2024 Off-season trade rumours and speculation thread

[FBI]

9 game max and what if his stat line is 3-10=13 in those 9 games?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Housley4Prez

Just say no. He made his bed, and now he needs to sleep in it. Conroy said that he only wants players who want to be here, and signing Kylington would fly in the face of that.

I don't put Kylington in the "don't want to be here" pile. I think he gambled on security and lost.

I wouldn't bring him in though if it means exposing and losing Solovyov on waivers.

Kylington will likely still have a bumpy road (hope he doesn't), and I'm not convinced that he's more than a 5-6 guy without Tanev.

[Bingo Jr.]

Originally Posted by FBI

9 game max and what if his stat line is 3-10=13 in those 9 games?

If he's not getting tossed around physically and is keeping his head above water in his own zone, I trust Huska and management to make the right decision for his development.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by FBI

9 game max and what if his stat line is 3-10=13 in those 9 games?

Because anyone can look good in a small sample size. I would hope the coaches and management have a much better big picture mentality.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

The 2014-15 Flames were definitely one of the front-runners for the McDavid sweepstakes. I remember many of us - including myself - posting about how good it would be to win the lottery next season.

The brawl in Vancouver drastically changed things. Flames were going about their business really well that season, until Hartley started the 4th line in Vancouver as an FU to the other 3 lines that all played terrible the game before. McGrattan's line was actually pretty good the game before. That's why Hartley started that line in Vancouver. Torts should have just started the Sedins, the Sedins would have probably scored, and nobody would have remembered that game at all. Instead, that brawl galvanized that team, and wrecked Vancouver. Vancouver went on a slump, and Calgary's record noticeably improved, and they were visually better too. McGrattan even spoke about this on a podcast somewhere - how if Torts started the top line, then nobody would even think about jumping the Sedins. Torts is a really smart coach, but he completely lost his marbles that season. However, McGrattan did plan to have that brawl if Torts lined up the 4th line too, so it was premeditated on their part, but not by Hartley.

At the conclusion of the 2013-14 season, I specifically remember 2 people stating that the Flames would make the playoffs the following year (for the 2014-15 season) - TSN's Aaron Ward and our own Cali Flames' Fan. They both got ridiculed IIRC. I seem to remember that most posts were talking about winning the McDavid sweepstakes, the consolations prizes, etc.

For 1.5 seasons, the Flames played well right smack-dab in the middle of their rebuild. It is hard to cheer for losses, but I do not hope for a very quick turnaround again, as much fun as that was. There were simply too many beyond frustrating seasons afterwards. This team absolutely needs elite talent, and drafting high helps in obtaining that elite talent.

One thing that nobody has really mentioned is that there aren't any 'tanking' teams this year, or in the foreseeable future. I have 3 teams potentially blowing it up:

Washington if they implode
Pittsburgh if they can't compete and Crosby gives the ok for a rebuild, or asks for a trade
Edmonton if they lose Draisailt, in which case no point for McDavid to stay, in which case the team sucks.

Every other team that has been bad improved. Calgary seems like the only team that is really selling at this point. Sure, come deadline, there will be more sellers, but there aren't any tankers. There aren't any teams that are trying to be bad right now who have recently sold. I really do think that too many things need to go right next season for Calgary to get out of the bottom 3.

San Jose has a lot of young kids coming through. They will improve, but given what their record was last season, I would be surprised if they improved enough to not finish in the basement.

Chicago I think was particularly bad with the injury bug last year, plus the Perry drama. I think they take a step forward. Arguable if they pass Calgary or not.

Anaheim is getting better. I expect them to improve.

Columbus is my pick for biggest turn-around this season. Coach bump, plus a lot of good young players busting through.

I like what Utah did. I think they move up. Also, they were a playoff team for a while last year, and then they imploded worse than San Jose.

I can go on. Point is, that I do think that for the first time in a while, there are no 'tankers'. There is no danger of a team setting an all-time winless record, or an all time worst Goal Differential, or some of the silly stuff that has been going on. Calgary doesn't really need to 'tank'. They just need not to build a competing team artificially, if that makes sense.

Sell Kuzmenko near the deadline. Sell Mantha. Sell Kadri if you need to and replace his leadership with another vet somewhere. Sell Andersson if someone pays well enough, and replace his leadership with a journeyman at the deadline. I think any going any further would be tanking. Calgary doesn't need to tank to draft high for the next couple of years, unless one of those three teams end up blowing it up. Then all bets are off. Those are three elite tank-commander teams. I know I will be cheering hard for Washington and Pittsburgh to keep winning and making the playoffs. I doubt either of them will, but I am cheering for them because I don't want any other team to start rebuilding at this point. Calgary is the only one that is looking to draft worse than they did last year. Everyone else at the bottom is looking to improve, though it is to be determined how much they do actually improve.

