2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Since1984]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I am sure there is someone younger who can score 11 points and provide some sandpaper.

Martin Pospisil is possible

[_Q_]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I am sure there is someone younger who can score 11 points and provide some sandpaper.

That's exactly it. We probably have somebody on the Wranglers that can do this. If not, some 26 year old no name on waivers can probably fill that role.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by united

I always defer to 1,200-game veteran, Jason Spezza, on the topic.
https://theathletic.com/2481179/2021...leafs-veteran/

When Ottawa would dress a super tough guy, like, let’s say that they would dress Matt Kassian in the lineup, I remember Jason explaining to me, “Listen, you’re gonna hear a lot of people tell you, you add a tough guy in the lineup and everybody feels like they’re two inches taller, and that’s why we like it.”

He’s like, “No, we love it because we’re playing with only 11 forwards. That way, guys like me get more time.”

Spezza's awesome lol.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I am sure there is someone younger who can score 11 points and provide some sandpaper.

Also, the Flames aren't there yet. If the team looks like its about to go on some major playoff run and the concern is guys getting pushed around, they can figure that part out later. This should probably rank #97ish on the Flames list of 100 things they need to fix right now.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Fan in Exile

And a lethal powerplay is a better deterrent than a goon any day.

Exactly. The Oilers don't carry any goons. They do everything they can to come at you with speed and force your cement heads to take penalties where their PP carries them. Size is important, but adding size with zero speed and no skill is a total failure in the current game.

[Paulie Walnuts]

I don't think we a designated tough guy or fighter, having one in Lucic really didn't do much at all as he wasn't really in the business of intimidating guys unless it was on the forecheck.

You need guys who can take care of themselves, size doesn't just mean hitting everything, and if you are leading in hits you have a problem because you are chasing the puck.

I think what Vegas did with Florida is a good blueprint. Let teams muck it up and try to be tough and make them pay on the powerplay and having guys sit in the penalty box half the time like Tkachuk.

Being fast and skilled you will minimize the amount of times you get hit anyways look at a guy like Gaudreau.

[GioforPM]

Lucic's success was based on him being a guy who was tough but who also could play the game. Dude had several 20 and one 30 goal seasons. Even 3 years ago he had 10 goals and 23 points in 56 games.

He's just gotten too slow and his body can't make the plays he used to, that's all.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by united

I always defer to 1,200-game veteran, Jason Spezza, on the topic.
https://theathletic.com/2481179/2021...leafs-veteran/

When Ottawa would dress a super tough guy, like, let’s say that they would dress Matt Kassian in the lineup, I remember Jason explaining to me, “Listen, you’re gonna hear a lot of people tell you, you add a tough guy in the lineup and everybody feels like they’re two inches taller, and that’s why we like it.”

He’s like, “No, we love it because we’re playing with only 11 forwards. That way, guys like me get more time.”

I was interested to find out there have been two useless meathead players with the name 'Kassian' and that there is no relation.

[Sandman]

You can’t carry a “goon” any more, but you need functional size and toughness. Both Florida and Vegas have both.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Sure hope they go in with the St. Louis Blues plan. The Blues grabbed three firsts or former firsts, a second and a third at the deadline last year. Definitely the possibility for the Flames to grab the same or more if they don’t make any moves first over the summer.

See, this is something that I just don't see this organization doing, which is why they were trying so hard to make all their trades this summer, before finding that the market wasn't there.

In theory, yeah you pick up multiple firsts and some seconds and maybe a couple prospects that can jump in the following season and totally restock your cupboards. But we all know the Flames will likely be hovering around or in a playoff spot around the deadline and the narrative will be "wellllll, I mean we can't start trading away two centres and two defensemen with the team fighting for the playoffs. At this point it makes more sense to keep them and go for it".

[traptor]

It's not about being mean or fighting or gooning it up.

It's about being hard and punishing to play against.

All those micro plays add up and wear and tear a team.

You want guys who are a bitch to battle against on the boards and infront of the net.
Guys who you hate to get into puck battles with because they're strong .
Guys who might not be goons but they will finish hard clean checks so you can't ever have your head down or go soft into the corners.

Vegas this year for example. They weren't dirty but they were strong. Maybe 1 or 2 guys below 200 lbs.
Alot of guys that are hard on thr puck but have some skill.

Much harder to play against then a soft skill team.

