2016/2017 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by fotiou22

Gaudreau - Bennett - Ferland
Tkachuk - Monahan - Versteeg
Frolik - Backlund - Brouwer
Lazar - Jankowski - Chiasson

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Stone
Del Zotto - Andersson

Fleury
Gillies

I'm hoping:
Gaudreau Monahan Ferland
Jankowski Backlund Frolik
Tkachuk Bennett Lazar
Lomberg Stajan Hathaway
Versteeg

(Bouma and Hamilton in Stockton, Brouwer in Vegas, Chiasson goes UFA)

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Stone
Kulak Andersson
Bartkowski

Fleury
Rittich

[DJones]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Jankowski is much more skilled than Frolik and probably right there with Backlund. Brouwer however is not a top 9 forward.

Ya I think so too but trying not to slot him in too soon haha

[Calgary4LIfe]

It is a curious question as to how good this team really is.

Was goaltending THAT bad, and then THAT good to save the season?

Was the slow start attributed THAT much to 'learning the systems'? Was it simply a softer schedule near the end that propelled the Flames into the playoffs?

My bet is that last year's squad was good enough for the playoffs. I think just a consistent goalie tandem and an upgrade on Bartkowski in the 6th spot and Stone alongside Brodie all season will show the quality of this team. Maybe I am wrong, but that is what I think.

I also think that the young players are getting better - if they just take even a small step forward, it will really make a difference (and I am just speaking 'as a unit' here - not every single one of them has to take a step forward, but I do expect the young core to move forward a bit as a unit). I think properly slotting guys from the get-go is vital this year. No Chiasson on the top line, no Brouwer in the top 6 (and preferably away from Bennett), etc.

I hope that Chiasson and Versteeg are both re-signed - they were very effective last season. Chiasson scored at a good clip from the bottom 6 IIRC, and I think he was solid all over the ice. Versteeg was a magician at times, though inconsistently. He is skilled enough to play with Monahan effectively if Gaudreau gets injured or gets moved to another line, and gritty enough to play a checking role.

An upgrade is an upgrade on the RW, but I don't see that as crucial any longer. Few teams have three high scorers on any line (short of one just kind of mooching off the other two and playing a role to help the other two more effective as scorers - i.e. Anisimov playing defence/big body/faceoff guy for Kane and Panarin).

Goalies>>>>>>defence (if Stone is re-signed) >> RW

That's how I see it. It may not be ideal at the moment, but I think the Flames have enough skilled guys for a good top 6 and a great top 9.

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Jankowski - Bennett - Versteeg/Lazar

Sure, not enough RHS, but that's ok. It was good enough for the Red Army, it is good enough for the Flames. I just think it isn't a vital upgrade.

Goaltending and re-signing or acquiring someone to play with Brodie are the two most crucial elements. Finding a guy that can play top 4 minutes in a bottom pairing role in case of injuries is imperative too (which is why I am fine with re-signing Engelland, though I hope the term is short, as he should be a heck of a lot cheaper than Alzner).

I also don't think this is a soft team at all. Who is soft. Let's count them:

Gaudreau.
Monahan. Sort of. Takes a lot of abuse, so I wouldn't call him 'soft', but whatever.
Hmm...
Yeah. Nobody else. Frolik maybe, but he is hard to play against. Backlund plays physical. Versteeg is definitely pretty gritty. For those of you who aren't familiar with Lazar, he is very physical (and beat up Perry while in Ottawa).

Jankowski isn't 'soft' - he is kind of like Monahan where he is a big body that takes a abuse. We will see how he is in the NHL though.

I count 1 soft player, one 'sort of soft' guy in Monahan, and 1 unknown. That isn't including the 4th line with Brouwer, Bouma, Hathaway, Hamilton, and Stajan (Stajan is soft).

This is not a pugnacious, truculent team, but it isn't soft. Not by a long shot.

They are much softer on D, especially if Engelland moves on. Will be interesting to see who Treliving ends up acquiring.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Jankowski is much more skilled than Frolik and probably right there with Backlund.

I like Jankowski, but there's no reason to believe he's much more skilled than Frolik. Frolik had 138 pts in 97 games in the QMJHL. He was drafted 10th overall. He had 45 points in his first season in the NHL (good for 7th among rookies).

If everything goes really, really well for Jankowski, he may have as good a career as Frolik. I certainly wouldn't expect him to bring more to the table in his rookie season than Frolik does.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I like Jankowski, but there's no reason to believe he's much more skilled than Frolik. Frolik had 138 pts in 97 games in the QMJHL. He was drafted 10th overall. He had 45 points in his first season in the NHL (good for 7th among rookies).

If everything goes really, really well for Jankowski, he may have as good a career as Frolik. I certainly wouldn't expect him to bring more to the table in his rookie season than Frolik does.

Jankowski can do things in traffic that Frolik can't do in open ice.

Production is not a singular measure of skill.

[FlamesAddiction]

Jankowski has yet to prove he can even play in the NHL. Penciling him in for anything is premature at this point. Going in to camp, we should probably assume he is not going to be on the roster until he proves otherwise (and the Flames should be planning for that scenario).

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Jankowski can do things in traffic that Frolik can't do in open ice.

