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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I don't think the question is Andersson or Kadri. I think the question is Mantha, Kuzmenko, or Vladar. If the team is comfortably in a playoff spot, then there are a few options: (a) they could trade them for assets, depending upon the market; (b) they could resign them, thinking that this team is better than projected; or (c) they could let them play out the season and re-assess in the off-season.
The only option that scares me is (b) and that comes with caveats. If they re-sign Mantha or Kuzmenko for 6, 7 or 8 year terms then I won't be happy. If it's two or three years, then I won't be happy but I will be less concerned. However, I suspect that both Mantha and Kuzmenko - if they have good seasons - are going to want significant term as free agents given they have bounced around a lot.
I am okay with the team letting two reclamation projects walk over signing them long-term when we have a glut of wingers already.