2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[CliffFletcher]

With Orlov and likely Burns on the way out, and $28 mil to spend, the Hurricanes are going to look very different next season regardless. Orlov and Burns out. Nikishin and Morrow in, along with probably another top 4 (Andersson?). And one of the big UFA forward (Marner/Bennet/Ehlers). Wouldn’t be surprised if they try to move Kotkoniemi as well.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Psytic

You did. Otherwise, what was the point of bringing up Montreal drafting in the top five only once in 10 years because of injuries to their top-line players? You're implying that this somehow disproves my point. But an injury isn't something you plan for. It's a fluke. Montreal was a middle-tier team that never would have drafted that high without that injury. That’s not a plan, and it supports what I’ve been saying.



Backstrom was an elite goalie who propped up a middle-of-the-pack team. That’s the comparison I was trying to make. That’s why I included him. It makes sense, right?

Crawford, on the other hand, was an average-to-above-average goalie playing behind a dynasty team. Chicago already had elite and future Hall of Fame players in place before he even became the starter. That’s not remotely comparable to the Flames' current situation. So yes, there's a reason why one is included and the other isn’t.

Pittsburgh, Chicago, even Tampa aren’t relevant comparisons. We’re looking for teams that resemble the Flames right now—teams that acquired an elite goalie and tried to stay competitive while building around a veteran core. That’s a small list. Only six teams in the last 15 years. The Flames are not tanking. They’re not planning to trade Kadri or most of their vets (aside from Andersson, as far as we know). They aren’t trying to draft in the top 10. So if we want a useful discussion, we need to compare apples to apples.

Bringing up examples that don’t reflect the Flames' current context just muddies the conversation.



No, they’re not. The Flames have never intentionally been bad. If they end up bad by accident, fine, but they’ve always tried to stay competitive. They target 20 to 25-year-old middle-six forwards, chase free agents, and spin their wheels. That’s the cycle I’m pointing out doesn’t work.

Unless you fully bottom out with veterans still in place, it doesn’t result in meaningful success. LA had Hall of Fame players at center and on defense. The Flames don’t. They had 96 points last season, and you can bet the plan is to stay in that range, not to pick top 10. Conroy has said he expects to be middle of the pack and remain competitive, trying to “roll Yahtzee” with mid-round picks with an elite goalie in place. That’s the issue, and that’s the pattern I’ve been highlighting.



It is a pattern, at least when we focus on teams in situations similar to the Flames. Of course it’s not, if you keep using examples that don’t actually apply.




That’s not a fair comparison. If the Flames could somehow tank with this current roster and land a top 2 picked center like Byfield, great. That’s what I’m advocating for. But that's not the plan management has outlined. The valid comparisons are with other teams that tried to build off a mediocre core and elite goalie, stayed competitive, and hoped for the best.

Take J.S. Giguère. Yes, he was acquired before Getzlaf, and yes, they won a Cup. But again, not comparable. Who’s our Selanne? Who’s our Niedermayer, who only signed because his brother was already there? Anaheim got incredibly lucky. They landed a Hall of Fame center in one of the deepest drafts in history at 19...that's extremely rare. That's not a plan. It's a perfect storm.

Unless the Flames sign Makar in free agency and Honzek turns into Getzlaf, the comparison doesn’t hold up. Even then, we’d still need a Selanne-level forward and for Parekh to develop like Niedermayer. That’s a massive amount of good fortune. You can’t build a model around that kind of outcome.

So again, if you can find a team in a truly comparable situation—no Hall of Famers, middle-of-the-pack core, elite goalie already in place, management committed to retooling on the fly with mid-round picks—and show me that more than 50% of them succeeded, then sure, I’ll concede the Flames might be following a sustainable model. But as it stands, I’ve found six examples, and it didn’t work out for any of them.

Looks like you're asking for a guarantee. Show me teams that have drafted very high repeatedly. Did they all win championships?

You're also looking at a lot of teams that built their draft strategy prior to the draft lottery changes and some even prior to the cap changes.

What Pittsburgh did, way back in 2002-2006, with two first and two second overall picks in 4 years doesn't happen anymore. Even then, they had to hit Crosby to make it work.

