Making the playoffs or keeping our top-10 first round pick 2025?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by SebC

If you make the playoffs you have rebuilt. Rebuilding is when you're trying to improve. When you're trying to get worse that's a teardown.

lol

[Rhett44]

We are not a playoff team. And this team of course refuses to tank and get an elite player, and instead are back in the mushy middle.

Even if you do sneak in, do you really believe we are going to win a playoff round with no top line talent?

[NegativeSpace]

They have the lowest payroll in the league. They traded pretty much any veteran who didn’t want to stay unless it was for an overpay. They’ve promoted young - who are playing well. The players driving the bus are either veterans who are almost impossible to trade or young kids. This is not the mushy middle. Just keep gathering good young players and developing talent. One draft pick isn’t making or breaking this rebuild.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

They have the lowest payroll in the league. They traded pretty much any veteran who didn’t want to stay unless it was for an overpay. They’ve promoted young - who are playing well. The players driving the bus are either veterans who are almost impossible to trade or young kids. This is not the mushy middle. Just keep gathering good young players and developing talent. One draft pick isn’t making or breaking this rebuild.

High draft picks absolutely affect rebuilds in a huge way. You're right it's not their fault, but don't discount what high draft picks mean.

[dammage79]

Well, if they make the playoffs the sting of losing the puck isn't as harsh. Finishing out of the playoffs and losing the pick. That's gonna sting. But whatever happens will happen.

#greentext stupid flames, can't even rebuild properly.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by jayswin

High draft picks absolutely affect rebuilds in a huge way. You're right it's not their fault, but don't discount what high draft picks mean.

Because, you know, this is the very last year there will ever be a draft, so if they don't draft high this year they never will.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by SebC

If you make the playoffs you have rebuilt. Rebuilding is when you're trying to improve. When you're trying to get worse that's a teardown.

We haven’t even really had our 1st rebuild draft.

It’s not Conroys fault the team is overachieving because of a rookie goalie.

Just hoping Edwards doesn’t stick his nose in we finish 9th or in the playoffs. Team is many pieces away.

[Goriders]

I’d say let the players decide it. I have a feeling they are going to make it. They are in a playoff spot with a very young team. They should get better as the season progresses. They have a good group of vets. Their defensive system and goaltending keep them in every game. They have been playing playoff hockey all season. I think they could actually do some damage if they got in.

[1qqaaz]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I’d say let the players decide it. I have a feeling they are going to make it. They are in a playoff spot with a very young team. They should get better as the season progresses. They have a good group of vets. Their defensive system and goaltending keep them in every game. They have been playing playoff hockey all season. I think they could actually do some damage if they got in.

The problem is that if they do this, there's a high likelihood of the Flames losing their 1st round pick to Montreal.

The safer, and better long term option, is to pick in the top 10, imo.
Trading away players does three things. It supplies picks and assets, allows young players to get more ice time, and improves the Flames' own 1st round pick.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

The problem is that if they do this, there's a high likelihood of the Flames losing their 1st round pick to Montreal.

The safer, and better long term option, is to pick in the top 10, imo.
Trading away players does three things. It supplies picks and assets, allows young players to get more ice time, and improves the Flames' own 1st round pick.

I think this team shows up every game with their lunch buckets and puts in the work. A lot of the young guys are improving a ton.

I’d support that if I was the gm. I think the playoff experience would be more helpful for this group than picking 10th overall if the could even get there.

When’s the last time we drafted an impact player around that pick range anyway? There’s no way they’ll get near top 5. So likely not a massive disadvantage to the later pick. You can still find gems in the later third of the first round. Sometimes the best players in the draft are hiding out there.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

The problem is that if they do this, there's a high likelihood of the Flames losing their 1st round pick to Montreal.

Not a high likelihood. I doubt Florida is choking so bad they finish lower than the Flames.

If the Flames don't eventually drop hard and stay at the high teens I'm not going to lose any sleep over giving that pick to Montreal even if they don't make it. It would sting to finish just outside the top 10 though.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

We haven’t even really had our 1st rebuild draft.

It’s not Conroys fault the team is overachieving because of a rookie goalie.

Just hoping Edwards doesn’t stick his nose in we finish 9th or in the playoffs. Team is many pieces away.

Also not Conroys fault the vets this go round are miles ahead of previous times. Hudler was our top getter and amen like Butler and Cundari and goalies like Backstrom.....

With so many prospects that are just right around the corner of a shot( and have earned it) recent pics excelling more than ever and a legitimate future 1 goalie emerging. This is the best spot out side the 80s that Calgary has ever been in with the most cap space avaliable in the leugue. This could be a quick 2-3 turn around vs a 10 year rebuild .

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Also not Conroys fault the vets this go round are miles ahead of previous times. Hudler was our top getter and amen like Butler and Cundari and goalies like Backstrom.....

