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

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by dino7c

This was always the Gaudreau argument, Marner is a playmaker first. Points are points.

He steals the puck and sets up Marner for the winner...its at least half his goal he made 2 plays.

Assists are not the same as goals. For one, you can have two assists on any given goal. So no, assists are not equal to goals.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

If there are no moves made this off-season (which is unlikely, granted), does this team take a step forward or a step back? Do the aging vets + what went right normalizing outweigh the improving youth and what went wrong normalizing? I guess this is what Conroy is being paid to decide. I do agree with you in that there are two plausible outcomes. I am leaning more to the Flames regressing than surging, all things being equal, and if moves are made on that side of the equation, then I think ti is a top 5 pick next draft. However, a few moves can be made to get this team into the playoffs next season too.

If no moves are made, I still see the team progressing rather than regressing.

Players that will regress:
Backlund
Coleman (I hope they trade him and give the spot to a graduating Wrangler)

Players that should perform the same:
Weegar
Kadri
Hubderdeau (still possible to see an improvement)
Lomberg
Pospisil

Players that should improve:
Coronato
Zary
Wolf
Bahl
Klapka

Wildcards, hopefully they improve:
Sharangovich
Frost
Farabee

New Players (with who they're replacing)
Parekh (Andersson) - i think there is a legitimate chance this is an upgrade. Andersson had a bad year, and Parekh should bring more offebse especially on the PP
Brzustewicz (Miromanov) - I can't imagine this is a downgrade, maybe lateral but a chance for improvement
Kerins (Rooney) - I see this is a potential upgrade

Then add in some more youth that are ready or nearly there:
Stromgren
Suniev
Honzek
Solovyov
Kuznetsov
Grushnikov
Poirier

The Flames really are just missing a couple pieces. It's unfortunate that those pieces are 1-2 PPG+ forwards. So the big game hunting does make sense IMO and that would really help push the team forward.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think we agree to disagree here.



Boston and Nashville. Both better-constructed teams with great goaltending, both in the bottom 5 this year.


Anything can happen, and my point is exactly this - take a peg or two off this roster, and there will be a bottom 5 finish. Add a peg or two, and you probably get playoffs. I don't subscribe at all to the 'not gonna happen' definitive statements that people throw around. We will have a better idea of what is more likely to happen based on the moves that Conroy makes.



Plus, how many teams are going to be 'bad' this year? Which teams are actively tanking? Which ones are trying to get better or seemingly coming out of their rebuilds? There will be less 'easy points' this year. Chicago is even desperate to bring in established players to insulate Bedard, who apparently isn't happy in Chicago. San Jose won't be a powerhouse, but they will be better to 'x' degree at least. Nashville and Boston won't be that bad again. Anaheim is rising from their ashes. Columbus is definitely tracking well.


Philadelphia is a wildcard to me. Pittsburgh is somewhat, if Crosby ends up leaving Pittsburgh to chase a cup. Vancouver maybe, if the realize that they need to move on from Hughes this season to maximize their return, but I think it is more likely that they try for one more season at least before that happens. At this point in time, there are not a lot of teams actively tanking, or even regressing. Their improvements means less points to go around.


I guess we argue from two different points of view here. My point is that last season was an outlier, rather than a baseline. You are probably seeing last season as a baseline, rather than an outlier. I don't think it matters what point of view we see it from really. I guess whatever moves Conroy makes is what will be the basis for which direction the Flames go towards, and how far. That's my point in a nutshell.

Boston is not a better constructed team. They lost McAvoy, and their best d-man was Zadorov? The forward group outside of Pastrnak is awful.

Nashville had a similarly bad defence once Josi was out.

In order to get that bad, the flames need to trade Kadri, Coleman, and Andersson. Then have Weegar and likely Zary miss large parts of the season with injury.

In order to get bottom five, you need an awful roster plus injuries to key players. Easier said than done.

[rollie619]

I think with the flames track record on ufas we should just stay away. I know I had wanted them earlier to go after Knies, but it never seems to turn out well when the Flames go after UFAs with rare exceptions. (Hudler, Tanguay, Russell, Glencross).

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by rollie619

I think with the flames track record on ufas we should just stay away. I know I had wanted them earlier to go after Knies, but it never seems to turn out well when the Flames go after UFAs with rare exceptions. (Hudler, Tanguay, Russell, Glencross).

You can add Tanev, Kadri, Coleman, Markstrom, Gudbranson to that list. It has been awhile since the Flames had a major miss on the UFA scene, almost always hitting recently.

Point of UFA’s obviously being to improve your team or have a chip to trade in the future to pick up 1st and 2nd round picks, prospects and other great young players. It is almost a no brainer to dabble in the UFA market if you have cap space.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

You can add Tanev, Kadri, Coleman, Markstrom, Gudbranson to that list. It has been awhile since the Flames had a major miss on the UFA scene, almost always hitting recently.

And in fact some of that is how they’ve been been able to build back up the asset base with picks and prospects

[rollie619]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

You can add Tanev, Kadri, Coleman, Markstrom, Gudbranson to that list. It has been awhile since the Flames had a major miss on the UFA scene, almost always hitting recently.

