2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by NewFan

I think the players clearly see that this team is not contender. And I'm sure Lindholm doesn't want to play rebuilding team with a big contract. Backlund, Hanifin want out.

So in my opinion the management really needs to have clear plan to build the best possible team to compete the cup 3 or more years. And I think the current roster can't do that.

This team needs retool, rebuild and collect young players to have a better future.

So the players are convinced that Markstrom is done? That Mangiapane was a flash in the pan? That Huberdeau is what he was last year? This team was on the cusp of the playoffs with those 3 key players having awful seasons (specifically Huby/Marky). If those guys had better years last season this team is 1-3 in the Pacific for sure.

You could be right but I also think we are in the midst of a summer where everyone is counting this team out when they have the pieces to be a much better squad. I do wonder what they players think the reason for the good one year, bad the next would be?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Bingo

With Lindholm we don't know though.

With Hanifin I'd say that's spot on because he hasn't been moved yet, and doesn't want to come back.

If they want to sign Lindholm, it's different ... because they could be sitting on decent offers but not ready to pull the trigger.

Hasn’t it been reported that the Flames have not engaged any team on a Lindholm trade and any time teams have called to discuss him the Flames are telling teams they are focused on signing him? Maybe low ball offers are the reason teams are being informed as such?

[Major Major]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Unpopular opinion time, but if that San Jose deal rumored around the draft is true, and Lindholm doesn't want to sign here I'd go for that if I were Conroy.

You get a 1C for a few years (Couture), albeit an older player but the cost would be similar to what you'd have paid Lindholm. You also get a top LW prospect who could also play C (Eklund). Maybe even a pick as well.

In a few years you get the cap space back, hopefully have drafted or developed someone who can step in at 1C.

You aren't left twisting in the wind with Kadri at 1C.

People may not have liked that deal but in reality SJ would be stupid to offer that and Calgary stupid to turn it down.

[Paulie Walnuts]

They might also be negotiating to get an idea of what the number will be so come camp if true that he wants to see the changes and likes them it will be easy to take the deal to the finish line instead of dragging out a negotiation in camp and into the season.

[indes]

I'm starting to feel like the deadline might be the play for both those players. Almost any team would be able to add those guys with their low cap hits. If a buffalo or NJ looks like they'll make it they have a ton of assets to make a run.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Major Major

People may not have liked that deal but in reality SJ would be stupid to offer that and Calgary stupid to turn it down.

Unless they think Eklund will bust then they are replacing a 34 year old with 4 years left for a 28 year old pending UFA. They clear the Couture cap hit and flip Lindholm for prime assets.

The Sharks probably want to be better in 2-3 years so removing Couture’s $8M cap hit for the next 4 years while also test driving a goalie who could be a future starter there would have filled a need.

Calgary would be Stupid to turn down have Couture and Kadri making a combined $15M for the next 4 years (6 in Kadri’s case) aged 34 and 33 this year? If Eklund doesn’t turn out to be a top end core player the Flames are signing up for even worse cap hell in the short term.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Haven't seen it mentioned ...

But Steinberg's Flames Talk show yesterday had him relieving some of my concerns over the Flames walking their players to free agency. Said in talking to Conroy he gets the feeling the players would be on the move to retain value regardless of position in the standings.

(paraphrasing)

Like this a lot. This is a huge change from decades of how this team has been run. And it adds up.....Conroy 1) wants people who want to be here and 2) values youth/prospects/draft picks. You can draw a lot of sensible conclusions from this on how they conduct themselves.

[Cain]

I actually love the strategy players moving at deadlines when cap is a bit easier to manage and teams are a bit looser with their assets as they know where they stand at least for that season. Very easy to back yourself into a corner though and keep your guys for your own run and then lose them for nothing so it takes a pretty big pair of ....and ownership to back you.


All for it though if Conroy could actually play it like that. Just a bit cynical of it happening as it is not an easy thing to do.

[Bubba17]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

From a player I know on the team it sounds like Lindy wants to see what the vibe is like with Darryl gone. That's why the Flames haven't given him a drop dead date. He also feels like he played on a discount contract so he wants to make sure he gets paid this time around.

He played on a contract that was full value for what he had done before, why do you think he signed it so quickly. Did he improve over the life of the contract, sure but in the NHL there is no renegotiating. Now his going to be 30 so he has to adjust, not expect to recoup money from before.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

From a player I know on the team it sounds like Lindy wants to see what the vibe is like with Darryl gone. That's why the Flames haven't given him a drop dead date. He also feels like he played on a discount contract so he wants to make sure he gets paid this time around.

