2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Ferarri]

Originally Posted by Spurs

None of those show any hope of us competing for a Cup.

New coach/new GM if you don’t rate them or like the direction the GM is taking aren’t reasons for hope. The prospects are pretty average, at best for the NHL. Potential bounce backs for 30+ players aren’t reasons for hope at all.

If that is the best you have then you are just reinforcing my point. To make that list and try to claim it is a troll job not see hope shows your delusional bias.

In my opinion this is a hard team to gauge and I think the best approach is to have cautious expectations until a few months in where the fan base can really gauge who they are. I agree with you that this team isn’t a Stanley cup contender but there is also some renewed optimism that a few bounce back years and a culture change could light a fire under this group.

With the trade market seemingly undesirable it seems realistic to go into the season as is and try again with this core group. Everything went wrong last year and even with that they barely missed the playoffs. Markstrom, Kadri and Huberdeau are key (especially goaltending) and with improved play at those positions this team has a chance at the playoffs.

I’m not a huge fan of the character or design of the team and have been very critical of guys like Huberdeau and Kadri. I think it’s fair for management to show a bit of patience and let this group try again given the circumstances. However, I do see you point about expectation for 30+ year old guys being hard to meet. I would say just be patient a bit longer before throwing in the towel and saying there is no hope.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Bonded

lol the biggest issue with posters like Spurs and FlamesFan05 is that they don't really add anything to the discussion besides drive bys about how everything sucks without much behind it. Then they fall back on the I am just stating facts when they get called out on it. 5 years of no hope is a ridiculous thing to say. Things can change quickly if some prospects hit. Look at Dallas

Anybody really add anything other than opinions here?

I never say no hope, just saying Conroy is doing nothing because Treliving left a mess that is hard to get out and the direction is to wait and see, hoping last years issues were mainly Sutter

[GioforPM]

I wonder how many people looked at the Vegas lineup their first year and said “they have no hope of competing for a cup”? Or the Habs in the bubble year. A lot of the same folks figured Boston was a lock, or Edmonton, or the Avs. Vegas finished out of the playoffs one season before last, because everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Things happen that make everyone’s predictions fall apart. Confiddently declaring “no reason to hope” seems both smug and wrong to me.

[Ped]

They really don’t need a goalie. Levi is the starter, and then they have Comrie and Luukkonnen.

Levi has played 7 NHL games and while he showed promise, he didn't exactly dominate. Luukonnen has played 46 games. Comrie is a tweener. I mean, they could go in with that combo, but counting on it might be a bad idea.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by Ped

Levi has played 7 NHL games and while he showed promise, he didn't exactly dominate. Luukonnen has played 46 games. Comrie is a tweener. I mean, they could go in with that combo, but counting on it might be a bad idea.

I know exactly who they are. We don’t have anything better to offer them unless you’d like to trade wolf. That’s my point.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I know exactly who they are. We don’t have anything better to offer them unless you’d like to trade wolf. That’s my point.

Oh. Well I wasn't trying to suggest the Flames should trade them a goalie. Just that if Buffalo was looking to expend assets anywhere, they might want to use them on a goalie.

[Bingo]

Nothing more entertaining than a person that largely posts negative thoughts bristling at being called negative, and then educating everyone on what's realistic.

Does anyone really think we need balance? This isn't the force.

It's ok to have hope on a fan website ... doesn't need to be hammered down whenever it appears.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Nothing more entertaining than a person that largely posts negative thoughts bristling at being called negative, and then educating everyone on what's realistic.

Does anyone really think we need balance? This isn't the force.

It's ok to have hope on a fan website ... doesn't need to be hammered down whenever it appears.

Unless it's fans of the Oilers. they aren't allowed to be hopeful.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Unless it's fans of the Oilers. they aren't allowed to be hopeful.

Isn't it better to have their hopes crushed every year??

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Ferarri

In my opinion this is a hard team to gauge and I think the best approach is to have cautious expectations until a few months in where the fan base can really gauge who they are. I agree with you that this team isn’t a Stanley cup contender but there is also some renewed optimism that a few bounce back years and a culture change could light a fire under this group.

