[Rumour] Friedman: Devils and Flames have had legit discussions about Markstrom

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Ya I don't buy the narrative that people won't show up. The team is bad with no high end prospects, no superstars, and people are still interested. A lot of people just go to games as something to do. Events and experiences have never been bigger. This is a Canadian market where hockey is huge and really there are limited things to do for a night out in Calgary.

The actual hockey fans would be easy to sell.

And if you have a few lean years then so be it. That's the cost of becoming elite. When you have a few new superstars to cheer for and a team filled with young up and coming talent, the interest in the team will rejuvenate more than ever.

It really depends. Last year it was basically impossible to give tickets away because it was boring hockey. If it is bad and boring hockey then attendance will go down.

[Vinny01]

Lots of talk on the 32 thoughts pod. Sounds like a deal was potentially close and retention was in fact the massive holdup. Deal is dead for now but Friedman suspects they could circle back at some point

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Lots of talk on the 32 thoughts pod. Sounds like a deal was potentially close and retention was in fact the massive holdup. Deal is dead for now but Friedman suspects they could circle back at some point

Depends on what the Devils wanted but 50% retention should be expensive. If it fell apart over 10% or something then I’d be annoyed

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Lots of talk on the 32 thoughts pod. Sounds like a deal was potentially close and retention was in fact the massive holdup. Deal is dead for now but Friedman suspects they could circle back at some point

If the sticky point is retention, take back Vanecek instead and we keep those slots open. Of course, we get compensation for taking him back but get creative and make it happen.

[Jiri Hrdina]

When he says that retention was the holdup, that could mean that they couldn't agree on what that should be worth in terms of value back to the Flames.
Conroy is right to demand a lot.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Lots of talk on the 32 thoughts pod. Sounds like a deal was potentially close and retention was in fact the massive holdup. Deal is dead for now but Friedman suspects they could circle back at some point

I imagine this is something that may get done in the offseason with the Devils a long shot to make the playoffs but I suppose that could change if they put together some wins over the next few weeks.

[ComixZone]

News Update

32 Thoughts - February 12th

Yeah real quick summary on Marky:

- believes the Devils and Flames have been looking at each other for a long time, escalated last week
- "real legit" attempt at Markstrom, the two teams made a real serious try
- package was not the problem, retention was - Friedman specifically noted that the Flames don't like to do this (retain)/don't have a history of doing it
- props to the CGY players who continue to play well in the midst of a crazy season
- Marek says Devils and Flames make too much sense as trade partners
- deal may be 'scuttled' now, may come back to it and it being 'scuttled' right now could be part of the negotiation grind
- he heard this all from multiple sources

Other bits:

- Hanifin -> Friedman says he does not have certainty on this but teams are in on it. Interest is growing as he continues to be unsigned
- Tanev -> knows Toronto and Dallas are in it. Flames know they can get a 2nd, they're trying to get a 1st. Believes Flames are very aware of the risk of continuing to play him

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Depends on what the Devils wanted but 50% retention should be expensive. If it fell apart over 10% or something then I’d be annoyed

There’s no way we should be retaining 50% unless we’re getting a massive haul back.

I’d say at the max 25% (1.5m).

[Toonage]

IMO that Devils deal gets done. Sounded like retention was the issue so who knows. Flames don't want to go the max? Want more to do so?

But to get so far along, apparently that close only to have both sides push away for a breather. Sounds pretty typical to me. More than tire kicking for sure.

[GioforPM]

Markstrom retention is a completely different animal than Tanev or Hanifin so Conroy should hold the line or get a huge return. The max retention is a 3rd line player’s salary, or maybe what Kylington asks for.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Locke

Ah! Incorrect.

Whats your Mortgage like?

When you own a profitable and highly valuable asset you can borrow against it on very favorable terms in order to invest more.

Wealthy people only ever spend somebody else's money.

True, but you would use those funds for something else that generates a positive return - certainly not for rebuilding the Flames.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

News Update

32 Thoughts - February 12th

- "real legit" attempt at Markstrom, the two teams made a real serious try
- package was not the problem, retention was - Friedman specifically noted that the Flames don't like to do this (retain)/don't have a history of doing it

Little nitpick but he said they were closer on the package but it wasn't perfect. Reading between the lines they had a deal both liked and then couldn't agree on a price for retention.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Atta boy Craig.

I know it’s soft/confirmation bias-y but it feels better to read leaks about how your GM is holding the line for assets in return rather than your GM being ‘involved’ all the time.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Im praying for a Tanev/Bourque swap. Dallas traded from a position of strength and doesn’t gut their roster or lose Stankoven.

[devo22]

I just can't see Dallas dangle a legit prospect like Bourque for a rental defenseman. Would be awesome, but I'd be shocked.

[keenan87]

So, should we hope the Devils go on a mini 3-4 game winning streak?

[Higginson03]

Who are we getting from devils in this deal? Holtz?

[stemit14]

Originally Posted by keenan87

So, should we hope the Devils go on a mini 3-4 game winning streak?

Yeah. They are a mini 3-4 game losing streak away from being out of playoff contention completely so they need to really start winning if they hope to make it IMO. Could be one of the factors that made the trade talks heat up so much for Markstrom as they are at that “it’s now or never” point of the season. If they go on a winning streak right now, I could see trade talks with Calgary heat up again but, if not, I could see the Devils holding off till the summer to make the trade because the market for Markstrom will probably cool down by then and his acquisition cost might be lower. At least they might think it will be.

[icarus]

Sure there's a risk Tanev could get hurt by playing him.

But there's also an opportunity every day that one of the 20 playoff/cusp teams lose a key defenceman too and become potential buyers and/or drive the price up (as mentioned in the GDT re: Sergachev).

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

- package was not the problem, retention was - Friedman specifically noted that the Flames don't like to do this (retain)/don't have a history of doing it

Figured this was going to be the case, regardless of what Conroy has been saying about having three retention spots. It's hard for a management team to change business practices when ownership remains the same. There has to be some real serious value there or retention is not going to be approved.

- Marek says Devils and Flames make too much sense as trade partners

They are a perfect fit. What we have, then need. What they have, we want. Getting the deal done is the hard part.

- Hanifin -> Friedman says he does not have certainty on this but teams are in on it. Interest is growing as he continues to be unsigned

Very little smoke around Hanifin (no specifics or teams named as being interested) which should be concerning as far as making a deal goes. Conroy may be asking more than the market will bear or Hanifin's playoff history is such that teams don't think he's worth the squeeze. Flames may have to adjust their expectations to get something out of the assest.

- Tanev -> knows Toronto and Dallas are in it. Flames know they can get a 2nd, they're trying to get a 1st. Believes Flames are very aware of the risk of continuing to play him

If this is the market holding firm then get the 2nd and try and squeeze another conditional pick rather than go after the 1st? Every time Tanev takes to the ice I get a queasy feeling. I hope they don't wait too long and Tanev takes himself out of play.