2022/2023 Trade Speculation and Rumours

[Calgary4LIfe]

Sutter says a lot of things, but he doesn't always mean it. He does line-match. He does like to roll 4 lines, but often he line-matches as well beyond defence. He both shelters guys, and he also tries to utilize Backlund as the main shutdown line.


As for Pelletier - I can see him being 'gifted' a spot in the top 6 if he is showing a lot of flash while being defensively sound enough. I mean, he just had a damn strong rookie pro season. I think we can kind of remove a couple of layers off his ceiling - I thought he would be at best a middle-line guy, mostly likely a solid 3rd liner. Based on his development curve thus far, I think it is best to just open up his ceiling. This kid will be an NHL'er - and sooner rather than later - but how good he is remains to be seen. Limiting him to just a third liner as his ceiling is potentially setting yourself up for ridicule later on


I would be hesitant to move any of the top 4 D right now (Weegar, Tanev, Hanifin and Andersson). Sutter spoke about the defence being too young and inexperienced, and that it hurt them last season. Everyone in the top 4 are fairly young too, so it isn't like the Flames need to start thinking about replacement issues.

[FlamesAddiction]

Sutter loves defensive depth. I don’t see them trimming the defence at all at this point.

[Goriders]

Kylington could go as well if his negotiations don’t go well.

We have way too many defensemen and not enough forwards.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am betting that Calgary is definitely going to move defencemen unless they plan on carrying 8 D. I have my doubts that Valimaki or Mackey will make it through waivers. Mackey had a great season last year and was a touted college FA. Valimaki was a former 1st round pick who has shown flashes. A bit of a risk anyway - not going to guarantee either one of them get picked, but it is likely IMO, even with teams trying to sort out their own lineups. Injures happen in the preseason.

[redmile04]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Kylington could go as well if his negotiations don’t go well.

We have way too many defensemen and not enough forwards.

too many defensemen- no such thing

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Sutter loves defensive depth. I don’t see them trimming the defence at all at this point.

He does, but he didn't like Valimaki's game. And it certainly sounds like his game did not improve to end the year with Stockton. He still as potential upside, but it may not be here.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Yeah, because you clear up cap space for a single year and then sign a big contract over multiple years, ignoring the cap challenges you face in the subsequent years. Bold strategy Cotton.

Girard is signed for 5 more years.

[AndyM]

The writing seems to be on the wall for Valimaki. His injuries derailed his career at the NHL level. He looked good playing pro in Sweden after his rehab, but that hasn't translated well while with the big club, and there were nights in Stockton where he looked like he'd rather be elsewhere -- no engagement, lazy mistakes.

[yourbestfriend]

To everybody wanting to ship out Hanifin because we got Weegar, lets try to remember what happened to our team when we lost one top4 dman during the playoffs. We finally add another top4 defensemen to help alleviate that problem, and you all want to celebrate by trading away Hanifin? It basically brings us to square one.

The way I look at that trade is, Gaudreau/Huberdeau are a wash. However, we swapped a top line forward for a top pairing defensemen. The gap that previously existed just changed from defense to offense. It's the lessor of two evils, but I personally would rather have a gap in our forwards than an equivalent gap in the defense.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

To everybody wanting to ship out Hanifin because we got Weegar, lets try to remember what happened to our team when we lost one top4 dman during the playoffs. We finally add another top4 defensemen to help alleviate that problem, and you all want to celebrate by trading away Hanifin? It basically brings us to square one.

The way I look at that trade is, Gaudreau/Huberdeau are a wash. However, we swapped a top line forward for a top pairing defensemen. The gap that previously existed just changed from defense to offense. It's the lessor of two evils, but I personally would rather have a gap in our forwards than an equivalent gap in the defense.

The defense was beat up but still good enough.

What I remember was Markstrom giving up goals to the Oilers like he was a pee-wee goalie, maybe he was tired or the Oilers are his kryptonite i dunno but if Markstrom even had .900 SV% the Flames win that series.

Vladar should have started game 3.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

To everybody wanting to ship out Hanifin because we got Weegar, lets try to remember what happened to our team when we lost one top4 dman during the playoffs. We finally add another top4 defensemen to help alleviate that problem, and you all want to celebrate by trading away Hanifin? It basically brings us to square one.

The way I look at that trade is, Gaudreau/Huberdeau are a wash. However, we swapped a top line forward for a top pairing defensemen. The gap that previously existed just changed from defense to offense. It's the lessor of two evils, but I personally would rather have a gap in our forwards than an equivalent gap in the defense.

