2020/2021 Trade Speculation and Rumours

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

I wonder if BT is betting on Dube, Mangi and Bennett. I think its a good bet and shoring up the goaltender and defense is/was key. Jusso coming in is also a potential huge difference maker

The top 9 is funny - there isn't anyone you really want to delete. I think it's another reason for so much Gaudreau trade talk...b/c of all the other reasons, he's kinda just the easiest to let go of.

I think one of the biggest pitfalls of this team is deploying 3/4 of their best forwards on the same line. Only the most loaded teams do this, whereas most 'elite' players help to elevate the play of at least one role player. I'd like to see us spread the wealth...and see what Tkachuk does with a better finisher.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

The top 9 is funny - there isn't anyone you really want to delete. I think it's another reason for so much Gaudreau trade talk...b/c of all the other reasons, he's kinda just the easiest to let go of.

I think one of the biggest pitfalls of this team is deploying 3/4 of their best forwards on the same line. Only the most loaded teams do this, whereas most 'elite' players help to elevate the play of at least one role player. I'd like to see us spread the wealth...and see what Tkachuk does with a better finisher.

Mangiapane's 17 even strength goals makes him a top-60 5v5 finisher in the league. I think a full season of Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane will prove to be quite fruitful.

[JurassicTunga12]

It's going to really interesting and fun to see how guys like Mangiapane and Dube take their game to the next level in the upcoming season. I have a decent level of hope.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I firmly believe that there is a heck of a lot to be hopeful about.


Gaudreau + Monahan + Lindholm should all bounce-back to career avg numbers or better. Last year was a disaster offensively for this line (and other players too!). I genuinely expect a big bounce-back season for all three. Not looking for career numbers, just a bounce back, and a bounce back will be downright huge for this club.



Tkachuk is young and improving, and is a star in the making. You can reasonably expect that he continues to take steps.


Backlund finished the season strong. He is an elite-level 2-way forward that gets absolutely buried in zone starts and quality of competition, but still produces (and exploded!) last year. I remember seeing the huge difference between how Backlund and Bergeron were utilized - guess which guy had a much harder time to generate offence? Hint: It isn't Bergeron. Backlund is often the least appreciated Flame, but he makes everyone better, and allows the other lines to be more productive. Lindholm can NOT replace Backlund.



Mangiapane + Dube + Bennett - 3 younger guys who have all had good seasons that they can build off of. If they can take just a small step forward - which isn't crazy to expect at all - this team will be incredibly difficult to handle.


Lucic looks rejuvenated. Ok, we can't talk about Lucic without that big salary attached to him, but it is what it is. He at least is looking better. That 2nd half of the season and playoffs was huge for this team. Is that his new norm? Can we see a bit of a resurgence in his him? I don't know, but I am hopeful he can be as effective this upcoming season.


Ryan is steady out there. His salary is high, but he is fairly productive and plays tough minutes as well. It allows for Ward to shelter the Bennett line a bit on taking some tough minutes with the Backlund line. Lines 1 and 3 have the luxury of being more sheltered with more of an opportunity to produce because of lines 2 and 4 - and Ryan is a huge reason for that. If he can find some chemistry with his new linemates this year, that just may end up being one magical 4th line.


Hanifin + Andersson: they can both continue improving. It isn't like they are old vets hanging on.


Giordano is a question mark - but I think his lower numbers were a symptom of how the Flames were playing (not well) because everyone else also experienced a dip. Will be interesting to see, but Giordano is smart and will find a way to stay effective, even if he doesn't post big points.



Will be interesting to see how Tanev fits in. Will the Flames see a noticeably lower high danger shots against when he is out there? I hope so. Time will tell. Brodie was underappreciated for his shot suppression and overall defence - especially against MacKinnon and McDavid. I am curious to see how Tanev fills that hole. I am hopeful.


Valimaki + Kylington (and now Nesterov too!). That's a lot of youth with talent. Valimaki is killing it right now, and when the season starts, he is going to be ready to play. Kylington I really think just needs to play and gain experience. His gap control I felt was really strong, and I was surprised at how well he handled the physicality. Nesterov will have to re-adjust to the NHL, but lots of experience and leadership, and he is only 27.


Then we come with Markstrom + Rittich. How can you not be hopeful for that?


