2023/24 No Hope Flames Rumours & Speculation Thread

[gvitaly]

Here's my take on no hope, and it actually gives me hope that the team will have to go the rebuild route:
First of all we have 4 untradable assets, which might turn into 5 if we extend Lindholm:
Huberdeau, 30, 8 x $10.5M
Kadri, 32, 6 x $7M
Markstrom, 33, 3 x $6M
Coleman, 31, 4 x $4.9M

Markstrom is tied for the 6th highest cap-hit among active goalies. He played like a top 6 goalie for 1 out of 3 seasons for the Flames, in which he still managed to be the worse goalie in each of the playoff series he played.

Huberdeau is the 2nd highest paid LW in the league, and he hasn't looked like a top line forward last year.

The Kadri, and Coleman contracts are not as bad next year, but the length of the contracts, the cap hit, and the NTCs make it unlikely any of them are traded.

The problem is that once a player hits the age of 30, we're no longer talking about getting career years out of them. We hope they could maintain the level of play they were already at. Things could change, but this team needs the Huberdeau that was contending for the Hart, and the Markstrom that was contending for the Vezina in order to be a threat in the west.

This creates a team that will have a hard time managing the cap to stay competitive. The Flames find themselves in a position where instead of a hometown discount we get a hometown overpay. This would likely result in losing a lot of decent players to free agency in the upcoming years. When was the last time we as Flames fans saw hockey players that were actually passionate about being here? The end of season interviews last year were just depressing, and left a bad taste in my mouth, and yet we're coming back with largely the same core.

The building is old, and players don't really want to play in it. For example Sharangovich in a mid-season interview was asked: "which rinks have a reputation of having a bad ice?" He answered politely "that his teammates in NJ say it's Vancouver, and Calgary".

I think that if this team falters this year, it would mean a rebuild. What gives me hope is that the team is in a good position to start one, and I'm glad Tre won't be the one in charge of it. Unfortunately, most of the teams are already set on D, and in goal. Which makes the Hanifin and Vladar situations somewhat awkward to start the season.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Oh lord, we still have Coleman for 4 years.

Not that he was a weak link last year by any stretch, but that's a bit of term yet for the level he's at now and assuredly only regressing from.

Thanks Brad.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

It’s not hopeless, it’s just without hope… for now, which is different than hopeless because the absence of hope isn’t the same as hope being absent.

[memphusk]

Does that mean to be without Doug you would be Douglas?

[Claes]

I feel the Flames could rebound but that it's not very likely this upcoming season. If a couple of the younger players are taking steps into becoming prominent players, there will be hope. I have trust in Conroy.

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[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

As much as I approve of this threads intentions to keep the miserable crowd out of the actual trade rumours thread they are still going to peddle their bs there because they want the reactions.

The pro move is to say something positive in here to attract them.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

The pro move is to say something positive in here to attract them.

Do it, I dare you to say something positive

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Do it, I dare you to say something positive

The Flames are positively hopeless!

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

The Flames are positively hopeless!

Now you're just being hopelessly positive.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Oh lord, we still have Coleman for 4 years.

Not that he was a weak link last year by any stretch, but that's a bit of term yet for the level he's at now and assuredly only regressing from.

Thanks Brad.

With a rising cap and a bit of retention, Coleman would be pretty valuable to a top team.

[Geeoff]

DAE Huberdeau and Kadri have bad contracts?

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

With a rising crap and a bit of retention, Coleman would be pretty valuable to a top team.

I don't think a top team would find Coleman valuable unless we retain at least $1.9M. His NTC, and age also make things more difficult.

[Buff]

The Flames do well in the regular season and make some nice additions at the deadline only to be swept in the 3rd round. So fruitless to try to be better if you aren't going 16-0 on the playoffs.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

I don't think a top team would find Coleman valuable unless we retain at least $1.9M. His NTC, and age also make things more difficult.

He's a proven playoff performer. For a contender I doubt NTC is an issue.

[PuckSlap]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

I guarantee that beers will be more expensive next season.

The trick is to pre drink

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[Hackey]

Coleman at $2 million was a good addition. Coleman at $5 million with 4 years left I doubt any team wants. You can get a cheaper rental option if you're a contender.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

DAE Huberdeau and Kadri have bad contracts?

In the current cap world where Taylor Hall was worth nothing, both Huberdeau and Kadri have huge negative contracts.

Now, with a rising cap, and big rebound years, that could eventually change.

But today….

[activeStick]

It's funny that the people this thread was created for haven't posted at all

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Coleman at $2 million was a good addition. Coleman at $5 million with 4 years left I doubt any team wants. You can get a cheaper rental option if you're a contender.

I guess you missed the retention and rising cap portion.

Coleman at $3.5 million in 2025 is the same as Coleman at $2M back when he helped TB to a cup.

[Robbob]

I am being realistic, it is the dog days of the offseason. Nothing is going to occur right now because there is no deadline to make a deal. Trying to force something now just means you are negotiating with yourself like Chia up north when he traded Hall for Larson. GMs are vultures and I am glad that Conroy hasn't made a trade for the sake of making a trade late in the summer.

Circle back in 5 weeks when camp is starting, then ask the question. Wait I did this wrong, didn't I?