2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Dube for Duclair was mentioned a couple of times as a potential swap. Personally I would be all for it.

I could also see two change of scenery candidates traded for eachother in Dube and Luostarinen. Both are 25, and both had a hard time taking over the #3C spot. Luostarinen who is having a terrible season, has 10P compared to Dube's 7P, but has been playing a lot more minutes in FLA.

Luostarinen had 17G, 43P last year compared to Dube's 18G, and 45P.

I would trade Dube for Luostarainen in a second. Loustarainen is a 6'3"C, who is actually a useful defensive player- whether he's producing or not. Dube has never seemed to get the hang of the whole "defense" side of things.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I would trade Dube for Luostarainen in a second. Loustarainen is a 6'3"C, who is actually a useful defensive player- whether he's producing or not. Dube has never seemed to get the hang of the whole "defense" side of things.

Granted, I'm going off of last year and not this year, but Dube and Mangiapane were a great PK duo, and Dube played 100% better the few times he was put in the middle and given more defensive responsibility. I don't think speedy offensive winger is his skillset at all, but it's what he mostly has played in Calgary.

Maybe he's lost what he could have been from lack of use, and never was what he is now. That's kind of a worse case scenario.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I would trade Dube for Luostarainen in a second. Loustarainen is a 6'3"C, who is actually a useful defensive player- whether he's producing or not. Dube has never seemed to get the hang of the whole "defense" side of things.

Same, and I think it can be a trade that helps both teams. A lot of ex-Flames found another gear in FLA, so that might give their GM incentive as well.

[Sandman]

I still like Dube, and I have no doubts he would do better with a change of scenery.

Hate to bring this up again though, but would rival GM's be wary of the 2018 Team Canada incident?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I still like Dube, and I have no doubts he would do better with a change of scenery.

Hate to bring this up again though, but would rival GM's be wary of the 2018 Team Canada incident?

I expect they are.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I'm a little concerned about his "personal issues" TBH

What “ personal issues” ? Are you just guessing?

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by dino7c

maybe but they certainly miss him

I think Tampa needs to save every dollar possible if they are going to extend Stamkos. For that reason, they'll probably avoid acquiring players with term. Unless the players are young and very cap efficient (like Hagel was).

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

What “ personal issues” ? Are you just guessing?

The 2018 WJ team, perhaps? I've kinda always had a sinking feeling there. (fair or not)

[Calgary4LIfe]

Coleman - I would only accept a trade if he returned something more than a 1st round pick. I think he is a very solid vet to help teach prospects how to be pros on and off the ice. I doubt any team is going to offer that anyway, so I will gladly keep him. There is value in having guys like him as mentors for the new core. I don't believe in scorched-earth rebuilds.



Hanifin/Tanev/Lindholm - these guys are the three that I feel the Flames must trade. They will all bring good assets back for a rebuild. Critical assets, actually.



Markstrom - With retention, he can definitely be worth something good. i expect a 1st at least with retention.



Vladar - you keep him if Markstrom is being traded, otherwise I think you trade him when you get at least a 3rd round pick as an offer (get back what you paid for him).



Backlund - Nobody mentions Backlund as a trade target. I think he has a value contract with practically zero risk. He wanted to win, so maybe he still prefers being traded? I am not sure. After being made Captain, and him starting to realize that he does have an opportunity to start and finish his career in Calgary, rather than chasing a cup without guarantees of even getting out of the 1st round, perhaps he doesn't want to move. Interesting conversation to have with him anyway. Like Coleman, Backlund holds a lot of value to this team in terms of what he brings on and off the ice.


Dube - has he forgotten how to play hockey, or do you negotiate a new one-year deal at a lower price? I would actually rather see him re-signed for another year at a lower dollar, and see if he doesn't rebound back up. He has wheels, he hits surprisingly hard, and he has hit 18 goals two seasons in a row with the Flames prior to this one. If there is a good offer, sure, I will take it now. I just feel you are selling Dube at the very lowest point possible. I do think he has been mostly terrible this year, but is this who he is? Or will there be a rebound?


