2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[FlamesAreOne]

I too thought Barrie would be a great trade chip come the TDL, however he's only played in 1/4 of the games thus far hasn't he? I know he subbed in for Bean vs. the Oilers, but I figured he'd be in the lineup most of the time and PP2 QB.

Perhaps his PT will increase as the season goes on but you clearly won't get much if he doesn't see the ice.

[BigThief]

Would rather Barrie than Miromanov

[PepsiFree]

Yeah, Conroy has been nothing if not consistent in his approach. Rebuild, retool, whatever, what he said he wanted to do and what he’s proceeded to do can be simplified into clear goals:
- Improve the culture
- Be competitive
- Add youth
- Manage assets appropriately

He has yet to do anything that strayed from that plan, which is what he outlined in his first press conference.

The team is younger, more competitive, the culture is vastly improved, and assets have been managed well.

I’m sure he’d love if the team performed better or if he got even more for the assets he traded, but he’s working in reality. I don’t see a guy who sold anyone one thing and has been cornered into doing another.

I think people struggle with the fact that he’s actually balancing his priorities. They want him to be one thing, or manage in a way that’s more binary so it’s easier to understand, but instead he’s focused on what is best for the team.

Keeping a vet over Pelletier isn’t prioritizing youth, but it is prioritizing competitiveness (with a risk/reward impact on asset management). Trading Markstrom isn’t prioritizing competitiveness, but it is prioritizing culture and asset management.

What takes priority has been situational. But you can point to one of the four main things in every situation and see why he did it. They’re simple enough that I don’t see why people need it to be just one thing. And I like that he’s not afraid to make hard decisions that might put one thing over another, and then swap those priorities if another situation calls for something different.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

The cap space is a bit of a red herring. What player would have signed in Calgary this past off season?

They only traded their starting goalie because his agent asked for a trade.



https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/577...aul-markstrom/

The Flames have never had trouble getting to the cap before, and if weren't in rebuild mode would've had no issue getting there as well.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Would rather Barrie than Miromanov

Why?

Barrie is 33 years old with 800+ NHL games under his belt.

He is what he is.

Miromanov is 6 years younger and has 52 NHL games. He may never amount to anything, but now is the time to find out.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Trading Markstrom isn’t prioritizing competitiveness, but it is prioritizing culture and asset management.

What takes priority has been situational.

This is why I would also expect to see Andersson traded in January.
If it is true that he indicated no interest in signing long term for reasonable dollars than the best chance to maximize asset management is to move him in January when a contending team is able to get two playoffs use from him.

Flames have the depth of prospects on defense that allow them to replace Andersson and continue to with how the team is playing this year. Whatever that pace is at that time of year.

Depth of wingers is why I believe that Mantha and Kuzmenko will be moved as well. Move out assets that are not long term and slowly integrate in the younger talent.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by shutout

This is why I would also expect to see Andersson traded in January.
If it is true that he indicated no interest in signing long term for reasonable dollars than the best chance to maximize asset management is to move him in January when a contending team is able to get two playoffs use from him.

Flames have the depth of prospects on defense that allow them to replace Andersson and continue to with how the team is playing this year. Whatever that pace is at that time of year.

Depth of wingers is why I believe that Mantha and Kuzmenko will be moved as well. Move out assets that are not long term and slowly integrate in the younger talent.

Andersson seems like a player motivated to get a trade done as well based on his play. He looks like a more confident player in the offensive zone.

No doubt that accident in Detroit had something to do with his play last year. Scary situation.

[GFG#1]

Originally Posted by shutout

This is why I would also expect to see Andersson traded in January.
If it is true that he indicated no interest in signing long term for reasonable dollars than the best chance to maximize asset management is to move him in January when a contending team is able to get two playoffs use from him.

Flames have the depth of prospects on defense that allow them to replace Andersson and continue to with how the team is playing this year. Whatever that pace is at that time of year.

Depth of wingers is why I believe that Mantha and Kuzmenko will be moved as well. Move out assets that are not long term and slowly integrate in the younger talent.

You are correct that Anderson would be worth more at this deadline then the next one, however, if the team is competitive this year and they do not trade him, he still isn't walking for nothing. Some would say playoff experience for the youth would be more valuable than the extra they would get for trading Anderson this year over next even if it isn't a deep run.

