[Rumour] TSN: Flames covet top 9 forward as trade deadline nears

[GGG]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

So Ferland has come up a couple of times as the guy who'd be exposed at the expansion draft. Can't figure out why he'd be the choice over Brouwer. I like TB, and he does have a few more points than Ferly in a few less games. But. He's older and I'm thinking that Ferland still is learning and growing. I don't think he's reached his potential yet. His play this year is light-years ahead of last season. Not sure you're getting more out of Brouwer in the long run.

I think I'd take my chances at Brouwer being exposed over Ferland if the Flames brought in someone else for a non-rental term. Am I missing something here?

Doesn't Brouwer have a no move?

And if you are going to expose Brouwer he's gone. So since he has trade value you'd be better off moving him at the deadline for something then exposing him.

Adding a long term piece at this deadline is difficult because it affects your protection. So any acquisition comes with a rental component to it this year. Whether that's ferland as a the rental or the player we acquire.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GGG

Doesn't Brouwer have a no move?

And if you are going to expose Brouwer he's gone. So since he has trade value you'd be better off moving him at the deadline for something then exposing him.

Adding a long term piece at this deadline is difficult because it affects your protection. So any acquisition comes with a rental component to it this year. Whether that's ferland as a the rental or the player we acquire.

Brouwer has a no trade I think, which means he can be taken in expansion. And he can't be traded beforehand unless he waives.

[Wolfman]

Better do it before it's too late.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Brouwer has a no trade I think, which means he can be taken in expansion. And he can't be traded beforehand unless he waives.

There is not a single player on the Flames that they are forced to keep because of no trades. You need a full NMC and limited no trades can still be exposed

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

There is not a single player on the Flames that they are forced to keep because of no trades. You need a full NMC and limited no trades can still be exposed

That's sort of what I said.

[Anduril]

Between Frolik, Brouwer and Versteeg (even if he's been on LW a lot), it's not a bad top 9 RW overall. If anything, the bigger deal is the fact that we have a number of players who have had varying levels of disappointing seasons thus far. I do not think it's as easy as finding a top6/9 RW and hoping that brings about a resurgence for those underperforming. Brackets are the projected points if they had continued to play at the same pace over 82 games taking this half of the season and extrapolating.

Tkachuk (55) - Backlund (55) - Frolik (47)
Gaudreau (62) - Monahan (47) - Chiasson (24)
Versteeg (46) - Bennett (31) - Brouwer (35)
Ferland (20) - Stajan (27) - Hathaway (17)

Bouma (11) / F. Hamilton (4)

Obviously still a whole lot of time for players to rise and fall so it's not meant to be a prediction of what the rest of the season will look like. Just meant to highlight how certain players now are definitely not meeting high or even average expectations.

Between the two past major UFA signings, Frolik and Brouwer have been producing at a 40~ point season while bringing other skills (two-way or size/net presence). Frolik is having a great season so far while Brouwer has been underwhelming overall including offense.

Versteeg is having an amazing season despite being moved all over the lineup, getting lots of time on the top PP but not limiting his production to that (35% of his points this season came from the PP which is in line with players like Monahan (33.3), Backlund (37.5), Gaudreau (35.7) )

Obviously Monahan, Gaudreau and Bennett are all struggling. Yet between Brouwer, Versteeg and Chiasson it's not like if you were to find another 40~ point guy it would suddenly bring the big 3 to similar or better productions in previous years. Chiasson isn't the answer and hopefully there will be another alternative in the near future but to pick up a Brouwer+ player will cost a lot in salary and/or assets. More of the blame lays with the players specifically/coaching as to find ways to more productive seasons.

Originally I was thinking that the need to find a mid-long term option for our top 4 was more of a pressing matter compared to the hole on the RW. I still stand by that after looking at forwards strictly. The prospects we have at defense are much more promising than anything that the wingers in the system show but our defense could have a major overhaul with only Gio, Brodie and Hamilton being signed past next season. Next season we need a #4,5,6. How much can we depend on Jokipakka and Kulak to take more steps forward to fill as the bottom pair if that's something they struggle with now? Even if you hope that one of Kylington or Andersson or a surprise Culkin/Wotherspoon/Morrison make the jump next season, there's still a major concern for a #4 guy who can be relied on to carry his weight and maybe more as prospects have room to develop and Gio continues to age.

