Tricky decisions for Treliving (LeBrun article) - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

dash_pinched · 01-12-2016, 02:09 PM

Tricky decisions ahead again for a Flames team that wants to get in, but also wants to continue to build a long-term, sustainable product. Treliving, speaking more broadly about the entire league and this season's deadline, sees some of the same truths revealing themselves even within the parity-filled season.

"No. 1, there's always going to be activity," said Treliving. "No. 2, have people distanced themselves in one or two groups in terms of buyers or sellers? And No. 3, you always have the issues -- which plays a little bit into where you are in the standings -- but you always have those pending UFAs. Do you sign, do you hold on to them for a playoff run and hope you can get something done in the summer? Or are you looking to maximum return and get some young assets?"

A great example for the Flames would be pending unrestricted free-agent defenseman Kris Russell. If the Flames are sitting one point out of a playoff spot Feb. 29, what do they do with him? He could help them get in and win a round, but do they collect whatever assets they can get for him via trade? Or do they re-sign him before the trade deadline?

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/14...ine-approaches

Psytic · 01-12-2016, 02:14 PM

They are a middling team I think the top 8 pick and cashing in on expiring contracts is worth more than holding on to these guys to become the same perennial bubble team/ first round out the Flames were only a few yrs ago. Don't end the rebuild early, last year was an outlier. The Flames are still a few high impact players short of being an actual contender.

_Q_ · 01-12-2016, 02:16 PM

I say keep going with the rebuild, trade away expiring contracts for picks and prospects and see where the season goes after that.

PeteMoss · 01-12-2016, 02:19 PM

I'd trade Russell if there is interest. He's a 5-6 guy and blocking a million shots likely means he breaks down earlier than most.

GioforPM · 01-12-2016, 02:20 PM

I don't think Kris Russell is the difference between getting in or not, much less winning a round. Hudler (if healthy) might be, but as a UFA he's got to be traded IMO. He's a guy who could easily take a steep drop in ability.

This argument was made last year with Glencross, and the Flames lost no ground after he was traded.

The Yen Man · 01-12-2016, 02:25 PM

Hope Treliving is thinking long term, and unloads some expiring UFA contracts for picks and prospects.

I think Flames can still battle for a playoff spot without Russell/Wideman/Hudler/Jones. If they fall out of the race, then so be it. But don't sacrifice the long term plan for a short term run at the playoffs. I'm willing to stomach missing the playoffs this season for the team to get better long term.

Ozy_Flame · 01-12-2016, 02:27 PM

I don't see how this decision is so hard to make. We might be able to squeak in with a wildcard spot, but we would be waxed in the first round, if not the second. Do we really want to go for broke with a team that isn't near the Los Angeles', Chicagos or NYR's of the league? I wouldn't. When the GMs of those teams comes calling offering great value for expiring contracts, you do it on the double. Let the delusional Canucks, Sharks, or god-forbid Oilers make that mistake. We are still in rebuild mode, even if the light is at the end of the tunnel.

GranteedEV · 01-12-2016, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I don't think Kris Russell is the difference between getting in or not, much less winning a round. Hudler (if healthy) might be, but as a UFA he's got to be traded IMO. He's a guy who could easily take a steep drop in ability.

This argument was made last year with Glencross, and the Flames lost no ground after he was traded.

I agree, but the one difference is we haven't really seen life without Russell, other than that time we dominated the Blackhawks and then won three straight over the Bruins/Sharks/Sabres. We did see enough of Life with Glencross out.

GioforPM · 01-12-2016, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I agree, but the one difference is we haven't really seen life without Russell, other than that time we dominated the Blackhawks and then won three straight over the Bruins/Sharks/Sabres. We did see enough of Life with Glencross out.

I see what you did there.

