Captainship

[PuckSlap]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

It would be a bad move to retain the amount of cap required for that long. And all those reasons why you want them to move him on, is why no team will take on that deal unless half the contract is covered. And that's a bad move for the Flames.

As for the rest. What players do you think they can move that don't have NTCs.
Andersson.
And?

Your plan isn't a plan.

At what point do you think it makes sense to move on from Huberdeau altogether? Or at least admit that the contract was a mistake and retain part of it while he’s still having a decent season? What’s the alternative—holding onto the deal, using up cap space on more aging players, and hoping for another mediocre playoff push?

As for other moves, there are veterans with value who could be moved, especially if the Flames are willing to retain salary where needed. If the team is serious about resetting, they should be looking at trading any older assets that still have market value to accumulate draft picks and young talent. Otherwise, we’re stuck in the same cycle.

[Finger Cookin]

If we had a real leader in our captaincy and Klapka playing more than 5 minutes a game, we may never lose again.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

At what point do you think it makes sense to move on from Huberdeau altogether? Or at least admit that the contract was a mistake and retain part of it while he’s still having a decent season? What’s the alternative—holding onto the deal, using up cap space on more aging players, and hoping for another mediocre playoff push?

We can agree the contract isn't good. But are you willing to give up a 1st to get someone to take it? They have a lot of space and will going forward. It is what it is. It's buyout proof and not tradeable. You live with it and maybe there is a compliance buyout.

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

As for other moves, there are veterans with value who could be moved, especially if the Flames are willing to retain salary where needed. If the team is serious about resetting, they should be looking at trading any older assets that still have market value to accumulate draft picks and young talent. Otherwise, we’re stuck in the same cycle.

Which veterans? Specifics please.
Including accounting for NTCs that are in place.
And remember there is a limited number of retention slots you can use.

[taxbuster]

Came for the annoying and generally silly comments by the usual suspects.
Leaving satisfied.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

If we had a real leader in our captaincy and Klapka playing more than 5 minutes a game, we may never lose again.

Whats Engelland doing these days? That guy was a beast!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Came for the annoying and generally silly comments by the usual suspects.
Leaving satisfied.

Hey! I am the Minister of Silly Comments and I dont like you disrespecting my authority or the authority of my Office!

In honesty, Backlund has more than earned it and more than lived up to it and...whats more, he absolutely is the identity of this team.

Is he the best player? No. But he fights it out on every shift, he PKs, I cannot point to a single moment where I could genuinely say "Aw...Backs was dogging it there."

And that is the identity of this team. Work. And he does it. And he LOVES this team and this City.

I think he's an excellent Captain. The only complaint against him? I am sorry, but time comes for us all. He's getting up there, especially considering all the very heavy lifting he does. In the meantime though? I think he's an excellent Captain.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

I get that moving Huberdeau isn’t easy with his contract, but with the cap space the Flames have, they could retain a portion of his salary to make it more appealing for a contending team. The idea isn’t just about moving him but also about selling off other older players while they still have value. If we do this now, we likely fall further in the standings, which means a better draft pick rather than just barely missing the playoffs or getting eliminated in the first round again.

The reset is simple: move out long-term, expensive contracts that aren’t helping us compete, focus on younger players like Zary and Zayne Parekh, and build around them while stacking draft capital. This gives us a shot at landing an elite player who can actually change the franchise. Otherwise, we’re stuck in the same cycle.


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Most of the older guys have no trade clauses in their contracts.

Also, we have to stay above the salary floor (which we are barely doing right now, even with Huberdeau). There just aren't any realistic trades right now.
Doesn't mean they won't happen in the future though.

But again, we are back to: the Flames are where they because of Wolf. What are they supposed to do about that? The answer is that there is nothing they can do - he is good. And that is a good thing. So, embrace it. And focus on the positives: they have a great goalie. Zary and Coronato and Bahl and Pachal are all doing better than expected. Parekh, Mews, Battaglia, Basha, Gridin, and Sunyev are all having great years. Honzek, Stromgren, Poirier, Kuznetsov, Grushnikov and Solovyov all look good in the AHL.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

At what point do you think it makes sense to move on from Huberdeau altogether? Or at least admit that the contract was a mistake and retain part of it while he’s still having a decent season? What’s the alternative—holding onto the deal, using up cap space on more aging players, and hoping for another mediocre playoff push?

