Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - 2021 Off season: You're in charge, what would you do?

Macho0978 · 04-27-2021, 10:19 AM

For me the rest of this season should be about playing some young players. Phillips, Ruzicka, Mackey at minimum should be in the lineup every game.

Draft lottery is next. I doubt winning it would change what I would do but why I find listing 5 or 6 things I would do is tough is I believe the results of your first 1 or 2 moves can change your opinion of the rest of your decisions.

If we win the draft lottery I still don't believe we have a strong enough prospect pool. It is much better for sure but still not a lock to be a top 10 organization when it comes to prospects. IMO that means at minimum I believe this needs to be a focus for at least 1 more draft after this draft. The 2023 draft seems to be loaded. How do you build through the draft for 2021 and 2022 and then plan to be a contender the season you could snag a superstar in the 2023 draft? It will be hard to pass it up as there seems to be more than 1 superstar in that draft. If the plans involve trading Johnny or Tkachuk then it seems smart to keep it going and commit to it for the next 2 drafts after this year.

I'd love to see Johnny, Tkachuk, Monahan, Backlund, Gio all moved but I'm not sure I would do that all in 1 summer. I also think contracts matter too and if Tkachuk is willing to sign long enough that he will be apart of the plan to contend starting 2023/24 season then maybe I keep him. But I just don't see him being a $9mil player or more and I doubt anyone in this flat cap signs for 8 years. So I think eventually I would move him. I think my order of trades would be as follows

1. Johnny on draft day - I doubt he signs long enough to fit in my plans and I can't see myself committing 6 or more years to a 29 year old Johnny. I just don't see him aging well in this league and I expect him to be ineffective in his mid to early 30's. I would love to move him for a short term bad contract and higher end prospects or picks.

2. Backlund - I think we brings just as much as Monahan does in a deal but his age is more of a concern. I'm ok with a young RFA that projects to be a 3rd or 2nd line player but hasn't got a big role with his current team so far.

3. Tkachuk - depends on contract and if he resigned for a deal I like for long enough maybe I keep him. But my guess is that won't happen. But I'm ok to wait until the deadline next year to move him

4. Gio - trade deadline next year and return is straight picks

5. Monahan - I'm ok to keep him until the deadline of his contract year. We need to have players to play during a rebuild and he isn't good enough to ruin our draft position. I would move him and keep Backlund if the return on Monahan is much better

Resign our players for longer term and more money now. Dube and Valimaki this off season to the Nashville Preds type contracts. If they won't commit I would give them 1 year deals and try again next summer. I would give Mangiapane 6 years next summer as well.

Markstrom and Tanev could move too but I wouldn't panic to move them out the next 2 years. If the returns we get on other players are good enough and they want to stay I would be ok to keep them for leadership and some stability.

I'd keep Lindholm as all cup contending teams have key players in their prime. I don't believe you can win with all players in the 18-25 age range. I also believe that this team will be turning the corner before he becomes a free agent and he might resign. Because of that I make him the captain.

04-27-2021, 10:19 AM	#51
Macho0978 #1 Goaltender Join Date: Jan 2011 Exp:	For me the rest of this season should be about playing some young players. Phillips, Ruzicka, Mackey at minimum should be in the lineup every game. Draft lottery is next. I doubt winning it would change what I would do but why I find listing 5 or 6 things I would do is tough is I believe the results of your first 1 or 2 moves can change your opinion of the rest of your decisions. If we win the draft lottery I still don't believe we have a strong enough prospect pool. It is much better for sure but still not a lock to be a top 10 organization when it comes to prospects. IMO that means at minimum I believe this needs to be a focus for at least 1 more draft after this draft. The 2023 draft seems to be loaded. How do you build through the draft for 2021 and 2022 and then plan to be a contender the season you could snag a superstar in the 2023 draft? It will be hard to pass it up as there seems to be more than 1 superstar in that draft. If the plans involve trading Johnny or Tkachuk then it seems smart to keep it going and commit to it for the next 2 drafts after this year. I'd love to see Johnny, Tkachuk, Monahan, Backlund, Gio all moved but I'm not sure I would do that all in 1 summer. I also think contracts matter too and if Tkachuk is willing to sign long enough that he will be apart of the plan to contend starting 2023/24 season then maybe I keep him. But I just don't see him being a $9mil player or more and I doubt anyone in this flat cap signs for 8 years. So I think eventually I would move him. I think my order of trades would be as follows 1. Johnny on draft day - I doubt he signs long enough to fit in my plans and I can't see myself committing 6 or more years to a 29 year old Johnny. I just don't see him aging well in this league and I expect him to be ineffective in his mid to early 30's. I would love to move him for a short term bad contract and higher end prospects or picks. 2. Backlund - I think we brings just as much as Monahan does in a deal but his age is more of a concern. I'm ok with a young RFA that projects to be a 3rd or 2nd line player but hasn't got a big role with his current team so far. 3. Tkachuk - depends on contract and if he resigned for a deal I like for long enough maybe I keep him. But my guess is that won't happen. But I'm ok to wait until the deadline next year to move him 4. Gio - trade deadline next year and return is straight picks 5. Monahan - I'm ok to keep him until the deadline of his contract year. We need to have players to play during a rebuild and he isn't good enough to ruin our draft position. I would move him and keep Backlund if the return on Monahan is much better Resign our players for longer term and more money now. Dube and Valimaki this off season to the Nashville Preds type contracts. If they won't commit I would give them 1 year deals and try again next summer. I would give Mangiapane 6 years next summer as well. Markstrom and Tanev could move too but I wouldn't panic to move them out the next 2 years. If the returns we get on other players are good enough and they want to stay I would be ok to keep them for leadership and some stability. I'd keep Lindholm as all cup contending teams have key players in their prime. I don't believe you can win with all players in the 18-25 age range. I also believe that this team will be turning the corner before he becomes a free agent and he might resign. Because of that I make him the captain.