Quote:
Originally Posted by stemit14
I think the question will be how Conroy handles trading pieces this season. Obviously it’s very early and the flames could end up being as bad as many have assumed. In which case, trades will be very straight forward I think - pretty much any veteran could be had for the right price. However, how does Conroy handle the season if they aren’t bad this year? I don’t think he will look to trade young pieces or picks no matter what this year. The question is focused on trading vets/rental pieces for picks/prospects.
Take this scenario… it’s early January and the flames are sitting comfortably in a playoff spot. Andersson is having a career year. Kadri is having another great season. Some teams call Conroy willing to meet his asking price for these players that he may have established in pre-season likely based on the assumption this team would be finishing low in the standings this year. Does he make the trade? I’m assuming these teams are offering him exactly what he asked for to start the season.
The obvious answer I’m sure most might say is that Conroy tells them the price has gone up because the team is doing well and he is not eager to trade players away. Makes sense. But how much does it go up? Would you want him to say no to a package offered in January that would be considered an overpayment in June?
Again, many people will say absolutely not… we need to build for the future and trading vets for young prospects and picks is the priority. But that is easier said than done when you have coaching staff, players, fans and an owner that would all rather keep winning games.
We saw something similar to this with Markstrom during the season last year… the flames price was high because he was their MVP at the time and the flames were close to a playoff spot. The price ended up being so high that the trade was delayed to the summer. Not sure if Conroy’s price ended up going down at that point or if New Jersey’s offer came up. But I think that was an example of a player’s value to the team’s short term success increasing the asking price to the point that teams were not willing to make the trade. I’m not saying Conroy was wrong to do that… I was happy with the return in the end and I’m happy with how the rebuild is going.
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Losing Gaudreau for nothing is still fresh. If someone offers you a decent return on Kuzmenko or Mantha. You take it imo. I'm hoping by January it'll be obvious that Coronato and Honzek can fill that role as well.
Andersson or Kadri is more complicated. Andersson you should have at least some idea if you can get him to re-sign this summer. Kadri, love the guy but if someone offers us something good its hard to say no.
There's the whole problem of Montreal having our first too. Coming in 17th this year would be devestating in so many ways.