I can see both sides of the Kadri argument.
Keep him side:
- NMC - sorry, but he is not moving. Why talk about it? Might as well talk about Porky Pig sprouting wings and flying to around the world. Let's talk about something else that will never happen - finding bigfoot!
- He helps with the culture
- Still need decent players to sell tickets. Flames are afraid of that which is why they avoid using the "R" word.
- You still need some vets to shoulder the load - why can't Kadri be one of those vets?
Trade him side:
- Trade clause changes to a LNTC next season. He can either control the exact location that he wants to go to, or risk being traded to a situation that may be his 14th worst outcome. Plenty of players move with NMCs.
- Why be loyal to a guy that signed a retirement contract here? He wasn't a home-grown talent, nor did he leave much money on the table (2nd highest offer was Calgary IIRC).
- Few people are buying tickets just to see Kadri.
- Kadri plays center, and it may be more beneficial long term sticking Zary in that role and allowing him to grow. Flames are not winning anything in the short term, and they should be prioritizing development. Kadri was a 'win now' signing, and it is time to move off of it.
- Kadri will turn 35 before the season starts. Often when players regress due to age, it is an abrupt and steep decline. 4 years left on that deal starting this upcoming season - how many of those 4 seasons will he remain effective for? Nobody knows. It could hit him this year, or the year after, or the year after that, and so on.
Did I miss anything from either side? I think I captured most of it.
From my own standpoint, I don't really have an issue with Kadri staying or going. My preference would be trade him - full disclosure - but with the cap jumping up that high so quickly, when Kadri does regress to the point of being a negative contract, it is something that Calgary can stomach even without a buyout. If it comes to a buyout, so be it.
I think Conroy will move vets under these two conditions:
1) They are set to become UFAs and either want too much money, or it doesn't make sense to re-sign that player.
2) They ask for a trade - I don't know of anyone that has asked for a trade (not that I would be privy to that knowledge, but there haven't been any rumours to my knowledge).
Based on the above, Calgary may have a discussion with Kadri about moving before he goes to a limited trade clause, or maybe they won't. I am sure that will be (if at all) conducted behind closed doors and things will be kept confidential. I doubt he gets moved, but I also wouldn't be shocked if he did. What is shocking is people getting triggered by talking about it. This is the off-season speculation. Who cares? It is hardly running the guy out of town by speculating on which teams and what values there may be. I find it offensive when fans start railroading players out of town with nasty stuff, but as long as nobody is saying anything derogatory about Kadri, I think it is fair game.
Just have some class - Kadri has been a great fit here on the Flames and in the community, so no 'he sucks' or classless stuff like that. I thought Huberdeau was an incredibly poor player here, but I thought people saying "He sucks", or when posters say stuff about a player on the team like "I hope they shoot him into the sun"... that grinds my gears honestly, as I find it tasteless. Speculating on possible trades isn't classless IMO. That's where I draw the line anyway, so maybe everyone is different. Fandom can get really ugly sometimes.
As for the rest of the vets, this is what I think:
Andersson gets moved this off-season.
Unless
Coleman asks for a trade, I wouldn't expect him to be moved. Maybe Tampa comes calling, or another contender calls, then maybe he goes. Most likely he gets traded next off-season, as he enters the last year of his deal.
I think
Backlund stays forever. Signs one year deals after his next deal ends. He earned that courtesy of not needing a NMC. If he wants to move, Flames will move him. Otherwise, he finishes off as a Flame.
Huberdeau's contract is immovable unless it is for another negative value deal. I would rather keep Huberdeau - turning out to be a fantastic leader, and I see him as the 'bridge' to becoming the next captain if Backlund retires before the torch gets passed on to the next generation.
Weegar stays obviously unless he demands out.
Lomberg is entering the last year of his deal. I can see him being traded at the deadline just as much as I can see him getting extended by the Flames. Coin flip on him.
I think there will be more changes. Flames are carrying too many forwards on the roster, assuming Klapka is a full-time player. Just too many wingers. Will be interesting to see who moves, but I would expect moves to be made other than the 'expected' Andersson trade (which would be really funny if he gets re-signed after everyone being so sure he is moving).
Out:
Andersson
Hanley
Rooney
Vladar
+ at least one winger on the team
In:
Futures? Trades? Signings? Or just/mostly promotions? Will Conroy find a way to add to this group, or is the plan to subtract a little bit? Tune in to find out!