Some last notes, Stajan deserves a lot of credit for a fantastic season. He was invisible last year but any impact that his line brings has been most either him or Hathaway for different reasons.

Ferland is repeatedly an expected protected player in the up-coming expansion draft. I hope that he shows soon as to why it is he's worth protecting as his on ice performance is consistently disappointing with tiny flashes of what we hope he might do more than once in three or four games.

Bouma for 2.2m for another season after this is kind of incredible to sink in. Minor in the big picture but just an absolute shame.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

That's sort of what I said.

Sorry misread

[Calgary4LIfe]

I would like to see a top 9 of this for a 5 game stretch:

Versteeg - Monahan - Brouwer
Gaudreau - Backland - Frolik
Bennett - Jan know ski - Tkachuk

Maybe switch Versteeg and Tkachuk. You will need to shelter that 3rd line though, but that is manageable. Tkachuk helps in that regard.

[StrykerSteve]

Chiasson isn't a top line NHL forward. He's a solid 3rd liner. Bennett is struggling mightily at Center.

Until those two things sort themselves out, Gaudreau will continue to struggle to do it all himself and this team is going nowhere.

[Beninho]

Everyone knows what this team needs, this game has just shown all our weaknesses this year.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Gaudreau will continue to struggle to do it all himself and this team is going nowhere.

Please, Gaudreau has been terrible and it's no one else's fault

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Chiasson isn't a top line NHL forward. He's a solid 3rd liner. Bennett is struggling mightily at Center.

Until those two things sort themselves out, Gaudreau will continue to struggle to do it all himself and this team is going nowhere.

Yeah let's keep blaming other players except for the players playing bad.

First it was Engelland, then it was Hamilton, then it was Gio but nobody would blame Brodie. It's pretty clear who is struggling when everyone plays bad with Gaudreau and Brodie.

Chiasson has actually looked good tonight away from Guadreau. But let's keep blaming everyone else but our top players.

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Please, Gaudreau has been terrible and it's no one else's fault

Absolutely, no argument there. I'm simply suggesting that from a root cause perspective, his line mates haven't helped matters.

[Ashasx]

Team definitely shouldn't be adding any rentals right now.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Trade Poirier for Iginla or Jagr and call it a day.

You won't have to give up that much to get Iggy

[TOfan]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Flames were interested in Hanzel.

Gaudreau Monahan Bennett
Tkachuck Backlund Frolik
Versteeg Hanzel Brower
Ferland stajan bouma/chaison

[Strange Brew]

If this team gives up any assets for a 3rd line forward I will s*** myself. Until our best players are better, there is simply no point.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

If this team gives up any assets for a 3rd line forward I will s*** myself. Until our best players are better, there is simply no point.

Yeah, I would be hesitant to give up much for a pending 3rd line ufa.

Another couple weeks going like they are right now and you're right, it's a moot point. I would be selling off Bouma, versteeg, chaison, engellend, wideman (yeah right), Elliot for as many picks as you can get.

Give some of the kids (Jankowski, Shinkaruk, Kulak, kylington, klimchuck, mangiapanie) a look for the rest of the way.

[taxbuster]

Pierre LeBrun expanded on his TSN comment:

Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun 25m25 minutes ago
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The Calgary Flames' top need ahead of the March 1 trade deadline, in a perfect world, is a top-9 forward that... http://es.pn/2iSeoHU

The Calgary Flames' top need ahead of the March 1 trade deadline, in a perfect world, is a top-9 forward that can add a bit of jam to an offense that's 19th in the league. I don't think that player is out there for them right now but as the trade market loosens up next month it's something they will be looking for I think. Another desire, and perhaps it waits until the off-season, but it's a young blue-liner, no easy get. Whether that's before March 1 or in the summer, I think the Flames would also covet that piece.

[EldrickOnIce]

I love the so called insiders.
Hang on... let me get my pen:
OK, so you say the Flames would like to add a scoring forward and a top 4 D?

Shocking revelation!
I am shocked!