Point of UFA’s obviously being to improve your team or have a chip to trade in the future to pick up 1st and 2nd round picks, prospects and other great young players. It is almost a no brainer to dabble in the UFA market if you have cap space.

I mean, I guess I should look at it glass half full, because you're right since the Neal fiasco, the track record has been a lot better.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

And in fact some of that is how they’ve been been able to build back up the asset base with picks and prospects

Yes, signing UFA’s gave the Flames the 18th overall pick, Bahl, Battaglia and Grushnikov.

Plus whatever the Flames may end up getting if they trade Coleman/Kadri/Lomberg at some point. No brainer to be active in the UFA market.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

I’d be way more interested giving John Tavares 4/$40M before paying whatever it’ll cost to sign Marner or Bennett.

The dude is a reliable PPG centre who doesn’t miss games, and if he has to go on LTIR in a few years, so be it.

Agree somewhat but at 35 I would only offer 3 X 8m. I think Treliving wants him back but will he low ball him too much?

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Agree somewhat but at 35 I would only offer 3 X 8m. I think Treliving wants him back but will he low ball him too much?

If you’re offering a 3 year deal I think Tavares would be looking at 10m at minimum.

Which imo wouldn’t be a bad gig. Ditch Toronto for a few seasons with a little pay day and then come back to the Leafs if they’re still a contender. 3 years/10m would make a lot of sense. His cap would expire when Parekh needs a new deal, and hopefully by then we have a good center replacement in the top 6.

[dammage79]

Jonathan Toews should be a camp invite for some team this year. I'd like it to be CGY for giggles and spits. See if hes got anything left in the tank.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Jonathan Toews should be a camp invite for some team this year. I'd like it to be CGY for giggles and spits. See if hes got anything left in the tank.

You know who would give him a camp invite for sure? The Grease Pigs.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Plus, how many teams are going to be 'bad' this year?

People said the same thing last season when arguing that the Flames were likely heading for a bottom 5 season. And yet rebuilding teams like Chicago, San Jose, Anaheim, Buffalo, and Philly remained bad, while mediocre teams like Boston and Nashville plunged in the standings.

We’ll see the same thing next season. Maybe Anaheim and Utah improve. But it’s not hard to imagine the Penguins, the NYI, and the Canucks suffering big drops in the standings.

If I was a betting man, I’d put money on the following teams all finishing worse than the Flames next season:

SJ
CHI
PHI
NYI
PIT
SEA
BOS
VAN

Having said that, I do think the Flames are vulnerable to a dip. If any of Kadri, Weegar, or Wolf miss a stretch of the season with injuries, the playoffs are likely out reach.

[Jason14h]

The thing is we’ve seen Kadri check out before . We’ve seen Huberdeau be useless

Most of our top players are old . If we start slow is it really a stretch in the 2nd half that the veterans give a S meters are low ? This year our team probably had close to if not the best GAS meter in the NHL

Parekh could easily struggle defensively as a rookie , Wolf could just be good , and age could catch up to a few players . We were still a negative goal differential team (12 worse) in the NHL

I expect this team to be bottom 10 next year - and if a few of Chicago , Anahiem and SJ take a big step forward it’s not that hard to see a world where we are a bottom 3 team in the west next year

It’s also not hard to see those teams all stink , Van stink , and Flames fighting for a spot again

[ForeverFlameFan]

Okay, hear me out… what about Marchand? Winger, yes, and we’re strong in that position. However, throw Zary on the center dot the whole season and grab Marchand to really take Pospisil under his wing.

Perfect player to throw some high $’s, 2-3 year cap hit.

[Badgers Nose]

#### Toews and his bunch of CHI ###### bags. Let him go back there, I want no part of him.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Okay, hear me out… what about Marchand? Winger, yes, and we’re strong in that position. However, throw Zary on the center dot the whole season and grab Marchand to really take Pospisil under his wing.

Perfect player to throw some high $’s, 2-3 year cap hit.

I have always wanted Marchand ever since he used D Sedin as his punching bag. And if he can teach Pospisil how to be a rat even better.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Assists are not the same as goals. For one, you can have two assists on any given goal. So no, assists are not equal to goals.

depends on the goal, often the assist is what makes it happen. McDavid had less goals than Jake Debrusk....by your logic Jake was better this season

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by dino7c

depends on the goal, often the assist is what makes it happen. McDavid had less goals than Jake Debrusk....by your logic Jake was better this season

Lol

Mcdavid had .39 g/gp and 1.49 p/gp

Debrusk had .34 g/gp and .59 p/gp.

Cmon man, at least make it look like you're trying.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Okay, hear me out… what about Marchand? Winger, yes, and we’re strong in that position. However, throw Zary on the center dot the whole season and grab Marchand to really take Pospisil under his wing.

Perfect player to throw some high $’s, 2-3 year cap hit.

Marchand would add a lot more entertainment value to an already exciting team.