Trade deadline day you be the GM

[neo45]

Sather is regretting a big signing?

"Giving Sather cap space is like giving a teenager car keys and whiskey"

[FlamesAddiction]

Richard's contract is ridiculous. I'm glad we "lost" in that bidding war.

[c.t.ner]

If the Flames are in a selling position, I don't foresee ownership going into a full on scorched earth rebuild and letting Feaster start from scratch. Because of which I think Feaster will only be able to trade away one of the two big names on the team, it's either going to be the Kipper camp or Iginla camp.

I just don't see ownership being willing to start the 2013-14 season with Ramo/McDonald in net AND a combination of Glencross/Cammalleri as the stars on the team. Let's be honest that's going to be one hell of a sell to the casual fans.

Scenario 1: Iginla Camp stays.

Then I see Kipper, Stempniak, Cammalleri being traded in some combination.

Scenario 2: Kipper Camp stays.

Then I see Iginla and Tanguay being traded. I don't know what it's like in the dressing room, but I don't think that Tanguay wants to be the face of a franchise.

I think Cammalleri wouldn't have a problem taking that on, but it feels as though Iginla is probably one of the biggest pushes keeping Tanguay here.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Richard's contract is ridiculous. I'm glad we "lost" in that bidding war.

Richards contract is what it costs to get #1 centers via free agency.

You need a very good #1 (and #2) center to win the stanley cup.

Since our team is incapable of drafting a 1st line center, free agency or trade seems to be our only option. I'm disappointed we didn't win the Brad Richards bidding war - the Flames would be a much better team right now if we had Richards.

[Canada 02]

Richards is certainly capable of being a #1 center, but he must be playing pretty awful if there is speculation of a buy-out

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Player / Likely return

Iginla: A-list Prospect + late 1st + conditional 2nd

Kipper: B-list Prospect + 3rd

Bouwmeester: Young roster player with $2 to $3 mil cap hit + 2nd

Cammalleri + 3rd: Young roster player with $3 to $4 mil cap hit

Giordano: B-list Prospect + 2nd

Iginla's too much - I'd say either the prospect or the 1st rounder, not both. Kipper, probably about right. Bouw I think if you get a younger roster player back you've done well. Cammalleri, there is no telling - for all we know he scores 10 goals right before the deadline and everyone wants him.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Richards is certainly capable of being a #1 center, but he must be playing pretty awful if there is speculation of a buy-out

He has been alright. 11 points in 17 games. Not lighting up the scoresheet but is good. Really is a matter of Sather putting waay too much into three players. Gaborik, Richards and Nash tie up 22 million in cap. thats 1/3 of the cap next year.

[AR_Six]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Richards is certainly capable of being a #1 center, but he must be playing pretty awful if there is speculation of a buy-out

Anyone speculating about a buy-out is an idiot. How ecstatic would you be if the flames acquired him for a 7th round pick? Pretty damned happy? Because I bet Feaster would be too, along with any other GM with the ability to make the cap work.

Almost no one in this league is getting bought out. Redden and Gomez were very rare exceptions. Good players who are overpaid by a million per year are not buyout candidates.

[Poe969]

After 2 wins in a row?!?!?!?! Geez, if I'm the GM right now I trade away all of our picks and prospects for some depth on the fourth line and maybe a playoff vet like Knuble and push hard for the cup!

If we don't have a playoff spot locked up, and I mean it's almost impossible to miss the playoffs, start the sale. If this team is "in the hunt" or just holding on, it means they won't make it in. This team has shown that they can't get it done when things really count and keeping them together is a bad idea. The goal of this team and most of it's fans is to make 8th place and hope for a dream run to the cup. That's just sad.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by dammage79

He has been alright. 11 points in 17 games. Not lighting up the scoresheet but is good. Really is a matter of Sather putting waay too much into three players. Gaborik, Richards and Nash tie up 22 million in cap. thats 1/3 of the cap next year.

I don't know if it's a matter of stats; media reports say he's been terrible; Torts has benched him a few times; this is all anecdotal - I haven't seen him play this year

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by AR_Six

Anyone speculating about a buy-out is an idiot. How ecstatic would you be if the flames acquired him for a 7th round pick? Pretty damned happy? Because I bet Feaster would be too, along with any other GM with the ability to make the cap work.

Almost no one in this league is getting bought out. Redden and Gomez were very rare exceptions. Good players who are overpaid by a million per year are not buyout candidates.

It's a little much calling someone an idiot for speculating a buy out of a player like richards on a team like I pointed out has one third of next years cap tied up in three players. There is some sound logic to buying richards out. But my bet is more on Gaborik who has two years left at 7.5 a year. Cannot give up a number one center in my mind. unless the rangers are completely in love with gaborik.

[Buff]

Should have traded Comeau to Columbus for their 1st round pick last year before Davidson went in and started making changes.

