Gone is the high price talent coming in, in hopes of making the playoffs and hoping to win a round a or two. This time around, there is a genuine attempt at rebuilding the Flames from back end out to the forwards.

 

"We really did attempt to sign some of the better free agent players that were available," said GM Drummond. "But, in the end our offers were too low or just not good enough, which was probably for the best. There are areas on our roster that we needed to address to have any success in the future. So we changed our focus on to the younger players that were available. We didn't get all of the players that we were after but we did get a few.

 

"We signed higly touted college free agents Matt Gilroy, Tyler Bozak, Christian Hanson and Jeff Lovecchio to 3 year deals. Our only other signing was a significant one. We were able to get Todd White to agree to a 3 year contract. He is a solid defensive forward who can also play some offense. Our top two lines aren't going to scare anyone, but they will surprise you if don't watch them closely.

 

"On the back end, we have a group of players that are good defensively and is only going to get better. They are all between 24 and 29. In goal, we have one the best young goalies in the game, Carey Price. Carey is only going to get better as he gets older and gains more experience."

 

OUT                                    IN

C Robert Lang (traded)           C Todd White (UFA)

W Eric Perrin (gone to KHL)     W Cody McCleod (re-rated)

W Alexandre Giroux (AsHL)      W David Perron (activation)

W Tomas Kopecky (AsHL)       W Ryan Callahan (trade, re-rated)

W Patrick Thoresen (KHL)       D Matt Gilroy (UFA)

D Derian Hatcher (retired)       D Jonas Frogren (activation)

 

It will be an exciting training camp and pre-season, as there are several players who will be pushing for a NsHL job.

 

The likes of Bozak, Hanson, Hale, Giroux, Kopecky, Lovecchio, Wagner, Festerling and Wilson will get an opportunity to show there skills to new coach Brent Sutter.