In the 2014 season, Calgary was competing with Buffalo, Arizona, Edmonton, Toronto, Carolina and New Jersey as all sub 80 point teams. It would have been hard to beat out Buffalo and Arizona (54 and 56 points respectively), and even Edmonton with 62. Toronto with 68 would have been possible, and even likely.

Had Calgary not tried to accelerate the rebuild, I think they would have had a chance at Mathews that year - Toronto was last with 69 and won the lottery. I think this upcoming year will be more like that one - no real outright horrible teams, but just 'bad' teams in the high 60's and low 70's. I see this for the next couple of years (again, barring a team from suddenly imploding and entering a rebuild).

This is a perfect time to draft. No real tank-commanders on the horizon, plus it isn't a lower-end draft like we have seen some years with the Taylor or Tyler, or RNH, or the horrible Yakupov year. I think the hockey gods messed with the Flames for a while on their timeline - should have been in the McDavid Sweepstakes, but made the playoffs instead. This time around, Calgary may be getting rewarded here.

Naw.

The Flames had elite talent. It was everything else that fell apart. With a healthy Monahan, a properly utilized Bennett/Tkachuk, and a motivated Johnny the Flames had all the piece to win a cup.

If you can't build around what the Flames had and are constantly waiting for even more tope end talent, then you just aren't doing it correctly. What the Flames always missed in the playoffs was that 1-2 punch. Opposing teams would put all of their focus on Johnny and his line, and the depth never seemed to make up for it.

Turns out the #2 punch was there all along with Bennett/Tkachuk, but the Flames just effed it up and never figured out the lines. Losing Monahan, which resulted in shuffling all the offensive talent into one top line was a blow too. If the Flames had Bennett/Tkachuk scoring at the pace they did in Florida while the top defensive units were focusing on Gaudreau, things would have been golden.

Markstrom playing like crap, didn't help things.

This idea that you need to remain in tank hell for many seasons in a row to build a good team just doesn't jive with what's currently happening in the NHL.

The Flames 100% need more talent via the draft now. They need 3-4 solid top end pieces. If a couple of those pieces emerge sooner than later, that's a win. The Flames could definitely have this thing sorted out in 2 tanky years. The idea that it definitely takes more than that is false. Look at the recent champions, Vegas, Colorado, Tampa, St. Louis, Florida. Not Buffalo, New Jersey, Edmonton, etc...Solid asset management is winning out over long term tanking.

[3rd Degree]

What happens when after the next 30 games he looks absolutely lost and you have no choice but to send him down? Then his confidence is shot, never recovers, and we destroy him. Maybe he can then be our OHL scout? This is obviously hyperbole but there are potential negative outcomes to rushing him.

My point from the start is simply this. Regardless of how he looks in camp or preseason the path that offers the lowest odds of a wholistic negative outcome to both the player and the Flames is to send him down.

To the people saying he should stay up if he looks good, can you please explain why?

Why would staying up as an 18 year old, on a team needing to finish low in the standing, be best for his development AND be best for the team?

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

To the people saying he should stay up if he looks good, can you please explain why?

Why would staying up as an 18 year old, on a team needing to finish low in the standing, be best for his development AND be best for the team?

If he's ready, he's ready. As most people pointed out, he's likely not so there's really no need for the hand-wringing.

But if he's the very rare NHL 18 year old dman who can clearly play in the NHL, sending him back to junior will only impede his ability to get better. Beating up on 16-17 year olds will do nothing for him.

It will also signal to other players that the team is more interested in losing than development.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Expectations seem very reasonable for parekh

If he doesn't win the Norris I'll be shocked.

[AustinL_NHL]

If Gretzky is still holding down a record or two by the end of this coming season, we'll know whether Parekh is a current/then-failed 17/18 year old savior of the Flames.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

What happens when after the next 30 games he looks absolutely lost and you have no choice but to send him down? Then his confidence is shot, never recovers, and we destroy him. Maybe he can then be our OHL scout? This is obviously hyperbole but there are potential negative outcomes to rushing him.

My point from the start is simply this. Regardless of how he looks in camp or preseason the path that offers the lowest odds of a wholistic negative outcome to both the player and the Flames is to send him down.

What if he works like crazy this summer, adds 10 lbs, outplays other vets at camp and proves he is better suited developing in the NHL and you send him down anyway? Kills his confidence, wastes a year dominating kids where the year-long goal is something he already accomplished last year. He's frustrated with the team and forces a trade as early as possible. Making up hyperbolic stories doesn't serve anyone's interest.

To the people saying he should stay up if he looks good, can you please explain why?

Why would staying up as an 18 year old, on a team needing to finish low in the standing, be best for his development AND be best for the team?

We don't know what's best for his development but the organization will make that decision accordingly. Nobody knows yet, not even the organization. So whatever they decide will be best for his development because they will make a calculated choice based on the player and his performance. That's what's best for his development. And him developing to his fullest is what's best for the team.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

If he doesn't win the Norris I'll be shocked.

