Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post

Poe969 · 05-31-2022, 08:28 AM

He has to have 2 directions planned out, it all hinges on weather or not Johnny stays or goes. If Johnny stays and signs a reasonable contract, you try and build around him. Shed some salary and try to inject more skill to the roster. Explore some trade options (Tkachuk/Mangipane/one of the D) to fill in some holes with young players on good deals. If Johnny walks...IMO you explore a rebuild or at least a "down year retool". Treliving has been a buyer since he got here, I honestly think he would do well on a rebuild. I think he would get good returns in trades and would sig young players to good deals.

The team is not good without Johnny, he's the straw that stirs the drink and the one who teams need to focus on. I think without him both Tkachuk and Lindholm look a LOT worse and there is no one in the system to replace him. Trying to replace Johnny with a UFA would be a mistake, unless it's a top point getting forward who's still young...like Johnny.

During exit interviews, if they haven't already happened, I would ask every player with a trade clause if they are willing to accept a trade and/or ask for lists where players are open to trades. The Flames have a lot of good players (other than Johnny , none of them can be a winning team's best player) so I th8nk there would be a market for them should the Flames choose to rebuild.

Ideally, both Johnny and Tkachuk sign good long-term deals, Lucic retires, Monahan either returns at 100% or pulls a Kucherov and comes back 100% before playoffs, one or 2 prospects make the jump and stay full time on the team which allows the team to make a trade or two to add some skill, and a good UFA signs a good deal with the Flames.

It's crazy but I think the future of the team depends on what Johnny does.

05-31-2022, 08:28 AM	#42
Poe969 Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Thunder Bay Ontario Exp:	He has to have 2 directions planned out, it all hinges on weather or not Johnny stays or goes. If Johnny stays and signs a reasonable contract, you try and build around him. Shed some salary and try to inject more skill to the roster. Explore some trade options (Tkachuk/Mangipane/one of the D) to fill in some holes with young players on good deals. If Johnny walks...IMO you explore a rebuild or at least a "down year retool". Treliving has been a buyer since he got here, I honestly think he would do well on a rebuild. I think he would get good returns in trades and would sig young players to good deals. The team is not good without Johnny, he's the straw that stirs the drink and the one who teams need to focus on. I think without him both Tkachuk and Lindholm look a LOT worse and there is no one in the system to replace him. Trying to replace Johnny with a UFA would be a mistake, unless it's a top point getting forward who's still young...like Johnny. During exit interviews, if they haven't already happened, I would ask every player with a trade clause if they are willing to accept a trade and/or ask for lists where players are open to trades. The Flames have a lot of good players (other than Johnny , none of them can be a winning team's best player) so I th8nk there would be a market for them should the Flames choose to rebuild. Ideally, both Johnny and Tkachuk sign good long-term deals, Lucic retires, Monahan either returns at 100% or pulls a Kucherov and comes back 100% before playoffs, one or 2 prospects make the jump and stay full time on the team which allows the team to make a trade or two to add some skill, and a good UFA signs a good deal with the Flames. It's crazy but I think the future of the team depends on what Johnny does. __________________ Fan of the Flames, where being OK has become OK.