Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolven
Anyone watching this season should realize that this isn't Wolf alone. Kadri has been constantly battling to get this team wins and Huberdeau has found a new form (not the same form he had in Florida but he is certainly playing his best hockey as a Flame). Coronato hitting 20 goals is also pushing the team up.
Trading away Andersson is likely not enough to sink the team. Trading Kadri would definitely do it, but that is not really an option until the 2026-27 season when his NMC changes.
Otherwise you are likely looking at moving Coleman and Backlund. Interesting enough, Backlund's NMC changes Jan 1, 2026 (half way through next season) to a 15 team no trade list. It's almost as if Backlund's thinking would be to go cup chasing via a trade next season.
Is trading Andersson and Backlund enough? Andersson, Backlund, and Coleman? Or do we need moar?????
Also.... Will the Sharks and Blackhawks actually turn things around or keep sucking? They were both supposed to be turning around this season but are firmly owning the bottom of the standings. (Same question about the other currently bad West teams: Ducks, Preds, Kraken)
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I definitely agree with your points - completely, in fact (except Backlund - he is 164 games away from breaking Iginla's record for most games as a Flame - I think he re-signs another season, but yes, that trade clause did make me think he may chase a cup, or perhaps it was insurance from Conroy's perspective in case things aren't working out).
What I think trading a guy or two out could potentially do is two things:
1) Deflate this team. They play hard, and they have played hard for the vast majority of this season. Maybe a trade or two out of the leadership group will deflate them, and having zero 'steady' pairs on defence would further destabilize the roster construction (like when Bahl was out).
2) The 'pattern' from the last rebuild when it comes to effort/culture. I hope Conroy at the very least remains patient and doesn't start adding. The Flames around the halfway point of the 2013-14 season suddenly played with a tremendous amount of effort as well, and it last through the 2014-15 season (a longer sample size than what we have seen thus far). The following season was a bit up and down, but that level of compete (their culture) more or less was non-existent (or at least, not as high) any longer, with the exception of a season or two in their compete cycle. Are we just seeing another team 'energized' with a bunch of youth and older vets trying to make a point, but one that runs out of steam again simply because of the quality of the roster? I ended up writing a few paragraphs describing this, but it is probably beyond the scope of this thread. My point is simply that we have seen a winning hard-working culture come and go like the wind on this team. Are sure that building it at this stage is imperative? I used to think so - now I am not so sure.
One of the only things that I really appreciated during Feaster's tenure was how he called the losing culture on that era a 'disease', and that once the rebuild started, he was adamant that the culture be rebuilt too. I stood up and applauded that. Now I am not so sure - with hindsight anyway - that this was the correct time. Maybe you don't focus on the culture so much during a rebuild, but you focus on it after a couple of seasons? Really great examples both of why you should and you shouldn't. Perhaps an interesting discussion for another thread/time. I am just hoping that Conroy doesn't augment this team much and rather just sees what happens next season.