2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Toonage]

And paying Lindholm in accordance with the expected rise means less money to hand over to other free agents, who will demand more to play in Calgary, as they told Lindholm they would remain competitive if he signs (from what we've read). Can't just fill that roster with prospects

Anything over $8.5 is just too much IMO

[the-rasta-masta]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Keep in mind that Lindholm's agent isn't just talking to Conroy, he is also reaching out to other GMs to see what a contract would look like if he were traded.

These things are never done in isolation, and agents are continually talking to every team, on behalf of all of the players they represent (and their comparables)

I don’t think that’s allowed, unless the Flames have granted him permission to do so.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I'm not projecting anything. But if you think that isn't part of the process, then you're delusional. We are already seeing players take short deals because they think the cap will rise. It is literally the agent's job to be on top of that issue.

and I don't believe Lindholm is a player you take that leap with. I believe on a contending/championship quality team he is best suited as a 2nd line centre during his prime years, most of which are already behind him.

I'd be happier to lose Lindholm for nothing next Summer, than to lock in with an 8 year deal at around/above $9M.

(this could be one of those posts that will age poorly)

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

That is an odd feeling. Conroy has been in this situation for over a decade and he has some very experienced people he can lean on in Maloney and Nonis.

I see it in here and twitter. Flames fans are clamoring for a rebuild but are so impatient the team hasn’t made a trade 2 days out from the draft. If we get well into free agency and the Flames have done nothing that is the time to be worried.

We are all hoping and trusting Conroy has this.

His first time at the helm though. And he did say Treliving liked to operate on his own sometimes.

Doesn't mean Conroy will #### the bed, but he has to be feeling some pressure right now and needs to make franchise altering decisions. It helps a lot that he is surrounded by Nonis, Maloney, Snow, and Pascall.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

The market for players is seldom static. We just saw that the market for Taylor Hall, a 31 year old player who drives offences and is signed to a pretty reasonable 2-year deal at $6M. Little risk to the team getting him. And he was basically moved for nothing. That market was simply a function of available cap space.

Yeah, there’s clearly a massive premium on cap space this offseason. Any team that could take Lindholm without sending cap back could have had Taylor Hall for free yesterday. Just as the Avs got Johansen for free. That’s sobering.

As for the assumption that the Flames can just eat salary on every player they ship out, as you point out that’s a call that will be made by Edwards, not Conroy.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

That is an odd feeling. Conroy has been in this situation for over a decade and he has some very experienced people he can lean on in Maloney and Nonis.

I see it in here and twitter. Flames fans are clamoring for a rebuild but are so impatient the team hasn’t made a trade 2 days out from the draft. If we get well into free agency and the Flames have done nothing that is the time to be worried.

The concern is understandable considering the history of mediocrity and what happened last Summer. But I definitely do think people need to realize that this stuff takes time. The players hate human and have to figure out what they want. It’s not always as easy as just pressing a button and a trade/signing just happens

[Hackey]

Signing Linholm just keeps the team treading water for a few more years. Time to move on.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Yeah, there’s clearly a massive premium on cap space this offseason. Any team that could take Lindholm without sending cap back could have had Taylor Hall for free yesterday. Just as the Avs got Johansen for free. That’s sobering.

As for the assumption that the Flames can just eat salary on every player they ship out, as you point out that’s a call that will be made by Edwards, not Conroy.

I hope we retain 50% on 3/4 contracts that expire in 2024 as an additional method to preserve cap space for next season.

Max retention of $7,575,000 (Backs, Lindholm, Hanifin as highest paid contracts) in the reserve for next season. A little less than 7.5m if you're swapping Toffoli as a 50% contract over one of the big 3, which is more likely. Ideally, 2 spots would be good and a 3rd one for the TDL in case we needed to for someone like Tanev or Zadorov.

[Icon]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Signing Linholm just keeps the team treading water for a few more years. Time to move on.

Really comes down to how much they believe they were close last season.

If they figure some better goaltending (or at least a couple less gaffs), a few less posts and an average amount of OT wins would have put them in the playoffs... and they think they would have done some damage in the playoffs... then I could see them deferring making trades until they see how the team looks this season, at least until the end of the calendar year or by the trade deadline.

It's not what I want them to do, but I could see it happening.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

and I don't believe Lindholm is a player you take that leap with. I believe on a contending/championship quality team he is best suited as a 2nd line centre during his prime years, most of which are already behind him.

I'd be happier to lose Lindholm for nothing next Summer, than to lock in with an 8 year deal at around/above $9M.

(this could be one of those posts that will age poorly)

This is just whacky.

Since he joined the Flames and among ALL NHL centers, Lindholm is 13th in goals, 20th in assists, 15th in total points, 3rd in +/-, and has 2 Selke finalist noms iirc.

Argue that you don't want to extend guys 8 years all you want, but base it on reality. This guy is the most complete and dynamic C the Flames have seen since Joe was in his prime.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Except he and the Flames have talked, and are quite far apart. Which leaves trade, or the Flames moving significantly. He said it's out of his hands, because it is now entirely in Conroy's hands.

So it was in his hands and he decided to put it in the Flames’ hands by not accepting (and perhaps it was reasonable to do so, but he still made the decision).

And he still can only be traded to 10 teams unless he waives.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by transplant99

This is just whacky.

Since he joined the Flames and among ALL NHL centers, Lindholm is 13th in goals, 20th in assists, 15th in total points, 3rd in +/-, and has 2 Selke finalist noms iirc.