Kadri - I can't formulate an argument as to why Kadri should be kept. Last off-season, we mostly felt that this was the second worst contract on the Flames, and one that the Flames would have to buy-out or attach assets to in order to move. He has been having a great season, and has been a catalyst out there more games than not. I don't like the player, but I legitimately have very little to bad to say about him this year at all - at least since Zary and Pospisil were put on his line. I, however, didn't forget about how he 'quit' last season, and how terrible he looked to start the year as well. If there is an offer on the table at some point this season, I would take. Flames aren't likely to be competitive for a couple of seasons at least, and Kadri will be 34 when the 2024-25 season starts, with 4 more seasons after that. I actually put him 4th in the trade priority after Hanifin, Lindholm and Tanev. I think he has been great this year, but I would accept 'future considerations' just to remove the risk. I don't view Kadri as any sort of positive contributor in the 2025-26 season and later, which will be the earliest point at which this team will start becoming competitive (and that's being wildly optimistic with that date). If I knew the Flames were going to be doing a scorched-earth rebuild, then it wouldn't matter, as these often end up taking a decade (and I know they aren't, and I would not want them to either).


Pospisil and Ruzicka are easy re-signs for me. Greer I would take whatever I could at the deadline (and I bet there will be teams knocking), or I would simply re-sign and give him 2 years at sub 1-million. If he wants more, I would let him walk. I like what he brings, and how hard he works every shift.



Mangiapane probably won't get any offers that I would be interested with. One more season with Backlund and Coleman, and then trade him for something good next deadline. He is starting to be a solid player again since he has been reunited with those two (as expected). Sell high on him next deadline when I expect him to have another career year with no term left.


Sharangovich I would try and re-sign in July, and if his demands are too great, then I would trade him at next season's deadline too with Mangiapane. I like what he brings, and I think he hasn't hit his ceiling yet.


Oesterle I would trade for any team giving up a pick for a depth defencemen (hello Treliving! I kid, I kid..). Gilbert I would rather keep and re-sign. Desimone I would trade for a depth pick (though it isn't likely to happen). Kylington is an interesting case. I would just try and re-sign him. With his recent history, I am not sure a move somewhere else is beneficial - and if it is beneficial for him, I will wish him luck. I can't imagine any offers would be incoming for him anyway, unless he returns soon and completely exceeds expectations.


Andersson - Nobody really talks about him either. As I stated twice already in this post, I am not a fan of scorched earth rebuilds, and trading him away (and looking at what is left on D), it would make it essentially a scorched earth rebuild. I do think he is worth a king's ransom, considering his current contract. The offer would have to blow my socks off though.


Weegar - ditto for him. I don't have an issue with his deal, and I bet it will be looked at as a bargain deal in the years to come.


Everyone else that I haven't mentioned has term. Doubt that there would be any teams making offers on anyone else for now.


I think that the writing is clearly on the wall right now - this is a team that is playing very well, but it is solidly closer to the bottom of the standings than to the top because they simply don't have enough talent. Sometimes you have to take a couple of steps back in order to move forward again. The Flames is like a car that is stuck in the snow and can't move forward. Sometimes it is impossible to move forward without putting your car in reverse, and giving yourself a little runway. When I watch them, I see a car that is burning rubber out there, but isn't moving much. Highly entertaining, and i love how they are really not looking like a 'mish mash' of pieces that don't fit any longer. Now it is clear to me that this team simply doesn't have enough talent, period.

[gvitaly]

^ Good write-up. I agree for the most part.

I'm actually warming up to the idea of trading Andersson for a king's ransom if we're extending Hanifin to a long term deal.

The only way to lower Dube's next contract would be to not give him a qualifying offer, and essentially signing him as a UFA. That's why I think this is Dube's last year in CGY.

Not sure if we should re-sign Ruzicka. I like the player, and especially the flashes he showed higher in the lineup, but I think Huska sees him as a 4th liner at best.

I really want to see a Kylington - Weegar pairing next year, assuming OK is back to playing hockey and re-signs.

Kadri has been one of our best offensive forwards, and I thought he played a huge part in Zary's early success. You can try to trade him, but then things look really bad at center.