Omg. Conroy is going to be in the dressing room in TC, making constant conversation, wearing a Sweden lapel pin, laughing at everything Lindholm says. "Guys!! LINDY!!! DA MAN! AMMMIRIGHT??!!!!"

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Bingo

With Lindholm we don't know though.

With Hanifin I'd say that's spot on because he hasn't been moved yet, and doesn't want to come back.

If they want to sign Lindholm, it's different ... because they could be sitting on decent offers but not ready to pull the trigger.

God, I pray this is true.

The way the league works now and the way the salary cap works now, you need 4,5,6 year plans. Not "make changes for the sake of it to compete next season" ala Brad Treliving's strategy.

The way to do this is make smart asset decisions with the long-term in mind and that means if the deal is available at or near the deadline that you need to make to improve the long-term health of the franchise you make it- playoffs that season be damned if need be.

Eventually with the above strategy, you'll be the architect of a Tampa.

[the-rasta-masta]

My big concern with starting the season with any of these players is the risk for injury. It's almost assured that there are better value deals at the deadline, but one unfortunate play could reduce the value of these players to zero in an instant.

[Nelson]

Yeah, the risk of injury is a thing. But if the Flames are being low-balled, then waiting for the deadline is a good strategy because teams are notoriously loose with futures at the deadline. The Flames could get huge deals for the future of the team at the deadline. The keys to the strategy would be avoiding injuries on two players, who are not injury-prone, at all, and being willing and able to move the players regardless how the season plays out.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Sad state or reality?

The Flames spent pretty much all of Iginla's time in Calgary looking for a number one center.

You only find them at the top of the draft and the Flames have only drafted top five once in their Calgary history.

Not sure if it's sad, or just true?

I think it’s sad statement due to emotional damage/baggage the fanbase carries.

Just because the organization was incompetent under one General Manager/scouting regime, doesn’t mean it’s doomed to repeat that lack of success.

The incompetence of past regimes should not dictate what happens going forward. If it does, then yeah - that’s a sad state of affairs. You can’t build a better team if you’re scared of what happened 20 years ago.

…but yeah to your point, if the reality is that this team refuses to plan their team around top-5 draft picks, that’s just a sad, sad reality.

[Strange Brew]

I find it hard to believe the club is going to go on a selling spree at the deadline if they are solidly in a playoff spot.

You'd hope some guys would be OK to re-sign in that scenario, but if given the choice of losing someone for nothing or signing an awful contract, I'd prefer seeing them leave.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I find it hard to believe the club is going to go on a selling spree at the deadline if they are solidly in a playoff spot.

You'd hope some guys would be OK to re-sign in that scenario, but if given the choice of losing someone for nothing or signing an awful contract, I'd prefer seeing them leave.

The Flames in a playoff spot is a looong shot.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Like this a lot. This is a huge change from decades of how this team has been run. And it adds up.....Conroy 1) wants people who want to be here and 2) values youth/prospects/draft picks. You can draw a lot of sensible conclusions from this on how they conduct themselves.

And I'm still stuck on Conroy saying Iginla asks questions etc a dozen times a day siting specifically ...

"how many picks is too many picks?"

To me that comes from a conversation of moving pieces for futures and may really suggest a change in tactics in Calgary management.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

The Flames in a playoff spot is a looong shot.

I don’t think so. Huberdeau and Markstorm return to career averages and they are going to be in the mix

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Cain

I actually love the strategy players moving at deadlines when cap is a bit easier to manage and teams are a bit looser with their assets as they know where they stand at least for that season. Very easy to back yourself into a corner though and keep your guys for your own run and then lose them for nothing so it takes a pretty big pair of ....and ownership to back you.


All for it though if Conroy could actually play it like that. Just a bit cynical of it happening as it is not an easy thing to do.

Imagine getting the cake and eat it too?

Flames are 2nd in their division at the trade deadline and say ... 8 points up on a playoff spot.

Flames show stones and sell off three assets for futures.

Hang on to make the playoffs and get ownership three games of gate receipts.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Imagine getting the cake and eat it too?

Flames are 2nd in their division at the trade deadline and say ... 8 points up on a playoff spot.

Flames show stones and sell off three assets for futures.

Hang on to make the playoffs and get ownership three games of gate receipts.

With the hope that those futures can get you to the same spot one day that you're in currently?