JJ1532 · 01-12-2016, 02:34 PM

The worst thing Brad could do is get tempted by making the play offs and try and trade for a rental of immediate help. Or hold onto the UFAs that have trade value. Any decision he makes should be with the long term benefit of the team in mind. Hudler and Russell should be on the market as a priority as they'll get the best return. They really need to be gone come the trade deadline. I don't his decision as being that tricky. Think 3-5 years Brad, not 6 months. Short term pain for long term gain.

dammage79 · 01-12-2016, 02:36 PM

A bit of both. The guts of the roster is set. There's some really good prospects coming down the pipeline. I think you can move out 3 or 4 players without killing playoff hopes if you can bring in one or two in trade. While still getting some picks. Hudler and Russell will be the big pieces, Jones and the rest will bring later picks.

SuperMatt18 · 01-12-2016, 02:37 PM

We were in the exact same position last year and we sold. I don't see us being any different this year.

Treliving seems to be prepared for this stuff, and has been very straightforward in saying that this team is building for the future since he got here.

Hamilton was brought in - helps make Russell expendable at the deadline. And he likely wants to see guys like Nakladal and Wotherspoon in the lineup before the end of the year.

Frolik was brought in - helps make Hudler expendable at the deadline, plus Hudler is already moving down the lineup.

Jones was never a big enough piece that he wasn't replaceable from within, and you already see Ferland kind of filling the role that he had before.

Even guys like Jooris and Colborne who are RFA are likely expendable due to the extra depth in the roster (guys like Shore, Grant, Agostino can likely step up with little loss of impact).

Toonage · 01-12-2016, 02:38 PM

I think people will get their wish. I doubt the Flames sign Russell. I also doubt they sign Hiller or Hudler. The only one I'm unsure of is Jones as he fills a legit need, depth RW. But that would come down to what he thinks he's worth. Also curious to see what happens with Colborne. Not a UFA (I don't think) but that could get interesting.

landshark · 01-12-2016, 02:48 PM

DON'T MESS WITH THE REBUILD!

It's going perfectly so far. The worst thing the flames could do at this point is to go all in for a playoff push. It's not easy being a GM in the pacific this year, but the flames need only to do small adjustments with the long term in mind.

codynw · 01-12-2016, 03:07 PM

Trade all pending UFAs, except maybe Jones. I wouldn't mind him back on a short term deal at a reduced cap hit. They need at least one natural right winger on the team.

Also, buy out/trade/fire into the sun Wideman, Raymond, Bollig and one of Smid or Engelland.

ComixZone · 01-12-2016, 03:08 PM

Yeah, don't mess with the rebuild.

Hudler for a 2nd? Russell for a 2nd and 3rd? You make those trades.

Why?

Because it doesn't equate death this season, and it gives us the chance to repeat what we did last year at the draft. Sven and Glenny getting dealt gave us the assets to get Hamilton.

Russell and Huder gone for picks? Who knows, maybe we flip those picks as part of a package for Hamonic or Drouin.

Tinordi · 01-12-2016, 03:10 PM

It's not a tricky decision at all. If you can get decent value for Russell you trade him. End of story.

flamesfever · 01-12-2016, 03:15 PM

It all depends on what you can get for Hudler and Russell. They are important players in the early stages of the rebuild, and if you can tie them up at a reasonable cost I think you do it. There is high risk for any player you draft in the 2nd or 3rd round.

GioforPM · 01-12-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flamesfever

It all depends on what you can get for Hudler and Russell. They are important players in the early stages of the rebuild, and if you can tie them up at a reasonable cost I think you do it. There is high risk for any player you draft in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Hudler is going to want a raise and so is Russell, I think. This is probably Hudler's last chance for a payday. Russell will believe he's merited a raise, based on his spot on the team.

Hackey · 01-12-2016, 03:22 PM

I hope we turn over a lot of these expiring contracts for assets we can actually use long term. I don't care what the odds are of 2nd's or 3rd's panning out they still have value. The more players you draft the higher your odds are of some of them panning out. Not to mention they are currency in trades as we seen with the Hamilton deal. Pushing for a playoff spot should not be priority over the long term health of the team. Its possible to do both as we did last year and if we miss we get a quality player in the draft. Either scenario seems great.