With so many prospects that are just right around the corner of a shot( and have earned it) recent pics excelling more than ever and a legitimate future 1 goalie emerging. This is the best spot out side the 80s that Calgary has ever been in with the most cap space avaliable in the leugue. This could be a quick 2-3 turn around vs a 10 year rebuild .

Think that was the plan Conroy sold.

Don’t think I could watch 10 years of floundering.

[dino7c]

Best young goalie in the NHL...maybe enjoy hockey for once and not worry about everything

if they lose the higher first they lose the higher first...hit with the other 2 firsts and in the other rounds

[gvitaly]

If the Flames aren't firmly in a playoff spot closer to the deadline then they should explore trade offers for any player over 25.

I really hope Conroy explores trades for Andersson, Coleman, Kadri, Vladar, and Kuzmenko; and even the depth players like: Rooney, Duehr, Lomberg, Barrie, Miromanov, and Bean.

If Conroy manages to move a couple of big pieces out, then the bottom 10 finish will take care of itself. Moreover, I would love to see even more Wranglers on the Flames: Kuznetsov, Solovyov, Cooley, Kerins, and Stromgren all deserve a callup. Honzek also didn't look out of place in the NHL.

[butterfly]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

If the Flames aren't firmly in a playoff spot closer to the deadline then they should explore trade offers for any player over 25.

I really hope Conroy explores trades for Andersson, Coleman, Kadri, Vladar, and Kuzmenko; and even the depth players like: Rooney, Duehr, Lomberg, Barrie, Miromanov, and Bean.

If Conroy manages to move a couple of big pieces out, then the bottom 10 finish will take care of itself. Moreover, I would love to see even more Wranglers on the Flames: Kuznetsov, Solovyov, Cooley, Kerins, and Stromgren all deserve a callup. Honzek also didn't look out of place in the NHL.

Kuzmenko has negative value. $5.whatever million for 1 goal by Christmas? Just eat that contract and tell him to have fun in the KHL.

Andersson and Coleman have value. Would be tough to see them go but it is the right move; I agree. Kadri and Vladar, probably near zero.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by butterfly

Kuzmenko has negative value. $5.whatever million for 1 goal by Christmas? Just eat that contract and tell him to have fun in the KHL.

Andersson and Coleman have value. Would be tough to see them go but it is the right move; I agree. Kadri and Vladar, probably near zero.

You're definitely not wrong in your evaluation. I'm not suggesting making moves for the sake of making moves. That said, a guy like Kuzmenko could go on a heater. Also, even late round picks are better than nothing, we just got Misa the 150th pick, Wolf was a 7th rounder, so was Weegar.

Maybe Tre would be willing to trade us a 4th for a depth D-men, or a 5th for Roon-dog, you never know. Carolina seemed to be in on Vladar, and the rumored asking price was a 2nd. I'm guessing they were offering a 3rd, which would be pretty good value at this point.

[UKflames]

When you look at how many teams suck this year, versus their expectations (Rangers, Preds etc.), plus those teams that were expected to suck, our chances of getting into the top 10 have greatly diminished. When you add in the games that Wolf is winning for us, plus how well the likes of Coranato & Zary are playing our top 10, let alone top 3, draft chances drop even further.

Conroy couldn't have sold off many more players last season and in the off season, and have a lower cap hit, than we have. Anderson could still be moved, which may help the drop, but I still don't see us getting into the top 10 after that move.

We just need to accept that our pick is going to the Habs, but we still have two more picks in the draft. I'll be so glad once this Monahan trade is finished and we can move on without it hanging over us.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

If the Flames aren't firmly in a playoff spot closer to the deadline then they should explore trade offers for any player over 25.

I really hope Conroy explores trades for Andersson, Coleman, Kadri, Vladar, and Kuzmenko; and even the depth players like: Rooney, Duehr, Lomberg, Barrie, Miromanov, and Bean.

If Conroy manages to move a couple of big pieces out, then the bottom 10 finish will take care of itself. Moreover, I would love to see even more Wranglers on the Flames: Kuznetsov, Solovyov, Cooley, Kerins, and Stromgren all deserve a callup. Honzek also didn't look out of place in the NHL.

I highly doubt that Coleman or kadri will waive in season. Kuz, rooney, Barrie, duehr and miromanov probably have zero value. Not sure why you would trade lomberg and bean.

The only 2 I see brining back assets from your list is Anderson and vladar.

Looking at all the teams that flames have to jump to get into top 10 , I think it’s going to have to take a monumental break down to get there. At this stage I just hope flames sneak into playoffs

[Roof-Daddy]

Given the increasing likelihood that we will be giving our 11th to 15th OA pick to the Habs, at least the Panthers and Devils are both leading their divisions and in the top 5 in the NHL at the Christmas break lol

Silver linings right??

Thanks Tree