[Signing] Flames sign college free agent Tyson Gross to 2 year ELC

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

In not saying he is just taking up a spot, I'm saying he is better off going somewhere else at this point in his career. I'm not sure I have taken digs at Backlund as much as pointed out he is overrated on this board compared to how the rest of hockey fan bases see him. Answer this, what has the Calgary Flames accomplished in all the time Backlund has been here let alone wore a letter? If Backlund is so incredibly good as a two way player still why was he not on team Sweden? Truth is we should have parted ways with Backlund a while ago but it's the Flames tradition to hang onto assets too damn long.

There are plenty of actual stats and facts that support Mikael Backlund is one of the better shut down / two way centers / forwards in the last decade.

Don't really care what Sweden thought for their olympic team.

And the Flames had plenty of playoff failure before he came, and when he wasn't wearing a letter.

And they've traded nearly everyone ...

You're not doing a great job of hiding your disdain!

[Erick Estrada]

I was expecting this tread to be about Gross. How did it become about Backlund?

[Lumby Lager]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I was expecting this tread to be about Gross. How did it become about Backlund?

It didn’t become about Backlund it became about dissentowner.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

In not saying he is just taking up a spot, I'm saying he is better off going somewhere else at this point in his career. I'm not sure I have taken digs at Backlund as much as pointed out he is overrated on this board compared to how the rest of hockey fan bases see him. Answer this, what has the Calgary Flames accomplished in all the time Backlund has been here let alone wore a letter? If Backlund is so incredibly good as a two way player still why was he not on team Sweden? Truth is we should have parted ways with Backlund a while ago but it's the Flames tradition to hang onto assets too damn long.

I have no problem keeping a guy like Backlund around if he wants to be here. Obviously if he asks out at some time - then you regret it because you should have moved him earlier. But if the player has been here for 18 years and is committed to the team - a little loyalty is deserved.

Agree on guys like Kadri or Hanifin who played on other teams and are not 'lifers' like Backlund was.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

I have no problem keeping a guy like Backlund around if he wants to be here. Obviously if he asks out at some time - then you regret it because you should have moved him earlier. But if the player has been here for 18 years and is committed to the team - a little loyalty is deserved.

Agree on guys like Kadri or Hanifin who played on other teams and are not 'lifers' like Backlund was.

At the same time - how can anyone say they held on to Kadri or Hanifin too long? Maybe they shouldn't have signed Kadri (and traded for Huberdeau and Weegar) but that was a strategic choice when faced with Tkachuk and Gaudreau leaving. It's a whole different debate. Once signed, those two players were let go with plenty of mileage left, for a decent return in Kadri's case, and for the best return possible in Hanifin's.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The best time to trade Gross is now.

It's already too late.

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Obviously the big one was Iginla. Geo. Andersson. I would say Kadri too but everything points to him not being in board. Hanifin. You can say they moved these guys but they waited too long on them. I'm sure there are others as well I can't think of right now.

Iginla was 13 years and 3 GMs ago. I don't think it's indicative of an ongoing trend.

Anderson and Kadri got great returns. Hanifin was meh but at least the unprotected 1st is looking ok.

I'll give you Gio, but I think it's pretty clear that Conroy is not handling expiring contracts the same way Treliving did.

[BigThief]

Giordano had just won Norris with 74 points and the Flames had just won their division. Without amazing hindsight when should we have traded him?

[lazypucker]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Giordano had just won Norris with 74 points and the Flames had just won their division. Without amazing hindsight when should we have traded him?

Yes, should have traded him when he was at his peak, because after that it was all post-apex

[Knut]

Players should be handled like stocks on the stock market. Buy low and Sell high. They are simply assets to be moved with no consideration for their humanity.

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Giordano had just won Norris with 74 points and the Flames had just won their division. Without amazing hindsight when should we have traded him?

2020 and 2021 were also pretty difficult times to trade somebody with a no trade clause

[Reggie Dunlop]

I can’t stop talking about Tyson Gross!!!

[Claes]

That Gross kid looks like the real deal! Trade Backlund yesterday!

Skickat från min SM-S921B via Tapatalk

[CsInMyBlood]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The best time to trade Gross is now.

Typical Flames, holding on to him for far too long.

[sureLoss]

https://nchchockey.com/news/2026/3/1...rd-awards.aspx

After revealing its two individual defenseman honors last Friday, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced both of its individual forward awards on Monday. Minnesota Duluth sophomore Max Plante is the winner of the 2025-26 NCHC Forward of the Year award, while St. Cloud State junior Tyson Gross has been selected the winner of the 2025-26 NCHC Defensive Forward of the Year award.

Gross compiled an incredible campaign for the Huskies this season, before signing an NHL contract with his hometown Calgary Flames as a free agent last Thursday. The SCSU captain led the team with 41 points and 23 assists in the regular season, while ranking second on the squad with 18 goals.

Gross tied for fourth in the NCHC in regular-season scoring (41 points) and ranked second in conference games with 28 points. The Calgary, Alberta native captured the NCHC goal-scoring title with 16 goals in conference play to lead all skaters. He is also tied for the NCHC lead with two short-handed goals overall, both of which came in conference play.

Gross has been dominant in the center circle all season, posting a faceoff win percentage of 59.3 percent in the regular season, which ranked fourth in the conference and eighth in the NCAA. He continues to lead the country with 464 faceoff wins. Gross blocked 12 shots on the year, while being a staple of the Huskies penalty kill unit.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

Typical Flames, holding on to him for far too long.

If you're not gonna trade him at least waive him and call up Hunt.

[Roof-Daddy]

Just loving the Gross and Castagna additions, especially since both will be pro next season. They are a little older and already well seasoned prospects, have the size, skating and two way play to become successful NHL centers, and both are strong face off guys at the NCAA level. They seem like guys that have NHL 4th line center floors, but could top out as decent 2nd line C's as well, kind of in the vein of Backlund if thy hit their peak.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by BigThief

Giordano had just won Norris with 74 points and the Flames had just won their division. Without amazing hindsight when should we have traded him?

The Flames never traded Giordano, anyway. They lost him in the expansion draft, because it would have been silly to waste one of their three protection slots for defencemen on a 37-year-old player.

They were interested in trading him before then, but nobody wanted to give up assets to acquire him, for the exact same reason – they would only lose him in the expansion draft.

[442scotty]

The way some people are butchering this thread is Gross. Can’t we just stick to the topic

[sch19lks]

Apologies if it’s been answered already, tried searching for the info amidst all of the muck in this thread. Is Gross expected to get in any games this year and burn a year on his ELC? Maybe an AHL deal to end the year with the Wranglers?