So far this season, the Flames edition

The Flames seem to be trying to find a way to sign Tkachuk. They feel things will progress quickly on Matthew. It is the term that they are working on now.

Same old, same old. Tkachuk appears to want a five-year term, but the Flames aren't interested in only five years — they are more interested in buying some free agency time. Tkachuk wants freedom as fast as he can get it. The Flames are trying to slow down the process.

The situation reminds me somewhat of an overprotective parent clipping their wings of the child trying to move out. The bright side is that Tkachuk is trying to prove his loyalty by turning down all offer sheets and saying he wants to stay. The other good news is that the parties are close enough on the cap issue. They are just working on the term. Then there is the human issue, meaning if there is a way to screw up, they will find a way. You know, like a husband trying to find an anniversary gift; it is not a matter of whether it will be bad, but of how bad the gift will be.

FLAMES QUALIFY FOR THE SECOND BUY OUT WINDOW

Thanks to David Rittich, Sam Bennett, Ryan Limberg, and Rinat Valiev filing for arbitration, the Flames can exercise the second buy-out in August. There is a feeling the Flames knew this was going to happen, so there was no hurry to buy out Stone. The Flames are not commenting on that. Of course, why would they? That is over a month away. It might be handy down the stretch. I suspect that the Flames are happy with the defence. If they had planned on buying out Stone, they would have done it the first buy-out period.  

BRODIE NOT BEING SHOPPED

Fans take everything out of context. If there is a deal to be had, the Flames will explore it, but they are not doing a deal if it doesn't help the team. That pretty much says that they are listening on Brodie, but not necessarily shopping him. Of course, a trade has to happen to fit in the RFA's; they are just in no hurry.

THE GOALIE ISSUE 

The goalie tandem is Talbot and Rittich. But there is another goalie on the payroll. If my research is correct, Jon Gillies is on a one-way contract, which begs the question of what are going to do with him. There is one option waiving him; they already said they are not planning out on using the second buy-out window. Of course, the second option is the trade route. Expect this to addressed closer to the end of the season.

FINAL WORD

The Flames won't make any plans on buy-outs or moving salary until they know more where guys are going to come in cap wise.

The Flames have some essential free agents right now, and that is the top priority.