The 2025 Offseason thread.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Spoke with Sharks sources. San Jose is looking at right handed D (Ekblad is option 1 and then guys like Pionk) etc to sign this offseason but if that doesn’t work they would trade for one as a plan B. Andersson’s name came up in conversation. He has a 6 team no trade clause and San Jose I’m told is not one of the 6.

Sharks are also high on Vladar and have been told they would like to add him.

That could be an extremely cool and profitable trade. I'm sure Andersson + Vladar would return some very tasty chum from the shark tank.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

If nothing else, Zayne instantly makes the Flames PP better. They desperately need someone like him who can QB the PP. And he probably thrives in 3 on 3 as well.

The idea that the Flames can't be better next season is crazy to me.

Hey look, we agreed on something.

We likely agree on most things, just not odds that don't matter now anyway.

We all want young stars right?
Like we have the best rooking goalie in the NHL but he played too good and can't possibly repeat it? Like why can't he be even better next season?

Prospect breaks Bobby Orr's record in junior
"Oh he can't improve the team next year" like why the #### not? Flames were a top 8 team in regulation surely he could help in the 3 on 3 and on the PP no? Offensive dmen step into the NHL and make an impact right away all the time these days.

Flames could easily have calder candidates in back to back years but you would never know it around here sometimes

[Mathgod]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Backlund is old. Coleman is old. Kadri is old. They won’t keep improving. Frost and Farabe might make up for their drop off but if end up trading 1 or 2 of those guys that offence is gone as well.

Team improving is very relevant because they are in our division and could be taking wins from us.

The team was .500 for a good portion until the 5 nations game.

Build through the draft. Stay away from free agency. Because we are in my opinion far off from being a consistent playoff challenger. We dont have the star players, and going out and trading for more support players just has us spinning our wheels.

What makes you think Zary, Coronato, Pospisil, Frost, Klapa, and other young players won't improve? And what makes you think we won't get more out of Sharangovich if he comes back 100% healthy?

Wouldn't surprise me if Andersson was playing with an injury too.

[dino7c]

Klapka was an absolute beast down the stretch...when he goes to the net with his stick on the ice who is gonna move him?

"only 6 goals"

yeah 4 in the last 9 games when he actually got a shot

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Backlund is old. Coleman is old. Kadri is old. They won’t keep improving. Frost and Farabe might make up for their drop off but if end up trading 1 or 2 of those guys that offence is gone as well.

Team improving is very relevant because they are in our division and could be taking wins from us.

The team was .500 for a good portion until the 5 nations game.

Build through the draft. Stay away from free agency. Because we are in my opinion far off from being a consistent playoff challenger. We dont have the star players, and going out and trading for more support players just has us spinning our wheels.

What a new and exciting take that nobody here has heard from you repeatedly, in nearly every topic the entire past season and offseason

Here's some simple facts for you.

1) Nothing that fans say on a message board made for fans of the team has any bearing at all on what the organization will do.
2) Many, many people hope the team improves upon this season next year, and believes they can do so.

That's it. Those are two indisputable facts. Everyone and their neighbour knows you don't agree with #2. That's fine. You've made your point, over and over again.

How about you just let this topic be for the positive fans that want to talk about how the team can improve next year, with internal growth, graduating prospects, even *GASP* the dreaded trade or UFA signing. It does not matter at all and is part of what many people find fun in being a fan.

Nobody is going to try and change your opinion, it won't change. What people post on here won't change the direction of the organization either. So could you just let people have some fun in an offseason speculation thread instead of constantly trying to tell everyone how old and terrible the team is and will be without tanking and rebuilding?

[dino7c]

Exactly, if you want to tank there isn't much more to say...trade everyone (be below the cap I guess?) send Wolf to the Wranglers and try to aquire Stuart Skinner

Not only is it not happening its not even worth a reasonable discussion

Flames will try and get younger IMO but they will also be trying to improve. If you're expecting a tear it down rebuild at this point you are wasting everyones time...just get used to being mad but maybe just tell us about it once a week tops.

[SeanCharles]

Trade Andersson & Coleman

Acquire a top 4 LHD (Byram)

Dump Bean & Miromanov

Try and add another young middle 6 C

LW:
Huberdeau
Zary
Farabee
Lomberg

C:
Kadri
Frost
New guy??
Backlund
Kirkland

RW:
Coronato
Sharangovich
Klapka
Pospisil

LD:
Bahl
Byram
Solovyov
Hanley?

RD:
Weegar
Parekh
Pachal

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Have been one of the biggest Rasmus boosters over the years but describing this season as frustrating would put it lightly. -37 is bad.. really bad. He's doubly bad than the next Flame.

It will be interesting to see the extent of his injuries.

It's clear that they were not minor.

It may well effect his trade value if they can be cleared up over the summer but it's clear that affected his play. Teams may want to see him healthy and productive again before trading for him and especially signing him to a long extension.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I would like to see Bean, Rooney, Andersson, Coleman, Miromanov, Mantha all gone this offseason. Kadri is a leader and he wants to be here and he controls that so he isn't going anywhere. We need another top 6 centre to push Backlund down to 4th line C. Actually we need a top line C and it would be perfect with Kadri as 2C and Frost as 3C. I just don't see where you get that C in our age bracket, especially a RHS. You can draft him but unless you are drafting top 5 you are not finding a plug and play guy.

I'm not even certain that other than Misa there isn't another plug and play centre in the draft.

