2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I really believe it's important to keep our firsts for the next 2 years, no matter what- and add more, if possible. Make those picks, Conny!

Let's please finish bottom-5 in those 2 years, as well.

That’s my guy right here. He knows what’s upcoming in these drafts.

[BrownDrake]

This team isn’t bad unfortunately, we are definitely finishing 15th to 20th range, we are picking 28th and 31st as Montreal takes our first rounder.
Being SJ would suck and we are in a different market that wouldn’t allow that type of tank. We have to face it that we are gonna have to trade some draft capital and or use cap space to catch a desperate GM in our quest for a 1st or 2nd line centre. It’s a travesty but that’s a prior management mistake that Conroy has to deal with.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by BrownDrake

This team isn’t bad unfortunately, we are definitely finishing 15th to 20th range, we are picking 28th and 31st as Montreal takes our first rounder.
Being SJ would suck and we are in a different market that wouldn’t allow that type of tank. We have to face it that we are gonna have to trade some draft capital and or use cap space to catch a desperate GM in our quest for a 1st or 2nd line centre. It’s a travesty but that’s a prior management mistake that Conroy has to deal with.

This makes me want to cry.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by BrownDrake

This team isn’t bad unfortunately, we are definitely finishing 15th to 20th range, we are picking 28th and 31st as Montreal takes our first rounder.
Being SJ would suck and we are in a different market that wouldn’t allow that type of tank. We have to face it that we are gonna have to trade some draft capital and or use cap space to catch a desperate GM in our quest for a 1st or 2nd line centre. It’s a travesty but that’s a prior management mistake that Conroy has to deal with.

Definitely a possibility, although I think the NJ pick will be better than that at the end of the day. I think it will be somewhere in the low 20s.

Who knows, maybe packaging them to move up a tier could be an option if they prefer quality over quantity.

[Sandman]

We could be making some moves to jettison a vet or two from the lineup (ie. Andersson, Mantha, Kuzmenko, etc) that will likely affect us in the standings, too. I can still see a top-10 pick in our future, at least.

[BrownDrake]

Originally Posted by Sandman

We could be making some moves to jettison a vet or two from the lineup (ie. Andersson, Mantha, Kuzmenko, etc) that will likely affect us in the standings, too. I can still see a top-10 pick in our future, at least.

That’s the catch 22 here right? We dump Mantha for a 3rd or 2nd and bring up Pelletier and he lights it up and gives us some energy, or we dump Andersson for a project that turns around and gives us something we need too soon lol.
We’re screwed because we don’t completely suck. I think Conroy has been so completely honest with us that we don’t believe he’s telling us the truth. There’s no tank happening here and I believe management is incapable of being happy losing, and really we shouldn’t want it any other way in the end.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by BrownDrake

That’s the catch 22 here right? We dump Mantha for a 3rd or 2nd and bring up Pelletier and he lights it up and gives us some energy, or we dump Andersson for a project that turns around and gives us something we need too soon lol.
We’re screwed because we don’t completely suck. I think Conroy has been so completely honest with us that we don’t believe he’s telling us the truth. There’s no tank happening here and I believe management is incapable of being happy losing, and really we shouldn’t want it any other way in the end.

In many ways, I agree with everything in this post- and I think Conny will make some decisions based on how competitive the team looks before TDL. I still think he's been mandated by Edwards to make the playoffs if possible, but if we don't cash in a few big draft picks, we're going to be perpetually competing to lose in the Conference Semi-finals going forward, at best. Same as we've been doing the last ten years.

[BrownDrake]

Originally Posted by Sandman

In many ways, I agree with everything in this post- and I think Conny will make some decisions based on how competitive the team looks before TDL. I still think he's been mandated by Edwards to make the playoffs if possible, but if we don't cash in a few big draft picks, we're going to be perpetually competing to lose in the Conference Semi-finals going forward, at best. Same as we've been doing the last ten years.

Agreed Sandman, I hope we get really lucky in the lottery or we end up going on a big skid, I’m tired of the mushy middle and don’t think that will get us the talent we need. I get the concerns of management with being bad, it can ruin some young prospects and we’ve sure seen it up north and a few other places. This team just doesn’t feel like a bad team, seems like we are better than last year with less talent just because our room is better.

[stemit14]

What should Mantha and Kuzmenko each return at the TDL? I would be surprised if either of them returned more than a 3rd round pick. And that’s fine. I was not expecting much of a market for streaky wingers that would likely play as middle six forwards. Wingers rarely return much in trade when they are just rentals unless they of the elite level. For either Kuzmenko or Mantha to return more than a 3rd, they would have to play at a high level that neither of them have really shown before with much consistency.

I like Kuzmenko’s skill set and the positive attitude he brings to the team but, if I were to guess, I think he will end up back in the KHL next year.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by BrownDrake

Agreed Sandman, I hope we get really lucky in the lottery or we end up going on a big skid, I’m tired of the mushy middle and don’t think that will get us the talent we need. I get the concerns of management with being bad, it can ruin some young prospects and we’ve sure seen it up north and a few other places. This team just doesn’t feel like a bad team, seems like we are better than last year with less talent just because our room is better.

