[Rumour] Dreger: Flames very much in the market for trades

[sureLoss]

http://www.nicholsonhockey.com/worth...ket-for-trades

Darren Dreger was on Montreal’s TSN 690 on Thursday morning.

On the Calgary Flames maybe having mixed emotions about being ahead of schedule in the rebuild, during what will be a great draft year:

"Yeah, I mean that makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it. Because the 14 wins they’ve amassed, they’re not going anywhere. Those are in the bank. So you add a piece here or there and maybe you do fight for that playoff spot, and then find out what happens after that and you throw your fan base a bone. This was supposed to be a full-on rebuild. Not just this year, but maybe for the next few years. And that hasn’t turned into the case.

“What I know his this: They insist they’re staying true to course and they are not doing anything crazy to bring in players that are going to improve their playoff chances immediately. What they are looking for though, are players that are age-specific that fit into that young, developing dynamic. So Brad Treliving and the Calgary Flames are very much in the market. They’re looking to make some deals. But they’ve got to be the right deals.

“And they also insist they’re in a position to I guess buy contracts, might be the best way to do it. When you look at some of the contracts out there that appear to be dead money on the books of certain teams, that’s a player that Calgary would take. But that player’s got to come along with a draft pick. Something that the Calgary Flames can turn into a better future ahead. It so far hasn’t materialized, but I know Treliving has made it clear throughout the NHL circles that Calgary is in a position to do that.”

[CaptainYooh]

Dreger - The art of saying a lot without saying anything.

[Hack&Lube]

We definitely have the cap room to buy dead contracts off other teams in return for them throwing in some juicy draft picks.

The problem is those contracts are usually 1-way players and that increases the log jam in front of getting NHL ice time for all our young prospects who have dutifully stepped up.

[djsFlames]

As long as the player going the other way isn't a crucial part of the current roster pushing for a spot this season.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

We definitely have the cap room to buy dead contracts off other teams in return for them throwing in some juicy draft picks.

The problem is those contracts are usually 1-way players and that increases the log jam in front of getting NHL ice time for all our young prospects who have dutifully stepped up.

Can we buy these contracts out or can that only occur in the off-season?

We could send them to Addy, though.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, I mean that makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it. Because the 14 wins they’ve amassed, they’re not going anywhere. Those are in the bank. So you add a piece here or there and maybe you do fight for that playoff spot, and then find out what happens after that and you throw your fan base a bone. This was supposed to be a full-on rebuild. Not just this year, but maybe for the next few years. And that hasn’t turned into the case.

He just can't help himself. He just can't say anything positive about the Flames without it being a backhanded complement.

And he just can't give up the Oiler mentality that losing = winning.

He is just embarrassing himself at this point - quickly becoming irrelevant on the NHL insider scene.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

[I] He just can't help himself. He just can't say anything positive about the Flames without it being a backhanded complement.

And he just can't give up the Oiler mentality that losing = winning.

He is just embarrassing himself at this point - quickly becoming irrelevant on the NHL insider scene.

Yup. When DD starts talking, I change the channel. I've never considered him an "insider" and I still don't. The only one at TSN that matters IMO is Bob Mckenzie.

[Dagger]

So the moves Treliving is interested in making are acquiring young talent that will fit into our plans moving forward and/or trying to buy picks/prospects via taking on a bad contract. Where does our surprising start figure into any of this? If we were much lower in the standings we'd be looking to do the same. Non-story.

[Parallex]

Oh good, I was terrified that he'd be saying that the Flames are trying to add 'now' pieces despite what we heard from Treliving.

[calumniate]

Hmm.. he didn't mention the leafs once there

[SuperMatt18]

Yeah I would not be surprised at all if the Flames are looking for a defenseman in that 22-26 range.

[sa226]

Dreger seems to think that finishing in the bottom 5 of the league and rebuilding are not mutually exclusive.

The plan is to build a Stanley Cup team, not a team that just makes the playoffs.

Stay the course on the rebuild, have a plan. If they outperform expectations, its just gravy. Nothing else.

To be clear, it sounds like that's exactly what the team is doing. Dreger's opinion is what irks me.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

He just can't help himself. He just can't say anything positive about the Flames without it being a backhanded complement.

And he just can't give up the Oiler mentality that losing = winning.

He is just embarrassing himself at this point - quickly becoming irrelevant on the NHL insider scene.

Well yeah, I mean, it's just simple math.

[The Hendog]

Originally Posted by Igster

Yup. When DD starts talking, I change the channel. I've never considered him an "insider" and I still don't. The only one at TSN that matters IMO is Bob Mckenzie.

Pierre LeBrun is pretty good
No Mckenzie but way way better than DD

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

We definitely have the cap room to buy dead contracts off other teams in return for them throwing in some juicy draft picks.

The problem is those contracts are usually 1-way players and that increases the log jam in front of getting NHL ice time for all our young prospects who have dutifully stepped up.

Not for sure. I mean hypthetically we could trade for a bad money deal get the overpaid guy with a pick on top... we could then offer the overpaid guy to another team at 1/2 price (thus making him go from overpaid to reasonably paid) and get something for him.

Flames get multiple futures assets, keep the roster spot open to promote a prospect.

Win-Win.

[ben voyonsdonc]

As I said in last night's PGT, I'm not a fan of buying contracts if it exacerbates the logjam at certain positions. We can buy a contract if it fills one of our needs (ie RW/2nd pairing D) but we need to keep those who are playing well in the lineup.

It is a weird position for Treliving to be in because he can't trade many of our veterans for just picks because we are kissing the cap floor so we have to probably take on some sort of contract in a trade. However, I wouldn't want to take on players with bad contracts to entice teams to give us a better pick/prospect unless they fill an existing need.

[codynw]

Flames should have been in on Dillon from Dallas. He could have been a great addition.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

It is a weird position for Treliving to be in because he can't trade many veterans for just picks because we are kissing the cap floor so we have to probably take on some sort of contract in a trade.

I read this so often around here, but we are actually 5m above the floor right now. When we are healthy and send callups back down, we still have 3m or so. Lots of room.

[FlamesAddiction]

Being in the trade market to "just make the playoffs" is not wise.

Being in the trade market to supplement the rebuild and improve the team long term is good.

I doubt Dreger knows Treliving's intention.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by codynw

Flames should have been in on Dillon from Dallas. He could have been a great addition.

Very true, but in exchange for whom? And dont say Diaz or Wideman because that conversation probably isnt happening.