Last but not least... Troy Ward. He is coming into a really good situation. He knows the players. Got promoted as a head coach, and probably made a few adjustments early on, and then the league shut down. When they came back, he had more adjustments. He got to tinker with systems and player usage off and on - that's a relative luxury for a new coach. I am hoping this off-season he has been really thinking about systems and how to best utilize the players, and I am optimistic there will be an overall improvement in how this team plays.


I am excited already. Can't wait for the season to start. I am not just hopeful - I am damn excited.

[bigpete]

Love the optimism! The key is the Gaudreau Monahan Lindholm line finding their mojo again. If they can get back to the way they were dominating a couple years ago this team will go far. If they can't figure it out within the first 10 to 15 games then you gotta look at splitting them up and trying out some new combinations.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by JurassicTunga12

It's going to really interesting and fun to see how guys like Mangiapane and Dube take their game to the next level in the upcoming season. I have a decent level of hope.

Yeah. This is a positive of not putting more forwards ahead of them on the depth

[djsFlames]

Will be more excited when I see that Gaudreau and Monahan are ready to contribute, outcompete the guys they're up against and cycle a puck for more than a single rush in the offensive zone. I'm dying to see a fire in their bellies like they exhibited in 18/19.

But Valimaki, Bennett (does he carry it over as the 3C?), Dube and Markstrom provide some juicy storylines that will be fascinating to follow.

[Monahammer]

I'm leaning towards hanifin straight across (or maybe witha slight futures sweetener for a top 6 forward.
Hanifin contract is 4.95/year x 3

Some options:

Rackell (3.85 x 2)
Silfverberg (5.25 x 4)
Boeser (5.875 x2)
Palmieri (4.65 x 1)
Garland (775k x 1)
Mantha (RFA)
Gusev (4.5 x 1)
Forsberg (6 x 2)
Marchessault (5 x 4)
Schmaltz (5.85 x 6)

[MrMike]

If Hanifin can net you Rackell/Boeser/Mantha I’d do it.

[Nelson]

So, I think this is the most likely lineup based on currently signed players:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Nordstrom - Ryan - Simon
Rinaldo

Gio - Andersson
Hanifin - Tkachuk
Valimaki - Nesterov
Petrovic

Markstrom
Rittich

Reading the number off CapFriendly, that lineup leaves cap space of $485,834. The Flames need to re-sign Kylington, but I don’t expect that re-signing to change the cap space all that much.

Looking at that roster, I want another top 9 forward, top 6, even better. The reason is I want more skill and speed on Bennett’s LW. Pretending that a good trade will not materialize for the purposes of this post only, the Flames would have a budget of $1,185,834 to buy a forward in FA (by taking out a $700K F and using the cap space).

Harman Dayal recently put out the top 10 UFAs for The Athletic. The forwards on the list were: Hoffman, Granlund, Duclair, Kahun, Soderberg, Leivo, Haula. Dayal stated that there were tiers to his list: Hoffman to Kahun and Soderberg to Haula. The Hoffman group contains a pretty strict order, while Soderberg, Leivo and Haula are pretty much of interchangeable quality.

Having outlined Dayal’s list, I’d look to the Flames options.
—I don’t think Hoffman, Granlund or Duclair are realistic at $1,185,834.
—Kahun is therefore the best, realistic option for the Flames on Dayal’s list. I personally think he’d be an excellent fit with Bennett and Dube. Here is what Dayal had to say about Kahun:

“Dominik Kahun can be an effective middle-six presence much in the same way that Duclair can but he garners that value in a very different way. What he lacks compared to Duclair in flash and scintillating offensive tools he makes up for with two-way substance and versatility.

Kahun has scored at a 40-point pace prorated over 82 games in his two NHL seasons. That’s remarkably efficient considering virtually all of that production comes at even strength. In fact, his 5-on-5 points per 60 rate ranks top 75 among all forwards in the last two years.”

To me, that sounds like a great option for Bennett’s LW.
—Of the last three options, I like Leivo best. This is some of what Dayal had to say:

“Leivo was counted on as a strong two-way presence who could play both wings while shuffling up and down every line in the top nine. The 27-year-old isn’t dynamic enough to help in transition — he’s very much a complementary winger — but he’s a beast at winning board battles and was really effective on the forecheck which quietly helped him drive excellent 5-on-5 results.”