[bluejays]

I’m really surprisingly pleased at this start as much as anyone but frankly until the Flames draft a franchise player, almost any vet or player approaching free agency, should be a possibility to move. The 4-0 start is awesome but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking this team is a legit contender. You need those two high end talents and the team doesn’t have that young gun yet. Until that happens the rebuild has to continue. Let’s not pat ourselves completely here.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by GFG#1

You are correct that Anderson would be worth more at this deadline then the next one, however, if the team is competitive this year and they do not trade him, he still isn't walking for nothing. Some would say playoff experience for the youth would be more valuable than the extra they would get for trading Anderson this year over next even if it isn't a deep run.

I didn't think that the playoffs would be realistic, and its still too early to for that type of talk. But, if the rest of the pacific keeps playing to the levels they have been its not necessarily out of the realm of possibility.

Still think that the Flames will be giving the Habs the #13 pick in the draft this year.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I’m really surprisingly pleased at this start as much as anyone but frankly until the Flames draft a franchise player, almost any vet or player approaching free agency, should be a possibility to move. The 4-0 start is awesome but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking this team is a legit contender. You need those two high end talents and the team doesn’t have that young gun yet. Until that happens the rebuild has to continue. Let’s not pat ourselves completely here.

The focus should be on a journey to the top, not a race to the middle.

[Sandman]

I hope what Conroy said the other day was just lip service, and that he realizes that we need to draft as early as possible this year. We are short of young centers in the organization, and we need a bonafide, top line blue chipper forward to build around.

With the picks we have made, I have no doubt we will have a good team in a few years, but we want the BEST team.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I hope what Conroy said the other day was just lip service, and that he realizes that we need to draft as early as possible this year. We are short of young centers in the organization, and we need a bonafide, top line blue chipper forward to build around.

With the picks we have made, I have no doubt we will have a good team in a few years, but we want the BEST team.

LeBrun is usually pretty good. That piece was straight garbage.

The team is 3-0 and you reach out to a GM and ask him hey are you trading everyone?

What did he expect him to say?

[sa226]

I'm not really into hand wringing about what should or shouldn't be done, I'm just along for the ride.

I do wonder however, what the plan is should this group actually make or challenge for the playoffs. Theres pretty overwhelming evidence that you need high end talent to compete for a cup. Is the plan to hope to hit on a mid to late draft pick? Is the plan to go the free agency\trade route?

Maybe its a drafts pick scatter gun technique?

I can understand the argument that if the one year you're really bad and get a high draft pick, you could end up with a Yakupov, or even a Bennett.

I'm just curious what the plan is, if you're not going to draft in the top 10.

Parekh is a great start though.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Yeah, Conroy has been nothing if not consistent in his approach. Rebuild, retool, whatever, what he said he wanted to do and what he’s proceeded to do can be simplified into clear goals:
- Improve the culture
- Be competitive
- Add youth
- Manage assets appropriately

He has yet to do anything that strayed from that plan, which is what he outlined in his first press conference.

The team is younger, more competitive, the culture is vastly improved, and assets have been managed well.

I’m sure he’d love if the team performed better or if he got even more for the assets he traded, but he’s working in reality. I don’t see a guy who sold anyone one thing and has been cornered into doing another.

I think people struggle with the fact that he’s actually balancing his priorities. They want him to be one thing, or manage in a way that’s more binary so it’s easier to understand, but instead he’s focused on what is best for the team.

Keeping a vet over Pelletier isn’t prioritizing youth, but it is prioritizing competitiveness (with a risk/reward impact on asset management). Trading Markstrom isn’t prioritizing competitiveness, but it is prioritizing culture and asset management.

What takes priority has been situational. But you can point to one of the four main things in every situation and see why he did it. They’re simple enough that I don’t see why people need it to be just one thing. And I like that he’s not afraid to make hard decisions that might put one thing over another, and then swap those priorities if another situation calls for something different.

Perhaps it's seen as binary, I just think it's nearly impossible to manage the four pillars you've pointed out without adding not just youth, but elite youth, through the draft. If the team's not in a position to add top of the draft talent, it'll need to crush it in amateur scouting and development comparatively to other clubs, and routinely hold on to picks and even accumulate excess draft capital to maximize their chances.

