The 2025 Offseason thread.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

We have a big need for center, but building bottom up doesn't seem like a recipe for success.

Bringing in players that keep us spinning our wheels doesn't help us move forward.

I agree. Ice time and opportunity matter to players. Sillinger comes here and the team has no desire to move Kadri, Backlund and Frost and has too many top 9 wingers. At some point you have to make decisions. If we add Sillinger, we have to move guys out. Too many prospects at once presents challenges for a GM. Contracts and waivers often lead to players being unhappy and decisions are forced, and the value of the player drops.

So many players already deserve more ice. Zary gets 15 a night. His comparable on other teams are getting way more. At some point he isn't going to be happy with 15 a night.


Coronato might get a long-term deal. Once you pay him big money, are you wanting him to play 17 mins a night? 19 might be more appropriate

Farabee gets 14 a night, Philly played him way more.

Klapka got 9 a night and sat in the press box many nights. How long will he be ok with this?

Tough decisions are coming when these guys sign new deals and play well enough to get claimed on waivers.

Sillinger just adds to the mess

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

At some point the pressure has to start to hit Yzerman.
I also like the idea around a package involving Andersson and Sillinger from CBJ. I don't think Sillinger has a ton of upside, but this team needs centres up and down the lineup, and he could be the heir apparent for the 3rd line pivot spot.

Sillinger sounds like an interesting option. Not sure if Coleman is an interest for CBJ.

From the Red Wings I'd try to get Nate Danielson. I expect that might be possible since Larkin, Kasper, Compher are holding down the top 3 C spots and all have 3 or more years of term left. Not to mention that the Red Wings have 4 other guys listed as possible Cs. Red Wings could use an upgrade or two on D.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I agree. Ice time and opportunity matter to players. Sillinger comes here and the team has no desire to move Kadri, Backlund and Frost and has too many top 9 wingers. At some point you have to make decisions. If we add Sillinger, we have to move guys out. Too many prospects at once presents challenges for a GM. Contracts and waivers often lead to players being unhappy and decisions are forced, and the value of the player drops.

So many players already deserve more ice. Zary gets 15 a night. His comparable on other teams are getting way more. At some point he isn't going to be happy with 15 a night.


Coronato might get a long-term deal. Once you pay him big money, are you wanting him to play 17 mins a night? 19 might be more appropriate

Farabee gets 14 a night, Philly played him way more.

Klapka got 9 a night and sat in the press box many nights. How long will he be ok with this?

Tough decisions are coming when these guys sign new deals and play well enough to get claimed on waivers.

Sillinger just adds to the mess

Yup and its not depth, it just burying guys that need to play.

Huberdeau talked about it, he went from 20 minutes to playing 14 under Sutter and being benched in final minutes. I can't do much if I am sitting on the bench.

Players need ice time to produce, having 30 goal scorers on the 3rd and 4th lines and whining they aren't scoring.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Sillinger sounds like an interesting option. Not sure if Coleman is an interest for CBJ.

From the Red Wings I'd try to get Nate Danielson. I expect that might be possible since Larkin, Kasper, Compher are holding down the top 3 C spots and all have 3 or more years of term left. Not to mention that the Red Wings have 4 other guys listed as possible Cs. Red Wings could use an upgrade or two on D.

He can play the wing. The wings need him, and I don't see any way we get him.

They need a bump in their top 6 and he's young enough that he can work his way to center in the next 3 years.

I'm not letting JT Compher block him for opportunity too

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

I agree. Ice time and opportunity matter to players. Sillinger comes here and the team has no desire to move Kadri, Backlund and Frost and has too many top 9 wingers. At some point you have to make decisions. If we add Sillinger, we have to move guys out. Too many prospects at once presents challenges for a GM. Contracts and waivers often lead to players being unhappy and decisions are forced, and the value of the player drops.

So many players already deserve more ice. Zary gets 15 a night. His comparable on other teams are getting way more. At some point he isn't going to be happy with 15 a night.


Coronato might get a long-term deal. Once you pay him big money, are you wanting him to play 17 mins a night? 19 might be more appropriate

Farabee gets 14 a night, Philly played him way more.

Klapka got 9 a night and sat in the press box many nights. How long will he be ok with this?

Tough decisions are coming when these guys sign new deals and play well enough to get claimed on waivers.

Sillinger just adds to the mess

The objective for Sillinger, or any other C brought in, would be to supplant Backlund next season and then try to compete with Frost to get the #1C job from Kadri.

The mess with the winger logjam should not stop the Flames from trying to acquire another young center with potential to climb up the lineup. The team is short on Cs and of the players listed, the only one that may move to the middle is Zary.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Yup and its not depth, it just burying guys that need to play.

