2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

They might. They have one of the easiest schedules the rest of the way and they've already banked up enough points to go .500 through the first half. It's entirely possible.

Either way it feels a lot like a repeat of last year, when they missed the playoffs by two points and picked 16th.

They're like 24th overall right now and that's with Markstrom on a heater.

Add in some pieces out the door and I just don't see it.

[memphusk]

Plus the fact they struggle against bottom teams most times.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Bingo

They're like 24th overall right now and that's with Markstrom on a heater.

Add in some pieces out the door and I just don't see it.

At the same time if they hadn't blown the Chicago game and if that late goal counts against Philly and maybe they steal a game in OT they'd be tied for 8th with Nashville right now.

The West has kind of sucked outside of the top 6 (maybe top 7 now with Edmonton's heater) and it's kept them closer than they should be in reality.

8 games before the All Star Break and 21 before the trade deadline:

@Coyotes, @Golden Knights, Coyotes, Maple Leafs, Oilers, Blues, Blue Jackets, Blackhawks,

All-Star Break

@Bruins, @Devils, @Islanders, @ Rangers, Sharks, Red Wings, Jets, Bruins, @Oilers, Kings, Penguins, Kraken, Lightning

Trade Deadline

I think the good news for the tear it down bunch is that schedule up until the Trade Deadline is actually kind of tough. The next 8 games aren't too bad, but those 13 games between the all-star break and trade deadline are some pretty tough games.

It's really after the trade deadline that the schedule softens up a bit with more games against the Sharks, Ducks, Sabres, Hawks etc.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by memphusk

Plus the fact they struggle against bottom teams most times.

.600 point% against the bottom 5 last year.
.560 point% against everyone else.

They will probably get a couple extra points from those games.

[Bongsong]

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[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

I have a source in the organization; they said there is a huge divide on what direction to take; its been like that from the beginning of December.

Does it really matter though? At the end of the day it should be Connie's decision to make. Otherwise it's just a big mess of dysfunction with too many cooks in the kitchen, too many key decision makers, and ultimately no direction.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Does it really matter though? At the end of the day it should be Connie's decision to make. Otherwise it's just a big mess of dysfunction with too many cooks in the kitchen, too many key decision makers, and ultimately no direction.

In the end it's Murray Edwards call.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by kukkudo

I have a source in the organization; they said there is a huge divide on what direction to take; its been like that from the beginning of December.

If they choose poorly, there will be a HUGE fan revolt - much greater than what they think it will be.

Every single STH I know would re-evaluate keeping their tickets, if the Flames 'stay the course' and keep trying to be what they are now and have been for the last several years. Everyone (of these people) is happy with Conroy and that he understands that there needs to be change. But if he is overruled, they're (we're) all out.

(I know this is anecdotal, but these are all people who have had seats a long time, and can afford to keep them. These are the types of STH that the organization wants, and caters to. And I think the attitude is shared by many, many people)

If Mr Bean wins out, and ownership continues to dictate the old mantra, there will be a revolt. A big one. Just in time for the construction of a new arena!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by butterfly

.600 point% against the bottom 5 last year.
.560 point% against everyone else.

They will probably get a couple extra points from those games.

Maybe I just don't understand but how can that be true if they're .500 in points percentage overall?

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

Then why worry about it until they do something (agree with your point). Being negative, or positive about anything right now makes no sense. Judge them (Conroy) on actions. Analyzing what's being said, not said, changed statements is 100% smoke, bad or good. As fans we never know what the intent is behind any message put out to public, what factors they might be mitigating against, what they are trying to accomplish, how much or little of their hand they are showing when they make statements.

After years of being involved with this forum, I've come to recognize that there are a lot of people who, with great certainty, make a prediction about how a very unpredictable future will unfold and then experience the present as if that prediction has already happened. You see it in the world outside of sports, as well, but it seems pretty common amongst sports fans. I guess it is part of human nature for us to want to predict the future but the amount of frustration and anger that people exhibit about something that hasn't happened or may never happen is fascinating to watch in action.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Signing up for someone's age 28-35 seasons is not keeping anybody young.

