Will the Flames go after Tavares?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Ive heard a few people say that pretty much the only place he has a 0% chance of signing is the rangers. They claim he is too nice of a guy and too loyal to islanders fans for that. By a few people I mean on various radio shows and such.

I don't buy that at all. The Rangers are one of the few teams that will be able to rival the Canucks in offering him a massive salary. As for them rebuilding sure they are transitioning but in that market don't think for a second the plan is to be Oilers bad for five years. Tavares is still only 27 and fits perfect for a team looking to retool which is more in line with what the Rangers are likely looking to do. I have a hard time believing the Rangers freed up all that cap space before the deadline just overspend on guys like James Neil, Kane or JVR who lead a very mediocre free agent class. Looks to me like a team freeing up a lot of money to make a big splash.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I don't buy that at all. The Rangers are one of the few teams that will be able to rival the Canucks in offering him a massive salary. As for them rebuilding sure they are transitioning but in that market don't think for a second the plan is to be Oilers bad for five years. Tavares is still only 27 and fits perfect for a team looking to retool which is more in line with what the Rangers are likely looking to do. I have a hard time believing the Rangers just unloaded all that salary to overspend on guys like James Neil, Kane or JVR. Looks to me like a team freeing up a lot of money to make a big splash.

Sure I get all that. But these are insiders that actually know JT saying these things. I take that at value. I’m sure there will be a multitude of teams offering big money.

Personally I see him resigning with NYI.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Siren I get all that. But these are insiders that actually know JT saying these things. I take that at value. I’m sure there will be a multitude of teams offering big money.

I bet the Flames were one of the last teams Brad Richards was even thinking about when he hit free agency in 2011 until Feaster offered him $64 million.

[Roof-Daddy]

The Flames can offer Tavares McDavid money also.

[dino7c]

Vancouver has big contracts coming down the pipe too...it's not just cap space over the next couple seasons

[dammage79]

Honestly, I am convinced Karlsson is a Canuck next year and Tavares....well he's going to SJ to eat up Jumobo Joes salary and then some. The pacific will be overloaded with crazy talent.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Honestly, I am convinced Karlsson is a Canuck next year and Tavares....well he's going to SJ to eat up Jumobo Joes salary and then some. The pacific will be overloaded with crazy talent.

Wanna bet?

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Wanna bet?

Nope, I already have lost a bad..nay terrible avatar bet.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by 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.

13,000 air miles(which the Flames use exclusively) amounts to about 24 more hours in the air per season, they fly charter so they don't wait long at airports. considering the Islanders use a bus for games in Jersey,Philly and Manhattan, couple that with traveling to Brooklyn for home games I would be willing to bet Islander players spent far more hours traveling to games than the Flames players.


As for the idea of signing him? If he gets to July 1st our chances would be slim. But. if we traded a prospect like say a Klimchuk and "future considerations" for negotiating rights and wined and dined him for a month there might be a chance.

Of course the "future considerations" would be if he signs we give up Monahan

[getbak]

I think he'll do what his buddy Stamkos did: Wait until the free agent "discussion" period; get courted by all the other teams who throw wild promises his way; then sign an 8 year deal on June 28th or 29th to stay with the Isles.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by 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.

If a player has those concerns, he would ask the Flames himself and I'm sure the Flames response would be, don't worry, we're not moving anywhere.
There's no way Tavares signs here, but it has nothing to do with the arena.

[Scroopy Noopers]

No one needs to trade for negotiating rights anymore. There is a 1 week interview period leading into free agency.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The Flames can offer Tavares McDavid money also.

Which would be incredibly stupid. John Tavares is not in the same class as Connor McDavid. Full stop.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by getbak

I think he'll do what his buddy Stamkos did: Wait until the free agent "discussion" period; get courted by all the other teams who throw wild promises his way; then sign an 8 year deal on June 28th or 29th to stay with the Isles.

Yeah I wouldn't rule that out. He's going to see big offers from bad teams, lesser offers from good teams that can offer him a cup opportunity, and weigh the pros and cons of leaving the NY market.

[hansmoleman]

Originally Posted by Lanny'sDaMan

This ain't the 80's anymore. Calgary is known as a thriving city now. Supposedly even more so that we are (apparently) out of the recession now.

Thriving? Might not be the word I would use for Calgary. As much as we hope it’s not, Calgary is still a pretty small town.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by New Era

Which would be incredibly stupid. John Tavares is not in the same class as Connor McDavid. Full stop.

If he goes to free agency that won't matter.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

No one needs to trade for negotiating rights anymore. There is a 1 week interview period leading into free agency.

If a team traded for JT's rights prior to July 1st, would they not be able to sign him for the 8 year max term opposed to the 7?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by New Era

Which would be incredibly stupid. John Tavares is not in the same class as Connor McDavid. Full stop.

McDavid's contract will be eclipsed and it's just a matter of when as several players make more than Crosby.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by getbak

I think he'll do what his buddy Stamkos did: Wait until the free agent "discussion" period; get courted by all the other teams who throw wild promises his way; then sign an 8 year deal on June 28th or 29th to stay with the Isles.

Unlikely. There are too many desirable locations in a far better, more stable situation than the Islanders. SJ has something like 20 million in cap space, Vancouver will have space, Montreal is rumoured to be preparing for an offer. Some think the Rangers will be in on this too.

The islanders still seem like an organization that doesn't know what it is. He may resign with them, but I'm sure he needs to know what the long term picture is looking like & what's the plan if he wants out in a couple years?

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by TOfan

If a team traded for JT's rights prior to July 1st, would they not be able to sign him for the 8 year max term opposed to the 7?

Negative. Would have had to have traded for him pre deadline.