Huberdeau talked about it, he went from 20 minutes to playing 14 under Sutter and being benched in final minutes. I can't do much if I am sitting on the bench.

Players need ice time to produce, having 30 goal scorers on the 3rd and 4th lines and whining they aren't scoring.

Reduces trade value. Someone is going to get the shaft in ice or they all will get a reduce role.

Kadri gets 19+ a night. Try and go with an upgrade at 4th line center over Rooney and where is the ice coming from?

Rooney gets 9 a night, Sillinger would need 14 to have a chance to succeed. Backlund gets 18+ and maybe you can take some from him but as it was pointed out, he needs to be on the ice against elite players. Who takes that from him? Sillinger? Frost? Kadri?

We need to upgrade the top 9, not put top 9 forwards on the 4th line.

We need to promote prospects that deserve it too.

It's going to get messy here when players need to clear waivers.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Sillinger sounds like an interesting option. Not sure if Coleman is an interest for CBJ.

From the Red Wings I'd try to get Nate Danielson. I expect that might be possible since Larkin, Kasper, Compher are holding down the top 3 C spots and all have 3 or more years of term left. Not to mention that the Red Wings have 4 other guys listed as possible Cs. Red Wings could use an upgrade or two on D.

Reportedly Stevie Y loves Danielson.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Wolven

The objective for Sillinger, or any other C brought in, would be to supplant Backlund next season and then try to compete with Frost to get the #1C job from Kadri.

The mess with the winger logjam should not stop the Flames from trying to acquire another young center with potential to climb up the lineup. The team is short on Cs and of the players listed, the only one that may move to the middle is Zary.

I'm ok to add Sillinger, but we need to make a trade then.

You're the coach, you are trying to win games. McDavid or MacKinnon are on the ice; it's a d zone face off. Who is out? Sillinger?

[Calgary4LIfe]

There are too many players on the team for next season in the forward ranks. I am sure it will be thinned out somehow. The Flames will have to make room to keep Klapka, Zary and Coronato on the roster full-time. Honzek almost made it last season. Many other prospects are likely to push (Gridin, Kerins, Stromgren.. Basha maybe, though his GP due to injury will most likely be a factor, but he certainly made an impression at training camp).


There is nobody that I can really point at and say: "This person needs to go". Even Rooney ended up getting his game back together and finishing strong - he outstanding on the PK, and the 4th line did some good work down the stretch. On defence, I think it is easier to point a finger there, but I find it difficult to do for forwards. Yet, changes will be made. Difficult decisions will have to be made there, and that's definitely a good thing.


There are probably some obvious moves to make on defence, but even then it isn't so easy. Aside from the bodies you think should move, you have Solovyov, Kuznetsov and Poirier all waiver-eligible next year. Solovyov passed through waivers to start this season - does he pass them again given how his season went? I am not so sure. Parekh is on the team, period, to start next season. Brzustevicz might make a push there too. That's a lot of youth all at once, and that's very hard to do.


Also, I am not even sure what direction that Conroy takes this team. Knock this team down a bit and draft higher? Make tweaks and give this group another turn? Or make big moves trying to really improve this team for next season? I assume we will know based on his first trade/signing. We should be fairly certain by the draft anyway - the trade-outs (if any) will happen by then, and the draft currency will either be used in picking players or spent on established (or almost established players with upside).



Does he stick to whatever plan he laid out or the next few years, or does this season's performance push his plans further ahead? I am excited just to find out which way Conroy goes.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Reportedly Stevie Y loves Danielson.

No doubt. 9th OA pick from 2 years ago. Yzerman should definitely want to keep Danielson.... but it is also a position of strength for their organization.

Missing the playoffs again this year with the team spending to the cap could have them looking at where they are weak and in need of an immediate upgrade.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Wolven

No doubt. 9th OA pick from 2 years ago. Yzerman should definitely want to keep Danielson.... but it is also a position of strength for their organization.

Missing the playoffs again this year with the team spending to the cap could have them looking at where they are weak and in need of an immediate upgrade.

I think the guys you would see them offering are guys like Berggren, Wallinder, Mazur, Kiiskanen not the high end guys.

Maybe the Flames should trade for Elmer Soderblom and run him and Klapka out together for maximum chaos.

[NewFan]

I hope Conroy stay away FA signing unless he finds younger 1st Line Centre or 1st pair Dman. Otherwise I would like to see more younger players and let the older guys choose their path where they wants to be.
And I hope Conroy locks Wolf, Zary, Coronato, Pospisil, Bahl, Frost and Klapka for 5 or more years with fair salary.
I think Farabee, Miromanov, Bean, Rooney, Lomberg should be traded or not signed.
Vladar - if he wants to stay we should re-sign him.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I generally agree though I also thought this was a bottom five team at the start of the year.