Statistic shows the top 10 youngest teams never win the cup. All young cores need a veteran presence, or those young cores win later when they are in their prime.

This team can bottom out and keep Hanifin. This team lacks d prospects. I'd be ok with trading him but if we moved Lindholm, Tanev and 1 of Coleman/Mangiapane/Markstrom you can still get a top 5 pick.

LA bottomed out - kept Kopitar and Doughty
Chicago kept Towes and Kane through the rebuild.
Colorado got Makar when they already had MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen

You can bottom out with good players, even great players on your team.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Maybe I just don't understand but how can that be true if they're .500 in points percentage overall?

Those numbers are from last year.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

The point that hits me in that article is Conroy being so matter of fact in accepting that we just won’t get top talent from the top of the draft.

The Flames operate a certain way, and always have, and they seem very accepting of their poor results from that style of operation. That’s frustrating. It’s frustrating to be a fan of a team that doesn’t want to put in the work (and it is work) to draft a Sidney Crosby, Victor Hedman, Nathan Mackinnon, Steven Stamkos, or Jack Eichel.

That was absolutely crushing to read. Just the matter of fact acknowledgment that the team isn't going to get top flight cornerstone players this way, but its the way they are going to go anyways.
This message board will likely be having the same types of conversations about the team 10 years from now.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by DionTheDman

Does it really matter though? At the end of the day it should be Connie's decision to make. Otherwise it's just a big mess of dysfunction with too many cooks in the kitchen, too many key decision makers, and ultimately no direction.

Lol. This isn't new to the Flames org. It's what it's been since I've been watching them.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Statistic shows the top 10 youngest teams never win the cup. All young cores need a veteran presence, or those young cores win later when they are in their prime.

This team can bottom out and keep Hanifin. This team lacks d prospects. I'd be ok with trading him but if we moved Lindholm, Tanev and 1 of Coleman/Mangiapane/Markstrom you can still get a top 5 pick.

LA bottomed out - kept Kopitar and Doughty
Chicago kept Towes and Kane through the rebuild.
Colorado got Makar when they already had MacKinnon, Landeskog and Rantanen

You can bottom out with good players, even great players on your team.

Sure, but we have Kadri, Backlund, and Huberdeau to play that role.

I want to be the Flames to be the team getting the Noah Dobson draft pick.

[butterfly]

Do you think Detroit is mad they got Sandin Pellikka and a 2nd round pick for 1+ year of Hronek?

Something like that would be great building blocks for the Flames.

[CF84]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

In the end it's Murray Edwards call.

If Murray is bright, he will allow Conroy to make the calls. Money, however, will never be synonymous with intelligence. If Murray has been making most of the calls on the direction of the Flames since he became the owner, then his hockey IQ is both debatable and suspect.

I would much prefer a GM who makes mistakes than an annoying owner who won't stop meddling.

[Hockey_Ninja]

I do appreciate the positive changes that Conroy has made and I appreciate that he wants to make the right decisions instead of rushing into something. But I really do think the franchise will never do a true rebuild until Murray Edwards sells the team and someone more open minded buys it

[D as in David]

I think there are pretty strong arguments on either side of the re-sign or trade Hanifin discussion. If he's re-signed, that would presumably open another potential retention slot. Would we see the Flames facilitate a trade between two other teams to pick up another pick or young player?

[FlamesAddiction]

I am sure when Conroy went through the interview process, he told the owners the same thing he told the fans and media after he was hired. That is, this franchise can't risk losing good players for nothing. If a player is uncommitted to the long term, they need to be moved, end of story. I doubt anything he said right after being hired came as a shock to Edwards, and they are probably expecting Conroy to follow though. Just like when Treliving was hired, he probably sold his vision to Edwards who then expected Treliving to follow through.