[Rumour] LeBrun: All signs point to Hanifin not wanting to extend with Flames

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Backlund seems a more likely target for the Avs than Lindholm. Hard to see how a Lindholm extended at 8+ million fits into their cap structure going forward. Backlund as a rental for one season while Landeskog is off the books is a much better fit.

I think the Avs would be crazy to think Landeskog is going to come back and not be a shell of himself if he does. He's missed two years and is having some rare surgery now.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Given his age, cap hit, and injury history, I doubt Tanev gets you more than a late 2nd. He’d almost certainly get more at the deadline if he’s healthy.

Agree. Healthy Tanev at the deadline fetches you a boatload. The guy is basically catnip for playoff bound GMs if he's healthy.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Why? I don’t get the argument that markets with more fan engagement can’t afford to be patient.

You need an owner to be willing to take heat in a passionate environment. Carolina (or if you use a local team - Calgary Roughnecks) are just going to fall off the media's radar if they suck. I doubt Carolina gets much coverage even when they are good, but if they really suck sports radio will just never talk about them. The Flames are going to be front page news if they are good, bad or terrible. So ownership has to be willing to take the hits when you suck while rebuilding.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by liamenator

I can't recall who made the point, but it's a good one: the mandate to 'just make the playoffs' may have had more to do with getting an arena deal than we realized.

By keeping the quality of the on-ice product high, fans remained engaged enough to keep the Dome full on most nights, which helped keep public and media sentiment in favour of a new building.

Now that a deal is in place, there may be more flexibility to let the on-ice results dip a bit

I can't imagine this is true. People who wanted a new arena would want it regardless if the Flames are good or bad.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

You need an owner to be willing to take heat in a passionate environment. Carolina (or if you use a local team - Calgary Roughnecks) are just going to fall off the media's radar if they suck. I doubt Carolina gets much coverage even when they are good, but if they really suck sports radio will just never talk about them. The Flames are going to be front page news if they are good, bad or terrible. So ownership has to be willing to take the hits when you suck while rebuilding.

I see your point. But Edwards lives in Switzerland. Can’t imagine he’d have trouble tuning out griping in the media about the Flames sucking.

[liamenator]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I can't imagine this is true. People who wanted a new arena would want it regardless if the Flames are good or bad.

Hardcore fans and CP sickos, maybe. But casual or non-fans? I don't think so. Those are the major constituencies that can (and did) help push a sweetheart deal involving lots of public money over the line.

It's much harder to make the kinds of arguments that won the day for CSEC if the team sucks and the fans, media, and general public are disengaged than if the team is a lively part of the city's culture.

[Hockey_Ninja]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1669371832158547972

[Roof-Daddy]

I wonder if Poirier is ready?

I would be so happy to see the Flames trade a quality NHL asset for a sweet return of futures and then successfully graduate a young player to fill that spot they just opened up. All while at the same time clearing cap space.

Same situation with Wolf would be nice also.

[bax]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I wonder if Poirier is ready?

I would be so happy to see the Flames trade a quality NHL asset for a sweet return of futures and then successfully graduate a young player to fill that spot they just opened up. All while at the same time clearing cap space.

Same situation with Wolf would be nice also.

He’s a solid prospect, but from my viewings I don’t think he’s anywhere near ready.

[Royle9]

I encourage those of you who can to go see Porier in person to do it before you beat the seemingly ever echoed “he needs a lot of work”
Watching him last rookie camp in person he looked a cut above everyone and not just by a little bit, he was miles ahead. I think offensively he’s more than ready.

With that said I think development wise playing on the farm as a 1/2 is better than 3rd pairing minimal minutes. Though again I think he’s closer than most who are hyper critical of him.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

https://twitter.com/user/status/1669371832158547972

I hope it's reverse of the Hamonic trade or close to it, and that it happens at the draft.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Kylington taking a bigger role makes the most sense to me.

Should be a fixture in the top 4 back next to Tanev, with Rasmus and Weegs pairing up.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Kylington taking a bigger role makes the most sense to me.

Should be a fixture in the top 4 back next to Tanev, with Rasmus and Weegs pairing up.

whether he can is a huge question mark. But yes, it's the obvious move. With Zadorov and Stecher (if they can get him).

[bax]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I encourage those of you who can to go see Porier in person to do it before you beat the seemingly ever echoed “he needs a lot of work”
Watching him last rookie camp in person he looked a cut above everyone and not just by a little bit, he was miles ahead. I think offensively he’s more than ready.

With that said I think development wise playing on the farm as a 1/2 is better than 3rd pairing minimal minutes. Though again I think he’s closer than most who are hyper critical of him.

I’m not being hyper critical of him and I have watched him in person. Offensively he’s great and has made strides in the defensive zone as well due to his high IQ. He needs more experience as a go to guy though.

He’s a solid prospect, but forcing him into the NHL next season isn’t going to benefit him or the Flames long term.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

I hope it's reverse of the Hamonic trade or close to it, and that it happens at the draft.

I would rather it be the reverse Hamilton trade and get picks in this draft. The Hamonic deal was all for future year picks. The Red Wings have the assets to do it with ease.

[Calgary4LIfe]

There are two main reasons why teams do not go the rebuild route:


1) Money - as much as we all want a rebuild, it often doesn't happen simply because less people end up buying tickets.

2) Who owns these teams? Rich billionaires. The only thing that they can't afford in life is time - they are usually in the twilight of their lives, and having 2-5 years of 'losing' isn't very palatable to them when perhaps they won't be around to reap the rewards of that losing.


I don't, however, think the ownership group is THAT resistant to a rebuild. Remember Maloney's presser in which he talked about the 'options' for the Tkachuk trade. One of them was a rebuild. Had Zito not provided an attractive enough package for Tkachuk, this team might very well have been in the midst of a rebuild today.


It is surprising to read the tweet posted by Hockey_Ninja above I would have guessed Hanifin would have been the most likely to re-sign given that he seemed happy. I wonder if the contract demands are too high? He is young enough to re-sign even through a rebuild in my opinion.


Calgary essentially 'bottomed-out' for their rebuild in 2012-13. They aren't bottoming out right now. Either way, I doubt that a rebuild is in the cards at this point, but one would assume that there is a 'plan B' on the table in which the Flames do enter into a rebuild or a 'significant retool' if they end up having to trade too many of the upcoming UFA class. We should all know the direction of this team by the first day of the draft, I would guess.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

There are two main reasons why teams do not go the rebuild route:

People have made this point better than I will, but there are pretty much zero examples of a team intentionally+proactively entering a rebuild. Teams are organically dragged into rebuilds.

Sometimes teams will make retool moves for a year when they find themselves on the outside looking in (NAS/WAS/STL at TDL - I doubt any of them are in rebuild mode yet, though)

The only exception that come to mind might be the NYR letter to fans. And maybe MTL, but they were really dragged into it losing their #1G and #1D.

[howard_the_duck]

Organic rebuild may be a path we're headed down. 7 UFAs, with at least 3 expressing concerns over re-signing. Our top 2 Cs and a top 2 D.

[Kipper_3434]

Poirier isn't close to ready, his defensive awareness is low even at the AHL level, there's a reason he was scratched multiple times while healthy.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Poirier isn't close to ready, his defensive awareness is low even at the AHL level, there's a reason he was scratched multiple times while healthy.

Based on what some people who follow the Wranglers have to say, Solovyov might be the closest defenseman prospect to being NHL ready. I am hoping he can surprise at camp.

[Manhattanboy]

Do we know Kylington will be back?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Do we know Kylington will be back?

Supposedly will be in training camp.