Brad Treliving post-combine interview. Update: added Tod Button interview

[sureLoss]

Audio available here: http://www.sportsnet.ca/960/boomer-m...ing-in-studio/

Brad Treliving Sportsnet 960
June 8, 2015

combine is good information but have to be cautious
more mistakes can be made at the combine
setup was real good in Buffalo, not a conventions center but rink floor with stadium seating
interviewed 87 or 88 players

jokes you have to keep Conroy off some of these guys
in a lot of ways this is the last contact with many of these guys - so have to put it in context
very rare there is a bad interview now days

now will spend time up to Florida to do follow up
will meet some kids between now and the draft

a lot of his time is spent on "framing" - defining scenarios at the draft
what is the needs of different teams and find matches

wouldn't hold our breath for taking on a high salary contract for assets
not that far down the road where the Flames need that cap space
have to be careful on the term in those type of scenarios
killer in cap system is term, have to constantly look 3 years down
very few roads to get rid of bad contracts - compliance buyouts are over - if you make a mistake you are living with it for a long time

think it is a deep draft
there are groupings of players "ledges" - there will be names that teams have in the 20s available in the 40s
excited about what they will get at 15


getting calls about their players - which is normal course
have different models based on what the cap number is - heard a few weeks ago there was no chance the players would use the escalator, now hearing there is no chance they won't

there are 6 teams without a 1st, so 2nd rounders become more valuable
looked at scenarios at moving up - a lot of teams are kind of locked in on their high picks
staying where they are is not a bad scenario


Monahan, Gaudreau and Bennett are no longer on the reserve list, they made the team.
need to restock the cupboard a little


build a team by identifying a core, lock them and build around them
very few core players make it to free agency
there are players in free agency that can help you but it depends on salary and term

no updates on Flames' pending RFAs/UFAs/Giordano
had a little conversation with Backlund's agent at the combine
wouldn't tell if there were any updates anyways

[DJones]

He always seems to say the right things. I don't know what the escalator was though.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by DJones

He always seems to say the right things. I don't know what the escalator was though.

As part of the CBA, every year the players can vote to use an up to 5% escalator on the salary cap to increase it's value.

The downside for the players is that using it means high escrow payments. However, not using it means some players might not get full value on their contracts (or in some cases some players won't even get a contract) as teams struggle to work with a lower cap number.

[Huntingwhale]

Thanks for posting this. I'm glad he pretty much put to rest the idea that the Flames (or anyone around the league really) will take on a bad contract in exchange for some good assets. It doesn't ever happen, there is no precedent for it, and it's mostly just fan fodder. It's wishful thinking.

Once again, Treliving preaching patience and staying the course with an eye on the future. Good stuff from the GM.

[Erick Estrada]

Sounds like Treeliving isn't a guy that's going to hand out or trade for long term deals that don't make sense on the back end of the deals. I've personally not been a fan of these mega deals with 7-8 year terms as we are still in the infancy of these deals and there are going to be a lot of teams in a world of trouble at the end of this decade to the point where I feel we are magically going to see another round of compliance buyouts from the next CBA as prominent teams try desperately to get out of cap jail.

[tvp2003]

Monahan, Gaudreau and Bennett are no longer on the reserve list, they made the team.

Just wondering what the "reserve list" is? I'm assuming he means all three will be on the opening day roster, but is this some sort of prospect terminology I've never heard of?

[Tinordi]

I don't get why 2nd rounders are more valuable because there are 6 teams without a first rounder?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

I don't get why 2nd rounders are more valuable because there are 6 teams without a first rounder?

Because having no firsts and two seconds is easier to swallow than having no firsts and one second.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

I don't get why 2nd rounders are more valuable because there are 6 teams without a first rounder?

I read it as meaning that for 6 teams a 2nd will be the top pick this year. One would assume those teams would be loath to part with thier 2nd and more eager to obtain a second 2nd.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Just wondering what the "reserve list" is? I'm assuming he means all three will be on the opening day roster, but is this some sort of prospect terminology I've never heard of?

According to wiki, "The reserve list includes players under contract, unsigned draft picks who have collegiate or major junior eligibility remaining, and all unsigned draft picks who have been drafted by a team within the last two league years."