As for other moves, there are veterans with value who could be moved, especially if the Flames are willing to retain salary where needed. If the team is serious about resetting, they should be looking at trading any older assets that still have market value to accumulate draft picks and young talent. Otherwise, we’re stuck in the same cycle.

Huberdeau's contract is a sunk cost.

His salary isn't hurting anything right now, and is helping them stay over the floor. So it's better to wait - if he continues to play better, his value will rise. Why sell now at minimal return and maximum cost to the Flames? What is to be gained by it? They would need to acquire other contracts just to hit the floor. To what end?

[Yeah_Baby]

Why would Sutter have low expectations of Backlund when he drafted him in the 1st round? If anything he probably wanted more from him, and knew he was a leader in the room but wanted him to be a fire and brimestone Sutter style leader, kind of like I think Chucky is.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Huberdeau's contract is a sunk cost.

His salary isn't hurting anything right now, and is helping them stay over the floor. So it's better to wait - if he continues to play better, his value will rise. Why sell now at minimal return and maximum cost to the Flames? What is to be gained by it? They would need to acquire other contracts just to hit the floor. To what end?

He's at least kept his head down and worked hard to turn himself into an asset to the team this year, but even a 30/30 season isn't going to sway someone to take a flier on him.... even with significant salary retention. I don't see much upside beyond what he's doing this year (which is livable but will certainly not increase his value in any meaningful way).

For the Flames, if Huberdeau can play like this for 2-3 more years it would be a huge win based on what he was the first two seasons here. The last 4 years of this deal is anyone's best guess but I don't anticipate him aging well at that point. Especially as many of the younger players and prospects push their way up into the lineup and take up icetime.

[skcli]

There is no need to have a captain. They just need more rests between games. This team is tired, because when you age you need more rests .

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

So trade Wolf so that we can get back to the bottom where we should be?

Step 1: Trade Wolf for a 1st round pick
Step 2: Hope that draft pick becomes a difference maker, someone like Wolf.
Step 3: Rinse and repeat.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

I think we’re holding on just enough to end up with the same outcome we always get. We’re pushing for the playoffs, but it’s obvious we don’t have the pieces for a deep run. Instead of continuing the same cycle, I believe we should embrace short-term pain for long-term gain. Moving players like Huberdeau and others now could position us for a stronger future, even if it means missing the playoffs this year. It’s time to reset and build toward something better.

How do you meet the cap floor next year.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

This thread is quite the overreaction.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by PuckSlap

I get that moving Huberdeau isn’t easy with his contract, but with the cap space the Flames have, they could retain a portion of his salary to make it more appealing for a contending team. The idea isn’t just about moving him but also about selling off other older players while they still have value. If we do this now, we likely fall further in the standings, which means a better draft pick rather than just barely missing the playoffs or getting eliminated in the first round again.

The reset is simple: move out long-term, expensive contracts that aren’t helping us compete, focus on younger players like Zary and Zayne Parekh, and build around them while stacking draft capital. This gives us a shot at landing an elite player who can actually change the franchise. Otherwise, we’re stuck in the same cycle.


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Calgary isn’t retaining on Huberdeau for 7 years.

Even with his resurgence, he’s on pace for just 61 points.

When you get premium ice time and PP1, it’s a poor result and the absence of better players on the team is the only reason he is gifted that ice time.

You put him on a contending team, and those points will drop with decreased premium ice time.

[dissentowner]

Leadership on this team is not a problem at all. Probably the least of our issues. A #1C and a competent head coach? That's another story.

[Jaydee]

stupid canadian management should have made tkachuk the captain of the team like 6 years ago, like every other canadian team does to keep top talent. hindsight 20/20

[Jay Random]

Six years ago, Tkachuk was an immature brat. Making him captain would have been a fast way to piss off all the actual leaders on the roster.

[Junglist]

Conroy’s biggest mistake was naming him captain.
He’s a fine assistant.

[Junglist]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Six years ago, Tkachuk was an immature brat. Making him captain would have been a fast way to piss off all the actual leaders on the roster.

Yea, Gio sure led us far.