[Rumour] Friedman: Treliving looking to add a 1st for 2018 draft. Coyotes won't sign Hickey.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I wonder if Jersey would do Hall for Johnny.

Why would the Flames do that? Gaudreau is the better player.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

I wonder if Jersey would do Hall for Johnny.

[memphusk]

Hamilton is good, but the question is if he is a winner. Go ahead and score 20 goals but if you don't have what it really takes to win you're spinning your wheels.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

to me right now the only T4 d-man that we have that is tradeable is brodie and you would likely need more than him to get a first rounder.

I keep reading posts that doubt trading Brodie would result in a first round draft pick. I’m not positive that Treliving would do that (I’d like to see him get a F in return) but I have little doubt Brodie could garner at least a 1st rounder. I think more actually. What did Hamonic cost again?

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

I agree totally with this. all of treliving's dance partners knows he is on the sidelines for the first few rounds. nobody is going to help him out by trading a first rounder for a couple of complimentary pieces.

to me right now the only T4 d-man that we have that is tradeable is brodie and you would likely need more than him to get a first rounder.

I just don't like mortgaging our future for a magic bean pick. The team on paper is good, they just need someone who can lead this team properly.

I'd be okay doing a big splash for a top 5 pick if this team had Q/AV/Sutter at the helm and had a poor showing again next year but I'd rather see how a fresh coach can right the ship before we deal big pieces of the puzzles.

[Calgary4LIfe]

The "Burke has influence" argument is kind of silly. Of course he has influence, but he has stated many times that Treliving is free to make moves.

Also, Treliving has stated many times that this team needs to get bigger and harder to play against over the years, but keeps saying that "it needs to come with skill and speed" - that is why there is no way that the Flames are going to trade Ferland unless they think there is going to be a contract impasse looming.

Also, if that isn't enough, what was Feaster saying BEFORE Burke was hired? He also stated "This team needs to get bigger and harder to play against."

People forget how a few seasons ago the Ducks have had their way with the Flames in the playoffs. The last meeting was better, but the Ducks (and a few other teams) have a lot of guys that are so difficult to stop because of they are a very skilled team that also has size.

Everyone in the NHL knows this is a speed game. That this is a skill game. The only thing that has become less important is big guys WITHOUT skill or skating ability. What is hugely important still? Big guys WITH skill and skating ability.

It isn't just a Burke thing. Flames absolutely HAVE to get faster. They are also going to lose some of the size they acquired in Stewart (I don't think he gets re-signed) and Glass (yeah, I can't see him re-signed either). If they trade away Stone, and promote Andersson, that's more size again. Imagine if they buy-out Brouwer too (which could happen, but I doubt it unless the Flames are looking to make a big splash somewhere and need the cap space).

Gaudreau - Monahan - X
Bennett - Jankowski - X
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Lazar - Shore - Hathaway

There isn't too much meat and potatoes there. Teams are going to be targeting Gaudreau lots, and crashing the net lots. Hamonic will be the toughest guy on the team.

When hockey becomes a non-contact sport and fighting is out-right banned, then I will agree that size means nothing. Until then, you need some big strong guys WITH skill to fight through checks, and to be able to actually physically make it through a grueling 7 game series against some of the other big teams. Size + Skill + Speed = Today's NHL.

Flames need a bit of all 3 categories to take the next step, not just one.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Unless a team like the Canadiens wants to grab an NHL ready D-man like Brodie in exchange for their lottery pick, a top 10 entry for the Flames is not happening.

Thankfully Bergevin is a wildcard when it comes to deals so who knows right?

Ah, thank god for Bergevin. The guy who traded Sergachev for Drouin. Seemed good at the time...but not so good now.

If there was one guy I would target in a trade, it would be Bergevin. Maybe Chiarelli too, but the Oilers don't really have anything I would want outside of McDavid and Draisaitl.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Hamilton is good, but the question is if he is a winner. Go ahead and score 20 goals but if you don't have what it really takes to win you're spinning your wheels.

Couldn't you ask that question of any Flames player on the team if you are going to look at the recent team failures? He has more playoff games under his belt than most Flames on the roster has medaled at the WU17, IH18 and WJC. I believe he's actually very bright as he won several academic awards in junior. Fans have to realize that just because he doesn't play Chris Pronger that doesn't mean he's not a winner.

[dirk diggler]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Couldn't you ask that question of any Flames player on the team if you are going to look at the recent team failures? He has more playoff games under his belt than most Flames on the roster has medaled at the WU17, IH18 and WJC. I believe he's actually very bright as he won several academic awards in junior. Fans have to realize that just because he doesn't play Chris Pronger that doesn't mean he's not a winner.

