[Trade] Weegar to Utah for Maatta, Castagna, 3 x 2026 2nd rounders

[icarus]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Arizona made those picks from 2021 to 2024, and Utah is (in all probability) making the playoffs in 2026; and they might end up with a better record than any Pacific Division team, while still finishing fourth in their own division.



If the Flames make the playoffs two years from now, I will be sufficiently pleased.

Per the analogy, we're looking at Calgary's picks from 2024 to 2027 and making the playoffs as a wildcard in 2029.

My hope is that our drafting and development proves to be better than Arizona's/Utah's was during its four years of draft pick hoarding, because I want the 2029 Flames to be ahead of where the Mammoth are today.

Maybe my expectations are unrealistic?

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Slanter

Yep, I understand this year was a lost year right from the start. I'm just saying these trades lock us into a lost year next year, and probably the next two at best.

Look, I said this was a personal opinion, and it really is. I've got boys 11 & 13. They're in the years where they become lifelong fans. And since they've become aware about hockey, the Flames have:

-Lost the best player on their roster to free agency (Gaudreau)
-Traded the next best player on their roster (Tkachuk)
-Traded the next best player on their roster (Lindholm)
-Traded their best player this year (Anderson)
-Traded my son's favorite player (Weegar)

Look... I know there are better players on the horizon. But we can also acknowledge this currently sucks. I can respect why the Flames management has been hesitant to do this. You're going to lose some fans now, and in the future.

So no, I don't want this team to bottom out hard. Was looking for a softer landing. But here we go.

You do understand that a "softer landing" would mean they might never get elite players?

The Flames tried the "softer landing" approach for years, and where did it get them?

They simply got worse year by year until they had little choice but to tear it down. This was always where they were going to eventually land, but you are likely correct, they will be very bad for some years. Hopefully they have some elite talent that is starting to develop when they move to the new rink.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Arizona made those picks from 2021 to 2024, and Utah is (in all probability) making the playoffs in 2026; and they might end up with a better record than any Pacific Division team, while still finishing fourth in their own division.

If the Flames make the playoffs two years from now, I will be sufficiently pleased.

Are you talking about the 27-28 season when they move into their new rink?

They are more likely to be a bottom feeder team then, than a playoff team.

[devo22]

thought about it for a bit and I still love this deal for the Flames. What bumps it up in my perception is that all of the 2nds are in the upcoming draft and not spread out over multiple drafts ... I think that's huge, because it gives Conroy options. Could move around the board, could use some of those picks to target young players (could easily see them go for someone like Kent Johnson), could just trust your scouts. Having four picks in the top half of the 2nd round just gives you a ton of opportunities.

I also like that they proactively made the call on a vet once they liked an offer. People on here have criticized the front office for waiting until a player is a pending free agent and forces their hands (like Andersson) ... well, here you go. We just don't know if Weegar can rebound at 32, but the fact that the Flames are moving him now might tell you their opinion on this.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by Slanter

Okay, since this is a message board, I'm allowed to say my opinion, right?

I don't like this trade. I was hoping for a quick bottom out and bounce-back. Maybe contending for the playoffs again in 2 years? Felt like Weegar, with his long-term contract and solid play could be part of that.

Feels like this trade locks us into 5 years of sucking. I'm not cool with that. And we're going to waste some solid Wolf years.

I don't like this trade.

I don't think ownership wants to be bad that long. They will probably replace Weegar sooner than later.

[CalgaryFan1988]

With the rumoured acquisition cost of RHD this TDL I was expecting an A prospect and a 1st. I’m a little underwhelmed. Oh well, hopefully the return on Coleman is a bit higher.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Slanter

Okay, since this is a message board, I'm allowed to say my opinion, right?

I don't like this trade. I was hoping for a quick bottom out and bounce-back. Maybe contending for the playoffs again in 2 years? Felt like Weegar, with his long-term contract and solid play could be part of that.

Feels like this trade locks us into 5 years of sucking. I'm not cool with that. And we're going to waste some solid Wolf years.

I don't like this trade.

I think we'd all like the Flames back in the playoffs in 2 years, but how was that ever going to happen with the lack of elite talent on the team?

Like it or not, this tear down is actually the quickest way back to the playoffs.

Not trading Weegar, Kadri and Coleman locks us into 5+ years of sucking. Have you looked at the standings? We suck with these guys right now. Think how bad we'll suck when these players start regressing and we can't trade them anymore.

[Ziggy Lidstrom]

The flames we had over the years peaked in 2022. Facts. They weren’t good enough at all. They had No chance to beat the oilers. We need to bide time to be able to have a chance to strike when the landscape of power shifts. Our youth and our bullets mean the flames are situation themselves to be poised for this type of scenario.

We have lots of youth that can be moved in other deals so this supports our efforts as well.

I’d like to see the flames really hunker into a losing stretch while giving young players runway to build value until the two superstar center potential emerges.

I think we can over take Arizona due to our scouting department.

