2021/2022 Trade Speculation and Rumours

[PugnaciousIntern]

JT Miller? With their current needs? Toronto is looking at Edmonton as the blueprint for roster creation

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

JT Miller? With their current needs? Toronto is looking at Edmonton as the blueprint for roster creation

E!
A!
Sports! It’s in the game

[Heavy Jack]

Friedman continues to annoy, I just can’t begin to think of how much of a terrible decision that would be for the leafs on top of what they’d theoretically have to give up to acquire Miller. It makes no sense, literally zero and it doesn’t take the most seasoned of nhl fans to see that. Goaltending is a glaring need for them, Soup as they call him is peaking at a 1B level at best and Mrazek is showing his age, they are the Flames of the past few seasons prior to Markstrom and it must burn them to see Freddy playing like he’s been for the Canes. A guy like Fleury could align a lot of the issues within that roster and give them a confidence at the goalie position that’s been lacking for Toronto for longer than it did for Calgary (hard to imagine). Is Fleury the most desirable option? No because he’s aging but Toronto needs to really start making noise in the playoffs and Fleury could be that guy. If they don’t target a Goalie I’ll be shocked especially if they gain cap flexibility with Muzzin.

[powderjunkie]

Fun fact: Jack Campbell is 1 month older than Mrazek.

Shesterkin looks to be the favourite, but it'll be delicious if Freddie is a Vezina finalist.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Exactly, it was based on player value, nut "who's the best". Johnny's pending UFA would have factored into that decision. But recall it was made at a time when Johnny was playing poorly.

Some posters said he was flat out better...there have been plenty of players that were supposedly "way better" than Gaudreau over the years according to a few.

Gaudreau is playing with actual top players now and dominating the league at both ends of the ice. There is nobody in the league waaaay better than Gaudreau right now let alone some of the names that were brought up.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

I think that's not entirely true. As fans, we always look for black / white explanations for things, or it's this or that........when it can actually be both.

I think that both depth and loading up front are both the answer. We couldn't have loaded up front without also getting the depth, which we haven't had in previous years.

One can't short change just how important the following factors have been:
- Mangiapane continuing is progress to a legit consistent threat.
- Addition of Coleman into our roster
- General improvement of the entire forward roster's overall game under Sutter.

Without these (and now the addition of Tofoli) the ability to put Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Lindholm on one line wouldn't be there. The remaining 3 lines would be so weak, we wouldn't have succeeded. The team was likely forced to try and achieve more depth by creating the two duos Monahan / Gaudreau, and Lindholm / Tkachuk to have chance. Which also clearly didn't work.

Anyway, the point being, it's not that the thought depth was required to succeed before was wrong, and it's not that we are succeeding this year because we went top heavy. It's the fact that we now for the first time have both that I think is the key.

Yes, ideally depth helps out considerably, but for the specific case I’m talking about, loading up all 3 Flames’ top forwards changed the team’s dynamic completely. I remember thinking how little offensive traction this team had last season, even under Sutter and/or right from the start of the season.

Once the the top line was united, there was a noticeably positive shift in team play that I was waiting for all season. On a shift by shift basis, the team was suddenly much more competitive and it lead to more wins.

A lot of people think think the turning point happened this season, I disagree. In my opinion, the turning point of this team under Sutter occurred when he demoted Dube off the top line and promoted Johnny Gaudreau. Johnny’s offensive production sky rocketed and I don’t have to tell anybody what happens when Gaudreau gets hot, his statistical splits show that this team usually wins when he’s on fire.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Yes, ideally depth helps out considerably, but for the specific case I’m talking about, loading up all 3 Flames’ top forwards changed the team’s dynamic completely. I remember thinking how little offensive traction this team had last season, even under Sutter and/or right from the start of the season.

Once the the top line was united, there was a noticeably positive shift in team play that I was waiting for all season. On a shift by shift basis, the team was suddenly much more competitive and it lead to more wins.

A lot of people think think the turning point happened this season, I disagree. In my opinion, the turning point of this team under Sutter occurred when he demoted Dube off the top line and promoted Johnny Gaudreau. Johnny’s offensive production sky rocketed and I don’t have to tell anybody what happens when Gaudreau gets hot, his statistical splits show that this team usually wins when he’s on fire.

I’m confused. When was Gaudreau not on the top line? The big change was putting Lindholm between Gaudreau and Tkachuk and moving Monahan, no?

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I’m confused. When was Gaudreau not on the top line? The big change was putting Lindholm between Gaudreau and Tkachuk and moving Monahan, no?

Lines were

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ritchie/Simon/Etc
Tkachuk - Lindholm - Dube
Mangiapane - Backlund - ???

So yeah it was more about loading the first line with Tkachuk-Lindholm-Gaudreau, however you want to label the lines before the move.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Let's also remember that Johnny's point total last year really flatters him. He had 27pts in the first 40 games, then closed with 22pts in 16 games once we were effectively eliminated (at our 40 game mark we were 8 pts behind MTL who had 3 games in hand).

