Quote:
Originally Posted by wretched34
I agree, Treliving is not shopping Gio, and shouldn't be, but in my eyes, shopping Dougie is even sillier. I can't understand why so many posters are not only serious about moving him, but hopeful of doing so.
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I think its a super small minority that want Hamilton shopped. I highly doubt the Flames are actively shopping him. My opinion is that Treliving will listen to all offers and there may be some crazy interest in Hamilton this summer. Whether our management considers Hamilton a core piece moving forward none of us really know. If he's a core piece he's unlikely to be moved. If they think with his warts that he's a piece that could be moved if somebody paid the sun and moon because we have great defensive depth then that's the only scenario in which he's moved IMO.
IMO the best options for improving the team are in order of preference:
1. Getting a difference making UFA for nothing but cap space. Tavares the total pipe dream. JVR, Kane, Neal and Perron being some what intriguing. But as always UFA contracts are often horrid and bad value near the end of them. So Treliving would have to be very careful especially with the guys who aren't as young.
2. Trading Brodie for a top 6 forward. I don't think Brodie's value has tanked as much as some people do because I think NHL scouts and GMs always look at a player's entire career when evaluating them. We think Brodie may just have looked bad under Gulutzan on the left side? Bet you at least one GM or head scout thinks the same way and is willing to give him another opportunity. I think Brodie will still have good value. Top 4 defensemen at his age, with his contract will always be worth quite a lot.
3. Trading Stone for a top 6 forward. This one might be a bit more of a stretch but Stone has played top 4 at times and is a RH shot which some teams are in dire need of. He brings that physicality along the boards that some teams need more of as well. I suspect he might be worth more than some people think.
4. Trading Hamilton for a big haul. Hamilton is the guy I'd most like to keep out of Hamilton/Brodie/Stone but he's also by far the most valuable. I waver on whether I think he's core or untouchable because his play in his own zone is frustrating at times. I think you only deal him if you get an incredible package back. But I think he's the type of guy that some GMs will offer an incredible amount for.
I think all those options are worth talking about. Obviously we've spent the most time talking about #4 and probably not enough time talking about #2 and #3. It's really hard to us to gauge which UFAs would have interest in coming here and which UFAs we'd be willing to give a competitive offer to. Obviously Tavares is a guy that I think Treliving would love to go after and I think there could be a tiny chance he would pick CGY. But I still say options #2 and #3 are the most likely.
I think the team can easily afford to trade one of Brodie or Stone. I think Kulak replaces Brodie and that Valimaki can replace Kulak. I think Andersson can replace Stone although different types of players there and we would lose a bit of physicality and edge in making that swap.
Problem with the Brodie discussions is that people don't seem to agree on what he could fetch. Hard to gauge Stone's value as fans as well.