[Rumour] Dailyfaceoff: Flames might go big game hunting this summer

[dino7c]

Even SJ signed vet UFAs, every team does this
people complained with the Tanev and Markstrom signings...now the Flames have young assets and picks for those free aquisitions

The narrative the Flames were desperately trying to spend to the cap is laughable

[dino7c]

Also, some of the reactions in this thread are why the Flames are constantly mentioned in these rumors...you rubes fall for the click bait every single time

[Lewis_D]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Also, some of the reactions in this thread are why the Flames are constantly mentioned in these rumors...you rubes fall for the click bait every single time

Aren't rumours like this started by the player agents more often than not anyways? At least that seems to be the case in many others sports, it's a classic tactic in trying to manufacture interest & value in your player to get the best possible deal.

Flames are probably being mentioned in these rumours since they have the cap space.

[HitterD]

One thing I keep thinking, despite rumours that Marner may not want to play for any other canadian team than Toronto, is that Kadri was much the same (actually didnt want to go anywhere but Toronto), but now after settling here and seeing how much less of a spotlight you are in in CGY vs Toronto, he apparently has no interest in going anywhere but here now.

Marner and Kadri played together in London, and again in Toronto, and even succeeded playing on the same line at times. They are both still quite close friends. It woulnd't shock me at all if Kadri gets in Marner's ear about joining a young competitive team here in Calgary.

Money will still talk, and the Flames will have to pay up, no discounts. But i could see it.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Barrie was the other one. Mantha and Barrie are exactly that though. Doesn't matter that they both failed spectacularly, that's why they were here.

If Barrie is one of your examples whatever point you are making is weak.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by dino7c

you rubes

Someone needs to study immunity to irony.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Lewis_D

Aren't rumours like this started by the player agents more often than not anyways? At least that seems to be the case in many others sports, it's a classic tactic in trying to manufacture interest & value in your player to get the best possible deal.

Flames are probably being mentioned in these rumours since they have the cap space.

Yeah, the same guy also has one written about the Wild. I don’t think his article is worth getting in a tizzy about.

[Icon]

"Practially cap-floor team that missed playoffs by 1 point expected to sign more good players to improve playoff chances"

Yep.

Cynicism aside, I bet we throw big bucks at Marner but hear he accepts a slightly lower offer elsewhere.

So instead we go to the trade market... Rossi / McTavish & Peterka (sign & trade)

[Sec214]

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by HitterD

One thing I keep thinking, despite rumours that Marner may not want to play for any other canadian team than Toronto, is that Kadri was much the same (actually didnt want to go anywhere but Toronto), but now after settling here and seeing how much less of a spotlight you are in in CGY vs Toronto, he apparently has no interest in going anywhere but here now.

Marner and Kadri played together in London, and again in Toronto, and even succeeded playing on the same line at times. They are both still quite close friends. It woulnd't shock me at all if Kadri gets in Marner's ear about joining a young competitive team here in Calgary.

Money will still talk, and the Flames will have to pay up, no discounts. But i could see it.

Your point is valid.

But just wanted to flag that Marner and Kadri never overlapped in London, but did have 3 seasons together in Toronto.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Goriders

if you dump Anderson what are you replacing him with.

Yeah I don't know. That -38 will be hard to replace. You'd need someone really one dimensional or out of their depth.

Not sure even rookie Parekh can do it.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Icon

"Practially cap-floor team that missed playoffs by 1 point expected to sign more good players to improve playoff chances"

Yep.

Cynicism aside, I bet we throw big bucks at Marner but hear he accepts a slightly lower offer elsewhere.

So instead we go to the trade market... Rossi / McTavish & Peterka (sign & trade)

McTavish would be awesome. I don’t see anything that would get him that the Flames would want to trade

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Your point is valid.

But just wanted to flag that Marner and Kadri never overlapped in London, but did have 3 seasons together in Toronto.

100% Was about to edit as I rethought my timeline and realized I was way off (must have been thinking Tkachuk and Marner). I'll leave the post as is and take my medicine haha

[Ashes]

This "big game hunting" rumour is both exciting and terrifying for me.