Weird language choice to use regarding Monahan especially, but he's basically just saying they've graduated from prospects to the main roster. Subtracting three high quality prospects like that in two years means he's got some improving to do to the upcoming prospects. At least that's what I take from it.

[Robbob]

I wonder with him saying Bennett has graduated if we can expect him in Penticton.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I wonder with him saying Bennett has graduated if we can expect him in Penticton.

Probably. The Sven that thought he was above the tournament had played more games at the time, IIRC.

[BigRed]

Bennet should be in Penticton. He hasn't played a ton of hockey in the past year, and if nothign else he should serve as an inspiration to other prospects -- he's the bar they have to reach to make the show. In a way, it's an opportunity for him to offer a little mentorship, which helps everyone, him included.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Sounds like Treeliving isn't a guy that's going to hand out or trade for long term deals that don't make sense on the back end of the deals. I've personally not been a fan of these mega deals with 7-8 year terms as we are still in the infancy of these deals and there are going to be a lot of teams in a world of trouble at the end of this decade to the point where I feel we are magically going to see another round of compliance buyouts from the next CBA as prominent teams try desperately to get out of cap jail.

I would bet large sums of money that there will be compliance buyouts again with the next CBA. It's virtually guaranteed in my mind, and will be included in every CBA as long as there is a cap. It wouldn't surprise me if some GMs sign some of these deals with an eye on when they get more compliance buyouts.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I would bet large sums of money that there will be compliance buyouts again with the next CBA. It's virtually guaranteed in my mind, and will be included in every CBA as long as there is a cap. It wouldn't surprise me if some GMs sign some of these deals with an eye on when they get more compliance buyouts.

Isn't this CBA like 8 or 9 years long? I don't think any GM is planning around that yet. I'm sure as it gets closer, they might have that in the back of their mind. However, I'm pretty sure no GM is thinking "I'm going to overbid on this guy so I get him, but if it doesn't work out, I'm okay, I'll just use a compliance buyout." Sounds like the mentality of a guy who lacks patience and doesn't care about his owner's money. In the case or TOR and NYR, this might be standard practice, maybe even actively endorsed by their filthy rich ownership.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Isn't this CBA like 8 or 9 years long? I don't think any GM is planning around that yet. I'm sure as it gets closer, they might have that in the back of their mind. However, I'm pretty sure no GM is thinking "I'm going to overbid on this guy so I get him, but if it doesn't work out, I'm okay, I'll just use a compliance buyout." Sounds like the mentality of a guy who lacks patience and doesn't care about his owner's money. In the case or TOR and NYR, this might be standard practice, maybe even actively endorsed by their filthy rich ownership.

Yeah, there would only be a couple teams that might factor this into the plan, but Toronto and the Rangers would top that list.

[868904]

I don't really think Bennett should go to Penticton. Even though Sven played more NHL games, he wasn't really ready. He was force fed onto the coaches by Feaster. Bennett is different, the kid was an impact player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There's nothing for him to prove at a prospect tourney.

I understand that he didn't play much last year, but with the way he plays, he's going to rack up the mileage pretty fast in the preseason and regular season I think. It's best to have him focus on the NHL training camp.

Besides, with how hard he plays, last thing you want is him getting hurt at a prospect tournament. He's not like Sven, he's not just going to go through the motions when he's at the tourney, he's going to try and lay people out and he's going to get physically involved. You don't want him to getting into it with some scrub at a tourney like that.

[CroFlames]

Good thing Monahan is off the reserve list. I was afraid they might send him down.

[DazzlinDino]

Treliving talking about building around the core, I wonder if they are looking for someone to complement Bennett. We did have some secondary scoring issues. A player with a bit more offensive upside could be the edge Calgary/ Bennett needs. Either Backs or Colborne moved to the 3rd line would leave us stronger throughout the line up.

[hockey.modern]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Treliving talking about building around the core, I wonder if they are looking for someone to complement Bennett. We did have some secondary scoring issues. A player with a bit more offensive upside could be the edge Calgary/ Bennett needs. Either Backs or Colborne moved to the 3rd line would leave us stronger throughout the line up.

Yeah that something the managers should look into. However he was probably just looking at it from what Chicago is doing. Building a franchise with players around Kane and Toews.

I'm so excited that Calgary has a real good potential of having three guys that are calibre of being elites. Does any team have triplets that they build around? I know that many teams in the league have it built around duos.