Argue that you don't want to extend guys 8 years all you want, but base it on reality. This guy is the most complete and dynamic C the Flames have seen since Joe was in his prime.

Not to speak for CZ, but Lindholm's prime years are likely behind him.

If Lindholm is your number one centre and you expect to compete for a Cup, you better one hell of a supporting cast to help him out - which the Flames don't have.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by transplant99

This is just whacky.

Since he joined the Flames and among ALL NHL centers, Lindholm is 13th in goals, 20th in assists, 15th in total points, 3rd in +/-, and has 2 Selke finalist noms iirc.

Argue that you don't want to extend guys 8 years all you want, but base it on reality. This guy is the most complete and dynamic C the Flames have seen since Joe was in his prime.

Yeah and you can argue that his best seasons of production are based on playing alongside Gaudreau. Last season is what you get from him when he's not propped up by an elite winger. Still good player but he reverts back to the 20 goal, 60 point player he is. I don't think a team could win a Stanley Cup with Lindholm as their top center. Flames couldn't get past the 2nd round with him centering two of the best wingers in the NHL.

[Big Erned Nevergivn]

Originally Posted by transplant99

This is just whacky.

Since he joined the Flames and among ALL NHL centers, Lindholm is 13th in goals, 20th in assists, 15th in total points, 3rd in +/-, and has 2 Selke finalist noms iirc.

Argue that you don't want to extend guys 8 years all you want, but base it on reality. This guy is the most complete and dynamic C the Flames have seen since Joe was in his prime.

Hey man, don't let statistics and logic get in the way of your "feelings" or preconceived notions!

But in all seriousness, IMO Lindholm is our best player and it's not even that close. And he is still in his prime. Also we are already saddled with Kadri and Huby's deals well past their prime, so signing Lindholm does not make that situation any worse. So for better or for worse, the time is now. We sign him or we rebuild, and we all know which way the ownership is going to go, so that means we really only have one choice... find a way to lock him up.

[Poe969]

There's nothing wrong with saying he'd be better suited as a 2C. If he was on Vegas, he'd be behind Eichel, behind barkov on Florida, and so on. He's a first line C but if he could be on the second line, he'd look even better IMO. Depth down the middle wins championships, having him at 2C would be like a Crosby/Malkin situation.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah and you can argue that his best seasons of production are based on playing alongside Gaudreau. Last season is what you get from him when he's not propped up by an elite winger. Still good player but he reverts back to the 20 goal, 60 point player he is. I don't think a team could win a Stanley Cup with Lindholm as their top center. Flames couldn't get past the 2nd round with him centering two of the best wingers in the NHL.

Sure, but all first line players are playing alongside other good players. And it is true for all players that they will get more points if they play with good players. The important thing is that - when given the opportunity - they prove that they are able to be a 1st line player. And he has proven that.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah and you can argue that his best seasons of production are based on playing alongside Gaudreau. Last season is what you get from him when he's not propped up by an elite winger. Still good player but he reverts back to the 20 goal, 60 point player he is. I don't think a team could win a Stanley Cup with Lindholm as their top center. Flames couldn't get past the 2nd round with him centering two of the best wingers in the NHL.

Devils advocate but the Flames still have an elite winger who scored over 100 points a season ago in 21-22. Who didn’t play with Lindholm for most of last season.

The Flames post season woes that same season weren’t down to the top line really. It was goaltending and poor defence, with the situation room making a contribution as well.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Not to speak for CZ, but Lindholm's prime years are likely behind him.

If Lindholm is your number one centre and you expect to compete for a Cup, you better one hell of a supporting cast to help him out - which the Flames don't have.

Prime years are behind him at age 28?

Well I guess that teams should never give draft choices 8 year deals after their ELC then, because at the least they will be 29 when they expire and would be paying for non prime years!

As for the rest...EVERY team has to have a great supporting cast to win it all.

Im not even advocating to signing Lindholm long term, but to suggest he is and as been anything other than a bonafide #1 C in this league for many years now is frankly, absurd.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Sure, but all first line players are playing alongside other good players. And it is true for all players that they will get more points if they play with good players. The important thing is that - when given the opportunity - they prove that they are able to be a 1st line player. And he has proven that.

Yes but he doesn't elevate his wingers as he's the complementary guy to elite wingers. It's not like McDavid, MacKinnon, Crosby, etc where they are the offensive drivers of their line. You will only get from Lindholm what you provide him as wingers, nothing more. I don't think that's an ideal 1st line center.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Icon

Really comes down to how much they believe they were close last season.

If they figure some better goaltending (or at least a couple less gaffs), a few less posts and an average amount of OT wins would have put them in the playoffs... and they think they would have done some damage in the playoffs... then I could see them deferring making trades until they see how the team looks this season, at least until the end of the calendar year or by the trade deadline.

It's not what I want them to do, but I could see it happening.

this may be the view prior to the last month, however, the news coming out on players looking to move changes that calculus a lot.

if you take out Hanifin and Toffoli alone from that line up, playoffs aren't a given...

the only reason to hold off trading until the TDL is so players can rebound their value and to allow teams to sort out their cap issues...

at the end of the day, these players are still UFA, so regardless of how the team is doing, you run the risk of losing them for nothing if you go beyond TDL day

you need to move them while the Flames still have leverage... the more time ticks aways, the more other teams will know the Flames are desparate and the market will crater, potentially