3rd line center to solidify Flames' forward group?

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

OK. But Monahan and Backlund have made equally great passes this year, and did so in their rookie years too, and no one would ever think they are elite playmakers.

That's fair. Time will tell I guess.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Its a ridiculously small sample size, but Ruzicka has the hands to be an elite playmaker IMO. ...

I do like Ruzicka, but the "elite playmaker" part is a bit on the edmontonesque side of expectations... He seems to be a tweener: inconsistent level of effort, frequent irresponsible plays, lack of effort and energy. They guy's only 22 and he chooses when to play hard and when to cruise along. These are not the tell signs of an elite NHL'er. There is a reason Sutter shrugs all media questions about Ruzicka with short "needs consistency" responses.

[Toonage]

Alright I'm taking a beating. Let's change that to "has the potential to be an exceptional player"

[SuperMatt18]

I could see Chris Tierney being a guy we add.

Played C in San Jose, playing more LW for Ottawa, so has some versitility. Strong underlying defensive metrics. Really fits with what Sutter / Treliving have added to the team this season.

Also was very strong for San Jose in 2015-2016 playoffs, and Darryl Sutter had a front row seat for that.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

...
Callie Jarnkrok...
Paul Stastny...
Andrew Copp...
Jack Roslovic, Colombus Blue Jacks
Rickard Rakell, Anaheim Ducks
Vladislav Namestnikov, Detroit Red Wings
Sam Gagner, Detroit Red Wings

Who is your preference?
...

On the OP's question, Jarnkrok is by far our best option in so many respects, but many other contenders see it too, want him too and the ask will be very high. I doubt Treliving will pay. So, likely, a pipe dream; not gonna happen.

I also like Getzlaf/Stastny/Staal/Rakell - in that order - as possible rental options for a reasonable cost. How awesome would it be to have Getzlaf centering Toffoli and Mangiapane in the playoffs???

Sam Gagner is just so NOT a Sutter's kind of a player. I recall a hilarious gif of him trying to hit Glencross and just ricocheting back.

[sa226]

The Flames really are in a bit of a conundrum as a contender. Backlund really shouldn't be you second best centre. The Flames have "depth" at center but the drop off after Lindolm is pretty steep. I think they make up for with depth and quality in other areas, but the centre depth for this group is a bit of a concern.

So what do you do? I firmly believe an in season Monahan move just isn't on the table. He wears an A, he makes too much, he has a limited NTC and he's not performing. If that move is made its better made in the offseason. Heck if he performs well in the Playoffs, perhaps his stock goes up.

So then what? With limited cap you try to upgrade the 3C spot. The interesting thing is that the Flames have 3 legitimate options for that spot. Ruzicka, Dube and Richardson. A rotation of those 3 in a playoff series isn't the worst thing in the world. You'd like an upgrade there, but a healthy competition for that spot wouldn't be the worst thing.

On paper you'd want to see an upgrade at centre, but when you hash it all out is the net benefit really worth it.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

On the OP's question, Jarnkrok is by far our best option in so many respects, but many other contenders see it too, want him too and the ask will be very high. I doubt Treliving will pay. So, likely, a pipe dream; not gonna happen.

I also like Getzlaf/Stastny/Staal/Rakell - in that order - as possible rental options for a reasonable cost. How awesome would it be to have Getzlaf centering Toffoli and Mangiapane in the playoffs???

Sam Gagner is just so NOT a Sutter's kind of a player. I recall a hilarious gif of him trying to hit Glencross and just ricocheting back.

Lucic - Getzalf - Lewis. The California gated community line.

[PeteMoss]

Does my cap logic make sense:

So Flames will have $865,210 in cap space at the trade deadline per CapFriendly

You could send down Ruzicka if you make a trade to give an extra $800k to get to $1.665m.

You could also waive one of Richardson and Ritchie to get to ~$2.5m. If you get a defenseman - could also add Stone to that list to get up to ~$3.2m.

Anything more than that - and you'd have to route a guy through one of the bottom feeders to eat up cap space.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Does my cap logic make sense:

So Flames will have $865,210 in cap space at the trade deadline per CapFriendly

You could send down Ruzicka if you make a trade to give an extra $800k to get to $1.665m.

You could also waive one of Richardson and Ritchie to get to ~$2.5m. If you get a defenseman - could also add Stone to that list to get up to ~$3.2m.

Anything more than that - and you'd have to route a guy through one of the bottom feeders to eat up cap space.

If you send down Ruzicka, don't you just save his pro-rated cap hit until the end of the season? 200k ish?

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I do like Ruzicka, but the "elite playmaker" part is a bit on the edmontonesque side of expectations... He seems to be a tweener: inconsistent level of effort, frequent irresponsible plays, lack of effort and energy. They guy's only 22 and he chooses when to play hard and when to cruise along. These are not the tell signs of an elite NHL'er. There is a reason Sutter shrugs all media questions about Ruzicka with short "needs consistency" responses.

I often wonder how much of the bolded for young players is from thinking/overthinking. Charging like a bull at the wrong-time/wrong-place is a great way to get burned or take a penalty.

The game is so much faster...some times less is more.

[D as in David]

I like to think of Ruzicka as "composed". Just look at his goal celebrations; very ho-hum, no biggie.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I often wonder how much of the bolded for young players is from thinking/overthinking. Charging like a bull at the wrong-time/wrong-place is a great way to get burned or take a penalty.

The game is so much faster...some times less is more.

This is Dube IMO. He plays with energy most nights, but a lot of the time it’s ill spent, along the boards, and he does take a few penalties along the way.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

This is Dube IMO. He plays with energy most nights, but a lot of the time it’s ill spent, along the boards, and he does take a few penalties along the way.

Yup; sometimes it's better to get to the same place unimpeded a quarter second slower than fighting the long way through an opponent and maybe ending up on your ass. There's a time and place for both...it usually takes a few hundred NHL games to figure it out.

[indes]

Surprised the flames haven't played the LTIR card with Monahan yet. Or since it's the Flames this is probably the first season of his career that he has no ailments lol.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by indes

Surprised the flames haven't played the LTIR card with Monahan yet. Or since it's the Flames this is probably the first season of his career that he has no ailments lol.

Unless they need cap room there’s no reason to play any card.

[SportsJunky]

Hey Winnipeg, you can stop winning games anytime now. We'd like to poach your roster.