LeBrun: Flames are looking at every single scenario to try and keep Giordano

[3rd Degree]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

How do you ‘build around’ your young stud centre? Certainly not by getting rid of most of the other good players on the roster. If Eichel + a bunch of scrubs were the recipe for a winning team, Buffalo would have won multiple championships by now.

And that's assuming that Eichel is (a) everything his supporters crack him up to be, and (b) not permanently set back by his very serious spinal injury. Both of those assumptions are open to question.

How would you go about filing in the aforementioned holes?

I would start by drafting. Then I’d look at the trade route. Finally Id look at free agency.

With the freed up cap space I’m sure we can come up with something.

What we’re looking at is really a year of Johnny and 2 years of Monahan for 5 years + of a young stud center. If eichel doesn’t check out medically then you move on to another target. Who are the other young stud centers on the market? There aren’t any? Why do you think that is?

Gentlemen, stop drinking the koolaid. Johnny and Monny are not the answer. If they were we would have had playoff success by now. It’s time to turn the page and try something new.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

How would you go about filing in the aforementioned holes?

I would start by drafting. Then I’d look at the trade route. Finally Id look at free agency.

With the freed up cap space I’m sure we can come up with something.

What we’re looking at is really a year of Johnny and 2 years of Monahan for 5 years + of a young stud center. If eichel doesn’t check out medically then you move on to another target. Who are the other young stud centers on the market? There aren’t any? Why do you think that is?

Gentlemen, stop drinking the koolaid. Johnny and Monny are not the answer. If they were we would have had playoff success by now. It’s time to turn the page and try something new.

Wait, how much money do you think we’re actually saving here?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

How would you go about filing in the aforementioned holes?

I would start by drafting. Then I’d look at the trade route. Finally Id look at free agency.

With the freed up cap space I’m sure we can come up with something.

What we’re looking at is really a year of Johnny and 2 years of Monahan for 5 years + of a young stud center. If eichel doesn’t check out medically then you move on to another target. Who are the other young stud centers on the market? There aren’t any? Why do you think that is?

Gentlemen, stop drinking the koolaid. Johnny and Monny are not the answer. If they were we would have had playoff success by now. It’s time to turn the page and try something new.

I'm going to requote a blog post that was quoted in the Duncan Keith trade thread, because it applies perfectly here:

I’ve written about how many teams have crashed and burned by using the same illogic as the Montreal Expos of my youth — when your team with a strong core of talent fails because it’s filled out by sub-replacement-level randos, you blame your best players rather than actually trying to get them the help they need. This line of thought is 1)transparently stupid and 2)is responsible for countless trades that make teams far worse, but a lot of sportswriters and fans still think it’s the height of wisdom.

You're blaming the best players, rather than actually trying to get them the help they need. The problem with the Calgary Flames is not that their best players aren't any good. The problem with the Calgary Flames is that they haven't got enough good players. Get rid of Monahan, Gaudreau, and Giordano and bring in Eichel, and you get a team with two more sub-replacement-level randos. This is exactly the wrong direction to go.

Now please explain to me why you think Eichel is the answer, considering that the Buffalo Sabres have accomplished exactly nothing with him on the roster. At least Gaudreau, Monahan and company have made the playoffs. Eichel hasn't even done that.

[Dajazz]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

How would you go about filing in the aforementioned holes?

I would start by drafting. Then I’d look at the trade route. Finally Id look at free agency.

With the freed up cap space I’m sure we can come up with something.

What we’re looking at is really a year of Johnny and 2 years of Monahan for 5 years + of a young stud center. If eichel doesn’t check out medically then you move on to another target. Who are the other young stud centers on the market? There aren’t any? Why do you think that is?

Gentlemen, stop drinking the koolaid. Johnny and Monny are not the answer. If they were we would have had playoff success by now. It’s time to turn the page and try something new.

This doesn’t make sense. Eichel is not even a clear upgrade, net effect, on Monahan considering his injury history. He’s not even a much better 5v5 producer. Those are the facts.

Then we can ask ourselves if he is a “winner”. He hasn’t brought anything, so far, to Buffalo. So he hasn’t done for Buffalo what you’re asking of Johnny or Monahan. Double standard.

