[News] LeBrun/Dreger - Flames open for Business

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

This is what Francis said in his latest piece

Fighting their way back into the race means all decisions on UFA signings or trades of players like Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev are almost certainly on hold until at least the midway mark of the season.

Francis literally is making things up. It’s not the team’s performance holding things up; it’s trade partners trying to figure out their cap situation before they can start adding big ticket players. The Flames will want picks and/or prospects, so it’s up to the other teams to free up cap space. I don’t believe for one second that he has a clue.

[Strange Brew]

I am totally fine with Flames using the next 2 months to evaluate their team. Is this a playoff team that went through a rough stretch at the start of the year and can get to 95ish points and play/beat the good teams? Or is this a 78 point team (current pace) with the usual ups and downs a team like that has.

I don't agree that losing their players to free agency is the worst thing that can happen. What would be worse is signing a bunch of bad contracts IMO.

I will give up Hanifin and Lindholm for nothing if it means a long playoff run and the team actually commits to drafting and development for the long run.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Worst outcome is winding up with Hanifin at 7.5 x 8 and Lindholm at 9+ x 8

Have fun working around all that tied up cap for the forseeable future.

Now if they sell off 3 guys and sign Hanifin to 6.5-7 x 8, I could live with that. You know he'll provide value as a #3 for the length of that contract.

Signing both of the "big two" to their rumoured demands would be the death of this team though. I'd sooner see them walk for nothing.

[Hackey]

Lindholm for 8 years no thanks. Hanifin would make more sense. Hanifin is probably their best trade chip though so I hope they at least see what kind of offers are out there for him.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Worst outcome is winding up with Hanifin at 7.5 x 8 and Lindholm at 9+ x 8

I don't think this is really on the table. Pascall said (at an event prior to the Vegas game) with a decent amount of clarity that while the Flames haven't closed the door on it, it does not seem likely that any of the four UFAs will be re-signing here (made it sound like players choice).

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by zuluking

The Flames will want picks and/or prospects

Or younger players that they already know can play in the league.

[Hockey_Ninja]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

He's been wrong about just about everything Flames over the last couple years.

Signings/non signings, and most recently the captaincy ("expect Andersson to be named")

The funny part is he's had a coin flip's chance of being right on most things, and still gets it wrong.

The only things I can think of that he was right about were both Gaudreau and Tkachuk leaving but that was stuff that was speculated for years before it even happened

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I will give up Hanifin and Lindholm for nothing if it means a long playoff run and the team actually commits to drafting and development for the long run.

This is actually a contradiction to the build through the draft and develop players strategy. If you're going to build through the draft you need to accumulate as many picks possible which means turning every high value asset into the best picks possible. Allowing your two best assets to walk for nothing, regardless of outcome, undercuts the strategy. It would be a massive failure all around.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

The only things I can think of that he was right about were both Gaudreau and Tkachuk leaving but that was stuff that was speculated for years before it even happened

Not many remember but he actually changed his tune on Gaudreau in that offseason. He was saying that Gaudreau will re-sign in that off season.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I am totally fine with Flames using the next 2 months to evaluate their team. Is this a playoff team that went through a rough stretch at the start of the year and can get to 95ish points and play/beat the good teams? Or is this a 78 point team (current pace) with the usual ups and downs a team like that has.

I don't agree that losing their players to free agency is the worst thing that can happen. What would be worse is signing a bunch of bad contracts IMO.

I will give up Hanifin and Lindholm for nothing if it means a long playoff run and the team actually commits to drafting and development for the long run.

Anything short of a Stanley Cup and letting those two walk would be a massive failure. I think you and I can agree this is NOT a Stanley Cup caliber team. Maybe playoffs, but we do not have what it takes to win 4 rounds of playoff hockey with the current talent in the lineup.

So, why delay the inevitable? May as well accumulate picks and prospects for these expiring vets. And it's not like they are bad players, we're trading some good quality and should receive quality back. That not only kickstarts the retool but also gives us a better chance of finding the franchise cornerstones we desperately need.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by zuluking

Francis literally is making things up. It’s not the team’s performance holding things up; it’s trade partners trying to figure out their cap situation before they can start adding big ticket players. The Flames will want picks and/or prospects, so it’s up to the other teams to free up cap space. I don’t believe for one second that he has a clue.

Francis is not making things up, I posted the same information about a week ago about Christmas break being when they would reevaluate everything and start making decisions on where this team is.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Wills said on Flames talk today that Francis reported the Flames put trade talks on hold and Pat seemed surprised by the news.

I assume it is Francis saying his opinion like it is fact but he doesn’t know. It is my most disliked thing about Francis where he makes these statements about the Flames like he knows what he is talking about and completely misses the mark. Andersson captain, Hartley fired for Boudreau are just 2 that quickly pop to my mind.

Many times it is just people jumping to conclusions because they don't know how to read carefully. This is exactly how I write about things I am speculating...

Originally Posted by Eric Francis

"Fighting their way back into the race means all decisions on UFA signings or trades of players like Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev are almost certainly on hold until at least the midway mark of the season.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Wills said on Flames talk today that Francis reported the Flames put trade talks on hold and Pat seemed surprised by the news.

I assume it is Francis saying his opinion like it is fact but he doesn’t know. It is my most disliked thing about Francis where he makes these statements about the Flames like he knows what he is talking about and completely misses the mark. Andersson captain, Hartley fired for Boudreau are just 2 that quickly pop to my mind.

Yeah Francis said "almost certainly" which is spelling out it's his opinion.

I'd go more on what Pascal told someone this week "will do the right thing for the organization" or whatever it was.

There is nothing new on the Flames direction in the last week.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Francis is not making things up, I posted the same information about a week ago about Christmas break being when they would reevaluate everything and start making decisions on where this team is.

But what you’re saying is inconsistent with what Francis is saying. He’d says it’s the recent success that’s driving it. You and the reporting I mentioned were just about Conroy applying the brakes to the fire sale talk.

[Buff]

Some teams put a freeze on trades for the Christmas season. I think the NHL has a small window but some teams will extend that window by a couple of weeks. The Flames did that when Burke came to town and I wouldn't be surprised if it is something they still try to do.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah Francis said "almost certainly" which is spelling out it's his opinion.

I'd go more on what Pascal told someone this week "will do the right thing for the organization" or whatever it was.

There is nothing new on the Flames direction in the last week.

I agree and if anyone that listens to Flames Talk knows that Wills is very much against the idea of tearing it down and seems to be far more in favor of keeping the team together so he interprets the Francis piece to fit the narrative he wants to see.

[Flamesfan05]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I will give up Hanifin and Lindholm for nothing if it means a long playoff run.

Treliving???

[JBR]

I got over Gaudreau and Tkachuk leaving.. I'm sure I'll be OK if 28, 55, 8 and 16 are dealt... although I prefer if Zadorov stays. I enjoy the rollercoaster ride and his personality.

[Vinny01]

Chris Johnston just released his top trade targets for the year. The Flames 4 UFA’s ranked 1-4. Article on the Athletic

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

This is actually a contradiction to the build through the draft and develop players strategy. If you're going to build through the draft you need to accumulate as many picks possible which means turning every high value asset into the best picks possible. Allowing your two best assets to walk for nothing, regardless of outcome, undercuts the strategy. It would be a massive failure all around.

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

Treliving???

Yeah he had me up to the last part. Either signed or traded by the trade deadline. Assets walking away are not an option.

I hope when it all plays out, we are a playoff team, we re-sign Hanifin, trade Lindholm, and sign one of Tanev and Zadorov which ever one is more reasonable and less term.