2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Igottago

I think most of us expect a bounce back in production (could it really be any worse?). But what we didn't see even a glimpse of last season was some level of a player that could take over games, set the tone, come up with the big clutch play. A guy who is worthy of the richest contract in the team's history. Even in seasons where they struggle, very good players at least have a few stretches where they look great. Huberdeau was almost entirely irrelevant last season. Some of that is certainly on Sutter, but some of it is on Huberdeau as well. We can only hope there's a dominant beast of a player there somewhere, but he has to show it.

This team desperately needs another player to emerge as a top line threat. Despite Huberdeau's poor season, he is still probably looked at by opposing teams as the Flames biggest offensive threat and he will be most of their focus. They are going to have their best defenders glued to him. It won't be like in Florida where they had depth to spread around and could shelter him. Still though, if he is used properly on the PP, his production should go up. I agree though, even considering Sutter hockey, he didn't execute well on a consistent basis even when he had opportunities.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Since it's unlikely we'll have top liners sprout up overnight we can also look to strive for the Vegas model of depth and scoring by committee over a superstar-laden top line driving the team.

If Pelletier, Zary and Coronato can be middle six nhlers then that can make the team deeper and able to roll lines offensively.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Since it's unlikely we'll have top liners sprout up overnight we can also look to strive for the Vegas model of depth and scoring by committee over a superstar-laden top line driving the team.

If Pelletier, Zary and Coronato can be middle six nhlers then that can make the team deeper and able to roll lines offensively.

Yes, but this is the Calgary Flames we're talking about... it's against their religion to have a 4th line composed of anything but UFA mistakes, pluggers, and untalented "tough guys".

[Poe969]

4th line guys need to have a GRIT index of at least 1300

[FlamesAddiction]

I wonder what the Sens are going to do with Pinto. They seem to have capped themselves out with him twisting in the wind. It seems odd that they are hardballing him considering that they aren't all that deep at center.

If the Flames manage to clear cap space by trading one of Hanifin, Backlund, or Lindholm, he might be a good option to target in a follow-up trade.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Yes, but this is the Calgary Flames we're talking about... it's against their religion to have a 4th line composed of anything but UFA mistakes, pluggers, and untalented "tough guys".

But Conroy did say that is not the plan while he is building the team. This team is shaping up to have 4-5 rookies on it.

I think this is why keeping Lindholm makes sense. He's a former top 5 pick, a top 20 center in the league and the one guy that if we lose it will hurt us.

Backlund will hurt too but at some point, we need to see if the prospects can replace guys like this.

If they don't, our first could be in the mix for top 5.

If they do, we are much younger team at least with more hope to climb the standings.

Chicago and Anaheim look bad, but who else is really gunning for top pick? Columbus and Arizona are going to be better. Montreal could be in the mix, but they have some guys that could make them better.

This isn't a Bedard draft so bottom 5 could be close to 80 points.

I'm ok to trade Lindholm and rebuild but I just doubt the return will be prospects and picks. So, if we are just going to go for lessor picks and a player, might as well keep him. Kids fail and you got your rebuild without making this big announcement that we are rebuilding and blowing it up which I doubt Conroy has the authority to do anyways.

Hanifin and Backlund want out, if you get picks and a younger player back who knows maybe this team will surprise. If not, we probably get our top pick that the fans who want a rebuild are begging for. But we need to move these 2 now, waiting til the deadline is risky and probably costs us our top pick.

[The Original FFIV]

Detroit still has enough room to bring in Backlund even after the Petry deal, FWIW.

[dissentowner]

Backlund is probably not going anywhere until the Lindholm situation plays out, if he goes anywhere at all.

[stemit14]

Feels like the flames are a year too late to make these trades and also a year too early. Last year, all these players had higher value and it was going into the Bedard draft. Plus we weren’t really seeing so many trades of quality players just for cap relief (e.g. Taylor Hall).

This year, I think at least two of these young teams that are all pretty desperate to take a big step and make the playoffs (Buffalo, Detroit, Columbus and Ottawa) are not going to make it. And I think those teams will be desperate enough to pay higher prices next offseason to bring in win now players on one year contracts… but that will be next year.

