I was 100% adamant that the Flames should have started a rebuild once Gaudreau left, and then Tkachuk forced Treliving to trade him. That's the right move to make every time IMO, especially when you have a draft this good coming up.
Then the Flames extracted what they did for Tkachuk, and it gives you pause. That's some crazy value for what should have been an expected poor return (and as Treliving himself stated, that offer was WAY better than any other offer). Treliving got a 1st and Schwindt - good, solid rebuilding pieces. Huberdeau and Weegar both not signed, so between now and whenever, Weegar probably brings back a 1st and a top prospect (or top 3 prospect), and Huberdeau (especially with retention) could bring in 1st round pick 2023, probably a 1st round pick 2024, top prospect. That's 4 first round picks, 3 good prospects. That's a MASSIVE over-payment for Tkachuk. Honestly, had Tkachuk signed a max offer-sheet bringing back 4 first round picks, I would have been happy.
Then comes Huberdeau re-signing. Don't need to rebuild any longer, team may be a bit better balanced this upcoming season. Interesting!
Then Kadri signs. Team is actually better than last year. What a turn-around.
I am still hopeful (and expecting, as the rumours tell me) that Weegar will sign soon. This is an absolutely amazing off-season. Girlfriends sometimes would ask me why guys like sports so much. I told them it has all the intrigue and drama of a soap opera, but just with a lot more added excitement. If the Flames' off-season was a scripted drama, it should be nominated for an Emmy, or an Oscar, or whatever category you want it to be. It is simply an incredible off-season.
Treliving is the heavy favourite for GM of the year award. If the Flames win the division - and barring any massive surprises - he deserves to win it. However, during the acceptance speech, he should give Zito a wink. Really shocked at how much Zito gave up, especially considering the circumstances. Weegar + 1st would have been expected - at most, Weegar + 1st + Schwindt. Huberdeau one-for-one was too much I thought.
There is no way you rebuild. If the Flames don't find success with this group, that's ok. You now have 3 or 4 seasons at going for it probably. The defence is young, the back-up may end up becoming a decent starter, hot-shot goalie in the minors... and this is a well-drafting team. It would make zero sense right now to rebuild - it made zero sense to rebuild as soon as Huberdeau signed IMO. The second he signed, that's the second the Flames turned around.
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The Jolly Rancher sounds pleased about the new additions.
Mangiapane, Hanifin, Andersson, and Kylington are all in that 23-28 age group he talked about and all of them took massive steps forward last season. Dube started to show signs in the last third of the season. Can't wait to see what they'll bring this year.
Coleman admitted in one of the interviews with Parker that he started to feel the wear and tear of playing so much hockey the last few seasons and that the offseason has been great for his recovery. I think him and Toffoli (who will also have a full summer under the Sutter training plan) will be better too.
Hoping we get a tour of the farm soon.
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I think it’s a bad contract but it’s also Treliving’s favorite type of guy to go for — older UFA, coming off of career year being on the second or third line of a Stanley Cup champion — except this time it’s for twice as much money and twice as long as usual.
The Flames are betting an extraordinary amount of continuing success on older players who have never played a game for them. I think the time would’ve been right to go into a rebuild.
I agree this contract likely won't age well, but even if we concede that Tre has ' a type', he seemed to have picked the top tier of this type this time
Players who have won a cup this century with more points than Kadri had this year : Rantanen, MacKinnon, Malkin, Crosby, Ovechkin, Kane Selanne, Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Staal, St. Louis, Sakic, Forsberg. that's the list.
In 4-5 years when the Flames are still paying Kadri, Huberdeau, and likely a few other old vets lots of cash, it will force a rebuild. The Flames will have players playing at a mid-six calibre on their top lines.
But yeah, everyone should make the best of the next 4ish years....this is it. This is the team. The organization will do everything it can to compete.
Until Treliving pulls a Treliving and pulls off another steal in a trade, allowing the Flames to remain highly competitive by swapping players in and out.
Looch and Markstrom are also happy with the new additions
Great interview. Marky comes across very excited, and I thought his mention that Gaudreau and Tkachuk would cheat offensively because of how good Lindholm is defensively was very interesting. Given how poorly we played defensively vs Edmonton trying to run and gun with them, I could see that being a big frustration as a teammate.
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Great interview. Marky comes across very excited, and I thought his mention that Gaudreau and Tkachuk would cheat offensively because of how good Lindholm is defensively was very interesting. Given how poorly we played defensively vs Edmonton trying to run and gun with them, I could see that being a big frustration as a teammate.
I don't think Markstrom should be throwing stones towards any other Flames players regarding the Oilers series.
I don't think Markstrom should be throwing stones towards any other Flames players regarding the Oilers series.
He wasn't. He was throwing stones at the cheating forwards who left Lindy to do the heavy lifting all season. I thought he held himself quite accountable for the Oilers series in thatinterview. As much as one man could without completely cratering his psyche.
Own it, move on.
__________________ "Everybody's so desperate to look smart that nobody is having fun anymore" -Jackie Redmond
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He wasn't. He was throwing stones at the cheating forwards who left Lindy to do the heavy lifting all season.
He wasn't doing that either. He basically said that Lindholm was so good last season it allowed Gaudreau and Tkachuk to cheat offensively without getting burned. That's all.
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Dealing with Everything from Dead Sea Scrolls to Red C Trolls
Quote:
Originally Posted by woob
"...harem warfare? like all your wives dressup and go paintballing?"
Markstrom is the biggest question mark on the team after that performance against the Oilers
No. He isn’t. Not even close.
The biggest question mark is still how the forwards are slotted, and how they will play as a group. The only question surrounding Markstrom is the Oilers, and that is for only four games, and maybe a playoff series.
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Dealing with Everything from Dead Sea Scrolls to Red C Trolls
Quote:
Originally Posted by woob
"...harem warfare? like all your wives dressup and go paintballing?"
The biggest question mark is still how the forwards are slotted, and how they will play as a group. The only question surrounding Markstrom is the Oilers, and that is for only four games, and maybe a playoff series.
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He's a goalie. Goalies are always big question marks.
Especially in a league with so much parity.
He's a goalie. Goalies are always big question marks.
Especially in a league with so much parity.
Not necessarily, was Kipper always a big question mark?
I agree with Textcritic, how he plays against the Oilers is the only thing we really should be questioning about him going into this season. And that's only a big issue if they have to play them in the playoffs again.
Could he have a bad year? Sure, anyone on the team can. The whole team pretty much had a bad year during the shortened season.