Some of that talent was over rated

[My2Cents]

I still think its really early in the season. Our record is propped up by the hot start to the season.

I still see a bottom 10 finish this season. If we jettison some FA or vets and with some lottery luck we should be top 5.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

Or we could trade Klapka and a 3rd for wright or rasmus for cozens and a 1st or a high end prospect

I’d prefer to use Rasmus to get Cozens and keep our picks.

Not sure why we are talking about as none of this is happening

Buffalo and Seattle hang up the phone on either of those.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by stemit14

What should Mantha and Kuzmenko each return at the TDL? I would be surprised if either of them returned more than a 3rd round pick. And that’s fine. I was not expecting much of a market for streaky wingers that would likely play as middle six forwards. Wingers rarely return much in trade when they are just rentals unless they of the elite level. For either Kuzmenko or Mantha to return more than a 3rd, they would have to play at a high level that neither of them have really shown before with much consistency.

I like Kuzmenko’s skill set and the positive attitude he brings to the team but, if I were to guess, I think he will end up back in the KHL next year.

I can't see a contending team giving up too much for a "specialized" guy like Kuzmenko, and I can't see him getting the necessary ice-time to move the needle on a team like that. In the last 5 games, he's spent time riding the pine with no points- so perhaps the honeymoon is coming to a close.

Mantha won't return a first, but it will be interesting to see what he'll return- he got Washington a 2nd and a 4th when he went to Vegas. His work ethic ebbs and flows wildly, but even in his worst seasons since 2016-17, he's had the output of a 40-50 point power-forward (who doesn't always play like a power-forward). This season, he's tied for 4th in scoring on the team (and 1st in plus/minus), keeping pace with Kadri, Coleman, and Kuzmenko.

[stemit14]

I do wonder if Andersson’s peak value in a trade might be in the upcoming offseason when the acquiring team can sign him immediately after trading for him. The metrics look better trading a 1st round pick++ for 8 years of Andersson instead of 1 year.

[NegativeSpace]

We will see. It doesn’t seem like this team is really propped up by the vets for this hot start. I think that the vets are stabilizing at most. They seem largely consistent with the last few years. The younger players are the ones who will determine if this team is going to be better than last year. If this team is led by the vets, then we probably are a bottom 10 team. At the very least the goaltending and defence have been much better than advertised and I don’t think that is going to change significantly as the season moves along.

[MrMike]

Originally Posted by My2Cents

Don’t be the smartest man in the room, the path forward to me is clear. Draft and develop for the next few seasons. Yes we can make some trades for players but we don’t need to take a massive risk on a 7 million/year contract to a player who may not work out. Yes it could work out, but it also may not.

We do not need to take that risk right now. When the team is further along maybe, but right now don’t potentially sewer the rebuild just as it begins.

Just do exactly what Carolina does.

Done.

That is the most successful small market team that continues to give itsself a 1 in 8 chance to win a cup every year, without mortgaging the future and continuing to resupply their feeder system and not locking into cap hell decisions.

I’d take 5 years of crap to have ten years+ of that.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

We will see. It doesn’t seem like this team is really propped up by the vets for this hot start. I think that the vets are stabilizing at most. They seem largely consistent with the last few years. The younger players are the ones who will determine if this team is going to be better than last year. If this team is led by the vets, then we probably are a bottom 10 team. At the very least the goaltending and defence have been much better than advertised and I don’t think that is going to change significantly as the season moves along.

I see what you're saying, but I think guys like Weegar, Coles, Sharky, and Kadri are definitely not playing up to their usual standards, and will surely get better as the year goes on. Kadri has only 7 points, and has the worst plus/minus on the team at -10 (the next worst is Sharky at -4). As the vets catch up, the team will get much better.

[My2Cents]

Originally Posted by MrMike

Just do exactly what Carolina does.

Done.

That is the most successful small market team that continues to give itsself a 1 in 8 chance to win a cup every year, without mortgaging the future and continuing to resupply their feeder system and not locking into cap hell decisions.

I’d take 5 years of crap to have ten years+ of that.

Carolina is excatly the type of team I hope we model ourselves off of. Make the hard decision on players and move them out if you cant keep them under decent terms. Take chances on players other teams have given up if the term/risk is acceptable. Keep draft picks and draft and develop. Use your propects to upgrade your roster when they are ready.

Strive to always be good but never give up the future for the very short term.

Edit: And also always beat Edmonton in the playoffs!

[browntrout]

I just see a team that is getting way above average goal tending 5 on 5, getting some lucky bounces in OT, late goals. Eventually this will come crashing down, I look at that line up and I am amazed they have gotten 7 wins. Maybe they don't do that bad this year, but there key vets are getting older, and they young players coming up are not world beaters. IMO in 2 -3 years, this will be a bottom feeding team, as teams like Anaheim, san Jose. Utah, Seattle start to leap frog them

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Sandman

This makes me want to cry.

What’s to cry about?

We dumped the majority of our big ticket underperforming vets.
We’re a pretty young team with young players making a mark.
We have tons of draft picks over the next 3 years.
We have tons of cap space.
We’re already relatively competitive and will only get better. We’re essentially at rock bottom now.

Personally I don’t think everyone should be crying.