Will the Flames go after Tavares?

[Calgary4LIfe]

With the goal scoring woes this team has, there is no way that Treliving doesn't try. How hard he tries will be dependent on the response from Tavares' camp, but he would be almost negligent not to. I doubt we hear a peep about it, however.

[mikephoen]

I highly doubt the arena situation makes much difference. Why would a player care at all about the food options on the concourse or the bathroom lineups. Sure, the weightroom is probably nicer in a newer arena, but that is probably so far down the list of factors as to not matter at all.

Term will be the same from every team, so it comes down to three factors in my opinion:

1. Money.
2. Where his wife/girlfriend wants to live.
3. Chance to win.

For money, Calgary has an advantage over a lot of teams, as they have a good enough cap situation and taxes in Alberta are actually better than any other teams except the ones in Florida.

A chance to win is debatable. Based on this season it doesn't look too hot, but it's up to Treliving to sell that to any prospective free agent. Add a top coach in the next couple months and that could help a lot, and also help sway a player like Tavares. I feel like whichever team gets Quenneville (assuming he comes available) will have a huge chance to also get Tavares. But guy like D Sutter or AV could also be a big help in recruiting Tavares.

And that leaves where his wife/girlfriend wants to live. Like most of us, where your significant other wants to be is a huge factor in any decision like this. If she loves NY, then the Rangers or even the Devils would be top contenders. She is from Southern Ontario, so maybe she wants to be closer to home, or back in Canada. I know from watching Hockey Wives that it's really hard for Canadian hockey wives to work in the US. She has a couple degrees, so maybe she wants to have her own career and would want to be back in Canada so she can pursue one.

Once you rule out the 7 or 8 teams that can't fit in a 12M+ player due to cap reasons, and the bottom 5 or 6 teams that are entering a rebuild and don't make sense for either them or for Tavares, you end up with 15 to 18 teams that will likely make some sort of offer. It's still a long shot, but it's not an impossibility like some are making it out to be.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I highly doubt the arena situation makes much difference. Why would a player care at all about the food options on the concourse or the bathroom lineups. Sure, the weightroom is probably nicer in a newer arena, but that is probably so far down the list of factors as to not matter at all.

Term will be the same from every team, so it comes down to three factors in my opinion:

1. Money.
2. Where his wife/girlfriend wants to live.
3. Chance to win.

For money, Calgary has an advantage over a lot of teams, as they have a good enough cap situation and taxes in Alberta are actually better than any other teams except the ones in Florida.

A chance to win is debatable. Based on this season it doesn't look too hot, but it's up to Treliving to sell that to any prospective free agent. Add a top coach in the next couple months and that could help a lot, and also help sway a player like Tavares. I feel like whichever team gets Quenneville (assuming he comes available) will have a huge chance to also get Tavares. But guy like D Sutter or AV could also be a big help in recruiting Tavares.

And that leaves where his wife/girlfriend wants to live. Like most of us, where your significant other wants to be is a huge factor in any decision like this. If she loves NY, then the Rangers or even the Devils would be top contenders. She is from Southern Ontario, so maybe she wants to be closer to home, or back in Canada. I know from watching Hockey Wives that it's really hard for Canadian hockey wives to work in the US. She has a couple degrees, so maybe she wants to have her own career and would want to be back in Canada so she can pursue one.

Once you rule out the 7 or 8 teams that can't fit in a 12M+ player due to cap reasons, and the bottom 5 or 6 teams that are entering a rebuild and don't make sense for either them or for Tavares, you end up with 15 to 18 teams that will likely make some sort of offer. It's still a long shot, but it's not an impossibility like some are making it out to be.

From 2016, so don't know how up to date it is but:

[DJones]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I think you gotta keep Monahan and Gaudreau together. They just compliment each other too well.

Adding Tavares would give us two first lines, and that’s a luxury most teams don’t have. I’d put him with Tkachuk.

Yep, I don't think Tavares would mind having Tkachuk on his line. Gaudreau/Monahan as a second line would draw so much attention.

Personally I think ROR is more likely. Obviously not as high end but having three legitimate centers is a dream. Bennett and Jankowski can learn on the wing.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Weitz

From 2016, so don't know how up to date it is but:

The big one is any Canadian hockey player making US dollars is better off living year round in a Canadian city.

With Vancouver and Ottawa (maybe Montreal rebuilding), Edmonton without space and Winnipeg and Toronto somewhat built ... Calgary is really the only option in Canada unless a team like Toronto or Winnipeg makes some moves.

[chummer]

Vegas is up there too around 39%.

http://gavingroup.ca/personal-income...in-nhl-cities/

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Classic_Sniper

Not a chance we get Tavares. We have plenty of cap space for next season, but down the road we'll have way too many contracts to take care of to afford a Tavares like contract. Other teams will be more desperate and they'll win out on the sweepstakes over whatever we can afford.

Not saying he is coming here but JT trumps all those other contracts

"how can we afford him and keep our terrible team together?"