Norris? Let's talk Hart!

[getbak]

Originally Posted by 3rd Degree

What happens when after the next 30 games he looks absolutely lost and you have no choice but to send him down? Then his confidence is shot, never recovers, and we destroy him. Maybe he can then be our OHL scout? This is obviously hyperbole but there are potential negative outcomes to rushing him.

I remember a lot of people suggesting the same thing would happen when the Oilers sent Draisaitl back to Junior halfway through his rookie year.

[Burning Beard]

Originally Posted by Ped

Norris? Let's talk Hart!

Naw I will personally be disappointed (and post about it all the time to let everyone know) if he doesn't win the Vezina next season.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by getbak

I remember a lot of people suggesting the same thing would happen when the Oilers sent Draisaitl back to Junior halfway through his rookie year.

Yeah, lots of really bad takes on this forum when that happened. Present company included.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by blankall

Naw.

The Flames had elite talent. It was everything else that fell apart. With a healthy Monahan, a properly utilized Bennett/Tkachuk, and a motivated Johnny the Flames had all the piece to win a cup.

If you can't build around what the Flames had and are constantly waiting for even more tope end talent, then you just aren't doing it correctly. What the Flames always missed in the playoffs was that 1-2 punch. Opposing teams would put all of their focus on Johnny and his line, and the depth never seemed to make up for it.

Turns out the #2 punch was there all along with Bennett/Tkachuk, but the Flames just effed it up and never figured out the lines. Losing Monahan, which resulted in shuffling all the offensive talent into one top line was a blow too. If the Flames had Bennett/Tkachuk scoring at the pace they did in Florida while the top defensive units were focusing on Gaudreau, things would have been golden.

Markstrom playing like crap, didn't help things.

This idea that you need to remain in tank hell for many seasons in a row to build a good team just doesn't jive with what's currently happening in the NHL.

The Flames 100% need more talent via the draft now. They need 3-4 solid top end pieces. If a couple of those pieces emerge sooner than later, that's a win. The Flames could definitely have this thing sorted out in 2 tanky years. The idea that it definitely takes more than that is false. Look at the recent champions, Vegas, Colorado, Tampa, St. Louis, Florida. Not Buffalo, New Jersey, Edmonton, etc...Solid asset management is winning out over long term tanking.

Teams focus on MacKinnon, Macdvid, Kucherov and so on as well. Our top guys never produced and IMO I never thought Johnny was going to get it done in the playoffs. Tkachuk was bad for us in the playoffs too, but in Florida he has been great.

You can make a case Backlund has been our best player in the playoffs. If we had true elite players and guys like him behind them, we would have been a cup contender.

[FlamesAddiction]

My biggest concern with putting Parekh in the NHL right away is that one scouting report I saw before the draft said he gets hit hard a lot and needs to keep his head up. The NHL game is so much faster and full of bigger, meaner players. I don't think there would be a shortage of dirty players waiting to take advantage of that. A lot of players gain significant strength and add weight in their D+1 year which is what I would like to see. I have no doubt that he could produce in the NHL, but development is more than just that.

Having said that, it was only one scouting report so I don't really know for sure, but I tend to take the side of caution and safety when putting teenagers into the NHL. Speaking of that, scouting reports seem all over the place regarding his skating. Some say he is an excellent skater, some say he needs to work on it to be an effective top 4 defenseman. From videos I have seen, he edgework and agility are fantastic, so is the knock speed or something?

[sketchyt]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Yeah, lots of really bad takes on this forum when that happened. Present company included.

To be fair, he looked horrid. Skated like mud, completely lost, etc... It looked like a pretty significant gap between what we first saw and remotely becoming an NHL player.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Teams focus on MacKinnon, Macdvid, Kucherov and so on as well. Our top guys never produced and IMO I never thought Johnny was going to get it done in the playoffs. Tkachuk was bad for us in the playoffs too, but in Florida he has been great.

You can make a case Backlund has been our best player in the playoffs. If we had true elite players and guys like him behind them, we would have been a cup contender.

If you're banking on getting a generational talent to win a cup, then even with 10 years of tanking, the odds are firmly against you. The odds of getting a #1 overall are only 25.5%, even if you finish very last, which is unlikely, so your likely looking at 13.5-8.5% odds at #1. Then, that generational or even franchise level player doesn't come along every year.

You could tank for 10 years straight, end up with a single #1 overall pick, then draft Lafreniere, Slafkovsky, or Hischier instead of Matthews, McDavid, or MacKinnon.

At a certain point you do have to build a good team. If you get lucky enough to have those 3-4 core pieces to build around, the rest is built outside of the draft. From your examples, Tampa didn't have that prolonged rebuild, people are talking about. Colorado did their best not to have a prolonged rebuild.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Ped

Norris? Let's talk Hart!

Conn Smythe too?

[Groot]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Conn Smythe too?

Vezina, Jack Adams, and Selke or bust