I thought Johnny Gaudreau looked pretty good last season outside of one bad stretch (during the coaching transition) when he was playing on a line with Monahan and Ritchie. Prior to that though, he looked somewhat like his old self.

But as you just said, he closed off the season white hot with 22 points in 16 games. That wasn’t due to the Flames effectively being eliminated, they still had a chance up until those losses to Montreal. But right from that game 41 mark was when Gaudreau was moved on to a line with Lindholm and Tkachuk. I think from that moment on, it changed the entire landscape of the team.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I’m confused. When was Gaudreau not on the top line? The big change was putting Lindholm between Gaudreau and Tkachuk and moving Monahan, no?

Well to me, Gaudreau was playing on the second line with Monahan and Ritchie getting 15-16 minutes a night. Then when he was moved onto Lindholm’s line, that’s when his minutes shifted upwards to the 18-19ish range.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Fun fact: Jack Campbell is 1 month older than Mrazek.

Shesterkin looks to be the favourite, but it'll be delicious if Freddie is a Vezina finalist.

I can't believe that Shesterkin is more than a full 1.0% ahead of any other starting goalie in the Vezina race. 93.9% in this day in age?
How is this happening.

It's unfortunate for Markstrom and Andersen. As good as they've been, Shesterkin doesn't appear to be human.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I can't believe that Shesterkin is more than a full 1.0% ahead of any other starting goalie in the Vezina race. 93.9% in this day in age?
How is this happening.

It's unfortunate for Markstrom and Andersen. As good as they've been, Shesterkin doesn't appear to be human.

Extra interesting that the Flames seem to be his kryptonite though!

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Well to me, Gaudreau was playing on the second line with Monahan and Ritchie getting 15-16 minutes a night. Then when he was moved onto Lindholm’s line, that’s when his minutes shifted upwards to the 18-19ish range.

Gaudreau TOI was 18:37 for the first 40 games - 9 games under 17 (2 were under 16)

17:55 for the last 16 - 4 games under 17 mins (3 were under 16)

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Gaudreau TOI was 18:37 for the first 40 games - 9 games under 17 (2 were under 16)

17:55 for the last 16 - 4 games under 17 mins (3 were under 16)

I was too lazy to look. Thanks. I didn’t think it sounded right.

Home and away probably makes a difference because Lindholm or Backlund would log heavy minutes in matchups against top lines.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I was too lazy to look. Thanks. I didn’t think it sounded right.

Home and away probably makes a difference because Lindholm or Backlund would log heavy minutes in matchups against top lines.

I wouldn have thought so, but apparently not:

before Apr9: Away=18:46; Home=18:26 (7gp)
after Apr 9: Away= 18:31; Home=17:26 (9gp)

We were a bit better at home, so perhaps its more a matter of trailing more games on the road vs. protecting more leads at home. Also OT games probably make a pretty big impact...5/6 OT games last year were on the road; this year 6/10 OT games at home.

So far this year he's 18:15 on the road and 18:57 at home

[djsFlames]

Andersen was always a good goalie.

I don't know how TO ####ed him up. Probably just hated being under the magnifying glass every time he had a subpar performance.

Toronto is its own worst enemy. Similar to how the Oilers are. Too much unearned hype, impossibly high standards, and a bitter media presence that's quick to throw individual players under the bus. And no patience.

[Classic_Sniper]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Gaudreau TOI was 18:37 for the first 40 games - 9 games under 17 (2 were under 16)

17:55 for the last 16 - 4 games under 17 mins (3 were under 16)

Those stats were specifically when Gaudreau was playing with Monahan and Ritchie right about when Darryl arrived. Didn’t look at the minutes under Ward. That line was playing some pretty lean minutes under Darr though, deservingly so as well since they were complete trash together.

Prior to that, Gaudreau was having a pretty decent season under Ward as I initially said. That dip in the middle was just about the only time he really struggled. I guess you could say the tale of Johnny’s 2021 season was split into 3 parts. A good beginning, a bad middle and a phenomenal ending.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

I can't believe that Shesterkin is more than a full 1.0% ahead of any other starting goalie in the Vezina race. 93.9% in this day in age?
How is this happening.

It's unfortunate for Markstrom and Andersen. As good as they've been, Shesterkin doesn't appear to be human.

He’s an absolute freak goalie.

[Tkachukwagon]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1496580265514352647

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Gaudreau TOI was 18:37 for the first 40 games - 9 games under 17 (2 were under 16)

17:55 for the last 16 - 4 games under 17 mins (3 were under 16)

Some meaningless games at the end there though.

I thought it was widely agreed upon that Tkachuk/Lindholm was the best line, over Gaudreau/Monahan. I sure thought so.

Ice time can be very situational.