This isn't a bad year to be better than expected. I think this draft is quite poor overall. If they are going to bottom out: 2026 and 2027 are the years!

I was right there with you thinking that this team was bottom five. I'm not sure what regression could happen. Huberdeau and Kadri come to mind as regression candidates. Backlund and Coleman regressed this year (at least in my mind) so would they regress further. Sharky had a tough year. Wolf could have a second year slump, but that strikes me as unlikely given his performance this year. Coaching will be similar. It is not like this team was on a PDO heater. It is certainly possible for a regression but I just don't see as being as obvious.

[Finger Cookin]

I feel like this team could still take a step back, possibly a large one, without many changes in the offseason. Simply because so much went right for the team this season:

• The six veteran leaders had middling to great seasons, and are probably due for a little regression with another year under their belts
• The full season debuts of Wolf, Bahl, and Coronato went about the best they possibly could. They're still learning to be everyday pros so some growing pains could be in order. Zary was looking great until his injuries, who knows how he'll bounce back from those
• These kind of setbacks or growing pains could have a negative effect on special teams which were already in the bottom third of the league this year
• Parekh will be an electrifying addition the to the team, but other than him it's unclear what other prospects or youngsters are ready for full time roles
• The Flames were relatively injury free most of the year. That kind of luck might not materialize next season

Personally, unless there are offers to good to refuse at the draft, I don't actively seek to move Andersson or Coleman this offseason. And I don't sign Andersson to an extension. See how next season unfolds before deciding if it's time to unload vets like 2023-2024, or if the roster should be rewarded with a Frost/Farabee style trade like this season.

Speaking of Frost and Farabee, while I'm still confident they will look much better next year with a full offseason and camp with the organization, they didn't really light the world on fire with the opportunities they were given this year. They might be closer to "what we see is what we get" then they are to having untapped potential.

I am definitely not saying all of these things will happen. And I haven't even listed positives that could unfold: Parekh delivers on his promise, Wolf has another stellar year, younger players like Coronato, Bahl, Frost, and Farabee take steps forward, the leadership group delivers another good-to-great season. Those things are also possibilities.

I feel like we're more likely to see a few more negative developments than positive developments next season. And I don't see a front office wanting to make some ridiculous splashy UFA signing or pitch for a superstar centre that fits in with the age group they've put together. We should get some more great prospects from the draft, and possibly more assets if some vets are moved.

I'm just not counting on a repeat or improvement on this season. I hope I am proven wrong, just as many were proven wrong by the team this season.

[CFO]

If Coleman, Anderson etc are traded it should be for assets to down the road acquire a #1 or move up in a draft to draft a potential #1.

Trading assets like that for a guy like Bourque isn't putting this team ahead.

A guy like Frost is a #2/3 center. Flames have lots of others for bottom 6 guys. They need top line talent now. That is all. Period.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by CFO

They need top line talent now. That is all. Period.

I'm confused, is their competitive window for a cup about to close? Or is it even in sight?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by CFO

Trading assets like that for a guy like Bourque isn't putting this team ahead.

No, but offer-sheeting Bourque with a 2nd might be. Then you recoup the pick (and more) by trading vets.

My rationale is that you can only use your own pick for an offer sheet, but you can draft a player with any pick.

[D as in David]

Bourque has to sign an offer sheet. In the likeliest scenario where the Flames enter next season with Kadri, Backlund and Frost, does he see an opportunity to get more minutes here than he's going to get in Dallas or another team? Granted, I don't believe the Flames will play Backlund at 4C; he's still too good at shutting down the opponent's top line and likely to be at the top of the fitness testing once again next season.

Also, Jim Nill has to be thinking proactively around Bourque to avoid getting only a second for Bourque from an offer sheet.

ETA: That's why I think an option like a Danielson and where he's at in his career might be the option for the Flames. A player who is close to breaking into the NHL, but you can still justify starting him off in the AHL next season, and judiciously start giving him NHL games throughout the season as a result of injury or trade.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Or hand grenades for that matter.

Or drive in movies.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Bourque has to sign an offer sheet. In the likeliest scenario where the Flames enter next season with Kadri, Backlund and Frost, does he see an opportunity to get more minutes here than he's going to get in Dallas or another team?

Is he going to give up the money so Dallas can continue to pay him a pittance? They really can't afford to give him a raise to the kind of money for which the compensation is a 2nd.

Also, Jim Nill has to be thinking proactively around Bourque to avoid getting only a second for Bourque from an offer sheet.

So which other players is he going to dump to make cap space to do that?

I don't think it's likely that Bourque will sign an offer sheet with the Flames, but I do think it's likely that he signs an offer sheet with somebody.