[News] Upd: Drouin decides to sit out until trade is completed. Lightning suspend him.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

So do the flames build with duos and hope we can find a big sniping RW for both lines? That would be ideal if we can find that X person.

Gaudreau-Monahan-X
Drouin-Bennett-X

Could you imagine getting Drouin, keeping the 2016 1st, missing the playoffs and getting Puljujarvi or Laine? Thats the stuff dreams are made of.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I am all for the Flames making another big trade to get that next piece that the team needs.

And I would have no problem trading the 1st, as well as 2 or 3 of our prospects, and other assets like Hudler and Backlund.

It just doesn't make sense to me to spend our chips on a guy like Drouin. The last thing we need is a small LW. We need a 1st line RW, a goalie, and a 3/4 D-man.

Let's spend our chips on those things.

I think one of the 2 biggest needs for Calgary is another elite young forward (along with a goalie). I think it more important to have 2/3 of 2 potential top scoring lines than having just one. Drouin is a nice fit as long term he is paired with Bennett or Monahan while Gadureau is paired with one as well. The Flames could have 2 elite scoring lines with 3 very high end Dmen.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Hackey

I think it's more the fact that his value is down but he's young with crazy talent that intrigues people. At full value I'd agree look elsewhere but if you can "steal" him then it's definitely worth looking at.

Well yeah, a steal would be great. If you can trade Klimchuk and a 2nd for him (or any other valuable player), then obviously you do it.

But realistically, a guy like that shouldn't be our target.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

But realistically, a guy like that shouldn't be our target.

This exactly.

It's sure be nice to acquire a whole bunch of young talents but there are only so many roster spots and so many assets. Acquiring Drouin takes a spot away in a position of comfort and takes assets away needed to fill a position of need.

I'd pass unless you're including him in a multi-team trade that addresses our goaltending or RW (or even nets us a DFD).

[calumniate]

In Russia, team trades you!

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I am all for the Flames making another big trade to get that next piece that the team needs.

And I would have no problem trading the 1st, as well as 2 or 3 of our prospects, and other assets like Hudler and Backlund.

It just doesn't make sense to me to spend our chips on a guy like Drouin. The last thing we need is a small LW. We need a 1st line RW, a goalie, and a 3/4 D-man.

Let's spend our chips on those things.

True. But I honestly think this could be tampas seguin. I know he's small. I know we need to get bigger. But in 5 years we could be laughing about how we were so concerned about size we didn't think Drouin would be worth a few picks, roster player and prospect.

I believe he has too much skill to not be a player. Also I don't think his issue is drive, or attitude like Baer or Semin. He is a young, super raw, undersized player. Not everyone will take to the league like our number 13.

I think he's just lacking an understanding of how to play the whole game. It's not an effort thing from what I can tell. He's on a team that was just in the Stanley cup and can't burn a spot on a small kid who doesn't get the NHL yet.

I think we can afford to develop him.

Can you blame him for basically having no defensive game and no positioning. He actually never needed to learn how in the Q. He could basically score at will.

It's a lot easier to teach a player how to be effective and utilise their package of skills, than it is to teach good sized good iq player how to skate, score, etc.

I honestly think Hartley, even though I'm a critic of his, would be perfect for Drouin. That and watching Gaudreau every single day. Seeing how he is able to be effective defensively without playing like Bouma or Ferland. It's about hustle, inside position, quickness, good stick, etc.

I just think the kid has the offensive ability of an all star and the defensive ability of a very young junior player.

To me the Semin and baertshi comparisons don't make sense. Baertshi was sour at being passed by a lot of prospects and let it get to him and his motivation / play. He wasn't mentally built to compete with 100 prospects. That and I think he felt he was better or more ready than he was.

Semin is just a fool who has literally no drive for the sport of hockey. At one time it was debate able wether or not he had more skill than ovie. Now he can't crack MTL even at such a small cap hit.

I see that as totally different from a young, young, player who is still a rookie to me, who hasn't ever learned the other side of the puck, where to be, how to be effective defensively without being a big body, decision making.

I think being around Johnny would make things click for him. Oh? I don't have to throw checks or block shots to be very effective at forcing the opponent to turn the puck over? Oh, if I play my position and be patient, our team will eventually get the puck again? Oh, blind backhand passes in our own zone right up the middle are not a good idea?

I think he's just ignorant of what it takes and how to do what he needs to do.

It's not like the kid is refusing to play defence in the NHL. When I've seen him he just looks like he doesn't understand the consequences of mistakes at the NHL level. For me it goes back to being on the best junior team I've seen in the past 5 years. Not needing to learn these things.

Same reason Monahan was basically looking like a vet in his NHL debut. He on the other hand learned nothing but the basics and what to do, where to be and how to play properly. As a captain and best player on the worst team in the OHL it's different than the top scorer in the Q on the best team in the nation.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Could you imagine getting Drouin, keeping the 2016 1st, missing the playoffs and getting Puljujarvi or Laine? Thats the stuff dreams are made of.

Short lived dreams maybe.

