Should the Flames trade up or trade down once they get healthy?

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by saillias

In after a WrCO'S post about Backlund.

Look up 6 posts

[ForeverFlameFan]

If everyone is healthy (and wanting to keep Granlund/Jooris up):

Glencross - Monahan - Jones
Gaudreau - Granlund - Hudler
Raymond - Backlund - Colborne
Bouma - Stajan - Jooris
McGrattan, Byron, Bollig

Assuming everyone is healthy, along with Baertschi/Ferland/Reinhart/Setoguchi sent down.

[Enoch Root]

Setoguchi's time is probably up.

Baertschi and Reinhart can go back to Adi.

Can move Glencross at the deadline.

Can move Hudler and Jones (maybe) at next year's deadline.

[Enoch Root]

Oh, and 100% agree - play the hand they've been dealt. Things will sort themselves out.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Despite where the talking point came from, Backlund is relevant now to this discussion. There is no NEED to get rid of depth, and you only do this to address another NEED you'd like to fill in another part of the roster, but the way this season has gone to date it's pointed out that we do have some depth at the center position (depth meaning serviceable players) that could be used to create depth elsewhere.

Monahan, Colborne, Backlund, Grandlund, Reinhart and Stajan along with the fact we know we have Bennett coming up the pipe has us in a pretty good depth spot.

The only untouchables on that list are Monahan and Bennett in reality. The rest could be moved for the RIGHT return. Obviously, the most obvious player in my opinion to trade for the right return would be Stajan, but he's also the least likely to help get you the RIGHT return.

From there you have think there could be a deal to be made where one of Colborne, Grandlund, Backlund, Reinhart or Stajan could be pieces. Lots of reasons to keep any of those guys other than Stajan, but something tells me that Colborne and Grandlund would be the ones the Flames would least like to part with, and I woulding be floored to see the Flames try to deal from a position of strength and make a move involving a Backlund or Reinhart. The Flames have to be feeling good right now that despite any of those guys looking good, we already have the bodies (and young bodies at that) in the organization to not really miss one of them that badly.

Again, not what I'm cheering for, but could totally see it happening.

[nik-]

I wonder if Glencross gets all pissy at the deadline and torpedoes deals with his NMC.

He's earned the right with his cheap contract, but it would still suck.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Can move Glencross at the deadline.

Can move Hudler and Jones (maybe) at next year's deadline.

I think you ought to be aiming at moving Hudler at either the deadline this year or at the draft. If he keeps at his current pace and the Flames are willing to eat max retention he'll fetch a really good return. Either way we need to make some minutes available to grab.

[waner]

Things haven't really changed since start of season. Jooris looks like a bottom 6 guy but you expected that one of the young guys would turn into that. Gaudreau looks to be top 6 but I think they expected either he or Baertschi would be that.

I would say you have 3 groups to move:

If you get anything for them trade them:

Smid, Wideman, Diaz, Setoguchi, McGrattan, Jones, Ramo, Byron

If you get decent offer good-bye:

Glencross, Stajan, Hudler, Russell, Hiller, Raymond, Engelland, Backlund, all AHL guys/call-ups

Keep as core:

Monahan, Gaudreau, Colborne, Brodie, Gio, Bennett

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by waner

Keep as core:

Monahan, Gaudreau, Colborne, Brodie, Gio, Bennett

Colborne? Really? He doesn't eat hard minutes, he doesn't take on the toughs, he isn't dynamic offensively... he's not a core guy. He's a decent enough hockey player but he's not someone you should consider a core piece.

[JJ1532]

I think Colborne is someone the management would consider a core piece. Big, young, tough improving all the time, can play on several lines, can play on the wing just as well as he can down the centre. Will work hard, has as impressive amount of skill for a big guy.

And the fact is, at this moment in time in the season, he has the best assists to games ratio of any of our forwards. Not bad for a player that isn't dynamic offensively. I don't think its unfair to say that he may well have been our top scoring forward at this point had he not gotten injured.

[dammage79]

Colborne is one of those big time potential players that are not easily replaceable. Core player? Maybe not, you're not going to build your team around him, but he is a player you keep around for a while.

Colborne's found money at this point. I'd sign him up for a few more years. Shoot outs alone he'd be well worth it.

[4oh3]

Maybe we could trade our roster with edmontons. Because half the teams in the league would.

[waner]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Colborne? Really? He doesn't eat hard minutes, he doesn't take on the toughs, he isn't dynamic offensively... he's not a core guy. He's a decent enough hockey player but he's not someone you should consider a core piece.

I just don't think anyone will give us anything worth moving him for and don't want to get rid of him for nothing. I prefer him over a 2nd round pick and don't see another team giving us a 2nd for him. I could have included him in the move if a good offer list but I preferred him over the guys on that list all of which I would trade for a 2nd if it were offered, but he isn't in the same league as the other core guys I mentioned.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Locke

I disagree, I think Stajan and maybe Glencross are likely going to become the old guard/steadying influence on this team for the foreseeable future.

You cant get rid of all of the vets, even when their production doesnt merit their wages, the Oilers have shown us this.

