2016/2017 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

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.

Hey I am positive on Jankowski and was disappointed Flames didn't have the foresight to given him an extended look last season, which would only make him that much more prepared going into this season.

Yes its exactly like saying let's see how Gaudreau does in the NHL. Or more specifically, any 22/23 year old prospect with one game of NHL experience.

[Karl]

This team needs to move on from one or two players from last year. The bottom 6 needs a significant skill upgrade.

In my mind, there is next to no chance that Stajan & Bouma are tradeable so if Bouma doesn't get taken by Vegas, he should be buried in the AHL.

As for Stajan, if he doesn't get selected by Vegas, the Flames should at least consider buying him out.

Bouma, one way or another, should not be on this team anymore at all and Stajan should probably be no more than an extra forward next year.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Karl

This team needs to move on from one or two players from last year. The bottom 6 needs a significant skill upgrade.

In my mind, there is next to no chance that Stajan & Bouma are tradeable so if Bouma doesn't get taken by Vegas, he should be buried in the AHL.

As for Stajan, if he doesn't get selected by Vegas, the Flames should at least consider buying him out.

Bouma, one way or another, should not be on this team anymore at all and Stajan should be no more than an extra forward next year.

There was nothing wrong with Stajan as a 4th line centre last year. He had one of his best years as a Flame, in fact. I see no reason why it would be different this year.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

There was nothing wrong with Stajan as a 4th line centre last year. He had one of his best years as a Flame, in fact. I see no reason why it would be different this year.

Yeah, Stajan was significantly better last year than he was in 2015-16.

Biggest concern with him is that he's going to be even way worse because he's well past his prime and his foot speed is declining. Because of his diminishing skating speed, I don't think he's got enough left in his tank to keep up well enough for a full season anymore.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Karl

Yeah, Stajan was significantly better last year than he was in 2015-16.

Biggest concern with him is that he's going to be even way worse because he's well past his prime and his foot speed is declining. Because of his diminishing skating speed, I don't think he's got enough left in his tank to keep up well enough for a full season anymore.

Uh why not? The Penguins are on a deep playoff run with a 40 year old Cullen at 4th line center. Stajan was a very good 4C for us, which is partially because he's not a 4C.

As for footspeed, he is a center. Give him mobile wingers like Klimchuk, Freddy Hamilton. Lazar, and Chiasson and defensemen like Kulak and he can trail the play just fine. His only struggles the last two years came when he had to drag around Bolligs and Brouwers.

[Robbob]

Veteran center on an expiring contract has some value. It may not be much, but you will not have to buy him out.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Karl

Yeah, Stajan was significantly better last year than he was in 2015-16.

Biggest concern with him is that he's going to be even way worse because he's well past his prime and his foot speed is declining. Because of his diminishing skating speed, I don't think he's got enough left in his tank to keep up well enough for a full season anymore.

Like I said, he had a good season stats wise. He's still the best or second best faceoff man on the Flames, depending on Monahan's night. As for footspeed, no, he's not leading many rushes. But that's not his job. I don't think he gets caught out of position because he's too slow many times.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Absolutely. I think the lack of skill in the top 9 forwards is concerning.

Don't see that at all. In fact I think next years lineup could be the deepest in terms of skill its ever been in my time of watching the team if some of Tkachuk/Bennett/Janko take some strides. Looks like future contending depth in terms of skill.

Potential 1st liners: Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Bennett
Potential 2nd liners: Backlund, Jankowski, Frolik, Ferland

How is that not deep on skill?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Don't see that at all. In fact I think next years lineup could be the deepest in terms of skill its ever been in my time of watching the team if some of Tkachuk/Bennett/Janko take some strides. Looks like future contending depth in terms of skill.

Potential 1st liners: Monahan, Gaudreau, Tkachuk, Bennett
Potential 2nd liners: Backlund, Jankowski, Frolik, Ferland

How is that not deep on skill?

because there's no McDavid flanked between a bunch of AHLers rushing the puck into a dead end but looking amazing doing it.

[bigrangy]

The forward group is almost entirely question marks past Gaudreau, Monahan, and Frolik imo.

Then you have Backlund who's playing the best hockey he ever has, which knowing how things go for the Flames, will not continue.

Tkachuk, Bennett, and Jankowski are all question marks right now as to being top 6ers. Will Tkachuk succeed without Backlund? Can Bennett take the next step? Can Janko fulfill the prophecy? I'm optimistic but I'd also rather not have to wonder about the answers to these questions.

Ferland is on and off but there is a good and potentially great player there.

Past those 8 guys, only two more guys could really be called NHLers imo (Stajan and Chiasson)

Lazar is a huge question mark, who's never really shown that he's anything more than a tweener, though he is young and I expect him to train hard

Brouwer is terrible

Bouma is an enigma. Some nights he's awesome but most nights you wonder how he ever made the show

Hathaway is a question mark, though he was dominant in the AHL alongside Janko.

