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

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by schteve_d

I would love to see the Flames retain that pick, but not on purpose.

The unfortunate part of watching that is it means Wolf gets lit up for the rest of the season. And if we do get an asset for Vladar? Call up Cooley and destroy the confidence of two young goalie prospects? Maybe sign a crummy vet and let him take the fall, but then what? Wolf sits as a back up to a crummy goalie, or send him down and let him play? Neither of those scenarios sound appealing.

I think we just have to face it that this is Tre's last parting shot. Hopefully. The pick is gone, we do what's best for the development of our young guys, particularly the goalies, and we move on.

Cooley is 27, and if I'm not mistaken he's actually older than Vladar. He had a save percentage of .870 with SJS last year, while posting a GAA of 4.98. I don't see his confidence taking a much of a hit.

Also, the Flames don't have to be blown out in order to keep losing games. As long as we keep scoring 3 goals or less we're going to lose over half the games.

[blankall]

Yeah it's really amazing how bad some of the other teams are this season. Was expecting it to be difficult to hit the bottom five, but this season is just out of control. Teams that I thought would go okay gave just given up a couple of months in. Plus the same group of perpetual losers is showing no signs of improvement.

[Cambardi]

At the same time, there are teams that are punching above their weight. For me, a real example of this is LA. I feel they have exceeded far beyond expectation. Not sure how they are relevant quite yet. Obviously, drafting is part of it, but that would normally be followed by some development years.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Huberdeau and Kadri are starting to gel. We have two goalies. We have a lot of young D and wingers.

I think the big needs are:

- A consistent sniper. Coronato is turning into one. But one extra goal a game. Or even every other game and the Flames are a different team.
- A young top 6 center. Our centers are getting pretty long in the tooth. The organization has no depth at center.

So you just want to make playoffs as an 8th seed get our teeth kicked in. Trade away picks to fill holes you can’t.

[Strange Brew]

I feel like too much emphasis is placed on the conditions surrounding the pick.

Treliving gave up a first to get rid of Monahan, and that debt still hasn’t been paid. He protected it from being a top 10 pick, and yeah if it’s a middle first round pick we move back to the later part of the round.

But ultimately it’s the Flames’ decent results that could prevent it from being a premium pick, not Treliving.

[Flamesfan05]

He could have offered the lower of the two 1st. That would have been more than enough but the wizard was desperate for a last shot before he gets outa there

[Paulie Walnuts]

It’s too bad he didn’t protect a pick when wasting it on useless players like Hamonic.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

So you just want to make playoffs as an 8th seed get our teeth kicked in. Trade away picks to fill holes you can’t.

I’d want to make the playoffs. To start building the proper culture and to get experience for the young players.

I wouldn’t bring in rentals. Keep filling in with young guys. If there are any big gaps I would address in the off season.

Big gaps I see are at center and a goal scorer. Doubt those get filled by the current depth chart.

I don’t think they will get their teeth kicked in. They haven’t all season.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

He could have offered the lower of the two 1st. That would have been more than enough but the wizard was desperate for a last shot before he gets outa there

The price to get rid of Monahan seemed extraordinarily high, especially considering they hadn’t signed Kadri yet.

But I’m sure Treliving tried what you are suggesting. It seems like the cost of top 10 protecting the pick was that Montreal would get the better of the picks if it fell outside the top 10.

At the time it seemed like he replaced Gaudreau and Tkachuk with Huberdeau, Weegar and Kadri and people were pretty damn excited.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

The price to get rid of Monahan seemed extraordinarily high, especially considering they hadn’t signed Kadri yet.

The previous season, over half the teams in the league ended up using LTIR to stay under the cap. There was never another time in the history of the league when cap space was so tight. The only team willing to eat $6 million for a pick was Montreal, and that was only because they already had Carey Price on LTIR. They could pretty much dictate their own terms.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

He could have offered the lower of the two 1st. That would have been more than enough but the wizard was desperate for a last shot before he gets outa there

Don’t you think he did offer that?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I’d want to make the playoffs. To start building the proper culture and to get experience for the young players.

I wouldn’t bring in rentals. Keep filling in with young guys. If there are any big gaps I would address in the off season.

Big gaps I see are at center and a goal scorer. Doubt those get filled by the current depth chart.

I don’t think they will get their teeth kicked in. They haven’t all season.

They have. They have some of the worst special teams the PP is a bit better. They have one of the worst offences. We are literally riding Wolf.

We have big holes. It would be a massive mistake to invest in this current squad when you don’t have the elite talent.

Nobody wants the same old crap over and over again. Just because Edwards is smelling some loose change with a playoff spot doesn’t mean this team is even close to being competitive.

[jayswin]

It was verry Flames that the first time we go to pay the price to get rid of a contract that price is among the highest ever paid in the NHL to do so. Then a couple years later we go "hey, now we're going to be that team because we're rebuilding and want to weaponize cap space" and the league goes "uhh, yeah no one does that anymore, we're good".

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

Playoffs are always better.

