Zadorov just requested a trade. 😢

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Right. But we passed on a player who could have panned out in favour of one who only wanted to play in Nyr.

The scouts thought Erixon would pan out.

You can't really compare Erixon to good players taken by other teams in the same draft. You kind of have to compare him to the usual grade of bozos that the Flames were liable to draft with late first-rounders in those days. You know, Matt Pelech, Leland Irving, Greg Nemisz, Sven Baertschi. Because it was those same scouts identifying whatever talent they would have picked instead.

Looking at that list, I'm amazed they didn't pass on Mikael Backlund. Woof!

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Right. But we passed on a player who could have panned out in favour of one who only wanted to play in Nyr. And we busted on the return we got for him. I would have passed on Erixon knowing that and picked another player who would have been more open to sign and play here. Great that we recouped picks, but they didn’t work out and one of the few first round picks that Sutter didn’t trade busted bad.

I don't remember Erixon saying he would only play for Rangers pre-draft maybe I missed that. I also forgot that if we don't draft Erixon we were drafting a guaranteed good player.

I am sure Phillipe Paradis would have been happy to come here, would we be better off with him? Hometown boy Dylan Olsen surely would have wanted to come here is his 124 games for bad teams maxing out at 44 games in a season better than what we got out of Granlund, Horak and Wotherspoon? I doubt it.

[Vinny01]

Weekes just tweeted the Leafs, Devils and Stars are teams in on Zadorov. Sounds like the Leafs will take another run at him when they are back from Sweden

[FormerPresJamesTaylor]

Wether you agree with it or not Zadorov has a a highly sought after commodity, size, and a willingness to use it. The fact that he skates well makes him a welcome addition to any playoff bound team. He has his issues but he's a bonefide top five blueliner.

Zadorov is a guy who should on paper get an average return but you add in a bidding war as we head to the trade deadline and things get interesting.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Erixon shouldn't be a part of this debate.


Erixon stated that he was happy to sign with the Flames, and was even 'excited'. At the last second, suddenly he had 'questions' and kept bringing up excuses. Flames would address them (even giving him guaranteed playing time apparently), and he would have another issue, all in the final moments before he would reenter the draft. We can no laugh at that as his career was awful, but at the time, he was a huge riser post-draft, and became a valuable piece. He just strung the Flames along until the final moments.



I disliked Feaster as GM, but that man turned that situation from ugly to fantastic (and it ALMOST became a gift from the hockey gods). I can only assume that Feaster smelled interference from the Rangers, as Erixon's dad Jan Erixon was working for them. Feaster got Horak (the guy that Conroy identified as the one who stirred the drink on the Howse line in Junior, who the Flames had already drafted), and two second round picks - turned into Markus Granlund and Tyler Wotherspoon.



None of the players involved became impact players, and only one of them was able to last for any significant time in the NHL - Granlund.



However, the 'almost' gift from the hockey gods? Todd Button regretted not picking Kucherov with Wotherspoon pick, as he felt both Kucherov and Gaudreau would be available with their next two picks.



Morale of the story - just pick the best asset. You can always flip assets later. Yes, the person may not want to be part of your organization, but you can always flip them later. Even in a rebuild, you don't exit a rebuild with a perfect roster. You have to make a few trades to balance it out anyway.

[dino7c]

I request Zadorov is traded

[manwiches]

Not sure if posted elsewhere. But thread relevant

https://x.com/davedubbin85/status/17...522288048?s=20

" got confirmation that the #Flames made a contract offer to Zadorov for 2 years (between 8-9 mill). Player wanted 5 or 6 years. Sounds like an exact copy of the Toffoli situation, Craig careful on term. Player would happily still sign and stay still."

Yeesh. 5-6 years at 4-4.5 milly for a 5-6?

[Vinny01]

Sounds like Conroy was/is only willing to go 2 years on Toffoli, Tanev and Zadorov and all 3 players want more and therefore will be dealt before the season is over.

