Flames - how to cure the rot for 2019/20

[Saqe]

You can't trade Monahan because you'll never get an upgrade back.

Makes little sense trading Gaudreau either, you won't get a #1C back. Philly isn't sending Couturier packing.

Sucks but I think the only hope here is that these guys rebound.

[btimbit]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Kadri - Zucker
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett
Jankowski - Ryan - Neal

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Hamonic
Valimaki - Fantenberg


Rittich
Varlamov

Or swap Zucker and Bennett for the ultimate butthole line

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Kadri - Zucker
Mangiapane - Backlund - Bennett
Jankowski - Ryan - Neal

Giordano - Andersson
Hanifin - Hamonic
Valimaki - Fantenberg


Rittich
Varlamov

Or swap Zucker and Bennett for the ultimate butthole line

Tkachuk - Kadri - Bennett


I would love this line

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Saqe

You can't trade Monahan because you'll never get an upgrade back.

Makes little sense trading Gaudreau either, you won't get a #1C back. Philly isn't sending Couturier packing.

Sucks but I think the only hope here is that these guys rebound.

Exactly. You aren't trading those guys without giving up the best player in the deal, and that's a step back for what we'd be trying to do.

Tool around the middle 6 but leave the core alone. The team got 107 points for crying out loud, playoff failure aside it's still a good team. We need a minor shakeup not a rebuild

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Exactly. You aren't trading those guys without giving up the best player in the deal, and that's a step back for what we'd be trying to do.

Tool around the middle 6 but leave the core alone. The team got 107 points for crying out loud, playoff failure aside it's still a good team. We need a minor shakeup not a rebuild

What is that in your opinion?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

What is that in your opinion?

Make the playoffs again, not start another rebuild

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Make the playoffs again, not start another rebuild

Fair enough, I guess there's just different expectations from different fans and that's ok.

I would consider another post season like the last 2 an epic fail. Just being there isn't enough for me.

[jonkaupp]

I wouldn’t advocate trading Gaudreau, but if the right player becomes available then I think every player on the team is available in a trade. The Flames May potentially be looking at making a Derozan for Leonard type trade this offseason. We’re still yet to see how it turns out for the Raptors but in the NHL there is quite a lot less flight risk of a player playing on his last year of a deal. I’ve always thought Taylor Hall could be a target but the Brayden Point idea is also enticing.

[flames_fan13]

I don't think we need to anything drastic to improve the team as many seem to think. I do think they go back to Minnesota to try and complete the deal they had at the deadline for Zucker. I could see Frolik go due to probably both parties wanting a change after Frolik's agent handling his ice time issue through social media. Could see a defensmen moved with the way Anderson and Valimaki have played when called up on and healthy.

However, Gaudreau and Monahan are not going anywhere.

The biggest change though will come in goal. I could see Rittich coming back but I think the backup/starter position is going to be hard to predict. I could see Smith coming back or finding another place to play. I don't think we are getting Bobrovsky as he will be out of our price range.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Gaudreau - *Duchene - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Monahan - *Connolly
Bennett - Backlund - Czarnik
Mangiapane - Ryan - *Hathaway
Jankowski

Hanifin - Andersson
Valimaki - Brodie
Kylington - Hamonic
*Rutta

*Talbot/Bobrovski/Lehner/Mrazek
Rittich

Trade - Giordano, Frolik, Stone, Neal.

I know trading Giordano isn't going to be popular opinion, but he's going to be 36 when next season begins. Stone and Frolik should be easy to move. Neal? no comment.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by flames_fan13

I don't think we need to anything drastic to improve the team as many seem to think. I do think they go back to Minnesota to try and complete the deal they had at the deadline for Zucker. I could see Frolik go due to probably both parties wanting a change after Frolik's agent handling his ice time issue through social media. Could see a defensmen moved with the way Anderson and Valimaki have played when called up on and healthy.

However, Gaudreau and Monahan are not going anywhere.

The biggest change though will come in goal. I could see Rittich coming back but I think the backup/starter position is going to be hard to predict. I could see Smith coming back or finding another place to play. I don't think we are getting Bobrovsky as he will be out of our price range.

I would absolutely hate to see they re-sign Smith due to his play in this playoff. I would much prefer him finding another place to play.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Fair enough, I guess there's just different expectations from different fans and that's ok.

I would consider another post season like the last 2 an epic fail. Just being there isn't enough for me.