Dayal goes on to suggest that because of Leivo’s knee injury, he should be in line to sign for close to $1 million. Oh, and he’s also a right shot....

[keenan87]

I still think the Flames need to make a change with the forward core group. It may be difficult but I really don't think its a good idea to go in with basically the same group for 3 seasons when the first 2 years have showed very little results. Here are a few trade ideas that should work with salary cap and seem relatively fair to me (or at least I like them for the Flames):

To Calgary: Sanheim + Frost + 1st Round
To Philadelphia: Gaudreau + Kylington

To Calgary: William Nylander
To Toronto: Noah Hanifin

To Nashville: Derek Ryan
To Calgary: 5th Round

Mangiapane-Monahan-Nylander
Tkachuk-Frost-Lindholm
Nordstrom-Backlund-Dube
Lucic-Bennett-Simon
Gawdin first call up

Giordano-Andersson
Sanheim-Valimaki
Tanev-Mackey
Nesterov

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by keenan87

I still think the Flames need to make a change with the forward core group. It may be difficult but I really don't think its a good idea to go in with basically the same group for 3 seasons when the first 2 years have showed very little results. Here are a few trade ideas that should work with salary cap and seem relatively fair to me (or at least I like them for the Flames):

To Calgary: Sanheim + Frost + 1st Round
To Philadelphia: Gaudreau + Kylington

To Calgary: William Nylander
To Toronto: Noah Hanifin

To Nashville: Derek Ryan
To Calgary: 5th Round

Mangiapane-Monahan-Nylander
Tkachuk-Frost-Lindholm
Nordstrom-Backlund-Dube
Lucic-Bennett-Simon
Gawdin first call up

Giordano-Andersson
Sanheim-Valimaki
Tanev-Mackey
Nesterov

I’ll nitpick.

Frost stepping into 2C seems pretty optimistic. Not too sure why Nordstrom’s taking Lucic’s spot on a line that was our most effective in the bubble. It’s not like Nordstrom is going to add more offence. Has Valamaki ever played the RHS? Tanev is RHS.

Trades seem reasonable, but that lineup is a dogs breakfast.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’ll nitpick.

Frost stepping into 2C seems pretty optimistic. Not too sure why Nordstrom’s taking Lucic’s spot on a line that was our most effective in the bubble. It’s not like Nordstrom is going to add more offence. Has Valamaki ever played the RHS? Tanev is RHS.

Trades seem reasonable, but that lineup is a dogs breakfast.

Fair enough. The defensive pairs were mostly pairings instead of positions.

Personally, I would love to give either Frost or Dube the chance to break out and become top six forwards this season and grab the second line center spot... Alternatively, that line can also be Tkachuk-Lindholm-Frost/Dube.

This means, Backlund will move down a spot (personally, where I think he belongs). However, I also think that line will be responsible for defensive match ups so I didn't want to put Lucic there so instead went with Nordstrom (or maybe Simon).

On the fourth line, I made Bennett play at Center and paired him up with Lucic who he had success with in the bubble and can learn from. Simon has been able to keep up with Crosby so surely he can keep up with the skillset of Bennett.

[Jiri Hrdina]

My assumptions is those type of trades simply aren’t on the table now

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by Nelson

So, I think this is the most likely lineup based on currently signed players:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Lindholm
Tkachuk - Backlund - Mangiapane
Lucic - Bennett - Dube
Nordstrom - Ryan - Simon
Rinaldo

Gio - Andersson
Hanifin - Tkachuk
Valimaki - Nesterov
Petrovic

Markstrom
Rittich

Tkachuk playing LW and RD... very bold prediction.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

My assumptions is those type of trades simply aren’t on the table now

Tough to make a trade when there is so much uncertainty about the next two seasons.

[Heavy Jack]

From now on Tanev is Tkachanev to me hahahaha

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by VilleN

Tkachuk playing LW and RD... very bold prediction.

Oh. I see I’ve made a mistake again. Oops! I’ll call that a Freudian slip. What would it take to get another Tkachuk around here? (I think the serious answer might be get Brady to insult Mr. Melnyk.)

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

From now on Tanev is Tkachanev to me hahahaha

Did Vladdy Hockey finally come over?

[Heavy Jack]

Hahahaha stupid oilers!