2015/2016 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

Man, the Flames haven't played hockey over .500 this year. They just won more than two games in a row in the past week.

All I'm saying is Hudler isn't a core piece going forward considering the cap implications his next contract will have.

If the Flames find themselves benefiting from the weak pacific division and find themselves flirting with a playoff spot that is great and is clearly the goal, but that's no reason to let an asset walk away for nothing July 1.

Really? So all you who thanked this post think the Flames should trade Hudler "immediately"? Because that is what he stated in his post. If that is your way of thinking then like I said, the team up North might be more your style.

[Hackey]

What he said made very logical sense. Hudler is an asset with good value who will likely be gone next year. Trading him at the deadline makes a lot of sense as long as there is a decent package available.

[CliffFletcher]

So weird to see fans still in denial that this team is rebuilding.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Really? So all you who thanked this post think the Flames should trade Hudler "immediately"? Because that is what he stated in his post. If that is your way of thinking then like I said, the team up North might be more your style.

That was hardly the point of his post. He made several points, all valid.
The Flames should trade Hudler this season if he isn't part of the plans going forward, which he shouldn't be.
Recent streak aside, this has been a bad hockey team for most of the season, and decisions regarding assets should be made with that in mind.

[Loudog]

Losing Hudler to FA I think is a huge loss. Does anyone have an idea if contract extension talks have happened at all? I think Hudler is a great piece moving forward if we can lock him down at a good price.

[PepsiFree]

It's ok to have a little honesty.

This team isn't contending for a cup, it's rebuilding. You hold on to assets on expiring contracts that are going to be too pricey to sign if you're going to need them in June, not with the faint hope you might make an appearance.

Trading Hudler this season HAS to happen. Before the trade deadline but I think the longer you wait the less you get.

Delusions of grandeur is much more a trait of "a team up north" than trading away select expiring assets for good building pieces.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It's ok to have a little honesty.

This team isn't contending for a cup, it's rebuilding. You hold on to assets on expiring contracts that are going to be too pricey to sign if you're going to need them in June, not with the faint hope you might make an appearance.

Trading Hudler this season HAS to happen. Before the trade deadline but I think the longer you wait the less you get.

Delusions of grandeur is much more a trait of "a team up north" than trading away select expiring assets for good building pieces.

I think the closer to the deadline is where the real poker hands get played.Should be fun to watch.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Really? So all you who thanked this post think the Flames should trade Hudler "immediately"? Because that is what he stated in his post. If that is your way of thinking then like I said, the team up North might be more your style.

Where did he say trade him immediately?

He said Hudler shouldn't be part of the future core and should not be allowed to walk away for free come July 1st.

That means trade him from now till trade deadline as long as you get something worthwhile in return.

A small winger on the wrong side of 30 will be looking to cash in, as he should. The Flames shouldn't be the team giving him that contract. We'll have plenty of cap issues in the near future.

[sureLoss]

Sean Shapiro @seanshapiro
Scouts from 7 NHL teams here to watch Texas Stars vs Stockton tonight. Calgary, Toronto, Montreal, Tampa, San Jose, Vancouver, NY Rangers.

A lot of scouts for an AHL game. Just saying.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

That was hardly the point of his post. He made several points, all valid.
The Flames should trade Hudler this season if he isn't part of the plans going forward, which he shouldn't be.
Recent streak aside, this has been a bad hockey team for most of the season, and decisions regarding assets should be made with that in mind.

That was the point of his post, he started the whole post off by saying immediately. Immediately is immediately. Trading him at the deadline if the Flames are not in the mix is a different story all together and not the point of his post at all.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

That was the point of his post, he started the whole post off by saying immediately. Immediately is immediately. Trading him at the deadline if the Flames are not in the mix is a different story all together and not the point of his post at all.

Where did he say that? The guy you original posted way back said immediately not the post people thanked that you flipped out about.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Where did he say trade him immediately?

My bad, I confused his post with Fire Of The Phoenix's post which got this all rolling. Again, if the Flames are in striking spot of a playoff spot come the deadline you hold onto Hudler and let him walk for nothing unless the return is a homerun. Players don't fetch great value anymore at the deadline anyhow so what are we missing out on? A late 2nd? How many late 2nds become NHL players? Not very many. So people are advocating moving Hudler and telling the team that they are giving up a key part of any chance they have at the post season for a minescule shot at an NHL player? Great message. If the Flames are out of it then sure, get what you can but to do otherwise just to net any kind of return sounds pretty damn Oilerish to me.

[FlameZilla]

I love what Hudler has contributed to this team over the last few years, but truthfully he won't represent good value on his next contract.