[Monahammer]

We can't sell EVERYTHING- as much as that's an attractive idea.
We would risk flooding and diluting the market on ourselves. There are only so many buyers and so many assets they are willing to trade out there on the market, and of course other sellers we are competing with. Pushing to sell everything will ultimately diminish the returns we can get. If we limit the must trades to the UFAs (Tanev, Hanifin, Lindholm) and then indicate we are open to offers on basically anything else but aren't fussed, then we have probably created the best scenario.

I am most interested in if we can move Markstrom. That would be great salary room to be able to recoup and would allow wolf good room to get settled in the NHL while the results matter little over the next couple years.
Huberdeau is unmoveable, and Kadri is playing better but I also have to wonder if someone out there is willing to take on that salary...

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by calgary4life

sharangovich i would try and re-sign in july, and if his demands are too great, then i would trade him at next season's deadline too with mangiapane. I like what he brings, and i think he hasn't hit his ceiling yet.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1674113157558837248

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I would trade Dube for Luostarainen in a second. Loustarainen is a 6'3"C, who is actually a useful defensive player- whether he's producing or not. Dube has never seemed to get the hang of the whole "defense" side of things.

The Panthers wouldn't be doing it though. Luostarinen hasn't produced this year but neither has Dube. He's also a center and plays an excellent two way game. Makes no sense for them.

[stemit14]

It does feel like things are aligning for Murray to finally embrace the rebuild. The poor attendance over the last year and a half might make him realize the team’s current configuration is likely not going to fill the seats or make the playoffs. If the flames make great returns on their UFA’s this year and use their cap space in the offseason to take on some contracts along with picks for next year, they could set themselves up to probably bottom out in the 2024-2025 season.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

What “ personal issues” ? Are you just guessing?

World Juniors
He was the captain of a team that sexually assaulted a young lady

now I have no idea if he was part of it but the dramatic drop in play in the last couple years has me concerned

When more information comes to light some of these guys are getting suspended

[Bingo]

Three tiers in my mind for guilt on the WJC team.

1) Did the act - big trouble
2) In the room - less trouble but still trouble
3) Knew of it - way less trouble but something hanging over you

Being the captain you'd think Dube was 3) at least ... based on what the Flames have done with him in the community I'd say that's as far as it goes (he's not 1) or 2))

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Three tiers in my mind for guilt on the WJC team.

1) Did the act - big trouble
2) In the room - less trouble but still trouble
3) Knew of it - way less trouble but something hanging over you

Being the captain you'd think Dube was 3) at least ... based on what the Flames have done with him in the community I'd say that's as far as it goes (he's not 1) or 2))

Back when Game of Thrones was good, a character begged Robb Stark not to hang him for murdering two Lannister hostages because he only watched the door.

Robb ordered him to be hung last, so he could watch the others die.

I agree with Lord Stark.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

^ Good write-up. I agree for the most part.

I'm actually warming up to the idea of trading Andersson for a king's ransom if we're extending Hanifin to a long term deal.

The only way to lower Dube's next contract would be to not give him a qualifying offer, and essentially signing him as a UFA. That's why I think this is Dube's last year in CGY.

Not sure if we should re-sign Ruzicka. I like the player, and especially the flashes he showed higher in the lineup, but I think Huska sees him as a 4th liner at best.

I really want to see a Kylington - Weegar pairing next year, assuming OK is back to playing hockey and re-signs.

Kadri has been one of our best offensive forwards, and I thought he played a huge part in Zary's early success. You can try to trade him, but then things look really bad at center.

Andersson becomes tricky for me. I think that teams that are overly aggressive in the 'burn it down' stage are the teams that end up with 10 year rebuilds. If the overpay is significant enough, then I would trade him (as I would trade anyone of course - there are no untouchable players after all).


