As for the taxi squad, they’re not going to have sandwich boards that they wear every day that say, ‘I’m on the taxi squad.’ They’re part of the Calgary Flames.”
Treliving met with Ryan prior to Monday’s waiverwire exposure, explaining the cost-contortion game-plan to the 34-year-old centre. (Because he’s on a one-way contract, he’ll collect his full wage whether he’s on the taxi squad or main roster.
These savings only apply to the league-wide spending limit, not his personal paycheques.
Those on two-way deals, however, will receive their AHL salary as spares.)
Since the Ryan move had been foreshadowed, there were really no surprises when the Flames’ opening-night crew was revealed.
Treliving and company will do their best to accrue cap space, but the priority is accumulating points in the North Division standings.