[News] Francis: One-year faceplant

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Slight chance we see it this summer but very good chance we see it in 2027 but I think the Flames will be proactive in adding pieces to open the new rink. I could see them chasing some free agents and being aggressive on the trade front to really be able to sell hope for the first season in Scotia Place.

So, back to being in the mushy middle again?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

So, back to being in the mushy middle again?

Avoiding become the Sabres west? Opening a new barn with massive price increases across the board. Can’t see them wanting to pick top 5 many times in the early days of that barn

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Slight chance we see it this summer but very good chance we see it in 2027 but I think the Flames will be proactive in adding pieces to open the new rink. I could see them chasing some free agents and being aggressive on the trade front to really be able to sell hope for the first season in Scotia Place.

I think so too but the 2026 and especially 2027 UFA classes are very very ugly.

2026:
Panarin
Kempe
Tuch
Andersson
Schmaltz
Matheson
Bjorkstrand
Laine
Trouba
Ferraro

Could see the Flames having interest in both Ferraro and Kempe but not much else.

Edit - I'm stupid and don't know how to use CapWages - so 2027 is actually good.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Avoiding become the Sabres west? Opening a new barn with massive price increases across the board. Can’t see them wanting to pick top 5 many times in the early days of that barn

You avoid becoming the Sabres West by having competent management.

How would you like having the Anaheim, San Jose or Chicago future right now?

That's what multiple top 5 picks can get you if done properly.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I think so too but the 2026 and especially 2027 UFA classes are very very ugly.

2026:
Panarin
Kempe
Tuch
Andersson
Schmaltz
Matheson
Bjorkstrand
Laine
Trouba
Ferraro

Could see the Flames having interest in both Ferraro and Kempe but not much else.

2027 is abysmal - Morgan Frost might be the top UFA in 2027 and that's 2 years out. https://capwages.com/players/ufas

That 2027 offseason is going to be interesting - there are no good UFAs and there is a rising cap.

If guys like Huberdeau, Weegar, or Sharangovich have good seasons going into that offseason they will probably be able to return a pretty big premium in a trade.

2027 has some massive names right now. Makar, Kucherov, Crosby, Hughes, Hischier but many of them will sign.

I don’t see the Flames going after any big UFA’s this summer but I see them going aggressive at the RFA’s over the next couple of years who would be available and after they sell off Andersson, Kadri, Coleman they will have one of the deepest asset chests in the league.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

You avoid becoming the Sabres West by having competent management.

How would you like having the Anaheim, San Jose or Chicago future right now?

That's what multiple top 5 picks can get you if done properly.

Having multiple draft picks and making the right ones helps as well. I don’t expect the Flames to be in the playoffs year one in the building but I feel strongly they will want to sell hope that is possible. Having 3 top 10 picks and multiple firsts for several consecutive years could help.

Sabres ran a 10 game winning streak in the Eichel days so are we a little too premature anointing these other rebuilding clubs?

Maybe the flames pick 7-13 in 2028 but I can’t see them opening that rink with a team expected to be bottom 3.

[prizefighterinferno]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

2027 has some massive names right now. Makar, Kucherov, Crosby, Hughes, Hischier but many of them will sign.

I don’t see the Flames going after any big UFA’s this summer but I see them going aggressive at the RFA’s over the next couple of years who would be available and after they sell off Andersson, Kadri, Coleman they will have one of the deepest asset chests in the league.

I will have high hopes until they are squashed by an extension that a new barn and a couple top 3 picks in tow (as well as another couple first rounders from the sell-off) to boot alongside Wolf, Parekh, Reschny, Gridin, Coronato etc. will be enough to lure Cale back home. He'll still be young enough that a long term deal at stupid money would likely be worth it.

Eyes on the prize everyone. Even though these next couple years are going to suck we'll have prospects to dream on coming out of our ears and a strong chance to see a fun competitive team again soonish that will hopefully be one for many years if things break favourably.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by prizefighterinferno

I will have high hopes until they are squashed by an extension that a new barn and a couple top 3 picks in tow (as well as another couple first rounders from the sell-off) to boot alongside Wolf, Parekh, Reschny, Gridin, Coronato etc. will be enough to lure Cale back home. He'll still be young enough that a long term deal at stupid money would likely be worth it.

Eyes on the prize everyone. Even though these next couple years are going to suck we'll have prospects to dream on coming out of our ears and a strong chance to see a fun competitive team again soonish that will hopefully be one for many years if things break favourably.

Ya I am trying to be glass half full about the Scotia Place opening. I have such a strong feeling we are getting McKenna. My understanding is Makar built a home and lives in Calgary in the offseason. The Avs are so good right now and it seems like a no brainer they won’t make the same mistake with him that they did Rantanen and will extend him for as much money as he wants.

With that said joining your hometown team in the first year of the new barn with lots of young talent I know I am daring to dream

[traptor]

The league feels a little watered down after the expansion drafts. The UFA groups seem weaker and weaker to me. Maybe it's just some bias or change in my perspective though

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

2027 has some massive names right now. Makar, Kucherov, Crosby, Hughes, Hischier but many of them will sign.

I don’t see the Flames going after any big UFA’s this summer but I see them going aggressive at the RFA’s over the next couple of years who would be available and after they sell off Andersson, Kadri, Coleman they will have one of the deepest asset chests in the league.

Oops - for some reason Capwages sorts by projected cap instead of current cap - and doesn't have a projected cap for any of the top names.

So yeah 2027 is much better.

Makar, Batherson, Debrincat, Zacha, Kucherov, Hughes, Hischier

But all those names will be re-signed first probably.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

So, back to being in the mushy middle again?

In between being one of the worst teams in the league to being one of the top teams in the league, there are going to be a few seasons of being one of the teams in the middle.

There's not really any way around that.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by getbak

In between being one of the worst teams in the league to being one of the top teams in the league, there are going to be a few seasons of being one of the teams in the middle.

There's not really any way around that.

As a Flames fan I wouldn't know about that.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by getbak

In between being one of the worst teams in the league to being one of the top teams in the league, there are going to be a few seasons of being one of the teams in the middle.

There's not really any way around that.

Agreed, but in trying to be playoff team, you likely ensure the mushy middle may last forever.

If you are SJ or Chicago, your team is off to a decent start, but they shouldn't be trading future assets for medium short term upgrades in an attempt to make the playoffs.

Instead, stay the course, and keep building for a future contending team.