With the trade market seemingly undesirable it seems realistic to go into the season as is and try again with this core group. Everything went wrong last year and even with that they barely missed the playoffs. Markstrom, Kadri and Huberdeau are key (especially goaltending) and with improved play at those positions this team has a chance at the playoffs.

I’m not a huge fan of the character or design of the team and have been very critical of guys like Huberdeau and Kadri. I think it’s fair for management to show a bit of patience and let this group try again given the circumstances. However, I do see you point about expectation for 30+ year old guys being hard to meet. I would say just be patient a bit longer before throwing in the towel and saying there is no hope.

I don't think everything went wrong. It's been pointed out before, the Flames were relatively healthy, and a handful of players had great years. If you want to over simplify it is better to say that 1 big thing went wrong. Players who were paid to be top performers were not top performers. Some nights they were objectively bad.

Next season the Flames hopes fall very heavily on Huberdeau. Obviously Huska and the three goalies share the load, but the importance of Huberdeau's offense recovering cannot be understated.

It not just the wasted cap space, or just the points. Huberdeau becoming an 80 point player again forces teams to spread out their defensive coverage giving the second line and third line room to breath. More than that, it felt last year like the flames were desperate for a player who could take control when games were heavily contested.

[csnarpy]

Sorry if this has been posted, i did a search but found nothing. Did anyone see this article? I imagine its speculation but it appears to have something to it


https://thehockeywriters.com/flames-...dholm/?src=rss

After months of speculation that he would likely be traded, it appears that the Calgary Flames and Elias Lindholm are inching toward a contract extension. The 28-year-old, who expressed hesitancy about signing an extension when the 2022-23 season had concluded, appears to have had a change heart when it comes to remaining in Calgary long-term.

Lindholm, who is coming off a season in which he scored 22 goals and 64 points, is entering the final year of a contract that pays him $4.85 million annually. That contract has been considered a steal for several seasons, and won’t be even close to any new deal he does ink. Based on several reports, it is expected that he will sign a maximum eight-year deal, with the average annual value (AAV) coming in at roughly $9 million. While it won’t be cheap, it is more than worth it for the Flames to agree upon.

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by csnarpy

Sorry if this has been posted, i did a search but found nothing. Did anyone see this article? I imagine its speculation but it appears to have something to it


https://thehockeywriters.com/flames-...dholm/?src=rss

The source is the fourth period. The guy from the fourth period says the most recent discussions have had the Flames at 8 * 8.2-8.3. He says the Flames will have to get to around 8 * 9.0 or just over 8 * 9.0.

I don’t really trust the fourth period, but this report does seem like something an agent leaked. The guy from the fourth period says the Flames will have to get to 9.0 or just over 9.0 to get a deal done. That sounds like an agent’s messaging.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I wonder how many people looked at the Vegas lineup their first year and said “they have no hope of competing for a cup”? Or the Habs in the bubble year. A lot of the same folks figured Boston was a lock, or Edmonton, or the Avs. Vegas finished out of the playoffs one season before last, because everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Things happen that make everyone’s predictions fall apart. Confiddently declaring “no reason to hope” seems both smug and wrong to me.

You're making it like the following argument: "You can't completely rule this out; therefore, it must be true". You're also calling another opinion smug, which seems smug in itself(pot calling cattle black I know).

Let's make it about odds instead of absolutes then. What odds would you want in order to place a bet on the Flames making it to the cup final this season? Would it be 1:5? 1:10? 1:16? 1:20? 1:32? Lower than that? I'm asking you because I would feel pretty confident even at 1:32 odds betting against them. If odds are hard to gauge, then how about a simple question of how many playoff rounds do you expect the Flames to win in the next 5 years? My money is on 2 or less.

Obviously there is a chance the Flames win the cup this season, but it would be a pleasant surprise. However, I don't see too many people in the organization or on the outside thinking this is the year. I'm still going to enjoy the hockey, but I won't be getting my hopes up until this team proves me wrong.