[Flamesfan05]

It’s very difficult to draft yourself into a contender with mostly end of the first round and 2nd rounders. They are mostly fillers with few lucky exceptions . The team ain’t contending for several more ‘tanking’ seasons

[flame4life]

I am convinced there is a subset of CP that wouldn't be happy regardless of the return for Weegar. If you consider all the obstacles that had most observers saying that the odds of Weegar being traded were extremely low, I am amazed at the return was that able to be had for Weegar quite frankly. Conroy had to navigate the poor year he was having, the NTC, the long term left, and his age.

I get it, we all want the sit back and say man did we fleece the other team, but unless your dealing with an incompetent GM, the best you can hope for is a trade that is fair and equitable for both teams. Bill Armstrong is a great GM and Conroy is starting to cement his legacy as well. This was a good return for both teams and met both organizations needs and allows fresh start for players and directions of both teams to continue their trajectories.

I really believe given the comments from Craig that he is going to flip some of this capital to move even higher, and when you look at the complete picture (which isn't always know from the start) we may look back at this as one the better trades that has been made by Conroy. I am impressed and it solidifies our desire to finish bottom three and that was everyone's biggest concern heading into the trade deadline.

I will miss Weegar ... liked the player but loved the individual!

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Saw join date and understood the age bracket this assessment came from . No surprise.

Ah yes, the youngster combustibefuel who only recently signed up in...2013.

[samsaini]

Long-time lurker here.

Initial take, I don't know how to feel about this trade as it materialized so quickly. It might have been better to field some calls up until Friday and see if anyone else was able to beat this deal or not.

I also agree that it would have been ideal to get their 1st this draft, plus a roster player and an A prospect, as the Flames lack high-end talent. However, it all depends on how we utilize the draft capital we've accumulated. And if we've learned anything from Conroy and our scouting staff is that they're really good at evaluating talent and have a great opportunity to take advantage of the additional bullets we have now. Excited to see what they do with it!

[Flamescuprun2018]

Originally Posted by Slanter

Okay, since this is a message board, I'm allowed to say my opinion, right?

I don't like this trade. I was hoping for a quick bottom out and bounce-back. Maybe contending for the playoffs again in 2 years? Felt like Weegar, with his long-term contract and solid play could be part of that.

Feels like this trade locks us into 5 years of sucking. I'm not cool with that. And we're going to waste some solid Wolf years.

I don't like this trade.

I will be shocked if we are still a bottom feeder in 5 years. Even with a complete lack of first line talent and very raw D core we are battling in just about every game this season. Often losing 2-1 or 3-2 because we have an excellent goalie tandem and coaching staff who has the boys prepared.

I see two years of pain. It will all come down to which of our prospects emerge and how fast to drive our PP and first line production. But this team is being built correctly. Goalie and D first which always takes more time to develop.

I even wonder if our G and D core is already here?

Wolf/Cooley - solid
Bahl/Parekh - 1st pair?
Kuz/Brz - 2nd pair?

[Toonage]

Maatta has had a very pedestrian career all things considered. Not awful, not spectacular. I am very interested to see how he looks under this coaching staff who do a pretty damn good job with their d men

[Erick Estrada]

One of the weirdest trade returns ever netting 3 x 2nd rounders in the same draft. It definitely opens up a lot of possibilities and trade up scenarios. It will definitely be one of the more exciting drafts for this organization as there are plenty of possibilities.

[bubbsy]

This was the first trade I feel the flames have made that isn’t something forced upon them (pending UFA, guy wanting out). With the bad season weegar is having , thought they might be interested in waiting till the future on moving him.

I’m fine with return all things considered. The draft capital that is being accumulated is exciting. Build thru the draft!

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

It’s very difficult to draft yourself into a contender with mostly end of the first round and 2nd rounders. They are mostly fillers with few lucky exceptions . The team ain’t contending for several more ‘tanking’ seasons

Unless you draft a Robertson, a Johnston, a Hintz, a Harley, a Lindell and a Bourque. Then you can build an elite team.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Flamesfan05

It’s very difficult to draft yourself into a contender with mostly end of the first round and 2nd rounders. They are mostly fillers with few lucky exceptions . The team ain’t contending for several more ‘tanking’ seasons

People over-estimate what these tanking trades return. Barring flukes or mis-management - you aren't going to get elite assets out of these trades (meaning high draft picks or top prospects - maybe you get lucky with your late 1st/2nd round picks)

IF you look at teams coming out of rebuilds vast majority of their top guys are from them being terrible and drafting high with their own picks:

Anaheim - they traded for Gauthier but that was a not a rebuilding trade and forced by the player, everyone else was drafted - Sennecke/Carlsson being their two early picks

Detroit - Raymond, Seider, Edvinsson were drafted players - but they also have a bunch of older guys

Montreal - Caufield, Demidov, Slafkovsky


The main benefit of these trades is not the assets you land (although they help) - its being terrible enough to get top picks.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Unless you draft a Robertson, a Johnston, a Hintz, a Harley, a Lindell and a Bourque. Then you can build an elite team.

They also drafted Oettinger the same years as Robertson. Now, this year he’s not so hot, but still a guy who could turn it on.

And they drafted Stankoven, who was part of getting Rantanen (and who was pretty good anyway).

[Braden]

Debrincat was a 2nd not Detroits pick but whatever
Hutson was a 2nd
Kapanen was a 2nd
Lacombe was a 2nd

Personally I think your underestimating building thru the draft