To me that drastic of a change would be like the Capitals trading Ovechkin and Backstrom 5 years ago.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by btimbit

To me that drastic of a change would be like the Capitals trading Ovechkin and Backstrom 5 years ago.

At least you know that those players were going to be the best players for their team each game, and actually get the scoreboard.

The reason why Flames have to consider adjusting their core, is because of the unlikelihood of the core players producing as the way the core is structured currently. If by some miracle that dynamic player can be added, without trading any core forward, then the Flames likely could playoff results without having to get rid of any of them.

And this is not just from this playoff round alone. This is from their play since January. The several months funk is what makes this more alarming.

[Scroopy Noopers]

I don’t understand why we would ship out our top point producing forwards, when we need more of them and have multiple options to obtain some. Monahan and Gaudreau are worth keeping for their contracts alone.

Bring in Zucker or Kadri or both in a trade.
Try to land Panarin/Duchene in UFA.

Adding two or more of those forwards to our group while subtracting Neal/Frolik makes us a much tougher team to play against. And in my opinion are very realistic options.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Joborule

At least you know that those players were going to be the best players for their team each game, and actually get the scoreboard.

I don't know about that, for a long time people were saying the same thing about them that I'm seeing here. Regular season stars, playoff chokers, etc

I guess the question just comes down to whether or not you believe in this core. I do, I think we're just missing that extra piece like Kessell added to the Pens. I can understand why fans would prefer Monahan was a MacKinnon or Crosby calibre centre, that doesn't automatically make him a 2c. What kind of trades do people really think we're going to see for guys like Gaudreau or Monahan anyway? There's not going to be some stunning one for one, it'd be pick and prospect packages.

These guys are on great contracts, you can add pieces just fine without blowing it up

[flames_fan13]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I would absolutely hate to see they re-sign Smith due to his play in this playoff. I would much prefer him finding another place to play.

For me goaltending next season is still up in the air. I think we do need an upgrade on Smith, I just am not sure if there is an upgrade available during the off-season that will come at an affordable price. Which is why I could see Smith signing and leaving. I think Rittich re-signs which might make us an attractive destination for goalies who may be looking for 1a and 1b situation. However, I am not sure how many goaltenders in the market will be looking for that situation. I wasn't really suggesting Smith was going to be our first choice, I just could see him coming back, if the price of other goaltenders are too high.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by midniteowl

I would absolutely hate to see they re-sign Smith due to his play in this playoff. I would much prefer him finding another place to play.

I agree with this, but I think he’s guaranteed him an offer from Treliving with his playoff performance.

However if we can somehow sign him and Rittich to deals that would total the going rate for 1 starting goalie, I would be pretty happy.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I agree with this, but I think he’s guaranteed him an offer from Treliving with his playoff performance.

However if we can somehow sign him and Rittich to deals that would total the going rate for 1 starting goalie, I would be pretty happy.

I agree with this, but I think there are more interesting options than Smith. I'd rather take a stab at a Talbot or Varlamov, for the same reason that they'd be cheap, but also I think they're better than they've shown the last year or two and I don't think the potential for another big drop off is there like it is with Smith.

I love the performance Smith put up, it'll be nice to be able to say goodbye with that fond memory rather than the first 3/4 of his regular season. But lets leave it at that

[jeffmacrealtor]

I would just get rid of some of my stiffs like Brodie, Frolik and I'd keep Monahan and Gaudreau and leave Giordano alone and with the C.
What the Flames need is a respected veteran forward who can contribute on the ice but more importantly cracks heads in the dressing room and calls out the stars when they are not doing their jobs. Tkachuk may be that guy one day but he's still pretty young.
Yes, I'm not in the dressing room but I get a sense the Flames don't have a guy who gets in the face of people like Johnny and Monahan and tells them to man up.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by btimbit

I agree with this, but I think there are more interesting options than Smith. I'd rather take a stab at a Talbot or Varlamov, for the same reason that they'd be cheap, but also I think they're better than they've shown the last year or two and I don't think the potential for another big drop off is there like it is with Smith.

I love the performance Smith put up, it'll be nice to be able to say goodbye with that fond memory rather than the first 3/4 of his regular season. But lets leave it at that

I guess I more meant “I fear that he has earned himself an offer from Treliving” and I am trying to accept a situation in advance. I would absolutely like that chapter to close between Smith and Calgary.