-----

In the Vegas argument you're also forgetting that they got Stone right before the playoffs, effectively circumventing the cap the way Tampa did with Kucherov. That gave them a huge boost at the right time. They had a $96.5M cap last year. MTL was a true surprise, but they fell apart in the finals just as quickly. You also convinemtly forget that Tampa made the finals 3 times in the last 4 years, and that Colorado was a favorite to win last year.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

You're making it like the following argument: "You can't completely rule this out; therefore, it must be true". You're also calling another opinion smug, which seems smug in itself(pot calling cattle black I know). .

Your summary is interesting. I don’t think anyone has implied “must be true”. Just that it could be…

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

Your summary is interesting. I don’t think anyone has implied “must be true”. Just that it could be…

Hehe, I should've guessed it's easier to try and knit pick wording instead of addressing the actual argument. How many playoff rounds do you expect the Flames to win in the next 5 years? How many star players can they add through the draft?

I'm just saying that I see where the "no hope" camp is coming from. I find belittling that opinion comes off arrogant and unnecessary.

[Scroopy Noopers]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Hehe, I should've guessed it's easier to try and knit pick wording instead of addressing the actual argument. How many playoff rounds do you expect the Flames to win in the next 5 years? How many star players can they add through the draft?

I'm just saying that I see where the "no hope" camp is coming from. I find belittling that opinion comes off arrogant and unnecessary.

I don’t know. I hope it’s several, that would be fun.

[Flames1217]

A lot boils down to luck.

Look at the Stars for example, both Hintz and Robertson were taken in the second round and Johnson was taken in the early 20s. A few seasons back the Stars were viewed by many as being too old to compete, they hit some home runs and all of that has changed.

I am more leaning towards wanting a rebuild but I can easily understand when others want to see the team go all in.

Everything went wrong last season and the team almost made the playoffs, not crazy to think that they could have been in the playoffs with even the slightest of luck.

At the very least I would still like to see more of a shake up at forward, I feel as if we have too much of the same (similar players) lines 2 through 4 thus making us easy to gameplan against.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I don’t know. I hope it’s several, that would be fun.

It would, but would you put money on it?

I personally miss the Flames having a forward in the top 10 in scoring. I miss having a D in the Norris conversation. I don't see a Flames prospect in the conversation for the Calder anytime soon either.

Last year the Flames played some of the most boring uninspired looking hockey I've ever seen. It could be a product of Sutter, but he had savior status a season ago, so I'm a bit skeptical. I'd love to have some excitement around the team, and the prospects might generate that, but there will also be growing pains. Right now this team is full of average, and reminds me of the 2011-12 Flames in that regard. That's why I don't have any real expectations or hopes, I'm just going to enjoy it one game at a time.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

You're making it like the following argument: "You can't completely rule this out; therefore, it must be true". You're also calling another opinion smug, which seems smug in itself(pot calling cattle black I know).

Let's make it about odds instead of absolutes then. What odds would you want in order to place a bet on the Flames making it to the cup final this season? Would it be 1:5? 1:10? 1:16? 1:20? 1:32? Lower than that? I'm asking you because I would feel pretty confident even at 1:32 odds betting against them. If odds are hard to gauge, then how about a simple question of how many playoff rounds do you expect the Flames to win in the next 5 years? My money is on 2 or less.

Obviously there is a chance the Flames win the cup this season, but it would be a pleasant surprise. However, I don't see too many people in the organization or on the outside thinking this is the year. I'm still going to enjoy the hockey, but I won't be getting my hopes up until this team proves me wrong.

-----

In the Vegas argument you're also forgetting that they got Stone right before the playoffs, effectively circumventing the cap the way Tampa did with Kucherov. That gave them a huge boost at the right time. They had a $96.5M cap last year. MTL was a true surprise, but they fell apart in the finals just as quickly. You also convinemtly forget that Tampa made the finals 3 times in the last 4 years, and that Colorado was a favorite to win last year.

It seems you can get the Flames to win the Cup between +3000 to +4000. So between 30 and 40 to 1. So you’re about right.

Vegas started last year at +1800. Florida was much more of a favorite at +950 depending where you look.

I’ll bet teams have won the Cup who started the year as bigger long shots than the Flames. But not many. Maybe the Kings?

[Sandman]

Grain of salt, but nhltraderumors says that Nashville has entered the Hanifin sweeps. Who would you want?