[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i started the exercise of going thru all the teams that seem likely to be sellers, and thinking up some trades for upcoming UFAs, as well as some players that teams may listen on.

The game became less fun when determing what the flames would be willing to give up. Given that they feel that this team is rounding into form, i doubt they are willing to move anything off the current roster that is worth anything (stajan, brouwer, f. hamilton aren't going anywhere).

We have no 1st round pick or 2nd round pick this coming draft, have no 2nd round pick (or 3rd round pick for that matter) the following year.

After that, the only currency we hold is in prospects. I don't think there's any real blue-chippers in the system. Though there are guys that would in our:
1) top tier that i doubt the team is willing to move - Valimaki, Fox, Parsons, Dube
2) B prospects (most likely assets to be used, but their worth is likely minimal) - Gilles, Mangiapane, Andersson, phillips
3) C prospects (again, even lesser value, given that almost every team has these guys already marinating in their system) - Wotherspoon, Kylington, Poirier, klimchuk, foo,
4) the rest..... - Smith, Macdonald, Shinkaruk, everybody else?

Given that the flames limited 1st/2nd picks in the next 2 drafts, i'd be extremely weary of trading anything from group 1 (maybe 2??). I just don't think players in groups 2-4 are anything more than typical throw ins in most deals.

That leaves me thinking the flames either make a hockey trade (ie. get an NHLer and send out a current NHLer) which seems extremely unlikely scenario. Or they stay real damn quiet come deadline.

The only other thing that could happen is that the flames hit a bump and start to struggle, in which case the flames are much more likely to shake up the guys on the NHL roster.

I think there is a sure thing big flames trade coming at the draft/offseason. I think one of Hamilton/Brodie/Hamonic/Stone are moved. I just don't think it makes sense to do something that drastic to the defense, especially now that they seem to have figured out how to play defense.

This is part of the reason why I don't think we can go after a high end offensive player like Kane or Neal or JVR and etc. We just don't have the assets to compete with other teams right now. We burned tons of picks on Hamonic, Lazar and Mike Smith, so those are our 'big' moves. I think the pro scouts in our organization need to think outside the box here. Less big name hunting and more diamonds in the rough. If Vegas can find like 20 of them, surely we can find one who won't cost an arm and a leg.

If anyone remembers that Kristian Huselius trade that Sutter made 10 years ago, or Chiarelli's trade for Patrick Maroon a couple seasons ago, that's the kind of move I think we need.