[driveway]

The following are teams I think would consider making a trade to try to get the #1 pick to get Matthews. What makes Matthews particularly desirable, I think is his status as a likely first-line centre. There are only 2 centres in the top 10 NA skaters. There are 4 internationals, but Matthews is the only one I've heard about as being that big, dynamic, scoring centre every single team craves.

Each of these teams could conceivably make an offer to the Flames, were we to end up with the number 1 pick, but there are a couple who I think would be A) more interested and B) could make a better offer.


Columbus. After trading away Johanson there's no one in that organization who looks like a future #1 C. There's also a fair amount of pressure to get better quickly, I don't feel like there is a lot of patience in Columbus for continuing down the middling-to-awful road. The obvious target to try to get out of them in addition to their pick is Zach Werenski. I'm a big fan of adding to your strengths and our D prospect group is one of our strong points. After brining in Seth Jones, would there be an appetite in Ohio to make essentially the opposite deal and send out a top-flight D prospect to bring in a Centre?

Winnipeg. Schiefele and Kyle Connor look like good prospects, but neither of them jump out and shout 'Superstar.' Similar to Columbus, patience is starting to wear thin. Brian Little is getting older and Winnipeg faces Edmonton-like issues in attracting free agents. Also about to face some serious tough cap-choices with Ladd, Byfuglien, and Trouba's rumoured contract demands. Getting in a blue-chip #1 centre whom you've got some cost-certainty over for a few years would be a big help to Winnipeg. From the Flames perspective, if the Jets have pick #2 or 3, one of their goalies (Comrie or Hutchinson) that #2 pick, plus an Ehjlers or Petan might make sense. Even more so if Kyle Connor can be pried away.

Toronto. Yes, they have Marner and Nylander coming up and they both look awesome. But the worst-kept secret in the NHL is how hard they're going to go after Stamkos. Having Matthews in the fold, I think, makes them a more attractive destination for #91 as they get much closer to being competitive much quicker. From the Flames point of view, you'd obviously try to get one of Marner or Nylander, but Kasperi Kapanen along with the #2 or #3 pick to shore that right side up with offensive-minded Finns might not be a bad way to go.

Carolina: Eric Staal is likely gone. Lindholm is developing well, but hasn't shown that he's a sure-fire #1 guy. The market is tough. An American-born young superstar in the making coming in could be really attractive to that team. The problem is they don't really have a lot to offer. They're shallow at forward for prospects, Eddie Lack can't win the crease from Cam Ward (who's likely gone). Really, what they've got to offer are some solid D prospects. Again, I'm a fan of adding to a source of strength, but I think Carolina would have to offer a few extra picks to make the Flames take notice.

Anaheim Can't score AT ALL. That Getzlaf contract is looking terrifying, as is the Kessler deal. Would love to get their hands on an exciting young, cheap centre. What do they have to offer? Goaltending and Defence. Problem is, they're in out division. They'd have to offer an insane package for the Flames to bite. Some crazy Andersen + Vatanen and next year's 1st kinda nonsense.

Phoenix Everyone expected them to tank, Matthews is from Phoenix. They are paying Pronger to make it to the cap floor. They'd love to get him. If the second half of their season is a crap-fest on wheels, I could see them making a hard push to trade up for the home-grown talent. Issue, same as Anaheim: in our division. Would have to offer the moon, and you know it's including Dylan Strome.

finally the team I'd be most curious to talk to about swinging a deal should we end up with the number one pick:


Philadelphia. They've got Giroux and Voracek, but they can't score. Second-worst offence in the league. They're the ones who I think could put together a number of different packages which would interest the Flames.
First, would they be willing to part with Couturier? Damn-fine 2nd/3rd line two-way centre. Locked up at a reasonable rate for a long time. Does not put points on the board. Simply doesn't. Almost identical stats to Backlund, but is three years younger. Pretty big upgrade over Backlund in that 2/3/pk centre role. IMO.
Then there are the prospects Philly could dangle: Konecny, Sanheim, possibly Provorov. Once again, I love adding strength to strength and the Flames D prospects are looking really good, adding a Sanheim or a Provorov to that mix would be outstanding.
Finally, there are the goalies. Philly has two capable NHL tenders in Neuvirth and Mason. Mason is the starter, but Neuvirth is putting up great stats. Both are signed for one more year at reasonable rates too.
Bringing in Matthews also instantly makes Philly a destination/glamour franchise again, something we know is important to ownership. Wouldn't surprise me to see them throw some crazy offer at us, were we to be in the position of having the #1 and they're in the top-5. Would you trade down from 1 to 3 and send Backlund, to get Couturier and Neuvirth? I'd think long and hard about that.

Anyway, this is all moot 'cause we're going like 30-5-1 from here on out and winning the Cup in 17 games (we'll lose once to Chicago in the third round), but it's fun to think about.