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Originally Posted by Matty81
Alright this is a bit of an NHL 19 post but why not daydream... I wonder how much of a king's ransom the Flames would have to pay for a guy like Tarasenko.
When I think back to the Hawks I feel like adding Hossa and really turning their 2nd line into a legit threat was what put them over the top and rather than adding small pieces for the playoffs how about the flames chasing a big fish - not just a rental but someone they can move forward with.
My thoughts are that upgrading the 2nd line C or RW with a second elite scorer would truly put the flames into the contender bracket of the league for the next 3 seasons - until the second line has a little more punch I don't quite see them in that category despite great recent play (*ducks*).
In order to make a long term addition like that they would for sure need to buy out or trade James Neal this offseason, which is probably unrealistic. Just to play it out though a buyout would save them just under 4 mil a season, and would ding them 1.9 mil for four seasons beyond term. Alternately, you could eat 2 mil a year for the same cap savings with less cost to the owners and see if someone takes him in a trade at 3.75 a year... I think even given his struggles that would be likely able to move him at that cost. Gets rid of the long term impact of a buyout too. Probably need to move Mike Stone out too in the offseason to make a big addition fit if the poor guy isn't destined for LTIR for the next year and a bit already.
Given term remaining on Tarasenko's contract and reasonable salary, cost would be high - what do you think St. Louis would want?
My guess : one of the three blue chip young defencemen on the roster, the Flames next two firsts, maybe another mid grade prospect and a guy like Frolik going back to fill the hole in their roster short term and make the money work. Seems massive but I think you'd have to pay huge to get a star with term back. Too much? Quantity over quality?
Mark Stone would be my first choice in this daydream but I'm betting he'll be between 8-9 mil on a long term deal and just don't see the flames fitting him in.
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To be honest If the Flames were going to do something drastic like buy out Neal one season into his contract, I wouldn't want it to be for Tarasenko. He's 27 now and has declined three season in a row. The best forwards in today's NHL are in the 20-26 age range. That is the new prime for a forward. I wouldn't want to pay the price for Tarasenko because it's too risky in my opinion.
There is only one player in the top 10 for scoring over the age of 25- Patrick Kane.