Flames make their first signing of free agency this year, thoughts?

Hudler is a solid player, but at 4 years for 16 million, the Flames got taken.

In addition to the 5.25 million per season for 5 years that Wideman got, the Calgary Flames come off as desperate... or incompetent.

The Flames currently have the 2nd highest payroll in the NHL. Thats right... the Calgary Flames. Much like the Blue Jackets, it is truly incomprehensible that someone could spend so much, for a team that is expected to finish near the bottom season after horrible season.

Note: It gets worse. They signed Cory Sarich to a 2 year 4 million deal. Sarich had 7 points last season. So with Wideman, they now have 10 defensemen on their roster, and they re-sign Cory Sarich to 2 million a season. WTF ?

Edit: In regards to Jagr, he reportedly received 21 offers. So while I would not be surprised that Calgary would be one of those, they'd have to be offering more than the 3kk+ that Jagr would be expected to sign for.

Calgary currently only has 4.3kk in capspace, so unless they plan on spending it all on Jagr, I don't see it happening.

A very solid offensive forward. A great player with some good hands. But does he deserve that big of a contract? Will he help the flames make the playoffs or will he just be a dud? Personally I think he should have got a smaller contract but i do think he will help the flames make a playoff run IF they make the right off season moves.

Im from detroit an i gotta say you are lucky. Hudler was my favorite player and a great player at that. Red wings lack a scorer now (hudler), a defensive captain (lidstrom), and are in a panic mode.

Hope my little hudler does well with ya

Sad to see him go

This is great.

They should try to get Jagr here and have a all Czech line:

Hudler-Cervenka-Jagr

Although I don't want a 40 year old on the Flames.

Not sure why Pandabear is laughing. The Leafs are paying Matt Lombardi 3.5 million for 60 games and 20 points a year. Don't even get me started on Connolly, LOL. Two concussion prone duds.

And Russ, a fan of a team that can barely manage to stay in its own city, and that pays Antoine Vermette $250,000 less than Hudler for 37 points a year. Don't know why you're laughing either.

Now to the actual signing; I don't mind it. A little pricey, and probably 1 or 2 years too much, but this is what you have to pay for UFA's in today's market. The fact is we were desperate for a Center, especially with Jokinen gone now. I don't think anyone has the right to judge this move until we've seen how he plays.

I think the rest of the hockey world right now is looking on and asking "you serious?"

4 million cap hit for Hudler? HA, okay, good luck with that

Hudler out of all people.. This is why I don't route for the flames.. Yet I live in calgary

@ Chris Exactly! I still think Feaster will send Jagr a contract

This is a really good signing for Calgary. Now they can dump Bouwmeester's contract and sign a good defenceman and one more forward.

A good signing. The price is fair since everyone's getting paid so much right now. I assume this means Jokinen is gone.

Flames still don't make the playoffs with this kind of signing.