The 2025 Offseason thread.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Bourque! Using the offer sheet to get him for a 2nd is good value (trading for him would likely cost more) and he can slot in as 3C with potential to go up the lineup as he continues to develop beyond his rookie season.

This. I would love this!

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Remain competitive for what a playoff spot? That shouldn't be an issue.

Many hear wanted Backlund relegated to 4th line duty and said him and Coleman actively cost us games because they didn't score enough.

Backlund is getting old, and his play is going to start to taper off, it is time for the safety valve be taken away from the team.

The younger guys need to step up and be the vets going forward.

Thinking this is a playoff team, and there is a lot of progression left next season would be a big miscalculation.

You already have Dino talking about Parekh like he will win the Norris, while he has been vehemently against him being put in the lineup these last 4 games because he isn't ready for the NHL.

We also don't have much in the pipeline in terms for skilled forwards, obviously at center.

Many who were clueless about his positive impact on this team. You remove Backlund or Coleman from their roles and the rest of the team gets significantly worse. They are world beaters against the heavies. Every other line would and do get their heads crushed when playing those minutes.

[Tacoman]

I've been told that Rasmus has been playing on a broken foot for the last month. No practices during that time. Hats off to him for battling through that pain and doing everything he could for the team. Was he good during that time? No. Were the other options behind him better? Probably not.

[Toonage]

That explains....well, everything.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Here are my predictions:

1. Flames attempt to sign andersson to a ludicrous contract extension. Fortunately for us, Andersson declines. Flames keep him until end of season anyways.
2. FLA-NJD Conference final means our picks are in the bottom 1/4 of the 1st. We get Jack Nesbitt and Malcolm Spence
3. The flames go hard after Bennett in the offseason, but end up a bridesmaid. Instead, we sign Ehlers to a 8 year contract.
4. Parekh starts on the bottom pairing. Sometimes sits for Hanley.
5. The flames start strong and fall back by christmas. Spend the rest of the season talking about how we're close to the playoffs and deserve to fight for the guys. Trade the lower of our 1sts before the trade deadline for a journeyman LD.
6. Miss Playoffs.

That's a fun little world you live in!

[Leeman4Gilmour]

Originally Posted by Tacoman

I've been told that Rasmus has been playing on a broken foot for the last month. No practices during that time. Hats off to him for battling through that pain and doing everything he could for the team. Was he good during that time? No. Were the other options behind him better? Probably not.

The first insider report!!

[PaperBagger'14]

Players re-signed:

Zary
Coronato
Klapka
Frost
Bahl
Vladar

(Mantha, Rooney, Kirkland and Hanley all walk)

Andersson traded

Huberdeau - Kadri - Klapka
Farabee - Frost - Coronato
Sharangovich - Backlund - Zary
Lomberg - Pospisil - XXXXX

Weegar - Bahl
Bean - Pachal
XXXXX - Parekh
Miromanov

Wolf
Vladar


I don’t see wholesale changes happening this year because of how close we got to the playoffs and I see management making smaller pushes to get to the post season next year.

I think we’ll see a marked improvement in scoring next year (Frost, Coronato, Klapka and Zary with strong progression) which will come at the the expense of the defense. I think Wolf will have a sophomore slump due to the team focusing on goal scoring. I also think Backlund and Kadri will regress and Huberdeau will still fail to live up to his contract.

I think the open cap space will burn a hole in Conroys pocket, leading him to try and sign some big names in FA but ultimately settling on some 2nd tier free agents (Bennett / Donato, M.Petterson / Orlov).

Overall next year will be a similar result to this year, floating in the middle and still lacking desperately in forward prospects with scoring potential.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I wonder what Conroy is thinking in regards to Mantha. Bring him back on another 1 year deal? Let him walk? Big guy who can skate and score the odd time. Or is there no room for him anymore if a guy like Klapka can play in a top 6 role next season?

As for the defense, it needs upgrades, preferably from within. Obviously Zayne is one, but another player or two from the Wranglers showing they can handle NHL full time would be lovely.

The forwards need elite offensive players to be contenders. Tough to get unless you draft one, trade for one, or sign as a UFA. All looking bleak for the Flames, drafting is the most obvious route, that also takes a few years to develop. Maybe they will get lucky and one or two will fall in their laps from somewhere, ie. a seemingly 'meh' trade where the player comes to Calgary and pops offensively.

Also, whatever the team did at the 2024 draft - do that again. Amazing draft class.

[SilverKast]

So we overachieve and just miss out on the playoffs. Is that best case scenario again for next year? How often do teams overachieve two years in a row? With a 30th ranked offense no less.

We have some good players, but not really any exceptional players (with a few exceptions for maybe in the future ie Wolf, Parekh). Last offseason we really set ourselves up for a down year that never happened. I'd plan for another down year, keeping cap space available again and keep trying to draft well.

