What you see is what you get...

In examining the state of the Flames on Capgeek recently, I noticed a disturbing trend...a lot of little locks next to player's names. 

This got me thinking, "How does Calgary stack up against the rest of the league when in comes to NMC clauses?"

The answer:  We WIN!!!!

In all, Darryl Sutter has handed out contracts to 10 players that involve NMC Clauses.  They are:

Jarome Iginla: 3 years remaining / $7.0m per
Daymond Langkow: 2 years remaining / $4.5m per
Matt Stajan: 4 years remaining / $3.5m per
Rene Bourque: 5 years remaining / $3.33m per
Ales Kotalik: 2 years remaining / $3.0 m per
Olli Jokinen: 2 years remaining / $3.0m per
Alex Tanguay: 1 year remaining / $1.7m per
Jay Bouwmeester: 4 years remaining / $6.68m per
Robyn Regehr: 3 years remaining / $4.02 m per
Miikka Kiprusoff: 4 years remaining / $5.833m per

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=9&salary_cap_mil=59&salary_cap_thou=4

In looking at this, one has to believe, we are in for very little change to this Flames team.  Especially over the next two seasons. 

There will be $42.563 million committed to these ten players in 2010-2011 and $40.863 million committed in 2011-2012 once Tanguay's deal expires.

2012-2013 should bring a little more relief as Langkow, Kotalik (providing of course he sticks around) and Jokinen come off the books.  That brings the Flames total NMC promises to $30.363 million. 

2013-2014 may be the first year we can realistically expect to see a true change in this team, without a player or two waiving their NMC. $11.02 million in additional space will be freed up, assuming Jarome Iginla and Robyn Regehr are not re-signed.  That leaves $19.343 million to the remaining "core" of Bouwmeester, Kiprusoff, Bourque and Stajan.

The team that comes closest to Calgary in handing out NMC clauses are the lovely folks out in Vancouver, who have dished out 8 to their respective employees.

http://www.capgeek.com/charts.php?Team=29&salary_cap_mil=59&salary_cap_thou=4

Although, it does appear as if they have been a little more judicious in their NMC's.  However, Manny Malhotra kind of blows that idea out of the water. 

Nonetheless, I digress.

The point of this was to illustrate just how hamstrung Darryl now is if he wants to make any meaningful changes to this club.   The problem is, it doesn't seem like does. 

As fans, we just have to hope that  "Darryl's Decemvirate" prove his decision making correct or we could be in for years of the same ol', same ol'.