2015/2016 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[Fire of the Phoenix]

It's almost like the Flames don't have a true 2nd line and have to use bottom 6'ers in there instead. I really don't see a guy like Kassian helping with that.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

It's almost like the Flames don't have a true 2nd line and have to use bottom 6'ers in there instead. I really don't see a guy like Kassian helping with that.

In the classical setup of
Scoring line (1)
Scoring line (2)
Checking line (3)
Energy/Grinding line (4)

You'd have to think they line up as follows
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler (Scoring, Line 1)
Bennett-Granlund-Raymond (Scoring, Line 2)
Ferland-Backlund-Colborne (Checking, Line 3/4)
Bouma-Stajan-Jones (Checking, Line 3/4)

We don't really possess a 4th line like teams used to deploy that plays only 5-8 mins and has a goon. We really have two scoring lines and two checking lines that could occasionally score. But Hartley more than some coaches will roll these lines and ride the hot lines.

But I'd say based on last game's lines that Bennett-Granlund-Raymond is our scoring line.

As for Kassian? I just don't think he has the mental discipline to achieve his potential. Yes, the player he has the potential to be is appealing. But I think he has the possibility of being a distraction and a poor fit. I love power forwards and yet the idea of adding Kassian for free gets a "meh" from me. If the Flames coaches think they can teach the kid then maybe. But frankly I think Ferland has as much potential as Kassian or more to be a top two line power forward within the next year or two. I'd trade Raymond for Kassian I guess.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Ferland-Backlund-Colborne against the Jets.

Our lines were

Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler
Ferland-Backlund-Colborne
Bennett-Granlund-Raymond
Bouma-Stajan-Jones

Though Frolik would knock Colborne out, and Ferland is not a top 6 forward by production. My point is that you're not normally going to have a second line of Kanes and Panarins and Toffolis and Lucics. Kassian is better than a third liner. He's a top 6 forward. Even if that's not the high praise. A Frolik-Backlund-Kassian line has potential. I'm not even arguing that it's worth the other risks though (Kassian's Healthy, Cap Hit, Attitude, Addiction history, whatver). All I'm arguing is he's no plug and would improve a lot of teams' top 6.

I too think Kassian is worth taking a chance on.

However, you're killing your argument by claiming the Ferland and Colborne are 2nd line wingers simply because you thought that line was the 2nd line for one game.

I would argue that the Flames top wingers are:

Gaudreau
Hudler
Frolik
Bennett
Jones
Bouma

Kassian doesn't go ahead of any of those guys, never mind 3 of them.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

In the classical setup of
Scoring line (1)
Scoring line (2)
Checking line (3)
Energy/Grinding line (4)

You'd have to think they line up as follows
Gaudreau-Monahan-Hudler (Scoring, Line 1)
Bennett-Granlund-Raymond (Scoring, Line 2)
Ferland-Backlund-Colborne (Checking, Line 3/4)
Bouma-Stajan-Jones (Checking, Line 3/4)

We don't really possess a 4th line like teams used to deploy that plays only 5-8 mins and has a goon. We really have two scoring lines and two checking lines that could occasionally score. But Hartley more than some coaches will roll these lines and ride the hot lines.

But I'd say based on last game's lines that Bennett-Granlund-Raymond is our scoring line.

As for Kassian? I just don't think he has the mental discipline to achieve his potential. Yes, the player he has the potential to be is appealing. But I think he has the possibility of being a distraction and a poor fit. I love power forwards and yet the idea of adding Kassian for free gets a "meh" from me. If the Flames coaches think they can teach the kid then maybe. But frankly I think Ferland has as much potential as Kassian or more to be a top two line power forward within the next year or two. I'd trade Raymond for Kassian I guess.

My point is that our second line is pretty bad compared to other teams. You can't just call guys 2nd liners because they play on one of the weakest 2nd lines in the league. Fact is, guys like Colborne, Raymond, Backlund, Granlund, Ferland, Bouma would be on most team's bottom 6/press box/farm teams. Bennett is the guy with real potential, the rest are pretty 'meh' and interchangable with generic replacement level players as far as I'm concerned. Kassian is no better than the plethora of options already available.

I would trade Kassian for Raymond too, but only for the cap savings. I would just give Sam Bennett more ice time and let the others fight it out to be on his line.

