2024 Off-season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

Huberdeau is not a guy you build a franchise around and he certainly isn't the guy who puts fans in the seats.

Winning puts fans in the seats (of course winning is easier if you have legitimate superstars so it's the same either way). I think the important thing is that we get management in place that realizes and actualizes that it's not good enough to be satisfied with mere "good enough"... need folk in charge who will be satisfied with nothing less then indisputable greatness. I hope that's Conroy (but I still have doubts).

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by traptor

So true and it's only going to get worse if the oilers go deep or god forbid win the cup.

Oilers and flames are direct competitors over a limited market share and the flames are losing badly and in the down swing.

I don't know any kids that interested in the flames. I've met alot thay love the oilers.


Picking up some scrap players to battle for a wildcard spot isn't enough for existing fans or for the future growth of the club.

We need some superstar(s) and some deep runs.

The Flames should bottom out while they have a chance, players are ranked for a reason and all the teams that pick before them are more likely to get better players.

The oilers for all the problems in the past, found a way to grab a few skilled players. Flames have done a very poor job overall with a strategy and it shows. I always want to be optimistic, but the team finishing 9th still has me smh.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Well your plan keeps us in the mushy middle.

We need to draft and develop, and we need stars. We will not be getting a star going into UFA or trading away picks for a top 6C.

The draft is where a team is built. You finish off the team when they are ready by making trades, and some signing.

This is why we are in the position that we are.

Except it doesn't necessarily. People think they know how things are going to turn out every offseason, there always teams that surprise. I get it, the negative crowd thinks there only two options, the bottom and the mushy middle. It's the exact same thing that was said about Vancouver last off season. Boston was going to fall off a cliff. Nashville was not a playoff team. Seattle was a playoff team. The Senators were a playoff team and a possible contender. The Jets were going to stink. I can go on and on about all the things that were said that turned out wrong. The team went through a new coach, new system, and player changes this year. Sure, they could miss, be bottom 10, or just miss. What happens though if they land a top 6 C and a top 4 D and Sharangovich keeps improving? What happens if Kuzmenko plays at the pace he did once he got healthy and fit into the lineup? What happens if Mangiapane bounces back? What happens if the guys who has career years hit around the same totals or better? What happens if Wolf gets the net and plays like he has in the AHL? What happens if guys like Coronato and Pelletier take a step? It isn't as far fetched as you think the Flames could compete for the division even, hockey is a fools bet to try and predict.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

It was hardly a semi rant.

I was responding to the poster saying, lets use our assets we just acquired to go shopping for players.

The team needs to draft, and get some star power on the team. Not go shopping for middle 6 players with our picks and prospects. That is why we are here today.

I have bad news for you, Conroy has every intention of using some of those draft picks to acquire roster players. I would bet anything on that.

[Dan403]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I have bad news for you, Conroy has every intention of using some of those draft picks to acquire roster players. I would bet anything on that.

We'll see what actually happens.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I have bad news for you, Conroy has every intention of using some of those draft picks to acquire roster players. I would bet anything on that.

If he spends major futures to add to this roster then I’ll be pretty disappointed. Adding a top 4 D and a top 6 centre still leaves the Flames in a worse spot than last year.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Dan403

We'll see what actually happens.

We sure will. When multiple people plugged into the team say that Conroy is going to use some of those picks to acquire young roster players I listen.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Except it doesn't necessarily. People think they know how things are going to turn out every offseason, there always teams that surprise. I get it, the negative crowd thinks there only two options, the bottom and the mushy middle. It's the exact same thing that was said about Vancouver last off season. Boston was going to fall off a cliff. Nashville was not a playoff team. Seattle was a playoff team. The Senators were a playoff team and a possible contender. The Jets were going to stink. I can go on and on about all the things that were said that turned out wrong. The team went through a new coach, new system, and player changes this year. Sure, they could miss, be bottom 10, or just miss. What happens though if they land a top 6 C and a top 4 D and Sharangovich keeps improving? What happens if Kuzmenko plays at the pace he did once he got healthy and fit into the lineup? What happens if Mangiapane bounces back? What happens if the guys who has career years hit around the same totals or better? What happens if Wolf gets the net and plays like he has in the AHL? What happens if guys like Coronato and Pelletier take a step? It isn't as far fetched as you think the Flames could compete for the division even, hockey is a fools bet to try and predict.