Exciting since we desperately need TOP players, we have an absolute log-jam of middle-six players on the main squad, with a bunch more kids pushing for spots that don't exist. Yes, of course you never know what the prospects and AHL guys will do until they get their chance but IMO we don't have any other forward on the roster besides Coronato that could belong on a top line if he reaches his potential. Kadri is that right now, but he's also what? 35? So with that said, absolutely. If we are acquiring any forwards they have to top-line guys and that isn't easy or cheap to acquire if you aren't drafting them.

It's also terrifying because it feels too soon for a move like this IMO. We just don't know what this team is yet. Last year in typical Flames fashion we had no expectations and the hockey world thought we would suck, so naturally we almost made the playoffs. This year? Well, most people myself included would probably expect them to push for playoffs again, so there's a decent chance they fall flat on their face/unforseen injuries/etc. So why push all our chips in before we know what this team is, when there's a potential franchise defining draft next year if we have a bad year? Maybe I'm crazy.

I want this team to be good again, cup contender status, but if the price of admission is staying the course for one more year and seeing what we have and hopefully drafting another parekh-level prospect next season I'd rather do that personally. I'd vote to save the big game hunting for next summer.

[Toonage]

I remember Steinberg being almost giddy when discussing Conroy wanting to go after Rantanen before he ended up signing with Dallas. To me, it would seem he has some inside info of how the team wants to operate this off season.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Someone needs to study immunity to irony.

You are the one freaking about about rumors and suggesting the Flames were desperate to spend cap space despite having the most in the NHL over the last year. Narrative doesn't fit reality though.

Marner is a GREAT player I like him more than most, he can play on my team any day. He ain't coming to Calgary. Flames will continue to try and add good players 25 and younger.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

The thing with Marner is he is a winger that could easily be moved to centre. His entire game is already more suited to centre than wing, you would just need to work on his faceoffs. I believe that would be the plan if they could sign Marner is to play him down the middle.

It has been stated before that he has never played center.

Converting a 27 year old career winger into a center is terrible, and an idea that would scare him away likely.

This is like the time Sutter said Tanguay is a center and freaked him out.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I remember Steinberg being almost giddy when discussing Conroy wanting to go after Rantanen before he ended up signing with Dallas. To me, it would seem he has some inside info of how the team wants to operate this off season.

Yeah Steinberg and Francis have very confidently said multiple times that the flames will try to big game hunt in free agency, and not just Marner. They were talking about Bennett.

Which makes me very nervous, although I'm optimistic that there is no way Bennett would come here.

[dino7c]

Any responsible GM would take a look at any top player available for no asset cost. "Flames are going all in!" is the click bait

Getting angry or worried about something with probably less than a 1% chance of happening is odd to me.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I remember Steinberg being almost giddy when discussing Conroy wanting to go after Rantanen before he ended up signing with Dallas. To me, it would seem he has some inside info of how the team wants to operate this off season.

To me, right now Steinberg is talking about Bennett in the exact same way he did Markstrom. I'd guess Steinberg knows to some degree the Flames are going to pitch him.

I'd be a bit surprised if the Flames don't pitch both Bennett and Ekblad, honestly.

I don't think Marner would sign here, and Dreger I believe had mentioned that if it's not Toronto, then it's not Canada for Marner.

So, Conroy could:

Trade Andersson at the draft alongside some + to try and acquire a top scorer, or trade Andersson to gain some parts that he could then re-ship to acquire a scorer.

Then on free agent day, the Flames make big pitches to Bennett and Ekblad using Conroy/Huby/Weegar/the new arena as selling points (alongside big $$). If they say nah, then Conroy shot his shot and still marched towards his general overall plan.

I'd be overjoyed if somehow something like that all came together (understanding it's probably near-dream level of perfect outcomes).

Huberdeau - Bennett - Coronato
Zary - Kadri - Top Scorer
Sharangovich - Frost - Farabee
Pospisil - Backlund - Klapka
Lomberg

Weegar - Ekblad
Bahl - Parekh
Pachal - Brzustewicz
Solo

Wolf
Cooley

...that'd be an outrageously fun team to watch.