Production is not a singular measure of skill.

Let's see what Jankowski can do in traffic in the NHL.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Yeah maybe it's a little "familiarity breeds contempt" but after watching some great playoff hockey, I'm not sure that roster can get there.

To be fair, after watching what went on in the Western playoffs this season, if the Flames had used an NHL goalie, instead of whatever it is they had, there is every chance they are playing PITT now. And, given that PITT barely has an NHL defense now... This was a big chance. How will next year look?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Jankowski has yet to prove he can even play in the NHL. Penciling him in for anything is premature at this point. Going in to camp, we should probably assume he is not going to be on the roster until he proves otherwise.

What more does he need to do? He was one of the best rookies in the AHL and a leader for that team. He's got NHL size, skating and skill.

I get why people want to show patience with prospects but what do you think the last 5 years of his development were? If he isn't ready now, he's nearly there.

But after having followed his development I'd say he's ready. Why do you think he's not ready?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Let's see what Jankowski can do in traffic in the NHL.

Yes let's

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I like Jankowski, but there's no reason to believe he's much more skilled than Frolik. Frolik had 138 pts in 97 games in the QMJHL. He was drafted 10th overall. He had 45 points in his first season in the NHL (good for 7th among rookies).

If everything goes really, really well for Jankowski, he may have as good a career as Frolik. I certainly wouldn't expect him to bring more to the table in his rookie season than Frolik does.

I also believe Jankowski more skilled than Frolik from having watched them. Stats aren't everything especially trying to compare junior to college stats.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by DJones

Ya I think so too but trying not to slot him in too soon haha

Not sure why anyone think a 1st rounder stepping in 6 years after being drafted is "too soon"

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah I'm with FDW. Janko is 23 years old this summer, 6'4" 215lbs, can skate and has 4 full years of college and a pro season under his belt where potted a goal nearly every other game.

He's not too small.
He's not too young.
He's not too slow.
He's not a defensive liability.

Time is now. I expect to see him in the NHL next season.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Let's see what Jankowski can do in traffic in the NHL.

Reminds me of "let's see if Gaudreau can do that against NHL defensemen".

Reality is that a lot of AHL defensemen - guys like Brandon Montour and Shea Theodore, guys Jankowski was having a field day with are the same guys who were playing against the Calgary Flames in the NHL playoffs. Pros at that level have good sticks, positioning, skating, coaching.

And traffic is traffic. You put five grown-ass men with no NHL skill within a five foot radius and tell them to wildly swing their sticks around, you are still making it difficult for one guy to do things he can do with practice pylons and an empty rink.

[dino7c]

being an average team and squeaking into the playoffs then losing in round one would be a massive disappointment for next season IMO. I would be extremely frustrated if pretty much the same roster is on the ice next season with up and down results.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

What more does he need to do? He was one of the best rookies in the AHL and a leader for that team. He's got NHL size, skating and skill.

I get why people want to show patience with prospects but what do you think the last 5 years of his development were? If he isn't ready now, he's nearly there.

But after having followed his development I'd say he's ready. Why do you think he's not ready?

I don't know if he is ready. I always prefer to take a wait and see approach. He needs to be one of the top 16 forwards coming out of camp. Nothing else really matters. I'm not saying he can't or won't do it, but we shouldn't assume he will.

[IamNotKenKing]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Jankowski has yet to prove he can even play in the NHL. Penciling him in for anything is premature at this point. Going in to camp, we should probably assume he is not going to be on the roster until he proves otherwise (and the Flames should be planning for that scenario).

Management expects Jankowski to challenge for a spot next year, and would be surprised if he does not stick.

[Inglewood Jack]

I have faith that Janko is ready for NHL prime time. I have less faith that he'll get the consistent ice time he needs to develop due to the organization's undying commitment to Expensive Veteran Intangibles Man. let's see if they actually leave some spots open for him and other nearly ripe prospects come October.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by dino7c

being an average team and squeaking into the playoffs then losing in round one would be a massive disappointment for next season IMO. I would be extremely frustrated if pretty much the same roster is on the ice next season with up and down results.

I think we'll all be disappointed in a first round exit for the next 5 years.

That said, I think our forward group can exceed those expectations just with internal growth.

Defense and goaltending are what we need to focus on.

[868904]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

I have faith that Janko is ready for NHL prime time. I have less faith that he'll get the consistent ice time he needs to develop due to the organization's undying commitment to Expensive Veteran Intangibles Man. let's see if they actually leave some spots open for him and other nearly ripe prospects come October.

Remember that time when the flames buried Gaudreau in the minors because they had veteran Mason Raymond in the lineup? Or how about last year when they buried Ferland in the minors and kept Bollig up with the big team?

Or how about those times when they sent Monahan and Bennett and Tkachuk back to junior because the Flames were icing the oldest teams in the league?

I don't.

This organization has given lots of opportunities to young players. No one has been held back. The reason why Poirier and Klimchuk and Jankowski (last year) aren't in the nhl is because they aren't ready.

I fully expect Jankowski to make it next year and expect Stajan to get a lot of press box time and time on the wing.

This regime has shown that if a young player is good enough and ready, he will play over a veteran who isn't playing well.