I'm not even certain if any of the other centres even play in the NHL next year, other than Martone who is physically more advanced than the others.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Flames were a top 8 team in regulation....

They actually weren't, you are basing it strictly on regulation loses. They had 27 loses but only 30 regulation wins, which is pretty average at best.

They simply had way more "ties" than other teams.

They were 10-14 in games that went beyond regulation, so only 2 games below .500 in those games.

So, if you base teams ability on how they faired outside of overtime/SO, the Flames are 30-27-24. Above average but not by much. Certainly not top 8.

[Erick Estrada]

Problem next season is that players the team leans on like Coleman, Backlund, Kadri are getting another year older and closer to the end and Huby is probably not going to be much better than he was this season. We already saw Backlund and Coleman take a step back this season and if they take another step back it's going to be hard to expect improvement. It's a lot to expect rookies to pick up all the slack. I'm totally fine with a season of regression if it leads to a high draft pick as this organization still needs more blue chip prospects.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

They need to get younger. Andersson should be #1 to go and Coleman should be on the block. They should look at if Kadri wants to move, the issue is if we draft a young g center we can’t Bedard them right away.

Cap space is plenty for teams so we won’t be in the retention game. So the cap should be used to sign the young pieces.

You will still have vets around and guys like Frost and Farabee are getting older and will take the veteran leadership of the team.

Get more picks and assets and stay away from dealing picks even if a Frost and Farabee come up. The team has enough middle 6 talent. They need top line players and stars and the only way we will get them is by drafting them.

You can’t be caught by this one off season like they did in 14/15. This team isn’t close at all. I’m sure pressure will come from the guy above but once we strike out in free agency hopefully they come to the realization this isn’t a quick fix. 25/26/27 draft load up.

I'm always a fan of moving a guy before it's too late but I don't think Kadri will move.

Conroy probably doesn't tank this off season and trade everyone. I think he will want to move guys where he has replacements lined up.

For me. I agree that Rasmus and Coleman need to be the guys moved out. Klapka proved to be deserving of a top 9 role, and we have Parekh to replace Rasmus.

I could see us targeting a UFA dman if Rasmus is trades, but this off season should be about the draft and extensions for the RFAs.

[Wastedyouth]

I hope they sign Marner.

Kid is absolutely elite in every aspect of the game.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I'm always a fan of moving a guy before it's too late but I don't think Kadri will move.

Conroy probably doesn't tank this off season and trade everyone. I think he will want to move guys where he has replacements lined up.

For me. I agree that Rasmus and Coleman need to be the guys moved out. Klapka proved to be deserving of a top 9 role, and we have Parekh to replace Rasmus.

I could see us targeting a UFA dman if Rasmus is trades, but this off season should be about the draft and extensions for the RFAs.

I sincerely doubt Coleman will be moved. They see him as too important to the culture, and a guy that can stick with younger players. And there's some value in that. I don't think there have been any whispers of either side intersted in parting ways.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I sincerely doubt Coleman will be moved. They see him as too important to the culture, and a guy that can stick with younger players. And there's some value in that. I don't think there have been any whispers of either side intersted in parting ways.

What culture ?

We can trade him at the deadline he should have value. We need to get younger and not keep everyone around again. We will check back when the playoffs are over and see what 35 years olds are carrying their team.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

That could be an extremely cool and profitable trade. I'm sure Andersson + Vladar would return some very tasty chum from the shark tank.

Vladar is a UFA.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

What culture ?

We can trade him at the deadline he should have value. We need to get younger and not keep everyone around again. We will check back when the playoffs are over and see what 35 years olds are carrying their team.

Coleman has some no trade protection, I think it's a 10 team trade list.

Since he has 2 years left, it becomes harder to fit him in for a contender at the deadline.

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

What culture ?

We can trade him at the deadline he should have value. We need to get younger and not keep everyone around again. We will check back when the playoffs are over and see what 35 years olds are carrying their team.

Coleman is the best 5v5 player on the team. Along with Backlund and typically Coronato they faced the heavies, with the hardest zone starts and dominated possession.

Losing Coleman would significantly impact this teams ability to remain competitive.

[cracher]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

What makes you think Zary, Coronato, Pospisil, Frost, Klapa, and other young players won't improve? And what makes you think we won't get more out of Sharangovich if he comes back 100% healthy?

Wouldn't surprise me if Andersson was playing with an injury too.

Ras and Weegs are both top 10 NHL for shot blocks, just under 200 for the season. I can't see how either of them can be healthy right now. This system is very punishing for D.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I sincerely doubt Coleman will be moved. They see him as too important to the culture, and a guy that can stick with younger players. And there's some value in that. I don't think there have been any whispers of either side intersted in parting ways.

It's also about opportunity and roster spots. They weren't trading him when they were fighting for the playoffs, but it is the off season now.

Do you trade Pospisil after a poor year?

Do you keep Klapka?

Do you trade Sharangovich after a poor year?

Do you extend Frost?

Conroy has shown the ability to buy low on players, doubt he sells low on anyone. At some point someone needs to go and with the cap going up I could see Coleman going as his contract is still a + contract.

I also see Huska and Conroy valuing intangibles. Pospisil is a very good skater and good on the forecheck, plays physical. Doubt he moves him for a mid-pick when he brings something to the table most the other guys don't.

There are a few wranglers that deserve a look too. Someone has to go, and a good GM needs to look at Coleman as the best option to move without killing the team. He returns more than most of the other guys in a trade too.