[GDT] Chicago Blackhawks at Calgary Flames 7:00pm TV: SNW, CHSN, ESPN+ - RADIO SN960

[DJones]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I think the question will be how Conroy handles trading pieces this season. Obviously it’s very early and the flames could end up being as bad as many have assumed. In which case, trades will be very straight forward I think - pretty much any veteran could be had for the right price. However, how does Conroy handle the season if they aren’t bad this year? I don’t think he will look to trade young pieces or picks no matter what this year. The question is focused on trading vets/rental pieces for picks/prospects.

Take this scenario… it’s early January and the flames are sitting comfortably in a playoff spot. Andersson is having a career year. Kadri is having another great season. Some teams call Conroy willing to meet his asking price for these players that he may have established in pre-season likely based on the assumption this team would be finishing low in the standings this year. Does he make the trade? I’m assuming these teams are offering him exactly what he asked for to start the season.

The obvious answer I’m sure most might say is that Conroy tells them the price has gone up because the team is doing well and he is not eager to trade players away. Makes sense. But how much does it go up? Would you want him to say no to a package offered in January that would be considered an overpayment in June?

Again, many people will say absolutely not… we need to build for the future and trading vets for young prospects and picks is the priority. But that is easier said than done when you have coaching staff, players, fans and an owner that would all rather keep winning games.

We saw something similar to this with Markstrom during the season last year… the flames price was high because he was their MVP at the time and the flames were close to a playoff spot. The price ended up being so high that the trade was delayed to the summer. Not sure if Conroy’s price ended up going down at that point or if New Jersey’s offer came up. But I think that was an example of a player’s value to the team’s short term success increasing the asking price to the point that teams were not willing to make the trade. I’m not saying Conroy was wrong to do that… I was happy with the return in the end and I’m happy with how the rebuild is going.

Losing Gaudreau for nothing is still fresh. If someone offers you a decent return on Kuzmenko or Mantha. You take it imo. I'm hoping by January it'll be obvious that Coronato and Honzek can fill that role as well.

Andersson or Kadri is more complicated. Andersson you should have at least some idea if you can get him to re-sign this summer. Kadri, love the guy but if someone offers us something good its hard to say no.

There's the whole problem of Montreal having our first too. Coming in 17th this year would be devestating in so many ways.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

don't look now, but 24-year-old Martin Posposil is tied for the team lead in points, and Zary is second, alongside Kadri, Mantha and Kuzmenko. Both of them have been outscoring Backlund and Coleman.

That’s awesome! Would not have guessed Posposil had that many points already. Good for him… he’s looked great at center this season already.

You could almost determine the stage of the rebuild by who is on the first powerplay unit. Right now, the only young guy on that first powerplay unit is Zary. The rest are vets. In 2 years, it could be Zary, Honzek/Coronato. Huberdeau, Parekh and the 2025 first round pick (assuming a center).

[Ferarri]

If Rick Ball is in Calgary calling the road game, I hope he gets a standing ovation at the Dome. He was the best we had in a very long time and became synonymous with Flames games over the last 10 years. We were also fortunate to have him call Johnny Gaudreau's biggest goal of his career.

The fact that Sportsnet never rewarded him as the leading voice for evening games on HNIC still doesn't sit well with me. Anyways, Rick is a class act and deserves our thanks for all the big moments we witnessed as him being our PBP guy.

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by DJones

Losing Gaudreau for nothing is still fresh. If someone offers you a decent return on Kuzmenko or Mantha. You take it imo. I'm hoping by January it'll be obvious that Coronato and Honzek can fill that role as well.

Andersson or Kadri is more complicated. Andersson you should have at least some idea if you can get him to re-sign this summer. Kadri, love the guy but if someone offers us something good its hard to say no.

There's the whole problem of Montreal having our first too. Coming in 17th this year would be devestating in so many ways.

Even Mantha could be complicated if he helps return Huberdeau to his 90 point form. If that’s the case and Mantha is willing to sign an extension, do you still trade him? You still have to start making room for young forwards. If the flames extended Kuzmenko and/or Mantha, it would be 1 to 2 less top nine spots open for a young player like Coronato or Honzek.

[Strange Brew]

Losing players for nothing isn't great but it's also not the worst thing that can happen.

If Flames find themselves in a playoff chase I have no issue with keeping certain guys through the end of the season even if they end up walking. Definitely preferable to signing someone to a bad deal.

[dammage79]

Who's calling the game for Sportsnet tonight? Is it finally our new tandem?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Who's calling the game for Sportsnet tonight? Is it finally our new tandem?

Yes

Might switch to the Hawks feed. Miss Ball

[jg13]

edit: beat

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I think the question will be how Conroy handles trading pieces this season. Obviously it’s very early and the flames could end up being as bad as many have assumed. In which case, trades will be very straight forward I think - pretty much any veteran could be had for the right price. However, how does Conroy handle the season if they aren’t bad this year? I don’t think he will look to trade young pieces or picks no matter what this year. The question is focused on trading vets/rental pieces for picks/prospects.

Take this scenario… it’s early January and the flames are sitting comfortably in a playoff spot. Andersson is having a career year. Kadri is having another great season. Some teams call Conroy willing to meet his asking price for these players that he may have established in pre-season likely based on the assumption this team would be finishing low in the standings this year. Does he make the trade? I’m assuming these teams are offering him exactly what he asked for to start the season.

The obvious answer I’m sure most might say is that Conroy tells them the price has gone up because the team is doing well and he is not eager to trade players away. Makes sense. But how much does it go up? Would you want him to say no to a package offered in January that would be considered an overpayment in June?