[calgarygeologist]

I would assume that Vancouver will probably be working the hardest at getting Tavares. They need a Sedin replacement and they will have a lot of money to throw at that vacancy.

[djsFlames]

Why would a player give a rats ass about a teams arena situation? If that were the case then players would be lining up out the door to go to Edmonton. They have the mcdavid card to play on TOP of that and yet still players don't give them any favoritism.

Because the team terribly underachieved under an assistant coach at best leading the way doesn't take away from the potential adding a piece like Tavares could bring over the coming years and that won't be lost on him if the money and term offered is competitive. You really can't know for sure so saying yes or no definitively is just silly to do. Neither you nor I know what his camp is looking at outside of the contract. One player can see a lot of potential in this group while another may think were a middle of the road team with little appeal. Who knows...just let it play out and see.

There's nothing wrong with entertaining the idea as a fan. Wet blankets that have soured on the team and assume to know what a FA is thinking should just be ignored.

[FlamesAddiction]

I think newer arenas do have an impact, even if small. When a player gets invited to a city to tour the facilities, the aesthetics of the arena will can make them feel better. They spend a lot of time there and being newer, cleaner and more spacious would make anyone feel more comfortable. Add to that the facilities that newer arenas have for players for training and physio. Or recreation areas for unwinding and just hanging out. It was one of the things that Iginla gushed about when he went to Pittsburgh from Calgary. Old barns just don't have it.

I don't think it would be the final deciding factor for any player, but it is one more box to check for sure.

[djsFlames]

Then tour winsport and their facilities as well, which are often used by the team. Plenty of comfort and 'coolness' factor to be found there.

[dino7c]

The fact that the team could potentially move is the issue...not the arena itself

You commit to a place for 7 years or whatever you probably want to know they will stay there. Guy has 31 teams to choose from, make the best offer possible and see what happens. If the money is even he ain't coming here....10M is not gonna cut it for Calgary.

[Macho0978]

I think Tavares has a decent shot of ending up in Calgary and Treliving needs to go hard after him. Only way he shouldn't is if he wants more money per year than Mcdavid. For me 12 is probably the max they should offer

IMO future cap risks are easily worth it. Adding Tavares at the expense of guys like Stone, Brouwer, Frolik, Ferland, Jankowski, Backlund is easily worth it. Not saying all have to go but some can go to make room. I actually don't see it being a huge issue until Hamilton contract up in 3 years

Anyone who think Tavares doesn't instantly make this team a contender is wrong. He probably would be our best player

From Tavares point of view I doubt any of the best teams can sell him to come there without a risk of that team being like Chicago right after they sign him. I see only maybe Columbus, New Jersey, San Jose (very old team though) having as good as shot as the Flames. To me only New Jersey can sell him that he could play with a player like Gaudreau in Hall.

San Jose maybe has the best shot city wise but Calgary has to rank close to Columbus and New jersey. Unless he has limited places he wants to go and has a large list of places he will not go and Calgary is on the list then I din't see why the Flames won't be in the mix until the end

[Hey Connor, It's Mess]

If he leaves the Isles he'll want to go to a good team. I'd pass on him anyway, he's going to make bank and that's a contract that will look bad down the road.

[topfiverecords]

We won't be able to top Edmonton's offer of 7 x $16M.

[since82]

If let's say the Islanders were to grant Calgary the opportunity to talk to Taveras and pre-order negotiate a contract and trade us his rights before he's a FA, but the cost would be let's say Monahan, should we do it?
I like Mony, and is a good player for us, but is he one of the the lacking in "emotional investment" guys?

[_Q_]

Hasn't this always been the sentiment around here? "Player X will never sign here, why would he chose Calgary? He'll definitely be going to New York or LA." Yes the big American cities have so much going for them. I understand that, I live in one of those markets. But after a while, the luster wears off and it just becomes another city. Believe it or not, Calgary has some things going for it that beat New York City and those might be more important to John Tavares than anything else.

Not saying he'll definitely be signing with the Flames, but there's a decent enough chance he will. I think this team might be an attractive landing spot for an established star like himself.

[chummer]

Only way I would consider that is if the Islander's do a sign and trade. That way we get him for 8 years and a lower AAV. Otherwise no way.

[CliffFletcher]

If Tavares is leaving the Islanders it's because he doesn't want to spend the rest of his career stuck in a mediocre franchise spinning its wheels. So remind me why the Flames look more attractive to him than the Islanders?

[ricardodw]

Tavares is basically entering the 2nd half of his hockey career.


Over the last 3 years the Islanders traveled an average of 35,092 miles

The Flames averaged 48,253 miles

So as training and conditioning become harder why would he want to add an extra 13,000+ travel miles and extra 37% more travel and wasted time.

It would be interesting how many extra hotel nights the Flames get compared to the Islanders (or all the teams in the North East) where there are 4-5 teams that you either take the team bus or catch a cab/limo to the away arena.

There has to be a 90 percent chance that he signs with a team that travels the same or less than the Islanders.

PS The Ducks and Kings and Vegas travel around 5,000 miles less less than the Flames because they all have 2 close away cities in their division.