I don't see him as a guy who would step up in the playoffs once the grind got tougher. perhaps that's just my perception, but he is a soft player, skilled but soft

[Vedder]

Trading and acquiring players based on the "Winner" label is an asset management strategy best left for Jim Benning.

[Erick Estrada]

Hockey is such a team game it's pretty hard to single out guys as being winners on their own. Sure in a positional sport like Football you can separate QB's on being winners as some guys can maintain or better regular season play in the playoffs and lots of guys wilt in the playoffs and it's plain to see by everyone seeing the ball is in his hands every offensive snap. Just like there are pitchers in baseball that can't handle the pressure of MLB playoffs. Everyone including myself thought Phil Kessel was a lazy player and not a winner but on a good team like the Penguins that hasn't been the case as he's excelled in the playoffs. If a team is doing good things, winning can be contagious and breed success just as losing breeds acceptance of failure. This team simply needs to be in a situation of a good coach getting them to play consistent, winning hockey and things will take care of themselves. I don't think there's a single player on the Flames roster that is happy about how this season went and if anything this season can be used as motivation going forward.

[Monahammer]

Dougie is absolutely not the problem. Look no further than brain dead brodie dragging down all of his d partners over the last two years, yet people want to defend him because he was ok two years ago. How much of a winner is that?!

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Hockey is such a team game it's pretty hard to single out guys as being winners on their own. Sure in a positional sport like Football you can separate QB's on being winners as some guys can maintain or better regular season play in the playoffs and lots of guys wilt in the playoffs and it's plain to see by everyone seeing the ball is in his hands every offensive snap. Just like there are pitchers in baseball that can't handle the pressure of MLB playoffs. Everyone including myself thought Phil Kessel was a lazy player and not a winner but on a good team like the Penguins that hasn't been the case as he's excelled in the playoffs. If a team is doing good things winning can be contagious and breed success just as losing breeds acceptance of failure. This team simply needs to be in a situation of a good coach getting them to play consistent winning hockey and things will take care of themselves.

Exactly. If Crosby and Malkin were on the Flames, Hamilton would turn into a winner real fast.

[colbym72]

Originally Posted by dirk diggler

I don't see him as a guy who would step up in the playoffs once the grind got tougher. perhaps that's just my perception, but he is a soft player, skilled but soft

So thats why you surround him with other players that are a little tougher.

[GioforPM]

Hamilton is somewhat a victim of his smooth skating and passing, which look pretty effortless. I often wish he'd use his size to advantage, but on the other hand, he doesn't lose too many board battles or get beaten physically very often. The supposedly grittier Stone loses more (as do Brodie and Kulak).

He's an untouchable IMO.

[Money Baer]

What about a deal centred around Hamilton for Nylander.
I love Dougie, and think he's great, but I also think Nylander has the ability to be an elite winger (potentially centre) and would thrive in Calgary. He's also a right handed shot and could play on our top line.

Gaudrea - Monahan - Nylander

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Money Baer

What about a deal centred around Hamilton for Nylander.
I love Dougie, and think he's great, but I also think Nylander has the ability to be an elite winger (potentially centre) and would thrive in Calgary. He's also a right handed shot and could play on our top line.

Gaudrea - Monahan - Nylander

I would entertain that. We have to deal from a position of strength, which is D (especially making space for younger players). Maybe re-unite Brodano to resuscitate Brodie? I'd do a bit different forward lines:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Jankowski-Nylander
Dube-Backlund-Frolik
Klimchuk-Shore-Lazar

Gio-Brodie
Valimaki-Hamonic
Kulak-Andersson

Trade Stone and Bennett for picks and/or depth

[Mike F]

Trading for a 1st sounds good in theory, but makes no practical sense. . . .

I can't see the Flames bundling prospects (Andersson + Gillies, etc.), to actually land a high enough 1st round pick to make it worth while, and removing a key piece of the roster to add a draft pick would be a step back towards a rebuild/refresh after they spent a lot of assets last summer in the Hamonic and Smith trades to create a team that can compete now.

[Monahammer]

Hamilton has more value than Nylander straight up, that would be a losing trade for us.

Plus, there's nothing there to resucitate with Brodie. The guy has been brain dead for two straight years.

He's gone, Jim.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Bunk

I would entertain that. We have to deal from a position of strength, which is D (especially making space for younger players). Maybe re-unite Brodano to resuscitate Brodie? I'd do a bit different forward lines:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Ferland
Tkachuk-Jankowski-Nylander
Dube-Backlund-Frolik
Klimchuk-Shore-Lazar

Gio-Brodie
Valimaki-Hamonic
Kulak-Andersson

Trade Stone and Bennett for picks and/or depth

You've just turned defence from a position of strength to a major position of weakness.

Also, that fourth line is still pretty bad.