Again, many people will say absolutely not… we need to build for the future and trading vets for young prospects and picks is the priority. But that is easier said than done when you have coaching staff, players, fans and an owner that would all rather keep winning games.

We saw something similar to this with Markstrom during the season last year… the flames price was high because he was their MVP at the time and the flames were close to a playoff spot. The price ended up being so high that the trade was delayed to the summer. Not sure if Conroy’s price ended up going down at that point or if New Jersey’s offer came up. But I think that was an example of a player’s value to the team’s short term success increasing the asking price to the point that teams were not willing to make the trade. I’m not saying Conroy was wrong to do that… I was happy with the return in the end and I’m happy with how the rebuild is going.

I don't think the question is Andersson or Kadri. I think the question is Mantha, Kuzmenko, or Vladar. If the team is comfortably in a playoff spot, then there are a few options: (a) they could trade them for assets, depending upon the market; (b) they could resign them, thinking that this team is better than projected; or (c) they could let them play out the season and re-assess in the off-season.

The only option that scares me is (b) and that comes with caveats. If they re-sign Mantha or Kuzmenko for 6, 7 or 8 year terms then I won't be happy. If it's two or three years, then I won't be happy but I will be less concerned. However, I suspect that both Mantha and Kuzmenko - if they have good seasons - are going to want significant term as free agents given they have bounced around a lot.

I am okay with the team letting two reclamation projects walk over signing them long-term when we have a glut of wingers already.

[D as in David]

Trade what they can if they're in the hunt for a playoff spot - a possible scenario.

Consider keeping some assets if they are clearly top 4 or 5 in the conference - a highly unlikely scenario.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

... If they re-sign Mantha or Kuzmenko for 6, 7 or 8 year terms then I won't be happy. If it's two or three years, then I won't be happy but I will be less concerned...

Not that I think there is any chance this happens, but what would be the problem with two- or three-year deals for either Mantha or Kuzmenko? I actually think this could be an amazing option: if the Flames are extending either player, it means they had a great season. If they are coming in at two or three years, that's a fantastic situation proving short-term stability during a time of rebuilding. It's not like the Flanes don't have reams of cap space. If they extend for two or three years, this still provides options to make trades in the future.

But, of course, there is no way either Kuzmenko or Mantha is signing short-term deals here.


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[Goriders]

Originally Posted by stemit14

It is a sign that the flames likely have a long way to go in the rebuild… while the young guys (Zary, Honzek, Wolf, Klapka, Coronato) have looked good, most of the scoring and key roles up front have come from the veterans still (Kadri, Backlund, Mantha, Kuzmenko, Coleman, Huberdeau). When those veterans are more of the complimentary players and the younger guys make up most of the top 6 forwards and top four defencemen, the team will be on their way out of the rebuild.

The rebuild could still happen faster than some think though… it requires the flames to hit big on their next two drafts IMO. No small task but if they get a #1 and a #2 center out of the next two drafts, they could be looking ready to start to get better.

Zary-xxxx-Coronato
Honzek-xxxx-Sharangovich
Huberdeau-Posposil-Gridin
Klapka-Kadri/Backlund-xxxx

That’s just a very rough outline of what the team could be in 3 years… with the missing spots filled with (potentially) guys drafted in 2025 and 2026. Obviously that won’t be what it is… guys will get traded or just won’t develop how we all hope. But there is the potential for things to work out this way as the forward line up. It assumes the vets with expiring deals are not re-signed (except potentially Backlund) and the vets with long contracts are not traded (Huberdeau, Kadri and Sharangovich).

I think just normally you’re probably replacing 20% of your roster per season anyway. The Flames in the last 2 seasons have replaced 70%. Over 3 seasons 82%. That is a lot.

I think the problem they are going to have is having too many prospects. As in they probably have 3 dmen on the wranglers that could be on the main roster now. Guessing that’s why Barrie and Hanley are around.

Mantha will be the big decision. There are less forwards or maybe none that are ready for top 6 minutes.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Not that I think there is any chance this happens, but what would be the problem with two- or three-year deals for either Mantha or Kuzmenko? I actually think this could be an amazing option: if the Flames are extending either player, it means they had a great season. If they are coming in at two or three years, that's a fantastic situation proving short-term stability during a time of rebuilding. It's not like the Flanes don't have reams of cap space. If they extend for two or three years, this still provides options to make trades in the future.

But, of course, there is no way either Kuzmenko or Mantha is signing short-term deals here.


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There's the rub. Now, maybe there's a scenario where they are traded pre-TDL and a contract like you are proposing looks palatable to them after testing the UFA market in the summer and seeing the offers from other teams. Unlikely, though.

[Nelson]

Meaghan Mikkelson just shared on the pre-game show, that her mom died suddenly last week. I've valued her insight as a colour commentator, and I'm really glad she's back.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Work for a consistent 60 minutes and the Flames should prevail.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I swear to god the new pbp guy just said “cocks and flames”.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

He did! I rewound it like 3 times. What is this a Roger Millions tribute on his first day? This guy is gonna fit right in.

[3thirty]

Stuck in a BC hotel with regional restrictions, anyone have a centre ice i can borrow tonight?

[Iniggywetrust]

Originally Posted by 3thirty

Stuck in a BC hotel with regional restrictions, anyone have a centre ice i can borrow tonight?

I've been trying to sort this out but I think it's even blacked out on Sportsnet+ I am trying to pay for more the upgrade but they have now here to take my money.

[Josh]

Accidentally clicked on the Chicago feed, took a few to realize it wasn't the flames feed with Rick Ball calling the game.