Buy?/Sell?/All-in?/Tank? What should the Flames do?

[bigrangy]

The Flames realistically sit second in their division at the all star break, with a pretty favourable schedule. They’re closer to leading the division than they are to out if the playoffs. They’ve got two prime aged forwards pacing around 100 points, the best top line in the league by a couple metrics, a young defenseman blossoming into an impact guy, and a generally steady, if unremarkable d-core outside of that. The 2nd line is coming alive, showing some strong play and getting rewarded for it of late.

On the downside, the bottom six is a pile of misfit toys and question marks, their actual record is worse than their stats would indicate, the goalies, while good, seem to either shut the other team out or lose, and the team seemingly can’t score on their chances. It looks as if theres several very very good contending teams that are having more success in the standings than the Flames are. The two aforementioned 100 point forwards are both basically UFAs at year end and to keep them probably will require moving a bad contract and/or a guy you don’t want to lose.

So what should the Flames do? Should they buy? Should they sell? Should they go all in? Should they move Gaudreau/Tkachuk and tank?

[flambers]

Flames will need to "add" to roster at the trade deadline, if they feel they want to have a playoff run

I personally view the best team in their division is Vegas (not close in my view)

Flames need to add a winger who can score (top 2 line player).

Not a rental,

[Jiri Hrdina]

Add two middle six forwards if you can. If the prices are high, target players who have some term left.

A team in this position, with Darryl Sutter as coach ain't selling

[Vinny01]

Buy specifically up front. This team needs some more scoring to take some pressure off the top line.

Too much uncertainty to go all-in in my opinion. Their cap situation would result in assets going out for short term help. Trelviing traded too many picks earlier in this teams cycle that they can’t afford it. They have done a decent job getting the pool back to respectability.

Standing pat is an option but this team should be rewarded for what they have done so far

Selling and tanking is laughable

[Macman]

They should be at least taking some steps to go all in with Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk even if we re-sign them because they're both really good right now.

But at the same time be open to another year or two if the right deals or players aren't currently available.

And if even one of them leaves you're retooling and re-building anyways. The Flames have to be thinking similarly and wanting to build and win with these two players.

[btimbit]

I'll take one Toffoli please

[Big Erned Nevergivn]

Gaudreau & Tkachuk contract situations aside. Flames should be a quiet buyer for 15-20 goal middle 6 RW, for a B level prospect and pick.

Depending on how contract talks are going, you absolutely cannot lose Gaudreau for nothing. As much as it pains me to say with the team doing this well, but we cannot manage this asset poorly. Tkachuk is different, he can sign his qualifier and we can do this again next year with him lol.

[Sandman]

I think we need 2 middle 6 forwards who can score, but I guarantee we also get a puck-moving D like Gio or Chiarot.

[agulati]

Buy a couple of middle six forwards. One for the top six, and one for the third line.

Dube hasn’t been having the greatest season, so the third line player is to offset/replace his spot in the lineup, or move him further down. Dube-Ruzicka-Lucic might work, with Lewis drawing in fairly regularly.

[agulati]

We have been rumored to be interested in a top 4 D. I hope the interest is more in players like Giordano and Klingberg as opposed to Chiarot.

With Taxi squads, I wonder if we are looking to pick up some depth goaltending/defensemen as well.

[yourbestfriend]

A play driving #2 center

[ComixZone]

Buy, All-In.

I think this organization needs to show Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau that they are serious about winning, and serious about winning now.

All picks in 2022 and 2023 should be on the table.

I think priority is:

#1 - scoring winger
#2 - play 2nd line driving centre
#3 - depth defenceman

[TheIronMaiden]

This team is not good enough for a deep push, and not bad enough to tank. Kind of an awkward spot, but I'd like them to add.


Round 1 and 2 picks are untouchable. As are Pelletier, Zary and Coronato.


Valimaki, Dube, Backlund, Monahan, Ruzicka are the best trade bait the Flames should offer. But some of the lesser prospects could stay on the table.



If Gaudreau or Tkachuk wont sign. They need to be traded and the focus should be on building a winner for 2 years time.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

This team is not good enough for a deep push, and not bad enough to tank. Kind of an awkward spot, but I'd like them to add.


Round 1 and 2 picks are untouchable. As are Pelletier, Zary and Coronato.


Valimaki, Dube, Backlund, Monahan, Ruzicka are the best trade bait the Flames should offer. But some of the lesser prospects could stay on the table.



If Gaudreau or Tkachuk wont sign. They need to be traded and the focus should be on building a winner for 2 years time.

I think this is a team built for the playoffs. We play the right way, and we’re big and tough. Our only weakness is scoring beyond the first line.

[Makarov]

They have to be buyers this year. This might be it for this group. They need to push most of their chips in here (especially because play-off success might improve the chances that Tkachuk and/or Gaudreau sign long-term).

[FlamesAddiction]

You can't be in contention for 1st in the division and be a seller, regardless of contract statuses. That just sends a bad message to players.

It really depends on what management forecasts in regards to being able to re-sign JG and MT to extensions. If they are confident that they will, then I say go all-in. If they are not confident, then I say buy what they can to improve, but not so much that it sets back a rebuild.

Definitely do not sell at this point though.

[undercoverbrother]

So is Valimaki on the table now?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

So is Valimaki on the table now?

If it's more than just a rental, I say yes

[bubbsy]

For me, it's either stand pat, or minor/depth moves, or all in.

The deciding factor is if they know gaudreau is signing or good as gone in the offseason.

I can't bear to think of losing gaudreau for nothing, AND having given up top prospects and draft picks. The only scenario where that's acceptable to me is if they win the cup. However, that's a hard gamble....

[Knut]