[Trade] Flames acquire Mike Smith (25% retained) for Chad Johnson, Brandon Hickey, & cond 3rd

[tsquared1967]

Originally Posted by burnitdown

I disagree with those saying Hickey was worthless to us because we think he's going UFA next summer. While Treliving likely has this indication from Hickey's camp, he might still change his mind. Or who knows, maybe we're a high seed heading into the playoffs with some key injuries on D...that could be enticing for him to sign and jump right into the NHL playoffs on a solid team. Including Hickey hurts our prospect pool as it officially closes the door on his time in Calgary. Too bad as he seemed to at least have potential to crack the starting lineup in the next 2 years.

You speculate on what Hickey is thinking and what Treviling is thinking along with what the future may bring. Brad is dealing with what the Hickey camp is telling him and the Flames situation today and he made the trade. What if Hickey doesn't sign with Arizona and he wanted nothing to do with the Flames? Where does that leave Arizona?

[Hockey_Ninja]

I want to see how this pans out before I judge

[Beninho]

Originally Posted by Angelino

Not impressed with the acquisition of an aging goalie. Market must be rough in regards to goalies if this is the best Treliving could do. Looks like another wasted year next year.

Screenshotted for the crow

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Not a huge fan of this trade today but hope it pays off.

For all intents and purposes this is Hickey and a 2nd for Smith which is a steep price to pay imo.

Not if the reality is that Hickey wasn't going to sign here, and after the Flames were turned down this year it's likely they had an understanding of Hickey's intention...and this trade speaks to what those intentions most likely were.

[Matty81]

Not a huge Smith fan but starting today I hope he lights it up and proves me wrong

Acquisition cost seems ways too steep. Especially the 2nd round pick. I get that Hickey is basically trading UFA negiotiating rights for a year... But the pick is way too high for a goalie that old and even at 25% retained on a big ticket.

So now the flames have 17.6 mil in cap room if it stays level. Need to sign or promote:
- Bennett
- Ferland
- 2 depth forwards (probably Janko is one at 925k)
- 3 dmen
- backup goalie

2.2 mil a player average. If Janko, Rittich and Andersson take 3 of those spots, Bennett gets 3.5 on a bridge should have some dough to throw at Stone or a UFA barring Ferland having a stupid ask.

Also maybe vegas will take one of our multi million dollar 4th liners and hand a gift the flames way.

[Plaedo]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Yup. If I were the GM, I'd run the following defensive lineup:

Giordano - Hamilton
Brodie - Stone
Kylington/Kulak - Andersson

That way Hickey not only is most likely to "burn a year" with the Flames and make some immediate money.

He was never worthless.

While I am all for providing appropriate* opportunity to prospects, do you remember the damage an incompetent or unready defenseman can do to a team, even in a limited role?
Please refer to Grossman, Niklas.

Not to mention two of them together as a pairing...

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Smith is a great team guy but one more knee injury away from his career ending. I definitely think he'll regress and be hated more than Roman Turek next season.

How many players are the Yotes paying that won't be playing for them? Add Smith to that list

[CaramonLS]

Disturbing trade. Mike Smith arguably had his numbers propped up by playing for one of the better defensive coaches in the NHL. I imagine he will struggle in a different system.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Goalies don't have to trend down at that age. Hasek played into his 40's didn't he? Lundqvist still going strong in his mid 30's. Kiprusoff chose to retire when he did, he didn't look like he was tending down.

I know why people might be pessimistic about the age but saying he MUST decline due to age is presumptuous.

A lot of people forget Kipper's last season he posted a 3.44 GAA and .882 sav. That's definitely awful.

In general, almost all goalies suddenly fall off a cliff some time around age 35. Sure Smith may be the Hasek exception, but I really doubt it. This isn't a will he or won't he argument in my mind. It's a probability or gambling argument. You have to hitch your team to a goalie at some point, so do you hitch it to a goalie that most likely will drop off at $5M a year for 2 years? I mean this could get really ugly

[Angelino]

Originally Posted by Major Major

Uh huh. But you cannot apply standard value to hickey knowing he wasn't signing. He is worth essentially zero at that point since the longer you wait, the more people know about the situation. Maybe it becomes evident that he has one team in mind and sours potential suitors. Smart to move him early while he still has potential value. He's their problem now, their distraction.

Yes it is good they got something for an asset they might have lost anyways in Hickey. However, I really do not feel Smith is the answer to the gaping issue in the net. I am hoping Chad Johnson is back as a 1b.

Kiprusoff is only 5 years older than Smith, maybe we should try for him next?

[Redrum]

Ouch, this one hurts. Very bad deal to give up anything for him. Well hopefully he can settle down and not do too many stupid plays while trying to play the puck.

[PugnaciousIntern]

In the end, I don't care as much about the acquisition cost of the goalie as much as the actual performance of the goalie. This feels lukewarm to me. I feel like the quality of this deal will depend a lot on who the other goalie will be.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by Krynn

From what I read the Rangers wanted our first & arm & leg our first born for Rantta

And now they either get sweet nothing for him as Vegas scoops him up or they have to give Vegas their first & arm & leg & first born so that they don't select him.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Disturbing trade. Mike Smith arguably had his numbers propped up by playing for one of the better defensive coaches in the NHL. I imagine he will struggle in a different system.

Why does this myth continue? Look at the Yotes numbers defensively.

[iloveicedhockey]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Disturbing trade. Mike Smith arguably had his numbers propped up by playing for one of the better defensive coaches in the NHL. I imagine he will struggle in a different system.

Who gave up the second most shots per game in the league last year??

[drewtastic]

I saw Smith live last December during a trip to Phoenix for a buddy's stag.

It was the game in which he did this:

Spoiler!

I remember feeling sorry for him because the coyotes lost in a shootout, despite his heroics. Wondered what he'd be capable of on a good team.

So now we get to see that question get answered!

[Classic_Sniper]

Hopefully everyone can keep in mind that Scott Darling and Ben Bishop had their rights traded for a 3rd and 4th respectively and those guys were UFAs. A probable 2nd round pick isn't that bad for a guy under contract with 25% retention. Hopefully by the time Smith is done here, Parson, Gillies or Rittich step up to become bonafide #1's.

[bob-loblaw]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Coyotes make the trade official:

https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/news/coy...th/c-289970792

When you read that announcement on the Coyote site the trade looks pretty horrid from their perspective. No mention of the retained salary either, not that I'd expect any team to mention that though.

[dammage79]

This was exactly the kind of goalie I figured Treliving was going to land via trade. I kind of figured that he'd have at least taken a shot at Mason as he was free to acquire. But if Hickey had no intention of signing with Calgary , then Brad did a good job of address a need with an expiring asset. I'm actually pumped it's Smith. Happy to have him. I argued for him a plenty since the goalie issue pipped up after the Flames we ousted.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Disturbing trade. Mike Smith arguably had his numbers propped up by playing for one of the better defensive coaches in the NHL. I imagine he will struggle in a different system.

People need to stop spewing this BS.

It's not true.

The Coyotes were one of the WORST defensive teams in the league, not one of the best.

They gave up the most shots overall, and were one of the worst at giving up high danger scoring chances as well. For years now it's been this way.