The 2025 Offseason thread.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

I agree with this strategy 100%

I hope to see the following lines next year:
Huberdeau-Kadri-Klapka
Sharangovich-Frost-Pospisil
Zary-Backlund-Coronato
Farabee-Kerins-Lomberg
Kirkland

Bahl - Weegar
Solovyov - Pachal
Kuznetsov - Parekh
Bean

Wolf
Cooley

I see this lineup being worse on defense and ideally getting us into the bottom 5.

Realistically, we would never be permitted to ice a D core that green. I expect a UFA signing (Ekblad) to shore up the LD, and doubt Conroy will offload Anderson and Coleman - even though he probably should.

Coronato is likely our winger with the best shot, he should not be buried on the third line with Backlund.

He's one of our few young players with perhaps first line potential, he should be given every opportunity to showcase that potential.

[Toonage]

Agreed. Coronato will move up the lineup, Backlund will eventually move down. It worked well this year but like Tkachuk with Backlund, eventually you graduate.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Agreed. Coronato will move up the lineup, Backlund will eventually move down. It worked well this year but like Tkachuk with Backlund, eventually you graduate.

Not every situation is the same. Tkachuk had the opportunity to move up to play with Lindholm and Gaudreau. Tkachuk is also a better player.

Coronato and Kadri doesn't put Coronato is a great position to succeed. Kadri is great at doing his own thing, but not great at setting up a shooter.

Huberdeau is ok with Coronato, and they will be on the PP together.

Frost maybe, but he has a ways to go to show he is a 1st liner.

Best case for Coronato is Frost and Huberdeau with him, but if that line doesn't click then IMO Backlund makes sense with Coronato for 1 more year.

We won't see the best of Coronato until we get a top line center.

[Toonage]

If Lindholm is the bar, we might just have that with Frost.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bingo

This is never a popular thing to bring up but I just don't get the legend of Kirkland.

The shootout things was cool. Great guy.

But last on the team for forwards in xGA60 (which is essential for a 4th line guy), and last on the team for forwards in xGF%.

Led all forwards with a 1.12 PDO which is off the charts.

If you look league wide? He's 1st in PDO for all forwards that played 150 or more minutes.

He should be cheap so when the heater goes away they can burry him but don't assume more than there appears.

He has wheels, which actually fits well with Lomberg and (if he’s bottom 4) Pospisil. I don’t think there’s more, but he’s younger than Rooney, experienced enough not to be an issue and won’t cost much. Plus cutting the Flames Masterton nominee loose isn’t a great look.

[Wastedyouth]

Marner with Coronato though..... drooool....

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Bingo

This is never a popular thing to bring up but I just don't get the legend of Kirkland.

The shootout things was cool. Great guy.

But last on the team for forwards in xGA60 (which is essential for a 4th line guy), and last on the team for forwards in xGF%.

Led all forwards with a 1.12 PDO which is off the charts.

If you look league wide? He's 1st in PDO for all forwards that played 150 or more minutes.

He should be cheap so when the heater goes away they can burry him but don't assume more than there appears.

Yup, Kirkland is below replacement level. Over the course of a full season he would have as poor of an impact on the 4th line as Rooney does. Both players should not be seeing regular minutes ever on a playoff bound team.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Provorov will probably get 6 to 7 years for way too much money. I like adding a veteran dman, but think we need someone that won't command big money with term. Maybe Brian Dumoulin?

Maybe try and sign Ryan Lindgren if the contract isn't too expensive.

We don't need to be in on any big time players, they will be too pricey.

I agree. Provorov is going to get 7 years and probably over 9M AAV. I picked the top LD on the UFA list. If the team isn't going to tank, they need a top pair LD to try an anchor the second pair while Weegar makes Bahl look like a star on the top pair.

My expectation is that we are on the tank plan for next season as I think we were on the tank plan for this season. If Conroy avoids signing UFAs and only promotes from within (I think he should keep Vladar to play 25-30 games) then I think it is a high risk, high reward plan.

The risk is that playing a pile of rookies could tank the team but the reward is that our prospects see players getting promoted, which I think is good for the "culture", and there is a chance that they succeed.

[Badgers Nose]

I really liked our top three lines as they finished the season.

Huby - Kadri - Klapka
Coleman - Backs - Coronato
Sharky - Frost - Popsicle
Farabee - Rooney - Lombo

Where to put Zary? Does Klapka cement himself as an NHLer next season? When Farabee shows up recharged and ready at camp where does he slot in? Definitely a winger log jam and we need room for any prospect that takes a step up next camp, if that happens.

Can Conroy package surplus with/without picks to get us help at centre or left D? More picks?

I think this season made Contoy's job harder. But it's a good problem to have.

[the-rasta-masta]

I’m looking at Cole Sillinger in Columbus as a guy the Flames might target. Buried behind Johnson, Fantilli, and Monahan. Fits the type of player Conroy has spoken about.

[Toonage]

^^ Pospisil moves down, Rooney moves out

[dammage79]

I'm looking at SJ and they have Bystedt who seems destined for another organization. Center depth will stifle his ascent in SJ.

[Toonage]

Would not shock me to see both 1sts in play for a young C.

Conroy wants it, the team needs it. Either a trade is worked out or maybe they go the offer sheet route.

Sillinger, Bourque, etc

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dammage79

I'm looking at SJ and they have Bystedt who seems destined for another organization. Center depth will stifle his ascent in SJ.

Would be a great pickup to take heat off the Parekh misspellings.

[Royle9]

I've been told that Craig has contracts ready for both Wolfy and Coronato.
Zary was all but ready to be locked up long term (and I still think he will) but his injury setbacks seem to have potentially changed some numbers there.

[savardandjokinen]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I've been told that Craig has contracts ready for both Wolfy and Coronato.
Zary was all but ready to be locked up long term (and I still think he will) but his injury setbacks seem to have potentially changed some numbers there.

Contracts ready as in both sides have agreed?

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I've been told that Craig has contracts ready for both Wolfy and Coronato.
Zary was all but ready to be locked up long term (and I still think he will) but his injury setbacks seem to have potentially changed some numbers there.

Hopefully he also have an contract offer ready for Bourque too! You know, just a little napkin he scribbles on in his spare time.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I really liked our top three lines as they finished the season.

Huby - Kadri - Klapka
Coleman - Backs - Coronato
Sharky - Frost - Popsicle
Farabee - Rooney - Lombo

Where to put Zary? Does Klapka cement himself as an NHLer next season? When Farabee shows up recharged and ready at camp where does he slot in? Definitely a winger log jam and we need room for any prospect that takes a step up next camp, if that happens.

Can Conroy package surplus with/without picks to get us help at centre or left D? More picks?

I think this season made Contoy's job harder. But it's a good problem to have.

The easy answer is that Rooney comes out and you have a rotation of the younger guys in that #4C spot. At least until one of them can unseat Backlund and force him down the lineup.

I absolutely believe that the Flames need to figure out how to move out some wingers for help at C and LD. The logjam is going to build up even more if guys like Gridin, Suniev, or Basha demonstrate that they deserve a spot with the big club.

[GioforPM]

Basha is still injured. What's the prognosis for him?

[looooob]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Basha is still injured. What's the prognosis for him?

We do have an insider for that one but my understanding is maybe still in lineup for WHL finals if they last that far ?