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Calgary4LIfe · 11-11-2017, 09:07 PM

I seriously doubt that the Flames will trade any D this season unless somehow the offence dries up. The opposite is currently true at the moment - the offence is finally showing up. We will see where this goes.

I do think that the Flames WILL trade some D this off-season and probably the next. There are a lot of prospects in the pipeline, but they also have to prove their ability.

Kulak has shown himself capable of being a full-time NHL'er. Over a stretch of games, however, he usually starts fading and then gets scratched, eventually getting demoted. Though I do think that he sticks this year, let's just make sure that he really does stick. Andersson has played a single game. I believe in him, but it is ONE game. He needs to prove he can play for a stretch and contribute.

There is also the matter of slotting. Will Kulak look really good still when he is out there against the other teams' first and second lines? Will he (or any other Flames Defensive prospect) start second guessing himself and taking too long to make a decision? Will he instead of taking the time to look for the best pass for the transition, or skating the puck out himself, just start to blindly dump it out off the boards to relieve pressure? I think you need to slowly acclimate defencemen into the NHL so that they don't lose their composure and start doing things away from their strengths.

I do think it is smart asset management to trade from a position of strength, but at the moment the Flames can't be positive what they have. To trade from a position of strength to suddenly realize they have a glaring hole in their top 4? That's a bad mistake that could cost the job of a GM. Flames FINALLY have a very strong top 4 with a Stone that can fit in the top 4 well during injuries. Imagine if it was Bartkowski having to fit in the top 4? Or a rookie over his head? That's what happens when you get injuries.

I just don't see Treliving having much of an appetite here. He will pull the trigger when it makes sense (he is no Kevin Cheveldayoff after all), but I just can't see him POTENTIALLY opening up a hole on the roster when he worked hard to make that position a strength. Not until he knows for sure.

11-11-2017, 09:07 PM	#3742
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I seriously doubt that the Flames will trade any D this season unless somehow the offence dries up. The opposite is currently true at the moment - the offence is finally showing up. We will see where this goes. I do think that the Flames WILL trade some D this off-season and probably the next. There are a lot of prospects in the pipeline, but they also have to prove their ability. Kulak has shown himself capable of being a full-time NHL'er. Over a stretch of games, however, he usually starts fading and then gets scratched, eventually getting demoted. Though I do think that he sticks this year, let's just make sure that he really does stick. Andersson has played a single game. I believe in him, but it is ONE game. He needs to prove he can play for a stretch and contribute. There is also the matter of slotting. Will Kulak look really good still when he is out there against the other teams' first and second lines? Will he (or any other Flames Defensive prospect) start second guessing himself and taking too long to make a decision? Will he instead of taking the time to look for the best pass for the transition, or skating the puck out himself, just start to blindly dump it out off the boards to relieve pressure? I think you need to slowly acclimate defencemen into the NHL so that they don't lose their composure and start doing things away from their strengths. I do think it is smart asset management to trade from a position of strength, but at the moment the Flames can't be positive what they have. To trade from a position of strength to suddenly realize they have a glaring hole in their top 4? That's a bad mistake that could cost the job of a GM. Flames FINALLY have a very strong top 4 with a Stone that can fit in the top 4 well during injuries. Imagine if it was Bartkowski having to fit in the top 4? Or a rookie over his head? That's what happens when you get injuries. I just don't see Treliving having much of an appetite here. He will pull the trigger when it makes sense (he is no Kevin Cheveldayoff after all), but I just can't see him POTENTIALLY opening up a hole on the roster when he worked hard to make that position a strength. Not until he knows for sure.