Nov 20. Friedman's 31 Thoughts: Flames not interested in selling low on Gaudreau

[sureLoss]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...t-selling-low/

2. I’d be astonished if Calgary traded Johnny Gaudreau at this time. For one thing, the Flames are aware that this historically 12.5 per cent shooter is at 7.8 in 2019–20. There is concern about how he’s playing, as Gaudreau’s confidence and puck wizardry in the offensive zone are missing. A huge part of their offence was Gaudreau getting in close, where Sean Monahan could bury it. That’s missing. But there’s no desire to make a rash move.

3. I do think, however, that GM Brad Treliving will try to breathe new life into the group. I’m not sure how easy that’s going to be as the Flames are tight to the cap. And he’d be selling low on some useful players. Let’s take Mark Jankowski, for example. He’s really struggling, with zero points in 21 games. He scored 31 goals the last two seasons, seven of them shorthanded. I do think he’s available, but they see his value over the last three seasons while other GMs will say, “Well, we see this year.”

They’ve had Michael Frolik available for awhile, and it will be interesting to see how close to their core they are willing to get if their struggles continue. (My guess is not that close until the off-season, with the possible exception of Travis Hamonic, if he does not get extended.) Monahan may not be scoring, which hurts, but they asked for improvements in other areas of his game — such as faceoffs, where’s he’s got a career-high percentage. One interesting possibility: Oliver Kylington, who would like more opportunity. But, again, other teams have indicated the Flames are being careful not to undervalue their own players during tough times.

4. I don’t get the sense Bill Peters is in jeopardy. Calgary made a coaching change when this group petered out on Glen Gulutzan. The organization doesn’t want that to happen again.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Sanity

[Vinny01]

The shakeup deals are guys like Janko, Frolik, Hamomic, Brodie, Bennett, Kylington those are the pieces I think are in play.

Being capped out I am not liking our chances of anything significant

[jlh2640]

Finally some common sense in an article

[Makarov]

Don't really understand why you would trade Kylington (unless he was attached to a Hamonic or Frolik to bring back a bigger piece with that cap space). Kylington has struggled at times this season (like every single other player on the team) but I still think he has potential and the Flames have invested a lot in developing him.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Don't really understand why you would trade Kylington (unless he was attached to a Hamonic or Frolik to bring back a bigger piece with that cap space). Kylington has struggled at times this season (like every single other player on the team) but I still think he has potential and the Flames have invested a lot in developing him.

I think you nailed it with him being the sweetener to a warm body like Frolik to add a real top 6 winger (AA in Detroit?)

When the expansion draft comes Hanifin, Andersson, Valimaki have the spots locked up.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Makarov

Don't really understand why you would trade Kylington (unless he was attached to a Hamonic or Frolik to bring back a bigger piece with that cap space). Kylington has struggled at times this season (like every single other player on the team) but I still think he has potential and the Flames have invested a lot in developing him.

Summarizing Kylington's game as "struggled at times" is a huge understatement. He has been awful.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Summarizing Kylington's game as "struggled at times" is a huge understatement. He has been awful.

Do you only watch the games, at times?

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by Buff

Do you only watch the games, at times?

Unfortunately I've watch every single game start to finish.

[Makarov]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Summarizing Kylington's game as "struggled at times" is a huge understatement. He has been awful.

Disagree. I think he's had quite a few good games, a bunch of mixed-result games, and a few bad games. That's actually pretty good compared to most of his teammates.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Summarizing Kylington's game as "struggled at times" is a huge understatement. He has been awful.

Your take is just incorrect. No other way to put it.

[rohara66]

I guess I don't see it. And I was a huge supporter of him getting more ice time and games last season cause his play was really good.


I see him running around in his own end far too often, holding onto the puck on breakouts too long (usually causing turnovers) and just not being quick enough making decisions at NHL speed.



He's a great skater which might save him in the long run.

[The Cobra]

While there is nothing in the article which surprises me, it's nice to hear it anyway.

[GullFoss]

Would be huge if flames continue to poop the bed, trade Brodie, hamonic, Frolik, Talbot for picks at deadline. And emerge for next season with a lot of cap space ($18m), a couple middling first round picks and a core piece.

[tvp2003]

I agree with not selling low on guys like Jankowski, but I just saw this tweet:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1197045531932942336

I don't know how this is even possible...

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

I agree with not selling low on guys like Jankowski, but I just saw this tweet:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1197045531932942336

I don't know how this is even possible...

[SuperMatt18]

One interesting possibility: Oliver Kylington, who would like more opportunity. But, again, other teams have indicated the Flames are being careful not to undervalue their own players during tough times.

Sounds like Kylington wasn't too thrilled with his demotion.

It's too bad because I feel like he's actually received a pretty good first cup of coffee at the NHL this year, but agree with him that his demotion was probably undeserved.

[Toonage]

I like the idea floated by FN this morning. Forego value on players like Frolik & Jankowski and just take a late pick and gather the cap space to make another move down the road. By that measure I'm surprised Jankowski just hasn't been waived.

[dino7c]

If they could trade Frolik for a pick it would have been done a long time ago.

[Toonage]

Not if they didn't see value in the pick being offered. Now the value is in the cap space. Pride gets swallowed a little. They wanted a 4-5 for Frolik and now maybe they might just take a 7th or maybe even a C prospect. Just recapture that cap space.