That's hard to do in a Canadian market. So, while I love the start and am encouraged how Conroy's moves have had strong early results, I can't help but grimace because the skeptic in me worries this earlier than expected success will once again have ownership deem they're ready to win before the team is ready to do it sustainably.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Kuz is really hard to gauge, because even when he's producing he's far from a complete player. And he needs PP time and offensive starts to be effective. I think he's a tougher fit for a lot of teams.

I say that as a fan, who is hoping he stays here. He's really entertaining and cracks me up.

Yup, agree with you, including me also hoping he stays. Last game was a good example of why players like Kuzmenko are valuable. Putting his 5 points in 4 games aside, it's a close 1-1 game where the next goal makes a huge difference. In past years, the Flames struggle to get that next goal and Chicago gets it and who knows what happens then. But Kuzmenko scores a crucial goal (on the PP to boot) to loosen the team up and helps push the Flames to the win. That's the value a high-skill guy that scores in key moments does for a team and makes it worth it when yes, some of these players also come with a lot of warts.

Mantha is going to be an interesting case for me. The Flames haven't been shy about directly targeting him to get their 10+ million dollar man going, so if he indeed gets Huberdeau back to 70ish points or dare I say over 90 points, you got to believe he's going to have some leverage. It's then that you hope a guy with his history and cycling through the number of teams that he has, understands that chemistry and situations matter and he does what works for him and the Flames.

[GFG#1]

Originally Posted by shutout

I didn't think that the playoffs would be realistic, and its still too early to for that type of talk. But, if the rest of the pacific keeps playing to the levels they have been its not necessarily out of the realm of possibility.

Still think that the Flames will be giving the Habs the #13 pick in the draft this year.

Oh I am not saying they are going to get there either, its way too early for that, however, I think there are only 2 reasons Anderson doesn't get traded this year.

1) Flames are close to the playoffs and he actually believes they are attainable.
2) The offers are not what he wants for Anderson, so he keeps him, doens';t need to force a trade this year.

I am in agreement that I have a bad feeling this pick is going to end up in Montreal. I will be pleasantly surprised to be wrong and hope they either get in, or they are bottom 10.

[traptor]

Unfortunately, the team has never stated they're rebuilding and they have no intentions of intentionally bottoming out.

The firesale last year wasn't brought on by choice. If many of those guys weren't in the final year of contracts or were willing to re-sign at reasonable cap hits, they would still be here.
Most of the trades they made brought in a ready now reclamation project. We moved out two top 4 D, they brought in two guys to play top 4 D. They moved two top 6 forwards, and brought in two top 6 forwards.

Rasmus will only get moved if he demands out or makes it clear he won't re-sign.

I wouldnt hold my breath for a top 3 picked generational center.
We're going to have to find some diamond in the rough allstars and win by committe/hard work like we've gotten used to.


This team doesn't believe in a conventional rebuild.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Perhaps it's seen as binary, I just think it's nearly impossible to manage the four pillars you've pointed out without adding not just youth, but elite youth, through the draft. If the team's not in a position to add top of the draft talent, it'll need to crush it in amateur scouting and development comparatively to other clubs, and routinely hold on to picks and even accumulate excess draft capital to maximize their chances.

That's hard to do in a Canadian market. So, while I love the start and am encouraged how Conroy's moves have had strong early results, I can't help but grimace because the skeptic in me worries this earlier than expected success will once again have ownership deem they're ready to win before the team is ready to do it sustainably.

I don’t think this run changes anything good or bad.

Conroy will still sign or trade guys like Andersson, Kuzmenko, and Mantha based on criteria that is agnostic to this run: do they want to stay, do they want to take a deal that works for the Flames, and is there a deal that makes sense.

I don’t think there as anyone deeming them “ready to win” or not. They either are or they aren’t, and they’ll show it on the ice. And I don’t actually think anything changes regardless. What do you realistically expect to happen if ownership deems them “ready to win”?

[Royle9]

Craig has a plan and he’s going to stick to it no matter the outcome this season.
There’s no rush, there’s no panic.
We’re building for the future and he’s not going to mortgage that future just because of a hot start.

Have faith guys, I think Craig’s done a wonderful job doing the right things so far.