So for the forward group to be complete, Bennett, Tkachuk, and Jankowski have to take big steps to prove themselves, Backlund needs to continue being Backlund, Ferland needs to get more consistent and on top of that nobody needs to get hurt, otherwise Stajan is in your top 9 or Bouma is in your top 12 or whatever.

There's too many questions for me to be 100% confident that this will be a contending forward group but honestly I think the talent is definitely there and I think it's not far fetched to think they could all put it together next year if everything goes right.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Then you have Backlund who's playing the best hockey he ever has, which knowing how things go for the Flames, will not continue.

Tkachuk, Bennett, and Jankowski are all question marks right now as to being top 6ers. .

Backlund was one of the best defensive centres in the league last season. It's absolutely asinine to suggest he's a question mark.

[Anduril]

Considering how much of an off year Gaudreau and Monahan had, pretty much any player is a question mark. The only question is whether some of the younger players will continue to improve or not.

[FBI]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

That 1st line would get absolutely bodied along the boards. You didn't put a winger on that line who can fight through checking. I really don't think we can afford to have Tkachuk and Ferland on the same line. The player who most needs a player like them is Gaudreau, he needs a powerforward on his line to make room for him, win board battles after dump ins, drive the net, etc. Using the same players you had I'd rather see


Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Ferland-Bennett-Versteeg
Frolik-Backlund-Brouwer
Bouma-Lazar-Hathaway

Not totally sure Versteeg is a fit. If Jankowski is ready to make the NHL I'd go with

Gaudreau-Monahan-Tkachuk
Bennett-Jankowski-Ferland
Frolik-Backlund-Brouwer
Bouma-Lazar-Hathaway

What if the top line winger that people are wanting can be filled from within? Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Bennett would make 3 1st line wingers to me. That's enough to win with

The prophecy would finally be fulfilled!!

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Then you have Backlund who's playing the best hockey he ever has, which knowing how things go for the Flames, will not continue.

In my opinion Backlund has maintained a general level of play since around December 2013. His production has only increased because he went from playing with Stempniak and Bouma to Frolik and Tkachuk. It's not as if Backlund had inflated percentages last year, in fact he actually had a PDO below 100 and identical to his career average, if you subscribe to that stuff.

[prizefighterinferno]

Chiming in re:Backlund, since the lockout season, his prorated points/82 games:

12-13: 41 points
13-14: 42 points
14-15: 43 points
15-16: 47 points
16-17: 54 points

Looks pretty consistent to me, health notwithstanding. Speaking of health, the only game he's missed the past two seasons has been the last game this season and it was to get rested prior to playoffs. Coincidentally, the last two seasons where he's been healthy enough to play the entire season have also seen upticks in his point totals. Not to mention his consistent defensive work despite massively tilted d-zone starts.

From TSN's offseason game plan:
"A career-high 53 points to go with typically outstanding possession stats. In terms of overall value, Backlund is a legit No. 1 centre, even if he doesn’t get the fanfare."

I think the only question mark for next season is, can he put up even better numbers? Especially if the 3M line sticks together and Tkachuk takes another step forward with improved strength, footspeed, etc.

[Flames_F.T.W]

Don't know where to post this, but trade speculation about Tanev has me wondering: what's so special about him?? I admittedly don't watch many Vancouver games, but why is it that people think he may get a big return. His stats are very underwhelming. Is he a possession monster or something?

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

Don't know where to post this, but trade speculation about Tanev has me wondering: what's so special about him?? I admittedly don't watch many Vancouver games, but why is it that people think he may get a big return. His stats are very underwhelming. Is he a possession monster or something?

Has great shot suppression numbers. Would be a target for teams looking to cut down on shots against. No offensive upside. Vancouver fans look at what Larsson got and looking to hit home run, albeit with futures instead of offensive catalyst.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

Don't know where to post this, but trade speculation about Tanev has me wondering: what's so special about him?? I admittedly don't watch many Vancouver games, but why is it that people think he may get a big return. His stats are very underwhelming. Is he a possession monster or something?

Solid defender in his own end and can move the puck. Has no offensive upside and is injury prone (has never played over 70 games) so I think he's a quality defenseman but a little overrated in the Vancouver market as he's not elite or a guy that will ever get mentioned amongst the leagues best defensemen.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

Don't know where to post this, but trade speculation about Tanev has me wondering: what's so special about him?? I admittedly don't watch many Vancouver games, but why is it that people think he may get a big return. His stats are very underwhelming. Is he a possession monster or something?

For what it's worth, Tanev is the best defenseman on the Canucks.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Solid defender in his own end and can move the puck. Has no offensive upside and is injury prone (has never played over 70 games) so I think he's a quality defenseman but a little overrated in the Vancouver market as he's not elite or a guy that will ever get mentioned amongst the leagues best defensemen.

Originally Posted by Geeoff

For what it's worth, Tanev is the best defenseman on the Canucks.

Yup. He's good, but any guy who's the best on the team tends to get overrated (this was Ryan Smyth for years IMO). And the fact that the Canucks get national TV time with a Canucks fanboy calling the game boosts him as well ("Great Save Tanev").