[Vinny01]

If the Habs took a contract from the Flames that goes beyond this year I would make the deal as well. Raymond, Bollig, Engellend, Smid are the 4 players in particular I would trade for Kassian. That deal does the Flames well as they dump one of their contracts they have no need for next season

[Goodlad]

I've never liked pts/60 as an argument for production. It doesn't factor in defensive matchups that top-6 players face. Because Kassian can put up numbers against other teams' bottom-6 forwards and bottom-4 defensemen doesn't mean he would keep the same pts/60 facing the tougher matchups that come with top-6 minutes.

Edit: I remember Canucks fans using pts/60 to argue that Horvat was as good an offensive player as Monahan, he was just "stuck" behind the Sedins.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Goodlad

I've never liked pts/60 as an argument for production. It doesn't factor in defensive matchups that top-6 players face. Because Kassian can put up numbers against other teams' bottom-6 forwards and bottom-4 defensemen doesn't mean he would keep the same pts/60 facing the tougher matchups that come with top-6 minutes.

Edit: I remember Canucks fans using pts/60 to argue that Horvat was as good an offensive player as Monahan, he was just "stuck" behind the Sedins.

In the reference time span Kassian scored 5 goals / 2 assists in 182:46 playing on the Sedins line. Unless I'm mistaken, that would mean he was facing the defensive matchups that top 6 players face. That's a production rate of 2.3 points per 60.

Kassian's production goes up as the quality of his linemates goes up.

[spuzzum]

Flames should go no where close with Kassian with their young core. He had skill and the tools to be a really good player but everything in life doesn't work out.

MTL won't take a contract dump since I think he's only making 800k. None of our plugs would work.

[sureLoss]

HNIC speculating Kassian to the Sharks because of the Boughner connection.

[dash_pinched]

They just said on HNIC that Burrows was the first Canucks player to arrive at the rink, but did not take part in the pre-game skate. Is a trade brewing?

Edit: Cassie just said upper body injury for Burrows.

[Illuminaughty]

No, upper body injury. Maybe his heart grew three sizes like the grinch's over x-mas.

[sureLoss]

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Mentioned SJ as a potential Kassian fit (Bob Boughner), but also wonder about EDM. Peter Chiarelii took a long look at him last year in BOS.

[Illuminaughty]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Elliotte Friedman @FriedgeHNIC
Mentioned SJ as a potential Kassian fit (Bob Boughner), but also wonder about EDM. Peter Chiarelii took a long look at him last year in BOS.

Yeah that move has Oilers all over it. I hope they do it.

[memphusk]

Kassian traded for Prust. That's plug for plug.

[sureLoss]

Apparently Scrivens for Kassian is being floated around social media (i.e. no one credible is reporting this) as Scrivens isn't dressed for tonights Condors vs Heat gam.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Illuminaughty

Yeah that move has Oilers all over it. I hope they do it.

God, I hope so. Kassian is the dumbest hockey player I have ever seen. Combine that with the Oilers PK and I love it.

[sureLoss]

Unreliable Eklund says Flames are the front runner for Johansen.

If Treliving pulls that off without giving up Gaudreau/Monahan/Bennett/Brodie/Hamilton, it will be time to build a statue, nay a forest of statues!

[Da_Chief]

Wonder if Treiliving would take Clarkson's contract to lessen the cost? Then buy him out this off-season? The buyout will be 8 years. First 4 years would be 3.7-4.7 mill cap hit then the final 4 years will just be 500k.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

Wonder if Treiliving would take Clarkson's contract to lessen the cost? Then buy him out this off-season? The buyout will be 8 years. First 4 years would be 3.7-4.7 mill cap hit then the final 4 years will just be 500k.

Flames are not in a position to take on bad money as they will be a cap team going forward. If they add Johanssen to the mix they will have at least 3 forwards commanding $6-$8M and if Bennett breaks out then they could have 4.


I don't see how Calgary can pull this deal off without the return being the picks/prospects variety?

I would take Johannsen on the team in a heartbeat but not if the deal includes Gaudreau, Monahan, Bennett, Brodie, Giordano, or Hamilton. All other assets could be on the table

[Ozy_Flame]

I don't see it happening. And we certainly shouldn't be giving up any core or 1st round picks. I don't like where this is going, unless Jarmo Kekäläinen is a complete dunce and takes spare parts.