For every team that won a cup tanking out, there are multiple teams that just ended up bad or mediocre. Take a look at Buffalo, Vancouver, and the NYI. It's the teams that pull off moves like Vegas that win the cups. Yes, you need some high end talent from the draft, but once you have a couple of high end players to build around, the rest is up to asset management.

[SuperMatt18]

I'd still take Kotkaniemi back as a cap dump.

Still feel like he can be a 35-40 point third line guy that brings some size at center ice.

[Groot]

So if the Flames were picking 1st overall next 2 seasons, do they pass on McKenna or Dupont to instead chase their elite 1C?

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Groot

So if the Flames were picking 1st overall next 2 seasons, do they pass on McKenna or Dupont to instead chase their elite 1C?

Only if McKenna or Dupont have decided that they really want to play goal at the next level. If it's a 3-7 in a defense heavy draft, I would move it for a C.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I'd still take Kotkaniemi back as a cap dump.

Still feel like he can be a 35-40 point third line guy that brings some size at center ice.

I would pass. We already have a better player in Frost. We need another top 6 C.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Groot

So if the Flames were picking 1st overall next 2 seasons, do they pass on McKenna or Dupont to instead chase their elite 1C?

You wouldn't. But even if you get those two...it's like a football team that got a Left Tackle and an pass rusher but had an average or less QB. Both players could very well end up in the Hall of Fame. Both might never win a championship, and if they do it likely was just one.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Groot

So if the Flames were picking 1st overall next 2 seasons, do they pass on McKenna or Dupont to instead chase their elite 1C?

Take the best asset available, they can be traded later for a C if needed.

[Hockey_Ninja]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1933169924626690257

Well that's that

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

https://twitter.com/user/status/1933169924626690257

Well that's that

Hopefully that means a bidding war for Andersson.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

https://twitter.com/user/status/1933169924626690257

Well that's that

That means little. The Flames aren't selling but they are moving an asset that isn't returning. There's a difference.

I suppose it's a bummer news story for those dying for a purging of veterans and praying for the tank.

[Funkhouser]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

https://twitter.com/user/status/1933169924626690257

Well that's that

I agree, now is the time for the Flames to take advantage of a situation for once!

Prices are low...we sell
Prices are high...we buy
Cap space is valuable...we have none
Cap space isn't valuable...we have plenty


If CGY wants to get ahead, we need to follow the Hurricanes school of management and zig when others zag.

Draft picks are cheapest at the trade deadline? Buy them.
Players have the most value at the trade deadline? Sell them.
UFAs are most expensive on July 1st? Don't sign them.

No one else is selling right now? SELL.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

https://twitter.com/user/status/1933169924626690257

Well that's that

Well, McKenna to the Pens seems to be locked up. Lemieux - Crosby - McKenna. FML

[ForeverFlameFan]

So I guess only the Penguins and Oilers get generational talent

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by traptor

The article the other day from Kent showed the althea majority or ice time and production still comes from our vets group. This isn't indicative of a rebuilding team.

Irrelevant. One does not preclude the other in any way, shape or form

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

https://twitter.com/user/status/1933169924626690257

Well that's that

One media hit definitely is the arbiter of truth lol

[Royle9]

I mean, are we surprised the Flames are not "selling"?
They aren't sellers, they aren't getting rid of everything, they are in a re-tool.
The flames ARE selling certain pieces, but not everyone can be had.

I think that's a very LOOSE term being thrown out by LeBrun, because there are far more teams looking to move pieces off their team than just the Penguins.

Anaheim, Buffalo, LA, Calgary, Carolina, Toronto and Dallas all looking to change their roster up...

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I mean, are we surprised the Flames are not "selling"?
They aren't sellers, they aren't getting rid of everything, they are in a re-tool.
The flames ARE selling certain pieces, but not everyone can be had.

I think that's a very LOOSE term being thrown out by LeBrun, because there are far more teams looking to move pieces off their team than just the Penguins.

Anaheim, Buffalo, LA, Calgary, Carolina, Toronto and Dallas all looking to change their roster up...

I think there will be tons of teams looking to sell and buy.

[Toonage]

Pierre basically saying the Pens are showing their hand early as a team that wants to tank next season.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Hockey_Ninja

https://twitter.com/user/status/1933169924626690257

Well that's that

perfect we can stop talking about it