I respect your optimism, but you know for some of us we've seen this play out over and over. Yeah a few things could change and suddenly we are winning, but at the end of the day this team still lacks a franchise player. We are still built like a middling team. It could happen I just think it's a poor strategy to hope that things will suddenly fall into place. If we are going to get rid of all our decent players and acquire draft picks we really should bottom out a bit it the opportunity is there.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Bonded

If he spends major futures to add to this roster then I’ll be pretty disappointed. Adding a top 4 D and a top 6 centre still leaves the Flames in a worse spot than last year.

No it doesn't, you just want that to be the case because you want a scorched Earth rebuild. It isn't happening.

[Toonage]

TBF he also went on the radio and mentioned that, while never say never, he isn't interested in signing UFAs to long term deals right now.

So not a bad scenario for the retool.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by DazzlinDino

I respect your optimism, but you know for some of us we've seen this play out over and over. Yeah a few things could change and suddenly we are winning, but at the end of the day this team still lacks a franchise player. We are still built like a middling team. It could happen I just think it's a poor strategy to hope that things will suddenly fall into place. If we are going to get rid of all our decent players and acquire draft picks we really should bottom out a bit it the opportunity is there.

People don't seem to get it, with the players we have locked in we can't bottom out. Tell me how you move Weegar, Kadri, Huberdeau, Backlund, and Coleman. Either they have too much term and money left or they don't want to move and control their own fate. This season was about as low as they are going to get, I don't see them possibly being worse next year. So either you try and add the pieces to be a playoff team or you give Montreal a pick between 11-16, that's what I think is most likely. As for a franchise player, very few teams have a franchise player.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The team only really started playing awful when the 2nd pairing was moved. Pretty tough to adjust to that mid-season. I think they’ll sign a decent #4-5 d-man in UFA, and that will stabilize the position. The team will also have camp to get its pairings integrated.

And as you point out, Markstrom was worse post-deadline than Wolf. So while it’s unlikely the Flames will get top-5 goaltending next season, it will likely be better than the goaltending they got after the deadline.

Still too much quality in this roster to be a true bottom-feeder. Just look at the lineups the Blackhawks, Sharks, and Ducks iced this season. No way the Flames will be that bad.

So my guess is not a playoff team, but not bottom-six either. Probably finish in the 7th-12th from bottom range.

And why do you think Chicago, Anahiem wont add FA's and be able to both outbid the Flames and have a more desireable location? (SJ I think is a long way off)

I actually fail to see how this team isnt bottom 5 next year. Almost all the other bottom 8 teams and younger, improving and in a better cap situation. Why would they not improve faster then the Flames?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Except it doesn't necessarily. People think they know how things are going to turn out every offseason, there always teams that surprise. I get it, the negative crowd thinks there only two options, the bottom and the mushy middle. It's the exact same thing that was said about Vancouver last off season. Boston was going to fall off a cliff. Nashville was not a playoff team. Seattle was a playoff team. The Senators were a playoff team and a possible contender. The Jets were going to stink. I can go on and on about all the things that were said that turned out wrong. The team went through a new coach, new system, and player changes this year. Sure, they could miss, be bottom 10, or just miss. What happens though if they land a top 6 C and a top 4 D and Sharangovich keeps improving? What happens if Kuzmenko plays at the pace he did once he got healthy and fit into the lineup? What happens if Mangiapane bounces back? What happens if the guys who has career years hit around the same totals or better? What happens if Wolf gets the net and plays like he has in the AHL? What happens if guys like Coronato and Pelletier take a step? It isn't as far fetched as you think the Flames could compete for the division even, hockey is a fools bet to try and predict.

You just proved my point. This isn't a good team. They need a bunch of bounce backs, and big steps from young guys.

Adding a 6C and top 4D do nothing for this team.

We need a #1D and #1C.