[bubbsy]

tough spot for the GM no doubt.

most teams look at their roster and can clearly make out their foundation at the forward/defence/goaltending positions.

i would be hardpressed to be able to make out the definitive Flames foundation at any position. That means, if you're willing to go out and trade iginla, you might as well look at tanguay, glencross, cammalleri, stempniak, giorano, bouwmeester, kipper, butler, stajan, comeau, jackman, sarich, babchuk also.

I guess there's the core i see.....baertchi, backlund, brodie, hudler. after that bit of a crapshoot.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Richards contract is what it costs to get #1 centers via free agency.

You need a very good #1 (and #2) center to win the stanley cup.

Since our team is incapable of drafting a 1st line center, free agency or trade seems to be our only option. I'm disappointed we didn't win the Brad Richards bidding war - the Flames would be a much better team right now if we had Richards.

The problem with the contract is the length. He will be making almost $7 million per year until he is 40. Considering where his play is now, there is a good chance that he won't be a #1 or #2 centre in the last half of the contract.

There is a reason only the Rangers and Flames were left at the end. When you are the last man standing with Sather, there is a good chance it's a mistake.

[SuperMatt18]

Rule #1: Don't trade with Glen Sather- Terrible at signing FA's but manages to fleece everyone in trades.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The problem with the contract is the length. He will be making almost $7 million per year until he is 40. Considering where his play is now, there is a good chance that he won't be a #1 or #2 centre in the last half of the contract.

There is a reason only the Rangers and Flames were left at the end. When you are the last man standing with Sather, there is a good chance it's a mistake.

again - it's the price of doing business in free agency.

For those organizations too inept to develop #1 centers, it's the only avenue to add the pieces necessary to win a Stanley cup.

Of course that deal will be a hindrance towards the end, but if the Rangers win a Cup during that time, who cares?

I'd gladly deal with 2-3 years of painfully overpaying Richards if we won a Stanley Cup with him. It beats the alternative of dwelling in irrelevancy and never being able to draft high enough to net a true #1 center.

You either go big, or you go home. I'm tired of this team simply sitting around claiming they're good while knowing that historically over the last 15 years or so you simply cannot win a Stanley Cup without great/elite depth at the center ice position.

I just don't get why the Flames haven't/don't build their team from the center ice position out. It's the one consistent thing that all Stanley Cup champions share. High end center depth.

LA Kings: Carter, Richards, Kopitar
Boston Bruins: Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand, Seguin
Chicago Blackhawks: Toews, Sharp, Bolland
Pittsburgh Penguins: Crosby, Malkin
Detroit Red Wings: Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filppula
Anaheim Ducks: McDonald, Getzlaf, Pahlsson
Carolina Hurricanes: Staal, Brind'Amour, Cullen, Weight
Tampa Bay Lightning: Lecavalier, Richards
New Jersey Devils: Arnott, Elias, Nieuwendyk, Madden, Gomez
Detroit Red Wings: Yzerman, Datsyuk, Federov, Larionov
Colorado Avalanche: Sakic, Forsberg, Drury, Yelle

[timbit]

Ironic that Richards was a 3rd rd pick....that the Flames traded to TB.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by timbit

Ironic that Richards was a 3rd rd pick....that the Flames traded to TB.

quite.

I'm not really saying you NEED to draft in the top 5 to get a #1 center, but historically the odds are against you finding a player like Richards in the 3rd round.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

If the Flames are in a selling position, I don't foresee ownership going into a full on scorched earth rebuild and letting Feaster start from scratch. Because of which I think Feaster will only be able to trade away one of the two big names on the team, it's either going to be the Kipper camp or Iginla camp.

I just don't see ownership being willing to start the 2013-14 season with Ramo/McDonald in net AND a combination of Glencross/Cammalleri as the stars on the team. Let's be honest that's going to be one hell of a sell to the casual fans.

Scenario 1: Iginla Camp stays.

Then I see Kipper, Stempniak, Cammalleri being traded in some combination.

Scenario 2: Kipper Camp stays.

Then I see Iginla and Tanguay being traded. I don't know what it's like in the dressing room, but I don't think that Tanguay wants to be the face of a franchise.

I think Cammalleri wouldn't have a problem taking that on, but it feels as though Iginla is probably one of the biggest pushes keeping Tanguay here.

I think you overestimate the importance of the 'face of the franchise' thing. Who's the face of the Blues? Or the Sharks? The Canadiens do okay selling tickets without a star attraction, presumably because fans in Montreal like hockey.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

again - it's the price of doing business in free agency.

For it to be simply the cost of doing business, there would have to be a significant sample size of players with similar contracts, but there really isn't - at least not enough to say that it represents the norm. The Gomez contract was similar, but we saw how that turned out. LeCavalier might be the only other one, given his age, that really compares (and not too many people are happy with that one either).

We are talking about a 32 year old player that signed for that amount. Sure, other #1 centres like Staal, Stamkos, Crosby and Malkin who signed similar contracts that took them beyond free agency, but they also have youth on their side.