Quote:
Originally Posted by ComixZone
This off-season is going to be interesting - as there are already some breadcrumbs out there that we can look at:
- Flames were in talks twice with Toronto regarding Brodie. Once was for Kadri, and once was rumoured to be a Brodie for Barrie swap. Could this mean the Flames have interest in Tyson Barrie as a UFA? Given neither Brodie nor Hamonic have been extended, it won't shock me to see the Flames go after Barrie as a UFA - especially with Giordano's drop-off and Gustafsson's less than stellar 5v5 play.
- Friedman mentioned back in November that Calgary is not interested in "selling low" on Johnny Gaudreau, however he has discussed that he believes this year is the last kick at the can for this group of core players. I wouldn't think a Johnny Gaudreau trade is out of the question.
- two off-seasons in a row the Flames have been linked to Patrick Maroon who is once again a UFA this coming off-season. With Calgary's lack of playoff experience on the roster and general lack of size on the 4th line - he could be a target again.
- in each of the last three seasons the Flames have been heavily linked to the "big" deadline pieces. Evander Kane in 2017/2018, Mark Stone in 2018/2019, and Taylor Hall in 2019/2020. Treliving clearly sees the need to upgrade the wing position
- As mentioned, Calgary was in on Taylor Hall before he was dealt to Arizona. Rumours of Hall having interest in signing in Calgary have been out there for almost a year.
- Calgary was rumoured as one of the teams trying to acquire Josh Anderson before Columbus shut down trade talks and the player for the year. Eric Duhatschek mentioned in July the Flames are "very interested" in the player.
- Lebrun has recently stated the Flames did reach out to Talbot's camp during the shutdown to express interest in retaining Talbot next season. Talbs himself has said he'd be open to a return, although he also said this:
Which I think translates pretty clearly to "make me the #1, and I'll return" I imagine money and term will do the talking when it comes to Talbot and the Flames going forward
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Plus the Gaudreau+Kylington for Coutourier+Ghost and Monahan for Ristolainen rumours.
Of course, all of the worst of these things will come true, and none of the great things will, so expect the Flames after losing out on Taylor Hall (who signs a team-friendly deal in Colorado) to trade/sign Josh Anderson at $6M, have him put up 25 points, lose Gaudreau for nothing, trade Monahan for blackhole Ristolainen, fail to sign Talbot and see him win the Vezina elsewhere (or sign him to a starter contract and have him poop the bed), and trade Michael Backlund + a 2nd to Seattle to not take Bennett, who has a career year and finally looks like the number 1 center we always wanted as we miss the playoffs and is signed at $7M a year, but never again scores more than 35 points. And then Tkachuk requests a trade to St.Louis and St.Louis only and refuses to report otherwise.