2022/2023 Trade Speculation and Rumours

[saillias]

Just playing back the Barnburner stream. Seravalli sort of contradicts the growing narrative about Flames selling. He actually mentions buying, and Rhett loses his mind over it, says "walk that crazy prick GM out the door if he's thinking about adding" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljsDMI7hPhU

edit: to be more specific he says he checked in recently and doesn't think they're selling.

He also gets in to the tension between Sutter and the front office. Frank makes a weird comment that the Flames front office would love to deliver to Sutter the news that they had traded one of his guys. Just to see the look on his face. They try to pry out of him more about tension between Sutter and Treliving? Frank says "Between Sutter and everyone."

[bluejays]

Regarding Kadri, his game was bound to change as he got older. He’s not old old, but as you get older you have to be less physical to self preserve. Can’t speak to his cockiness or anything but a slight shift on how he conducts himself is expected year after year. Especially since he’s more or less an average NHL stature. Can’t build your team around middle age nhl free agency and not expect these body changes. We see it time and time again year after year.

[Toonage]

^^ I get if they are adding someone with term, but they'd still need to move a contract or two out to do so.

Got a kick out of Rhett's response but it wouldn't actually be crazy to add. Just depends on the add.

[FanIn80]

I say we sell the team to an owner in Kansas City, and then start over with new ownership, management and coaches and a new expansion franchise with the same draft rules that Vegas had.

...and then move about 5 million people into little towns around Calgary so we have a big enough market to afford/attract elite-level talent.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by bluejays

Regarding Kadri, his game was bound to change as he got older. He’s not old old, but as you get older you have to be less physical to self preserve. Can’t speak to his cockiness or anything but a slight shift on how he conducts himself is expected year after year. Especially since he’s more or less an average NHL stature. Can’t build your team around middle age nhl free agency and not expect these body changes. We see it time and time again year after year.

Maybe, I expected more 'dark arts' and gamecraft from him. Getting in the opposition's head, drawing penalties... that sort of stuff. He was doing it the first month or so, but has tailed off.

Maybe Sutter doesn't like that? Not sure. But I've always associated Kadri with s**housery. Kind of disappointed he is not doing that much anymore.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Toonage

^^ I get if they are adding someone with term, but they'd still need to move a contract or two out to do so.

Got a kick out of Rhett's response but it wouldn't actually be crazy to add. Just depends on the add.

I would hope that the Flames actually just...change direction. Stop doing what they've been doing. This on the fly retooling stuff doesn't work. The team doesn't have the elite talent, and you generally can't acquire the elite talent without drafting it (...I can't foresee some elite talent elsewhere in the league making the demand to get traded to Calgary).

I'm really hoping we see a big change in organizational approach. I hope we have some "players not playing for trade related reasons" tomorrow ahead of the game against the Leafs.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Yes?

How could this team possibly win with $27 million committed annually to three forwards who are not elite?

Those 3 forwards aren't that bad. 1 bad year and people act like this team is Arizona or Columbus bad.

The Flames have got horrible goaltending this year and if you look at regulation losses, they are 2 off Vegas. 3 on 3 hockey is not real hockey even if it hurts they always lose in OT.

Cap goes up, $27M on 3 forwards is not that much. Lindholm is better than he is getting credit for right now.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Those 3 forwards aren't that bad. 1 bad year and people act like this team is Arizona or Columbus bad.

The Flames have got horrible goaltending this year and if you look at regulation losses, they are 2 off Vegas. 3 on 3 hockey is not real hockey even if it hurts they always lose in OT.

Cap goes up, $27M on 3 forwards is not that much. Lindholm is better than he is getting credit for right now.

He didn't say they are bad. He said they aren't elite, and he's right. You can't commit that money for such middling on-ice impact.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I say we sell the team to an owner in Kansas City, and then start over with new ownership, management and coaches and a new expansion franchise with the same draft rules that Vegas had.

...and then move about 5 million people into little towns around Calgary so we have a big enough market to afford/attract elite-level talent.

Might sound crazy but I do wonder if the team in the NHL has a players village somewhere remote to use as their primary homes if they want, for free, if that would work to attract talent. I know styles are individual and stuff but if attracting FAs is a problem they have to think outside the box.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Toonage

^^ I get if they are adding someone with term, but they'd still need to move a contract or two out to do so.

Got a kick out of Rhett's response but it wouldn't actually be crazy to add. Just depends on the add.

Yeah, being that opposed to the idea without any added context might be embarrassing in a few days if BT manages to re-jig this team on the fly (as he has done more than once already).

Makes for fun listening though, and what does Rhett really know about managing a hockey team, anyway? Not much.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Got a kick out of Rhett's response but it wouldn't actually be crazy to add. Just depends on the add.

Yep, an expensive rental doesn't make any sense but there's nothing wrong with cheap ones.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Yeah, being that opposed to the idea without any added context might be embarrassing in a few days if BT manages to re-jig this team on the fly (as he has done more than once already).

Makes for fun listening though, and what does Rhett really know about managing a hockey team, anyway? Not much.