- Move on from Anderson, Mantha, Rooney
- They'll likely go bargain bin shopping in UFA again looking for offense. Not sure that'll work out though
- I'd like to see them keep Vladar and promote from within to give some of the younger guys a shot - Stromgren, Honzek, Solovyov, Kuznetzov, maybe Poirier and Kerins

I think next year and the year after are our best shots at a real elite player in the draft. I don't want them to purposely lose, but a legitimate top end guy would make a huge difference in the long run. As it stands we're good enough to be competitive, but not bad enough for a top draft position - again. Seems we always find a way to stay in that mushy middle.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by PaperBagger'14

Players re-signed:

Zary
Coronato
Klapka
Frost
Bahl
Vladar

(Mantha, Rooney, Kirkland and Hanley all walk)

Andersson traded

Huberdeau - Kadri - Klapka
Farabee - Frost - Coronato
Sharangovich - Backlund - Zary
Lomberg - Pospisil - XXXXX

Weegar - Bahl
Bean - Pachal
XXXXX - Parekh
Miromanov

Wolf
Vladar

Coleman?

[PaperBagger'14]

Originally Posted by robertsfanatic

Coleman?

Bah I knew I’d miss someone.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Agree on trading any of the older players you can if the returns are decent.
Kadri after a career high in scoring would be smart to trade now.
I expect next season will see the older guys decline & younger guys take over (but not enough to be great yet); so make the trades you can now.

People really need to remember that Kadri simply doesn't want to be traded and has full trade control.

[robertsfanatic]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

You already have Dino talking about Parekh like he will win the Norris, while he has been vehemently against him being put in the lineup these last 4 games because he isn't ready for the NHL.

Dino can defend himself but why can't both be true? Parekh likely wasn't ready to make an impact in a crucial playoff race but next season with a full camp, etc then of course he could be.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

People really need to remember that Kadri simply doesn't want to be traded and has full trade control.

Yup.

If Kadri was open to a trade he's likely gearing up for the playoffs with Colorado right now.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

My hesitation is the consistent impact him and Backlund have on their line-mates including young players.

I would rather move Pospisil as I think other teams over-value guys like him. Take advantage of that.

I thought they should consider trading him last off season because of his good season possibly being an anomaly but mainly because he’s an injury risk.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Many who were clueless about his positive impact on this team. You remove Backlund or Coleman from their roles and the rest of the team gets significantly worse. They are world beaters against the heavies. Every other line would and do get their heads crushed when playing those minutes.

I think this is true of Backlund. Coleman I think you can move and replace.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by robertsfanatic

Dino can defend himself but why can't both be true? Parekh likely wasn't ready to make an impact in a crucial playoff race but next season with a full camp, etc then of course he could be.

Both can absolutely be true. Even if Parekh wins the calder or the norris or whatever next season, he’s not going to lock it in the first week.

It’s going to take time to get up to speed, and there was no time for that this season. Hell, he had an amazing season in the OHL, setting record highs for a defenceman. But nobody would have predicted that if they just looked at his first month.

Expecting him to be the best defenceman on the team through next season is not nearly as crazy as expecting him to be the best defenceman in his very first game or even week.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I wonder what Conroy is thinking in regards to Mantha. Bring him back on another 1 year deal? Let him walk? Big guy who can skate and score the odd time. Or is there no room for him anymore if a guy like Klapka can play in a top 6 role next season?

As for the defense, it needs upgrades, preferably from within. Obviously Zayne is one, but another player or two from the Wranglers showing they can handle NHL full time would be lovely.

The forwards need elite offensive players to be contenders. Tough to get unless you draft one, trade for one, or sign as a UFA. All looking bleak for the Flames, drafting is the most obvious route, that also takes a few years to develop. Maybe they will get lucky and one or two will fall in their laps from somewhere, ie. a seemingly 'meh' trade where the player comes to Calgary and pops offensively.

Also, whatever the team did at the 2024 draft - do that again. Amazing draft class.

I don't see no room for him here anymore. Signing would be blocking a young player from lineup.

Also wondering why Misa hasn't signed.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Mathgod

The problem with dealing Andersson is now you're selling low. Should we keep him for another year to see if he bounces back?

Anyways, I'm optimistic about next year, especially if Sharky heals back to 100%, and guys like Zary, Coronato, Frost, Klapka, Pospisil continue to improve. And of course Wolf has another lights-out year.

REALLY looking forward to seeing what Parekh can bring. That said, Flames are thin on the blue line even with him being added to the team, so let's see if Conny can make a sneaky-good pickup in free agency.

Rasmus is the last link to our playoff implosion against the Oilerz. Sooner rather than later. Everyone else that was completely useless is no longer on the team.

Sutter
Markstrom
Lindholm
Hanifin
Tkachuk
Mangiapane
Gudbradson
Dube
Jarnkrok


Never forget!

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think this is true of Backlund. Coleman I think you can move and replace.

Coleman is as impactful, if not more than, Backlund.