[442scotty]

Zadorov’s skating ability is not going to diminish for a few years and I’d have no problem giving him 4/5 years at his current numbers. They better get a king’s ransom for him if he doesn’t re-sign because we are really going to miss what he brings

[Swayze11]

Originally Posted by manwiches

Not sure if posted elsewhere. But thread relevant

https://x.com/davedubbin85/status/17...522288048?s=20

" got confirmation that the #Flames made a contract offer to Zadorov for 2 years (between 8-9 mill). Player wanted 5 or 6 years. Sounds like an exact copy of the Toffoli situation, Craig careful on term. Player would happily still sign and stay still."

Yeesh. 5-6 years at 4-4.5 milly for a 5-6?

Who is this guy?

[manwiches]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

Who is this guy?

i have no idea. It was on reddit. Don't shoot the messenger.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Smart GM moves on all those fronts with those players if true. Term for Z, Toffoli and Tanev are bad ideas for different reasons for each of them. Players can want out for a variety of reasons, not just they don't like it here, but for business reasons. I think especially with Tof and Z, they were vocal when the chips were down on CGY (which was nice) about wanting to be here, I think both were hoping that would mean the Flames would commit to them long term, but really glad to see Conory seems to be taking an objective view on how to build the roster out.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

Who is this guy?

Credible or not, it likely aligns with Conroy telling the player they are not interested in extending him. Hence the trade request, one from Toffoli and now from Zadorov.

I was in the boat of signing Zadorov 5 x 5 in the offseason so we could sell off Hanifin and Tanev, but good thing I am not GM. Solovyov, Poirier, and 5m cap space outweighs the extension of a 4/5 who has been on and off in play, and likely nets us a better return than what we think we're gonna get. If Chiarot can get a hefty return, I think Zadorov can do the same. Let the bidding war continue.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

Who is this guy?

He's someone with connections to the team and has been on the forefront of info in the past, such as Backlunds 2-year deal.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Zadorov’s skating ability is not going to diminish for a few years and I’d have no problem giving him 4/5 years at his current numbers. They better get a king’s ransom for him if he doesn’t re-sign because we are really going to miss what he brings

He's a toolsy guy that is still a bottom pairing dman.
He's said he's looking for term so this isn't surprising. But he's not the type of guy you should offer term to.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

Zadorov’s skating ability is not going to diminish for a few years and I’d have no problem giving him 4/5 years at his current numbers. They better get a king’s ransom for him if he doesn’t re-sign because we are really going to miss what he brings

Kings ransom for a fifth dman

GL

[devo22]

I fully understand Z is looking for term. After his ELC, he signed five contracts for

2 years
1 year
1 year
1 year
2 years

at 28, it makes a ton of sense for him to try and find a longer deal. Heck, his old D partner Gudbranson got 4 years for some reason, so I understand it. At the same time, Z is just not a guy you lock in for ~5 years. I like him, but he's a #4/#5 type of defenseman and I'm glad that Conroy apparently has no appetite to hand term to players like this.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Kings ransom for a fifth dman, on a bubble team

FYP

Yeah, I don’t think there will be a bidding war. Maybe a 2nd is realistic? More if we take a contract back.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Credible or not, it likely aligns with Conroy telling the player they are not interested in extending him. Hence the trade request, one from Toffoli and now from Zadorov.

I was in the boat of signing Zadorov 5 x 5 in the offseason so we could sell off Hanifin and Tanev, but good thing I am not GM.

Ya, that is up there with Pat Steinberg saying in the offseason he would sign Dube to a long term deal worth 6M AAV.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

He's a toolsy guy that is still a bottom pairing dman.
He's said he's looking for term so this isn't surprising. But he's not the type of guy you should offer term to.

I really like Zadorov, but he's also the type of player who, if he loses half a step, becomes completely useless. His offence also likely isn't actually as good as his numbers last year suggest. I don't see him putting up 14 goals/year regularly.