He hasn't been the same since the playoffs & I can't help but wonder if he's dealing with some nagging injuries.

A lot of teams will be looking for a winger with his skill set as we approach playoff time. As the team has demonstrated recently, they can put together a few wins even without Hudler contributing how he used to.

If this team makes the playoffs this season it won't be Hudler who carries it. It will be Johnny & Mony. It's time to find them a RWer for the longterm, and if Hudler nets us that then I'm happy.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Where did he say that? The guy you original posted way back said immediately not the post people thanked that you flipped out about.

At the end of the post he is still advocating moving Hudler no matter what, playoffs be damed even. Can't let a guy who might fetch a 2nd at the deadline walk for nothing, even if it sends a bad message to the team or costs them the post season. Again, sounds Oilerish to me.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

If this team makes the playoffs this season it won't be Hudler who carries it. It will be Johnny & Mony.

While those two will have to play well what has shown Hudler cannot play at a high level to help the team make the playoffs? How many other wingers do we have with his experience, leadership, and skillset? You trade Hudler you mail it in. That is fine if the team is far enough out at the deadline that a playoff birth is very improbable but is just wrong if they are not. The goal should always be the dance.

[dammage79]

Even if the Flames are in a playoff spot, I feel they can get along just fine if they chose to move Hudler. Time will tell I suppose. Last year and the offseason I was on a mission to convince folks Hudler equally deserved an extension just like Gio. Adamant I think would be a more apt term. Love Hudler, but I think with the rise of Granlund and how the Flames have fared while Hudler has been out has convinced me it would be okay to move Hudler any time.

Because at this point, I' not sure how they'd be able to work Hudler in for 4+ more years at any cap hit. Which sucks, I've really enjoyed the Hudler signing since day one. He helped turn this team around in a big way. Cap concerns don't give a lot of leeway to reward some players with loyalty anymore.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

At the end of the post he is still advocating moving Hudler no matter what, playoffs be damed even. Can't let a guy who might fetch a 2nd at the deadline walk for nothing, even if it sends a bad message to the team or costs them the post season. Again, sounds Oilerish to me.

They made that decision last year with Glencross. You have to make good asset decisions - there is a balance between trading off every vet and being smart about the long-term plan.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

While those two will have to play well what has shown Hudler cannot play at a high level to help the team make the playoffs? How many other wingers do we have with his experience, leadership, and skillset? You trade Hudler you mail it in. That is fine if the team is far enough out at the deadline that a playoff birth is very improbable but is just wrong if they are not. The goal should always be the dance.

I really don't think that is the case. He hasn't played like a difference-maker this season at all. We know what he's capable of but for whatever reason he isn't the driving force he was last year.

In all honesty I think Frolik was signed as his replacement this offseason. As a veteran, 2-way forward he's been decent & will get better.

It's not like this team is all riding on Hudler's shoulders. This isn't mid-2000’s Iginla here. Hudler isn't as important to this team's success as Brodie, Giordano, Monahan & Gaudreau. This season he's become a secondary player & he represents enough value in a trade that it could be worth trying to use that asset to get better now & going forward.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Even if the Flames are in a playoff spot, I feel they can get along just fine if they chose to move Hudler. Time will tell I suppose. Last year and the offseason I was on a mission to convince folks Hudler equally deserved an extension just like Gio. Adamant I think would be a more apt term. Love Hudler, but I think with the rise of Granlund and how the Flames have fared while Hudler has been out has convinced me it would be okay to move Hudler any time.

Because at this point, I' not sure how they'd be able to work Hudler in for 4+ more years at any cap hit. Which sucks, I've really enjoyed the Hudler signing since day one. He helped turn this team around in a big way. Cap concerns don't give a lot of leeway to reward some players with loyalty anymore.

I couldn't agree more.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

At the end of the post he is still advocating moving Hudler no matter what, playoffs be damed even. Can't let a guy who might fetch a 2nd at the deadline walk for nothing, even if it sends a bad message to the team or costs them the post season. Again, sounds Oilerish to me.

What would the return for Hudler have to be for you to deem it good enough that it couldn't be turned down? Say we are 3rd in the division with a 4 point cushion at the TDL... What is the trade that you would give your blessing to? Or are we 'buyers' at that point? What if we are 3rd in the division but still hovering around .500? Does that change your opinion?

I'm of the view that the long term outlook of this team is much more important than anything that will happen this year. I just don't see this team as a playoff threat, not with our goaltending. Every pick and prospect acquired will only increase our chance at future success IMO. That is the lens I see this team through.