I can't imagine the Flames will have the cap space to keep Monahan, Bennett, Gaudreau, Drouin, and Puljujarvi/Laine 3 years down the line (assuming they all reach potentials).

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Well yeah, a steal would be great. If you can trade Klimchuk and a 2nd for him (or any other valuable player), then obviously you do it.

But realistically, a guy like that shouldn't be our target.

I agree that a small player shouldn't be our target.

But buying low on a former top pick who out scored mackinnon and has all the skills in the world? There too much upside honestly.

It's like betting a few hundred dollars with a more than decent chance of becoming a millionaire.

But yes..we should definitely be looking at size.

We also need secondary scoring. If things work out this could be a chance at cloning Gaudreau potentially

[Poster]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Could you imagine getting Drouin, keeping the 2016 1st, missing the playoffs and getting Puljujarvi or Laine? Thats the stuff dreams are made of.

Ya, I'm sure the ownership, management, coaches and players all DREAM of missing the playoffs.

#fanboydreams
#somethingspecial

I'm sure this poster has never criticized Oiler fans for cheering for draft position!

[Crumpy-Gunt]

In regards to cap space, yeah it would be tough to keep all those players if they hit their stride. But it's a super awesome problem to have. And we can always play Chicagos game and keep the essential pieces and deal the others, no matter how painful it is or how awesome our versions of Saad / Byfuglien / Versteeg etc etc are

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

I agree that a small player shouldn't be our target.

But buying low on a former top pick who out scored mackinnon and has all the skills in the world? There too much upside honestly.

It's like betting a few hundred dollars with a more than decent chance of becoming a millionaire.

But yes..we should definitely be looking at size.

We also need secondary scoring. If things work out this could be a chance at cloning Gaudreau potentially

Again, if you can steal him, great.

But good luck with that.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

So, assuming they want a roster player, which contract would they want to move out? Looking at Mattias Ohlund, he hasn't played since 2011. His 3.6M per year contract on IR finally expires next season. Maybe taking on the last year and a half of that anchor is something a team could offer to sweeten the pot?

This is the final year of Ohlund's contract, and he's only getting paid $1 million this season, which they've already paid half of. Since he's on LTIR, his cap hit doesn't matter to the Lightning. Offering to take on his contract isn't going to gain a team much of anything.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

There's a difference between having a city wide holiday to draft 4 players in 6 years, and imagining how dreamy it would be to have those prospects Dammage posted..

Can we dream? Can we imagine?

I don't think Dammage purposes we trade everyone and tank. He is basically saying how awesome it would be if that were to happen.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Again, if you can steal him, great.

But good luck with that.

True. But what I mean is buying low in relation to his value on draft day. Which was sky high. I remember sitting there so damn jealous that Tampa got him.

But I agree, I'd only be down if we could 'steal' him. No 1sts, no core pieces.
Everything else on the table though for me

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Poster

Ya, I'm sure the ownership, management, coaches and players all DREAM of missing the playoffs.

#fanboydreams
#somethingspecial

I'm sure this poster has never criticized Oiler fans for cheering for draft position!

Who is cheering for missing the playoffs? The reality is right now that the season can go either way for the Flames. If they do miss the playoffs and nab Drouin, get Puljujarvi/Laine the FW group is set up quite nicely, a welcome thing to relieve the pain of missing the post season.

It's year #3 of rebuild time. If life gives you lemons, you make the best possible lemonade out of them you can. I'm sure coaches and management and fans and players will all say the same thing. If...IF they miss this season, but you better try and make sure you're not going to next year.

[nik-]

And they could have had Monahan or Jones .... ouch.

[Caged Great]

Backlund + Granlund + Russell + Wotherspoon/Kulak + 2nd

for

Drouin + Carle/Coburn + Gudlevskis

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Could you imagine getting Drouin, keeping the 2016 1st, missing the playoffs and getting Puljujarvi or Laine? Thats the stuff dreams are made of.

Quite frankly, that part alone is enough for me. I would trade Backlund, Granlund, Klimchuk, Poirier, and our 1st for a top 4 pick in this year's draft: Drouin at that point is overkill.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Who is cheering for missing the playoffs? The reality is right now that the season can go either way for the Flames. If they do miss the playoffs and nab Drouin, get Puljujarvi/Laine the FW group is set up quite nicely, a welcome thing to relieve the pain of missing the post season.

It's year #3 of rebuild time. If life gives you lemons, you make the best possible lemonade out of them you can. I'm sure coaches and management and fans and players will all say the same thing. If...IF they miss this season, but you better try and make sure you're not going to next year.

I wouldn't cheer for losses because I feel like this team will be in a fight till the end so I'd rather make playoffs than have a 10-14 pick. If were bottom 5 or close when the season is winding down though I'm cheering for losses and I wouldn't feel the slightest bit bad about it. I highly doubt were in that situation though so I think the Fins are a pipe dream. Sure would be nice though. Wouldn't be that surprising if the Oilers got one of them though.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Backlund + Granlund + Russell + Wotherspoon/Kulak + 2nd

for

Drouin + Carle/Coburn + Gudlevskis

A seven-player blockbuster centred around Mikael Backlund and Drouin?

That'll be the day...