Long way to go until training camp but trade market will be held up until after the expansion draft and/or the Eichel/Seth Jones situations sort themselves out.
Probably a result of being a Flames fan but I’m worried that we will miss out on the trade market. There’s only a finite amount of players we want to acquire and a bunch of teams also looking to make moves. So some of our targets could be in play for the bigger fish mentioned above or other teams wanting to make moves can present superior offers (like Josh Anderson last year). While some of our players have value, other teams may not see the value that Treliving places on our players (eg Monahan leading goal scorer from draft class (good) vs one dimensional defensive liability (bad).
While Arvidsson checked the rh rw box, he’s also smaller and I can see Sutter wanting a bigger team. So can’t imagine he was a primary target. Can see us having interest in the following forwards.
DeBrusk - while not a rh rw, checks the western Canadian box and can see Sutter being a fan of his play. Boston needs lh d (Hanifin) but have their 3D that they want to protect (McAvoy/Carlo/Grzelcyk) so probably something after expansion draft if it happens. Can’t see Boston in on Eichel or Jones so something that Treliving can execute without waiting for dominos to fall.
Reinhart - much discussed and fills rw rh shot box. One year left until ufa so extension needed before acquisition. Has languished in Buffalo for a while so change of scenery probably would do him good. Is Monahan straight up fair value?
Laine - another rh rw and much discussed. Comes with baggage and not sure if he’d be thrilled coming back to another small Canadian market. Rfa so holds some leverage despite having an off year. Struggled under torts, would he do same under Sutter? Given what Columbus gave up, cost would be high (Tkachuk?). Unless rumour is true and Chuckie wants out, can’t see this happening.
Kempe - not a rh rw but can play right side. Plays the game with speed and tenacity, which would endear him to Sutter. Cost would be high and would LA even give him up as they are looking to add top 6 F, not subtract. Hard to gauge value and might be a player that LA values higher than other teams. LA might be in on Eichel/Seth Jones so likelihood he’s not available until those situations are dealt with. Would they do Monahan or Hanifin if they miss out on the bigger fish?
Just hope we are able to do something around the draft as it would be a pity if we are left without a dance partner and the long awaited change doesn’t happen and we bring back the same group that has shown they can’t get it done.
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