He would know the closest bar to every arena and hotel.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

He didn't say they are bad. He said they aren't elite, and he's right. You can't commit that money for such middling on-ice impact.

That isn't elite money either. Cap goes to $86M this year you will see what elite money is. Mackinnon already got $12.6. Matthews is going to top that followed by the wonder twins in Edmonton. By the time Lindholm's deal kicks in, $14M cap hits will be a thing in this league. Maybe even $15M

Keep Lindholm, your stuck with Kadri and Huberdeau.

Move out anyone else as you are not getting a top 5 pick or high end prospects in trades anyways. We are getting late firsts and 2nd line caliber prospects.

If you trade Lindholm, blow it up is the only path that makes sense but the Flames are not blowing it up because of 1 off year.

[bigrangy]

Huberdeau has too long of a track record to say he's not elite. Something is clearly wrong with him this year but he's got the skills to do damage. Everyone thought Jeff Skinner was the worst player in the NHL and now he's having a career best season and will drop 30 goals again.

Huberdeau has at least several 80-90 point seasons still left in him. Just a matter of figuring out how to extract them. I don't think it starts with stapling him to Kadri though.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Maybe, I expected more 'dark arts' and gamecraft from him. Getting in the opposition's head, drawing penalties... that sort of stuff. He was doing it the first month or so, but has tailed off.

Maybe Sutter doesn't like that? Not sure. But I've always associated Kadri with s**housery. Kind of disappointed he is not doing that much anymore.

No doubt I’d have expected something similar as well. Truth be told though, picture yourself accomplishing something you’ve always wanted (Stanley Cup) then getting a huge contract for millions. Is there truly an incentive to work any more? Honest question for any of us. I think certain exceptional players live up to expectations. But most really breathe a sigh of relief after getting that massive contract. Again, don’t build through free agency.

[Naitix]

Trading Toffoli makes too much sense to me, Coronato can replace him next year. You can incentivize Coronato to sign as there would be a spot for him and you get assets for Toffoli

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Huberdeau has too long of a track record to say he's not elite. Something is clearly wrong with him this year but he's got the skills to do damage. Everyone thought Jeff Skinner was the worst player in the NHL and now he's having a career best season and will drop 30 goals again.

Huberdeau has at least several 80-90 point seasons still left in him. Just a matter of figuring out how to extract them. I don't think it starts with stapling him to Kadri though.

Lindholm is a guy you can build around too and because he does not put up huge points his contract could be decent. Bergeron was under paid his whole career. Not just because he's nice and took discounts either. He always has been undervalued.

If we could land a top 5 pick to draft a Lindholm replacement, fine move him. That is not happening. This team is not blowing it up even though some come on here and say that is the best option. I like the option but it is not happening. Some are married to one path and one path only, there are more than 1 way to fix the team and some options are more realistic to what actually might happen.

But some come on here, trade everyone!! Don't hold your breath.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Huberdeau has too long of a track record to say he's not elite. Something is clearly wrong with him this year but he's got the skills to do damage. Everyone thought Jeff Skinner was the worst player in the NHL and now he's having a career best season and will drop 30 goals again.

Huberdeau has at least several 80-90 point seasons still left in him. Just a matter of figuring out how to extract them. I don't think it starts with stapling him to Kadri though.

Frankly with the amount of turnover and turmoil in the summer, I'm not at all surprised at some players having bad years.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Huberdeau has too long of a track record to say he's not elite. Something is clearly wrong with him this year but he's got the skills to do damage. Everyone thought Jeff Skinner was the worst player in the NHL and now he's having a career best season and will drop 30 goals again.

Huberdeau has at least several 80-90 point seasons still left in him. Just a matter of figuring out how to extract them. I don't think it starts with stapling him to Kadri though.

Huberdeau's underlying impacts have never been elite, even when he was scoring 100 points.

There is no way this organization should be committing $27 million to 3 forwards who will all be over 30 by the time Lindholm's next contract kicks in. It's absolutely insane. The Flames can't let this happen again.

And the cap may not be going up as much as people think. Sports broadcasters falling apart in the US. That will have an impact.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

That isn't elite money either. Cap goes to $86M this year you will see what elite money is. Mackinnon already got $12.6. Matthews is going to top that followed by the wonder twins in Edmonton. By the time Lindholm's deal kicks in, $14M cap hits will be a thing in this league. Maybe even $15M

Keep Lindholm, your stuck with Kadri and Huberdeau.

Move out anyone else as you are not getting a top 5 pick or high end prospects in trades anyways. We are getting late firsts and 2nd line caliber prospects.

If you trade Lindholm, blow it up is the only path that makes sense but the Flames are not blowing it up because of 1 off year.

It’s not one off year. It’s the entire modern era with no success, and no clear path forward. You win in this league on the backs of elite talent, and this team doesn’t have any - and the players that are the closest, are in the downswing of their careers/may already be bottoming out.

Sutter coming in and having the team play such a structured, statistically strong game has further exposed this teams lack of elite talent in my eyes. If we had elite talent, we’d be at the top of our division - but we just don’t have it, and we won’t find success until we get it.