Dube - Flames don't have to wait for the QO. They can negotiate an extension right now. I wouldn't want him back for more than 1.5 million (and that's being generous given the season he is having - most nights he is noticeably the worst player on the ice). However, had had back to back 18 goal seasons. Can he rebound? My preference:


1) Sign him to a one year, 1.5 miNo player is untouchable - heck, even Zary isn't untouchable to me if a team wants to overbid for him, which sounds counterintuitive. Point is, everyone is available if a team wants to overpay, but that overpay has to be considerable for me to have an appetite to move Andersson (and of course, Zary! lol). I don't believe in having 'untouchable' players, but the level of overpay has to be enormous. For instance, nobody would want to trade Lindros, but Colorado probably doesn't win a cup without it. Maybe they win with him, but those pieces allowed them to win a cup. Calgary didn't win without trading Hull either. That's an extreme example, as I don't want any prospect traded, and Andersson isn't a prospect, but the logic is therellion MAX extension
2) Trade him for anything right now
3) Let him walk as a UFA by not qualifying him this off-season
4) Give him his QO, and see what happens.


Flames won't be worried about cap room next season, but cap room is still valuable to take advantage of the market. They could theoretically pay Dube up to whatever 18 goals is worth. I wouldn't be a fan of it, but they could do it and see if he bounces back as a worst-case scenario with him. To be clear, there is a huge gap for me between option 2 and 3, and even a bigger gap between 3 and 4.


Kylington I am tempering my expectations on. My hope is that he comes in and gets reps with Tanev before Tanev gets traded. That's where he played his best hockey and probably would feel his most comfortable again, and I would try and shelter them until Tanev gets traded. Then who knows? Weegar might be a good fit. I just would love to see him return to the NHL and be a healthy and happy guy again.


Ruzicka - skill, size, skating are all tantalizing. Plus, with Lindholm gone, it is insurance for depth at centre. I just think that his knock has always been consistency of effort since his junior days. He has top 6 talent, not 4th line talent. It is his consistency that places him on the 4th liner, and in and out of the lineup. Flames aren't competing, so I think they can afford to show some more patience with him, because if he suddenly is able to put in consistent efforts, he will become an incredibly valuable piece to a contending team. That's how I see him. Nobody is untouchable, so what do you think he is worth? A 3rd? Maybe I would rather have the third and start over, rather than gamble on Ruzicka finding consistency. I am not sure. I would rather just re-sign him and see how he continues to develop.


Kadri - he is playing like a superstar now. However, will he quit on the team again after the trade deadline when this team is rebuilding? Then you are completely stuck with that deal for another 5 seasons. Even if he doesn't quit like he did last year, will he be a capable player at age 34? 35? 36? At some point, he will decline and decline rapidly, and it will coincide with the Flames improving and coming out of the rebuild/retool. Just solve the problem today.


Lindholm and Kadri out: Backlund is #1 centre, Zary is #2. Then you have Dube and Ruzicka. Yes, that's awful depth, I agree, but what is the goal? To win games, or to set yourself better to win games later? Will Zary develop better on Kadri's wing, or will he develop better playing centre and having Huberdeau and Sharangovich on either wing? Plus, we don't know the returns on future trades - a young centre may be part of the return, or even a capable vet who can fill-in at shouldering the load as part of the cap dump to make salaries work. Even if nobody was coming, I would give the duties over to Zary, see how he responds, and then if needed, sign a journeyman in the off-season to help. This may be moot anyway - Kadri may get zero offers, and I expect him not to get traded. My point is simply that if there is any way to move Kadri now without giving up assets, that I would jump at the chance to get out of that deal.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Three tiers in my mind for guilt on the WJC team.

1) Did the act - big trouble
2) In the room - less trouble but still trouble
3) Knew of it - way less trouble but something hanging over you

Being the captain you'd think Dube was 3) at least ... based on what the Flames have done with him in the community I'd say that's as far as it goes (he's not 1) or 2))

I have suspected 2 or 3 - or some combo where he was there earlier but not all the way through (but I think being captain had nothing to do with it).

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I have suspected 2 or 3 - or some combo where he was there earlier but not all the way through (but I think being captain had nothing to do with it).

I think being captain usually speaks to where you're held on a roster, and if you have a letter (especially C) you're more likely to be connected to every player and hear every story.

Makes 3) very likely in my mind.

Hoping that's as far as it goes.