[Toonage]

From LeBrun's this morning (The Athletic):

"So what do you do if you’re the Flames? You love your captain Mark Giordano. He turns 38 in October and has one year left at a $6.75 million cap hit. How much are you willing to pay to keep Seattle from selecting him in the expansion draft if you leave him exposed? Or do the Flames protect four D along with Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson and Chris Tanev but risk losing a quality forward by only protecting four? Or do they trade one of those D before Saturday? What I do know is that the price quoted by Seattle GM Ron Francis to Flames GM Brad Treliving this week to stay off Giordano if exposed made Calgary blush. Perhaps that price lowers closer to Saturday. But what if it doesn’t? You can see why Seattle might be interested in Giordano. Quality, leadership guy to start your franchise early on and prime trade bait come February if the Kraken aren’t competing for a playoff spot. It’s a win-win for Seattle. I just have a tough time seeing Calgary let it happen."

[MrMike]

Absolutely no way they go 4 and 4. Can you imagine losing Mangiapane for nothing to save one year of Gio?

[Toonage]

I'm starting to expect a trade. Like, today.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I'm starting to expect a trade. Like, today.

Unless it is Tanev for futures I have a feeling we won’t be happy if you are right.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Unless it is Tanev for futures I have a feeling we won’t be happy if you are right.

Unless? Tanev is one of my favourite players on this team now. Let Gio go and make him captain.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I'm starting to expect a trade. Like, today.

My spider sense is telling me Hanifin could get moved in a real hockey trade today.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Unless? Tanev is one of my favourite players on this team now. Let Gio go and make him captain.

I am not opposed to selling high but I would hate if the team traded Hanifin or Andersson in keep Gio.

All hypothetical but would you rather trade Tanev for a 1st and keep Gio or keep Tanev and lose Gio for nothing?

I doubt anything happens but if the team is trading a Dman to keep Gio then Tanev is the only one that makes sense.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Unless it is Tanev for futures I have a feeling we won’t be happy if you are right.

The only way I’d trade one of the other 3 D men, is if they were packaged with one of our forwards for a significant upgrade at forward.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

My spider sense is telling me Hanifin could get moved in a real hockey trade today.

This would be a mistake in my opinion unless New Jersey is crazy enough to trade the 4th pick

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I'm starting to expect a trade. Like, today.

I hope not. That means they would be trading one of Anderson , Hanifin or Tanev for forward help or futures. Sorry not worth doing for a 38 year old dman. Don’t get me wrong I want some trades to happen to the core, but I rather it’s after the expansion draft and the dust has settled a bit.

[Erick Estrada]

I'm trying to be glass half full here and predict that the Flames will be talking to Francis down to the last hour and when they find out the price isn't going down will just let things play out.

[Toonage]

Don't get me wrong. My stance is to let Gio go. The cost isn't worth it. But my gut is telling me the Flames don't feel the same way unfortunately.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

My spider sense is telling me Hanifin could get moved in a real hockey trade today.

It's "Spidey sense", so obviously you're wrong.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I'm trying to be glass half full here and predict that the Flames will be talking to Francis down to the last hour and when they find out the price isn't going down will just let things play out.

I think they will keep talking up to the last second.

It likely depends on how bad Seattle wants Gio. If it doesn't make that much difference to them, a deal will get struck, as Seattle will take what they can get.

But if they truly want Gio, I doubt a deal gets done as the cost will be simply too prohibitive.

And I really have no idea how badly they would like Gio. But its not like there is a reasonable consolation prize waiting for them if they move off of Gio.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Matheson is only 27 and is under contract for five more years. Are you sure you would rather give up Matheson + other assets to get one year of Giordano?

They don’t even have 5 more years. They want another cup right now, and brought in new management to seal that deal. They have maybe 3 years left before they need to enter a long painful rebuild.

[Erick Estrada]

Friedman on 960 saying speculation is that Seattle is asking for a 1st and a 3rd to not pick a player. Even if it's just a 1st I can't see how the Flames could even consider that. Also says if the Kraken pick Gio that other teams will be inquiring about what it would take to acquire him. Sounds like the positives of taking Gio are so high that it's hard to imagine the Kraken backing down from their demands.