[Rumour] Dreger: Flames very much in the market for trades

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by logan_izer10

Why? He doesn't fill any of our needs right now.

We do have a clear lack of players who don't give a damn...so I guess Semin would fill a gap of some sort.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

I've said it before and will say it again Ramo has #1 potential in this league, even from the start of last year he's improved a LOT.

He will be here for a while and should be given a good run, he's at least better then Hiller.

Considering Ortio contract changes from a 2 way to a 1 way next season, I would bet Ramo is gone after this season is over.

One of the tough decision yet to be made is do they try to re-sign Glencross....

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by flambers

Considering Ortio contract changes from a 2 way to a 1 way next season, I would bet Ramo is gone after this season is over.

One of the tough decision yet to be made is do they try to re-sign Glencross....

I'm willing to take that bet. He will be part of this team come next season too.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Buck Murdock

Interesting to see what B-Trel does with Glencross and Ramo. Both could net a decent return, but both could also be useful to the flames as well for the playoff push...

It's complete fan fiction but I was thinking that if the bloom has come off Bickell's rose in the eyes of the Hawks I'd probably call Bowman and offer up Glencross (at 1/2 price) for Bickell + a first rounder.

I mean that's a fair deal right? Hawks get a better player IMO for this season (at a quarter of the price) and $8M in cap relief over the next two seasons (they're going to be in a crunch vis-a-vie the salary cap in the offseason and Bickell's salary far outweighs his production). Flames get another 1st (albeit likely a low 1st). If the Flames are still in the playoff picture at the deadline they can keep Bickell and if they're not they can eat salary and ship him out to a contender.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Dreger - The art of saying a lot without saying anything.

I would normally agree, but it is nice to have confirmation of what we think is happening.

Brad is awesome. No BS, just goes about his job. I'm really happy with him so far.

[RyZ]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

I'm willing to take that bet. He will be part of this team come next season too.

Are they going to trade Hiller or Ortio then?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Are they going to trade Hiller or Ortio then?

Does Ortio have to clear waivers next year?

I know he's got a one way deal, but if he doesn't have to clear, they could just send him down.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by codynw

Does Ortio have to clear waivers next year?

I know he's got a one way deal, but if he doesn't have to clear, they could just send him down.

he's exempt until the completion of his 4th contract year or his 72nd NHL game, whatever comes first. 2015-16 will be his 5th year, so yes, he'll have to clear waivers next fall.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Are they going to trade Hiller or Ortio then?

If I had a choice then Hiller would get waived.

It all depends on the rest of the season of Ramo does show he's significantly better do you still keep Hiller?

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Dreger will always be the plug from the breakfast sports show in Winnipeg. He doesn't actually talk about rumours, just speculates without naming anything he didn't hear outside of the MLSE execs bathroom.

[FlameZilla]

I'm happy to have both Ramo & Hiller on the scene for the next couple of years. This whole goalie-tandem thing is a revelation. Plus, goalies have been getting fairly crap returns in trades lately as the market is flooded with decent goalies.

Re-sign Ramo and let Ortio percolate in the minors for a couple more years. No harm can come from that.

[savardandjokinen]

Dreger doesn't even know hockey

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I'm happy to have both Ramo & Hiller on the scene for the next couple of years. This whole goalie-tandem thing is a revelation. Plus, goalies have been getting fairly crap returns in trades lately as the market is flooded with decent goalies.

Re-sign Ramo and let Ortio percolate in the minors for a couple more years. No harm can come from that.

The only Harm is if Ortio decides he's not happy riding third in the order and wants out. It'll be interesting to see how the goaltending sorts itself out at the end of the season.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Jeebus, Dreger. We've got 4 rookies plus Sven, plus Monahan, plus Knight in the lineup. Plus guys like Backlund, Colborne, Byron, Bouma and Brodie who are still kids at 25 and under. How young do we have to be to not be in a complete rebuild?

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

I guess if you only pick 3rd overall that's not a rebuild??

The remark from Dreger was pretty clearly about expected results this season and how we've far exceeded them so far. Not a comment about the quantity or quality of the young players and prospects on the roster and in the organization.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by dammage79

The only Harm is if Ortio decides he's not happy riding third in the order and wants out. It'll be interesting to see how the goaltending sorts itself out at the end of the season.

NHL teams don't really coddle their prospects like that, do they? It's on Ortio to be patient and bide his time. If he's not mature enough to cope with it then he doesn't have much of a chance of making it with this franchise. Earned not given etc...

I like Ortio, but he needs to demonstrate some more consistency before he makes the jump. His first few games this season were a total gong show. He's now back on form, but that earlier wobble is worrying. Goalies usually aren't developed enough until mid/late 20s anyway, so there's no harm letting him overripen in the minors.

[Iggy Snipe]

Flames need to stay the course. Don't bring in anyone that will cost us a lot of cap space or prospects for that matter, unless its a young player that would be a good fit.

Personally, I think if the Flames added a big, young mobile defence-man, that would be the only thing I would do at this point.

I like the young speed the Flames have right now. We still have a lot of injuries. Backlund and Raymond are the most important ones. I think when Stajan comes back he will make Calgary worse. He might be a guy we need to move.

[GioforPM]

How does Stajan make Calgary worse by replacing a Corbin Knight? Stajan is still a quality NHLer. And if you want to move him you better hope he plays well.

[Iggy Snipe]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

How does Stajan make Calgary worse by replacing a Corbin Knight? Stajan is still a quality NHLer. And if you want to move him you better hope he plays well.

Stajan is definitely better than Corbin Knight. I never once said he was. Knight is already back down to the AHL anyways. When Backlund returns though, Stajan is the odd man out in my eyes. He is slow. He doesnt fit the way the Flames have been playing. 2 points in 11 games this year. Colborne is still out too who is faster and more effective than Stajan.

All I am saying is, with all the current injuries, Stajan is the guy I least miss out of the line up. Guys like Backlund, Raymond and Colborne are more important.

[GioforPM]

Backlund won't be back for months. Colborne's better as a winger, and still basically a second year player. Stajan is a stabilizing influence who can play up and down the lineup, as a winger or centre. He has tons of character and is maybe the most popular guy in the room. I agree he's not a long term guy. But makes the Flames worse? I don't think so.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Iggy Snipe

Stajan is definitely better than Corbin Knight. I never once said he was. Knight is already back down to the AHL anyways. When Backlund returns though, Stajan is the odd man out in my eyes. He is slow. He doesnt fit the way the Flames have been playing. 2 points in 11 games this year. Colborne is still out too who is faster and more effective than Stajan.

All I am saying is, with all the current injuries, Stajan is the guy I least miss out of the line up. Guys like Backlund, Raymond and Colborne are more important.

No

Backlund needs to prove he can play an entire season. Until that happens, he's not pushing Stajan out of the lineup on any regular basis.

When Stajan is back, he's in. When Backlund is back, he'll be bumping someone not named Stajan or Monahan out of the lineup.