Nice of you to join the boards, Mr. Edwards.

[Inferno]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Nobody wants the same old crap over and over again.

We aren't seeing the same crap over and over though.

This team is much more enjoyable to watch than the teams the last two seasons. They can get down a couple of goals and you know most nights they aren't just going to pack it in.

And it's the young guys who are playing a big part which is very important in a rebuild. It's not just about drafting.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

They have. They have some of the worst special teams the PP is a bit better. They have one of the worst offences. We are literally riding Wolf.

We have big holes. It would be a massive mistake to invest in this current squad when you don’t have the elite talent.

Nobody wants the same old crap over and over again. Just because Edwards is smelling some loose change with a playoff spot doesn’t mean this team is even close to being competitive.

I don’t disagree that the offense isn’t great at this point. But like I said above Kadri/Huberdeau are gelling. Coronato is starting to come into his own and Zary is another guy I think will do the same.

I’d just let it grow. They aren’t getting destroyed every game even if they aren’t scoring a lot. Keep plugging young guys in. They all need experience more than anything. The draft isn’t going to solve their big problem at center any time soon. Wolf is your goalie. He will determine your window.

I’d adress the center problem in the offseason unless they crater in the new year and a trade comes up for Anderson that addresses it. They have way to many defensemen in the organization and zero centers. That needs to be rebalanced.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Goriders

I don’t disagree that the offense isn’t great at this point. But like I said above Kadri/Huberdeau are gelling. Coronato is starting to come into his own and Zary is another guy I think will do the same.

I’d just let it grow. They aren’t getting destroyed every game even if they aren’t scoring a lot. Keep plugging young guys in. They all need experience more than anything. The draft isn’t going to solve their big problem at center any time soon. Wolf is your goalie. He will determine your window.

I’d address the center problem in the offseason unless they crater in the new year and a trade comes up for Anderson that addresses it. They have way to many defensemen in the organization and zero centers. That needs to be rebalanced.

It doesn't just need a rebalance, we need an elite 1st line center, plus will likely need a second line center, another star winger, and likely at least one elite D-man. At least two of those will basically only come from the draft, chances are great you'll only get them at the top end of the draft, to boot.

What you're describing is basically roll with this and start plugging holes through trades and signings to go upward right now. With Wolf that could make us a playoff team, but not likely a contender. So it would be another failed build for us.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by jayswin

It doesn't just need a rebalance, we need an elite 1st line center, plus will likely need a second line center, another star winger, and likely at least one elite D-man. At least two of those will basically only come from the draft, chances are great you'll only get them at the top end of the draft, to boot.

What you're describing is basically roll with this and start plugging holes through trades and signings to go upward right now. With Wolf that could make us a playoff team, but not likely a contender. So it would be another failed build for us.

Basically. This time we don’t have a Johnny or Monny on the team either or even Bennett.

You also can’t fill your #1C hole in free agency and I don’t see any Eichels on the trade block.

I’ve seen wild suggestions we go after Rantanen and Bennett in free agency. Trade for a rotational 4th liner in Krebs.

Thankfully I don’t see Conory doing anything like that, only thing that would get in the way is from upstairs as we know he likes to meddle and try to push for 8th spot.

[BrownDrake]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Basically. This time we don’t have a Johnny or Monny on the team either or even Bennett.

You also can’t fill your #1C hole in free agency and I don’t see any Eichels on the trade block.

I’ve seen wild suggestions we go after Rantanen and Bennett in free agency. Trade for a rotational 4th liner in Krebs.

Thankfully I don’t see Conory doing anything like that, only thing that would get in the way is from upstairs as we know he likes to meddle and try to push for 8th spot.

Paulie - are you suggesting they actually intentionally tank? We’ve got some good pieces and we are playing better than most had thought. It’s a shame to lose our first we get that but not sure what your angle is. Trade Rasmus, trade Kadri and to do so maybe retain or give away a pick? I was hoping we were bottom 5 or at least 10 but that doesn’t seem to be this team, is what it is and I don’t think I’ll be disappointed if we end up picking 23rd or 24th instead of 11th to 15th, not much of a difference in my mind and instead of getting shelled each night and going the loser route. 🤷#♂️

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by BrownDrake

Paulie - are you suggesting they actually intentionally tank? We’ve got some good pieces and we are playing better than most had thought. It’s a shame to lose our first we get that but not sure what your angle is. Trade Rasmus, trade Kadri and to do so maybe retain or give away a pick? I was hoping we were bottom 5 or at least 10 but that doesn’t seem to be this team, is what it is and I don’t think I’ll be disappointed if we end up picking 23rd or 24th instead of 11th to 15th, not much of a difference in my mind and instead of getting shelled each night and going the loser route. 🤷#♂️

No. I’ve said you can’t tell the players to lose. They are pros they play to win. But people are saying we are a few pieces away.

Huberdeau and Kadri are a combined -27. It’s great Zary and Coronato are growing but our position is on the back of Wolf.

It’s the Flames. If we didn’t have bad luck we would have no luck at all.