At that point, the flames will have either signed these veterans, traded them or had them walk to free agency. I think Buffalo especially would be a great trade partner next summer if they just miss the playoffs once again. Feels like that team absolutely has to make the playoffs. At that point, they may be getting impatient with all their young guys not getting it done. It’s hard to tell a fan base to keep being patient when they haven’t seen playoffs in almost two decades.

Just unlucky timing in a lot of ways. Hopefully Conroy keeps being patient and the right deal comes along.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nelson]

I am someone pining to see the Flames get a pile of futures out of this situation in which they have at least two top-of-the-lineup players who do not want to re-sign. (I don’t think Lindholm wants to re-sign.) But I do think the team’s going to be much better this season just from having Pelletier, Coronato, Duehr, Sharangovich, Ruzicka/Zary in the lineup full time. It’s going to look sooo much quicker than last year with those players in for Toffoli, Lucic, Lewis, etc.

FWIW, pending trades, I was thinking about these lines:

Huberdeau - Lindholm - Coronato
Dube - Kadri - Sharangovich
Mangiapane - Backlund - Coleman
Pelletier - Ruzicka - Duehr

Not to mention Kylington onto the defensive pairings, with L-R pairings:

Hanifin - Andersson
Kylington - Tanev
Zadorov - Weegar

That team is much faster.

[MrMike]

I agree, and I fully expect one of Coronato or Sharry to take that open top RW spot available and run with it.

[Hackey]

That line up doesn't look very fast. Basically the 4th line got a bit quicker

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by MrMike

I agree, and I fully expect one of Coronato or Sharry to take that open top RW spot available and run with it.

I actually really want Lindholm to take that top line RW spot.
Huberdeau - Dube - Lindholm is a line I want to see. It's important to figure out what Dube is and if he can play in our top 6 as a center, before re-signing him.

Huberdeau - Kadri - Lindholm could also be a good option loading up the top line, especially when we're trailing in a game. I really wish Sutter tried it last season.

Coronato/Sharangovich would be good options for the 2nd and 3rd lines to start. In fact, I think that Coronato might start the year in the A, and be the first call up along with Zary.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Hackey

That line up doesn't look very fast. Basically the 4th line got a bit quicker

That's a legitimate concern, and I thought it even affected us last year from time to time.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I wonder what the Sens are going to do with Pinto. They seem to have capped themselves out with him twisting in the wind. It seems odd that they are hardballing him considering that they aren't all that deep at center.

If the Flames manage to clear cap space by trading one of Hanifin, Backlund, or Lindholm, he might be a good option to target in a follow-up trade.

I brought this up earlier this summer. I like him, he would be a fantastic add, but they'll get him locked up somehow- they would be nuts not to.

[howard_the_duck]

Subtraction of Lucic, Lewis, Ritchie(s), infusion of youth, and add to that a returning Kylington. I’d say that’s a pretty massive team speed overhaul.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Subtraction of Lucic, Lewis, Ritchie(s), infusion of youth, and add to that a returning Kylington. I’d say that’s a pretty massive team speed overhaul.

Generally i agree, but Lewis was not slow, and Brett Ritchie wasn’t either. Duehr is faster though.

[Sandman]

Duehr is one of the fastest on the team, IMO

[Hackey]

And those are 4th line guys who play 15% of the game. Its better than nothing but its not a major revamp on overall team speed.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Sandman

That's a legitimate concern, and I thought it even affected us last year from time to time.

I respectfully disagree with both of you regarding team speed.

First of all, we got Kylington back, and that would speed up the transition game quite a bit.

Second of all, Huska in his preseason interviews pointed out that he had some ideas about how to break out quicker, and have a faster transition game in order to generate more chances. I believe he mentioned Dube as an example.

Finally, we got a lot faster at forward. Sharangovich is quite a bit faster than Toffoli. Mangiapane and Pelletier have a constant motor. Dube has a very good speed game, and Duehr reminds me of Ferland on the forecheck. In fact, I have a hard time pointing to a slow forward. Huberdeau, Kadri, Backlund, Lindholm, and Coleman all think the game at a very high level, so it makes up for them having only an average speed.

IMO, our only 'slow' player is Z. I say that because IMO he's a little slower at seeing the play develop. Don't get me wrong, he has a good top speed, but his first couple of strides, pivots and transitions aren't great.