If there is any truth to these Neal for Rask rumours I could see the flames doing something like this:
Frolik, Neal, 26OA For Rask, Zucker
Assuming the Frolik plus a first for Zucker was the deadline premium, getting a first might be enough to close the gap between the negative values of Rask and Neal and the difference between Frolik and Zucker. If not the Flames could add a third which I think balances it out well.
Then, Flames trade Brodie for a first and a third, which replenishes the picks lost and potentially even moves us up in the draft from where we would have been anyways.
I also think Janko could be moved either as part of one of these two deals to increase the return (for example instead of the third going to Minnesota add Janko and maybe then we get a third or 4th back, or with Brodie for a return of a first, second, and third, or something like that). Or maybe he just gets moved for an additional 2nd rounder.
I think the Zucker is one of the most likely trades the flames make but I also agree with other posters that, as much as I hate him, Kadri would be the best target for the Flames. In that case, I could see the flames moving Brodie + Jankowski for Kadri. I think that is pretty close to fair especially since Toronto is in the market for Dmen, might need to add a third though. Then trade Frolik for picks. Hopefully a second, but more likely a third and maybe fourth.
In both scenarios, the Flames end up able to retain a first rounder and also keep a few bullets in the chamber in the 2nd-3rd rounds all while, in my opinion, improving the top six drastically with, hopefully, no significant drop off to our defence.
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