You can give whatever blueprint you want about a rebuild. 5 years 10 years.

The cup champions have always had those ingredients, and they have usually come from the draft.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

People don't seem to get it, with the players we have locked in we can't bottom out. Tell me how you move Weegar, Kadri, Huberdeau, Backlund, and Coleman. Either they have too much term and money left or they don't want to move and control their own fate. This season was about as low as they are going to get, I don't see them possibly being worse next year. So either you try and add the pieces to be a playoff team or you give Montreal a pick between 11-16, that's what I think is most likely. As for a franchise player, very few teams have a franchise player.

I see no possible way they are better next year....

I would bet money the Flames are bottom 7 next season.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

And why do you think Chicago, Anahiem wont add FA's and be able to both outbid the Flames and have a more desireable location? (SJ I think is a long way off)

I actually fail to see how this team isnt bottom 5 next year. Almost all the other bottom 8 teams and younger, improving and in a better cap situation. Why would they not improve faster then the Flames?

Because the Flames roster is much better than theirs and no, I don't think any big name players are looking to go to those teams nor are they pushing to make the dance next year. The Flames had a lot of turmoil this year and they vastly underachieved. They actually have a fairly strong roster minus a #1C and another top 4 D. I get fans are frustrated and gives them this outlook the roster is bad but actually in paper it really isn't.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I see no possible way they are better next year....

I would bet money the Flames are bottom 7 next season.

If they add another top 6 C and another top 4 D I will gladly take that bet, that will be easy money.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

People don't seem to get it, with the players we have locked in we can't bottom out. Tell me how you move Weegar, Kadri, Huberdeau, Backlund, and Coleman. Either they have too much term and money left or they don't want to move and control their own fate. This season was about as low as they are going to get, I don't see them possibly being worse next year. So either you try and add the pieces to be a playoff team or you give Montreal a pick between 11-16, that's what I think is most likely. As for a franchise player, very few teams have a franchise player.

I see it even if he adds young roster players because we traded Lindholm, Hanifin, Tanev and Zadorov.

The Flames had a much worse win percent after the deadline than they did before.

Conroy can add young roster players and still finish bottom 5, especially if he trades Markstrom.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

You just proved my point. This isn't a good team. They need a bunch of bounce backs, and big steps from young guys.

Adding a 6C and top 4D do nothing for this team.

We need a #1D and #1C.

You can give whatever blueprint you want about a rebuild. 5 years 10 years.

The cup champions have always had those ingredients, and they have usually come from the draft.

We have a #1 D, his name is Weegar. His numbers absolutely point to him being a #1 D. If you don't consider him a #1 D then about 27 other teams don't have one either.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

People don't seem to get it, with the players we have locked in we can't bottom out. Tell me how you move Weegar, Kadri, Huberdeau, Backlund, and Coleman. Either they have too much term and money left or they don't want to move and control their own fate. This season was about as low as they are going to get, I don't see them possibly being worse next year. So either you try and add the pieces to be a playoff team or you give Montreal a pick between 11-16, that's what I think is most likely. As for a franchise player, very few teams have a franchise player.

They can easily bottom out with those players on the roster. Did you not see the latter half of this past season? They were among the very worst teams in the entire league. Every team has good players. They're not going to be at the same level as teams like San Jose and Chicago but they're more than capable of being a bottom-10 team — which they should be — if they don't make any short-sighted moves this offseason.

If Markstrom goes, and he likely will, they're toast. Which will be for the best in the long run.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

If they add another top 6 C and another top 4 D I will gladly take that bet, that will be easy money.

Take it now

This season was about as low as they are going to get, I don't see them possibly being worse next year. So either you try and add the pieces to be a playoff team or you give Montreal a pick between 11-16, that's what I think is most likely. As for a franchise player, very few teams have a franchise player.

You are also betting Shag has another career year, Coleman has another career year, Kuz continues on his post trade pace, and Weegar gets 20 goals again, and they stay healthy

A lot actually went right for the Flames this season that almost guaranteed wont all also go right next year

You think they are picking between 11-16 BEFORE adding pieces. I'm giving you 8-9-10 for free even if they add !