Imo our ideal d looks something like:

Hanifin-weegar
Kylington-Andersson
Zadorov-tanev

With zad tanev eating the heavy minutes and hanifin-weegar getting the balance. Kylington-andersson should feast.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

To everybody wanting to ship out Hanifin because we got Weegar, lets try to remember what happened to our team when we lost one top4 dman during the playoffs. We finally add another top4 defensemen to help alleviate that problem, and you all want to celebrate by trading away Hanifin? It basically brings us to square one.

The way I look at that trade is, Gaudreau/Huberdeau are a wash. However, we swapped a top line forward for a top pairing defensemen. The gap that previously existed just changed from defense to offense. It's the lessor of two evils, but I personally would rather have a gap in our forwards than an equivalent gap in the defense.

I think many of us would like to see Valimaki/Mackey battle for or share the #6D spot.

Andersson is the cornerstone so we all want to keep him, Tanev was our best dman and Weeger is the new shiney toy that is an analytics darling. Throw in Zadorov who we just re-signed and it leaves you with Hanifin or Kylington.

I think outside of Markstrom, Hanifin stuggled the most in the Edmonton series out of our top guys and I still think Kylington has more offensive potential that we have yet to see.

Not only that but Hanifin is American and only has 2 years left. Many fans think, since we need more forward help he is an ideal candidate to ship out.

[Robbob]

I am hoping that Valimaki has a Klyingtonesque reawakening. I think he had a front row seat watching Klyington crush it and take his sport from him. Hopefully he learned something and comes in with the mindset that Klyington had.

[Monahammer]

Hear me out:

Jakob Voracek + 1st from Columbus for monahan to cap help them.

[mile]

Hanifin isn't a #1D, but with Weegar in the fold now he'll finally play where he's slotted best as a #3. He's like a McDonagh or Bouwmeester type - you still need these types of defensemen to win.

I just don't like the idea of moving any of our top 6 D after what happened in the Edmonton series. If you do move one, it's for help at C and not on the wing. I think Sutter is probably very happy with how the defense looks right now with Mackey as a #7 and maybe a re-signed Stone as #8.

[yourbestfriend]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I think many of us would like to see Valimaki/Mackey battle for or share the #6D spot.

Andersson is the cornerstone so we all want to keep him, Tanev was our best dman and Weeger is the new shiney toy that is an analytics darling. Throw in Zadorov who we just re-signed and it leaves you with Hanifin or Kylington.

I think outside of Markstrom, Hanifin stuggled the most in the Edmonton series out of our top guys and I still think Kylington has more offensive potential that we have yet to see.

Not only that but Hanifin is American and only has 2 years left. Many fans think, since we need more forward help he is an ideal candidate to ship out.

Weegar - Tanev
Kylington - Andersson
Valimaki/Mackey - Zadorov

That's not a great defense to being with, but if one top4 guy goes down we're completely screwed. Who wants to see a Kylington - Zadorov 2nd pairing in the regular season, let alone playoffs? Not me.
If the plan next year is to make the playoffs and compete, outside of injuries, Valimaki and Mackey don't get a sniff of regular season games unless they can prove they are a step ahead of Kylington, which seems unlikely at this point.
Keep the defense the way it is. It's an absolute luxury to be able to have the stable of guys we have right now.

[anyonebutedmonton]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

Weegar - Tanev
Kylington - Andersson
Valimaki/Mackey - Zadorov

That's not a great defense to being with, but if one top4 guy goes down we're completely screwed. Who wants to see a Kylington - Zadorov 2nd pairing in the regular season, let alone playoffs? Not me.
If the plan next year is to make the playoffs and compete, outside of injuries, Valimaki and Mackey don't get a sniff of regular season games unless they can prove they are a step ahead of Kylington, which seems unlikely at this point.
Keep the defense the way it is. It's an absolute luxury to be able to have the stable of guys we have right now.

The issue is, unless you run with 8 D, you lose someone to waivers.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by anyonebutedmonton

The issue is, unless you run with 8 D, you lose someone to waivers.

I think anyone who would be exposed has already been exposed without being grabbed, no?

[Parallex]

If I had to make Pairings right now I'd probably put Weegar with either Tanev or Zadorov...

Zadorov because that would basically mean we could just roll three pairings with more or less equivalent talent levels. Everyone is fresher and as a result plays better for the full 60.

or...

With Tanev because then we'd be pairing the guy who's the best zone defender (Tanev) with the guy who (by all accounts) is amazing in transition.

Lot's of options. If we have to move Hanifin I'd rather we do it next offseason to make room for the (fingers-crossed) Huberdeau and Weegar extensions and find some way to move out Monahan or Lucics cap to make any room we need for present additions. The D looks amazing for this season... let's keep it that way.

[Monahammer]

Y'all don't think Sutter's going to put the two biggest ones together again? I sure do lol