One Down, 14 Left

Man, I need to catch up on this blog, even though there really hasn't been alot to talk about this past month. I had thought of things to talk about but just never got around to it. Anyways with training camps opening soon, I really needed a new post.

Recent news from Flames camp, has a report saying F Marcus Nilson is prepared to sign with CSKA Moskow of the KHL. From the report the Flames have agreed to release Nilson to CSKA Moskow, which dumps a million dollars off the cap hit and gets the forwards down to 14 players with one-way contracts. I'm all in favor of this move, Nilson was dead weight on the Flames team and carried a big cap hit for a guy who only played 47 games last season and would have been hard pressed to even match that number again this season.

The Flames now sit just over the 57 million dollar salary cap. Rumors have been swirling that the Flames have been in talk with teams who sit under the salary cap about possible trades. I have mentioned his name before and haven't been alone in doing it either (and no it isn't Eriksson, whom also needs to go way before Aucoin goes anywhere!), Aucoin and his 4 million dollar cap hit has to go. I think giving young guys like Pardy, Pelech and Negrin a shot to make the squad could be very beneficial. Aucoin has some trade value and would give the Flames some freedom if they wanted to make a move sometime during the season. Eriksson should really be the first priority, he is AWFUL and I could not stand another season of him in a Flames uniform, patrolling our blueline. Please Sutter just send him to the minors, do anything to keep him from the line-up. The Flames would still have Warrener, who should just re-structure his contract, for veteran leadership and could even bring in another veteran defensemen to help out one of the three young guys I mentioned and even help out Giordano.

The Flames, Oilers and Canucks mini rookie tournament kicked off today. I didn't get a chance to listen to it on the radio but I did catch the highlights. I didn't know that they were streaming the games on the Flames website but now that I do know I will tune into the game tomorrow when the Flames rookies face the Canucks rookies. I cannot wait!