Our team is looking pretty small across the board right now.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by traptor

It's not about being mean or fighting or gooning it up.

It's about being hard and punishing to play against.

All those micro plays add up and wear and tear a team.

You want guys who are a bitch to battle against on the boards and infront of the net.
Guys who you hate to get into puck battles with because they're strong .
Guys who might not be goons but they will finish hard clean checks so you can't ever have your head down or go soft into the corners.

Vegas this year for example. They weren't dirty but they were strong. Maybe 1 or 2 guys below 200 lbs.
Alot of guys that are hard on thr puck but have some skill.

Much harder to play against then a soft skill team.

Our team is looking pretty small across the board right now.

100% this.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by traptor

It's not about being mean or fighting or gooning it up.

It's about being hard and punishing to play against.

All those micro plays add up and wear and tear a team.

You want guys who are a bitch to battle against on the boards and infront of the net.
Guys who you hate to get into puck battles with because they're strong .
Guys who might not be goons but they will finish hard clean checks so you can't ever have your head down or go soft into the corners.

Vegas this year for example. They weren't dirty but they were strong. Maybe 1 or 2 guys below 200 lbs.
Alot of guys that are hard on thr puck but have some skill.

Much harder to play against then a soft skill team.

Our team is looking pretty small across the board right now.

Yes, this I 100% agree with, as opposed to the call for big goons that intimidate while their line gets scored on. Unfortunately, though the players that are bigger, nastier and can play hockey really well are super expensive, mostly not available or come through drafting.

[DJones]

Tampa and Vegas have giant defense. St Louis just kicked the #### out of people all playoffs.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

This is why no matter what happens there is some reason for optimism. Every year people complain that some prospect gets sent down for some 35-year-old cheap signing. Conroy is filling the roster with kids and during the summer people seem upset about it. Once camp starts, we will be happy with the line up and there will be lots of upside with this team.

I personally think people are upset/concerned that 6 of the 7 UFA’s remain and no one is signing contracts and the trade rumors have dried up. I think many people also believe that the team as constructed has the ability to be a pretty good squad which makes trading any of the pending UFA’s less likely. Long term deal for those players is also risky given that all but Kylington will be at least 29 by the end of the year. We know Hanifin will be younger but we also know he will not sign an extension here.

[Sandman]

As it stands right now, we have a fairly soft team that won’t exactly be hard to play against.

[Saqe]

Yeah it's about playing hard, not fighting. When Bennett came back for the Panthers in the Bruins series it changed everything, they wouldn't have advanced without him. He immediately started punishing guys with hits. And how demoralizing was the hit on Slavin in the Carolina series? Changed the game and series completely.

[soulchoice]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Really irks me that absolutely nothing has been done to address our size/toughness, especially after losing Lucic. We need another couple of guys who can hit, fight, and intimidate, or we'll get steamrolled every game. Austin Watson is a guy who can skate, kill penalties, and stick up for teammates- and he's available as a UFA. There's also Nick Ritchie, Max Comtois, and Cal Foote.

Agreed with you on this Sandman. I hope they do address the toughness. Sure they have Gilbert, but we do not know if he is an everyday player yet. I’d say a hell no to Watson though. Yes, he is willing and plays a grinding game. But, he gets worked and loses 90 percent of his fights. I respect that he tries, but it doesn’t help swing momentum when you lose.

I’d rather bring someone like Nick Ritchie at a low cost in that case as he wins most of his bouts (doesn’t fight as much as Watson, but rarely loses).

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Really irks me that absolutely nothing has been done to address our size/toughness, especially after losing Lucic. We need another couple of guys who can hit, fight, and intimidate, or we'll get steamrolled every game. Austin Watson is a guy who can skate, kill penalties, and stick up for teammates- and he's available as a UFA. There's also Nick Ritchie, Max Comtois, and Cal Foote.

I agree with you. I wonder if Mitch McLain could be an option to play this role? I remember him getting a call up last season or maybe the year before? I don't remember if he's a fighter but I see he was one of the leaders on the Wranglers in PIMs.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by DJones

Tampa and Vegas have giant defense. St Louis just kicked the #### out of people all playoffs.

It's this.

People focus way to much on big forwards and physical forwards.

It's big and mobile defenses that win you cups over the last 10 years. Guys that can eat up space and eliminate the ice when things tighten up come playoff time.