I myself have mixed-feelings when it comes to Hall.
Pros:
- He provides another layer of high skill and offensive ability - would legitimately make the Flames more difficult to neautralize
- Helps add to the overall 'team speed' - he is quick
Cons
- His propensity for making blunders - especially in his own zone - is well known, especially when it comes to the lack of effort
- He does have some perceived durability issues - no, he hasn't had a full season in the NHL, but he has had only two seasons in which he missed 20+ games. Still, there is that perception about him.
- I have absolutely no doubt that Hall would be a prime candidate for taking a bit of a discount on his next contract if it was with a team that gave him a chance to win.
Neautral
- Probably a high acquisition cost - would seriously remove some solid depth and possible future star from the team. There is always a huge risk when trading for high-profile stars and how the trade looks a few years down the road, and this is only exacerbated by question marks on his durability and upcoming cap costs to his contract.
I would have preferred Stone as he is a gamebreaker at both ends of the ice and provides solid leadership. Hall is still very much a one-dimensional player with question marks surrounding his compete level - especially on defence - and who isn't very durable. Still, I would definitely prefer to have him as an upgrade on this team, but I am not sure I would want the Flames to pay what the eventual price will be, and I do wonder how much of a discount he would take on his upcoming deal (10 million is a firm no from me - 8 million might be palatable, but only for 6 years, which takes him to 34).
Mixed-bag from me. I don't think he is the crappy 'one season lucky' player that some are making him out to be, but I also don't see him as an elite player either. Unquestionably, he is a talented player that other teams will have to key-in on, allowing this team to have a more dynamic offence, while also adding to the overall team speed (which is important), but not adding much to another area in which this team has needs - RHS, strong along the boards, grittiness.
It will be interesting to see how much he ends up being traded for, and then seeing how much he eventually signs for as well. For me, this isn't a 'acquire at almost any cost' type of player like Hall was, but unquestionably Treliving should be putting a lot of effort into acquiring. He is the highest scoring/most offensively skilled player that is rumoured to be available, even after perusing the bottom 7 teams in the standings today.
A few players that I would like the Flames to kick the tires on (in no particular order):
1)
Jakob Silfverberg - Yes, he just signed a 5 year contract extension in March of this year, but that Anaheim team probably needs some rebuilding. He is 29 years old already, so maybe he would be receptive to a move even though he re-signed. 5.25 cap hit isn't terrible for what he brings either. Wish the Flames would be able to pry out Rakell, but that's a pipe-dream unless they want to severely over-pay.
2)
Josh Anderson - having a completely miserable season. 1 goal and 4 assists in 26 games. I do think he was really a standout in the playoffs last year, and he has had a couple of decent seasons under his belt. 25 years old, 1.85 cap hit, RFA after this season, but arbitration eligible (a Treliving walk-away special usually).
3)
Tyler Toffoli - kid can score goals usually. Up and down seasons through his career. I can't but help think that he would do better playing alongside either Monahan or Lindholm. He would definitely be a more legitimate scoring threat than Dube, Mangiapane or Bennett, plus he is a RHS. 4.6 million cap hit on a slightly backloaded deal (4.8). UFA after this season.
4)
Brandon Saad - I don't particularly like this player, but I imagine he would be available. 6 million cap hit on a backloaded deal (6.75 this year, 6.5 next season). He produces decently enough, but he always seems to me like a player that is dependent on his line mates. That's a higher cap hit relative to production than I like, given that he doesn't bring a whole lot of other abilities to the team (not known for being great defensively, not very fast, not very gritty), and would just be another left-shooting winger.
5)
Ryan Getzlaf - he would be my 'target', but is probably a pipe-dream. He has a full NMC, and is rumoured to want to finish his career in Anaheim. Still, you never know how a player may change his mind with the constant losing, and he is somewhat used to being in Calgary after playing for the Hitmen. 8.25 cap hit (tough to fit in) this year and next. I am sure Anaheim would demand quite the ransom for him, however. I do think he is the most likely to have the most positive impact from all the available players - including Hall - if the Flames were able to get acquire him. Very unlikely he gets traded anyway.
6)
Adam Henrique - Decent 2nd line centre that is good all over the ice. Players like him help you win, but I don't remember him being exceptionally quick, and his frame isn't one that people associate with gritty playoff hockey either. Still, he is a decent player to consider if Anaheim decides that they have had enough of trying to win now. Don't love his contract - 5.825 cap hit for the next 5 seasons (including this one), each with a 10 team no trade clause. Really good depth type of move, and I am hesitant to tie-up this much cap for this long into this level of player.
7)
Kyle Palmieri - some people really love him as a target. Fairly consistent output, but he doesn't add too much grit or help with team speed, but he is a RHS. I like his contract - 1 more season after this one with a 4.65 cap hit (5.0 and 4.25 actual dollars respectively).
8)
Nikita Gusev - this one is tricky for me. Supposedly a high-ceiling player, but there are some serious question marks about him for me. He isn't lighting the world on fire in NJ (and thus why I think he could be available). Contract - 4.5 million for this year and next (700K in actual dollars this year, 4.0 million next), but comes with an 8 team no trade clause next year. He is small (5'9", 163lbs) so it is a questionable move adding yet another undersized winger, but he is quick and highly skilled. If the price was cheap enough, I would explore this trade. He is a RHS.
9)
Jean-Gabriel Pageau - I like him and the way he plays, but the kind of season he is having makes me think that the Flames would end up over-paying for him now, and probably over-paying on his next contract too, though he is only 26. 3.1 million cap hit (3.4 actual dollars) on an expiring contract with no trade protection. I just think his acquisition price would be too pricey for the type of player that he is, but he does shoot right.
Nobody else is really standing out to me from these bottom 7 teams. Nobody in Detroit looks to be available since their top 6 scorers are all under the age of 25, with Filppula being their 7th top scorer and, IMO, not being much of an upgrade anywhere in the line-up. I would still really like Athanasiou with his wheels, grit and solid scoring ability, but Detroit would probably demand more than what he is worth. Chicago doesn't really have anyone that I would consider a 'target' outside of Saad, as they aren't moving Toews or Kane, nor are they going to want to move their young talented kids.
Maybe as the season progresses, we might see another team fall out of the standings. Calgary has been scouting Buffalo a lot lately, so maybe there is a good target there that I haven't really been looking at much.
Hall is by far the highest-skilled player available right now, but he is also most definitely not without his warts, and a bidding war will almost guarantee whomever acquires him has over-paid, yet it might make sense to the right team. I am personally on the wall when it comes to him.