Until the Flames are in cap trouble we need some of the old guard to help the kids through the lean patches.

Because realistically, you're going to get more value out of keeping a guy like Stajan than you're ever going to get back in a trade.

If Stajan and Glencross are going to be depended on as a steadying influence the Flames are in trouble. I rather the Flames rely on guys like Hudler, Raymond and Giordano.

Getting rid of Stajan wouldn't make us the Oilers. The Oilers had many veterans during the past 8 years. The lack of crappy veterans was not the Oilers problem.

I want to see the Flames move Stajan and Glencross and walk away from Setoguchi and McGrattan. Sign a RW UFA.

IMO Next years forward line-up should be:
Gaudreau Monahan Hudler
Raymond Backlund UFA/Ferland
Granlund Bennett Colborne
Bollig Jooris Bouma
Jones(IR) Byron

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Locke

Seto should already be checking out real estate in Siberia.

I wasnt expecting much from Setoguchi, but I was certainly expecting more than hes delivered.

Reminds me of the Mike Leclerc trade. I hated it. I figured he'd suck but I never thought he'd be as bad as he turned out to be.

Same thing here. You nailed it.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by nik-

I wonder if Glencross gets all pissy at the deadline and torpedoes deals with his NMC.

He's earned the right with his cheap contract, but it would still suck.

Highly doubtful.

If he goes on a good and lengthy playoff run he wins the lottery on his next contract.

I really like him as a player and love him on the Flames, but he's getting the Iginla treatment - his flaws are being over accentuated and his assets are under appreciated here. As a fan of his I'm beginning to think it's better he goes to a market to appreciate him more.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think the only guy the Flames will actively be shopping will probably be Glencross. UFA, and looking for term and money. If I am the Flames, I am looking at his age, looking at the Flames organizationally, and thinking there isn't really a fit here long-term. Short term? I think the Flames would over-pay to keep him for 1-2 years, but beyond that, I am betting the Flames would only want to keep him on a lower-dollar contract.

Setoguchi is probably a guy they start shopping as well, but more to benefit Setoguchi and to try and show the rest of the players that as long as you are willing to come here and do your best, they will try and accommodate the player as much as possible. The only thing I see Setoguchi returning is a cap dump + sweetener. Some team looking to shed salary, and the Flames send a contract back with a guy that can be completely buried cap-wise in the minors. Will that happen? Doubtful, but with the NHL's economic landscape looking like the cap may stay the same or possibly move down, and the compliance buyouts over with, probably will be entering the best time to use the cap as a real asset. These trades rarely happen and I wouldn't count on it, but probably the best timing is coming up.

I can't really think of any other players that have to be moved.

Jones is an expensive checker, but he does do an effective job on the ice. He has term on his contract to boot, so nobody is going to bite on that unless you are exchanging him for another over-priced player with term.

Stajan has too much term, and I do think that the plan is to keep him around to add to the veteran presence. I think it will be a couple of years before you see him get traded, unless some other team is desperately looking for a depth center.

Wideman - I hope he doesn't move. Flames have been relatively healthy on defence (just a couple games here and there). I don't think there is anyone in Adirondack that is ready to come up outside of Wotherspoon. I guess Cundari could perhaps, but defensive depth is huge. Besides, Wideman has been more good than bad out there, and I think his game is taking a huge rebound. He does have some value I think, though it grows exponentially with every dollar the Flames retain. Still, not a need to trade him. He isn't holding anyone back, and he is good on the PP.

I can see the Flames trading some prospects though. Treliving I think would be more comfortable having some defensive prospects with a bit more pedigree. Perhaps he uses Baertschi in part of a trade to acquire a young but established NHL'er, or a highly touted up and coming prospect. Baertschi with another prospect or pick may get you a decent defensive piece in return. Then again, if Friedman is correct, GMs don't really want much to do with him at the moment. Baertschi is not exactly showing much this time around in the NHL either, and until he either starts performing better in the NHL or in the AHL when he gets sent down, that isn't going to change. I would personally rather be overly-patient with him than sell low at this point, even if he ends up completely busting. I still think he can be a very good contributor (not someone you build around, but someone that will contribute regularly) and have the occasional game-breaking moments.

[Vinny01]

The injury problem the Flames have been hit with were certainly at the right position. The team certainly had much more depth at forward than defense. I think Granlund has made his case to stay, Jooris as well. I don't see Setoguchi as tradeable but maybe he would get picked up on waivers from an injury riddled team. McGratten and Bollig are going to be in tough to make the lineup full time.

The one thing I wonder if the Flames will do and make a trade to utilize their cap space and expend a couple of these young assets. I am not sure if there will be room for all of Reinhart, Knight, Arnold, Baertschi, Agostino, Hanowski, Byron, Backlund. they could package a couple of those pieces together to land a big contract but a young player in the 22-26 age range.

[GioforPM]

Maybe trade Agostino and Hanowski for a veteran scoring winger. Might have to throw in a pick.

[Demaeon]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe trade Agostino and Hanowski for a veteran scoring winger. Might have to throw in a pick.

I think we should be keeping our picks at this point. Maybe add Klimchuk instead?