The 6 UFAs in 2024

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

You assume Lindholm wants to stay.

You could say this about any comments or plans anyone has. Backlund might not give us a discount next contract either.

Of course, if he has no interest in staying, trade him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

You could say this about any comments or plans anyone has. Backlund might not give us a discount next contract either.

Of course, if he has no interest in staying, trade him.

I am super confident Backlund will stay, assuming he's not uber-lowballed. I'm convinced he's a lifer. Been here 15 years. Plus I doubt other teams offer him what Calgary might, at age 35 when his contract is up.

The others, not so much. It's a business to these guys now. And Lindholm has seen three linemates with whom he had chemistry leave, all under kind of stressful situations. He's only been here 4 and a half years - less time than with Carolina. This is his chance for (a) a payday and (b) to choose where he wants to play.

Hanifin also is gonna get paid a lot by someone. He will only be what - 27 at UFA time? Probably would love Boston.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I am super confident Backlund will stay, assuming he's not uber-lowballed. I'm convinced he's a lifer. Been here 15 years. Plus I doubt other teams offer him what Calgary might, at age 35 when his contract is up.

The others, not so much. It's a business to these guys now. And Lindholm has seen three linemates with whom he had chemistry leave, all under kind of stressful situations. He's only been here 4 and a half years - less time than with Carolina. This is his chance for (a) a payday and (b) to choose where he wants to play.

Hanifin also is gonna get paid a lot by someone. He will only be what - 27 at UFA time? Probably would love Boston.

I'm sure that Backlund will want to stay, but at a discount is not a certainty. If he is still playing well, he might stay for a fair price. He could move home too if he doesn't not get paid what he wants.

Hate to hold on to him if this is the case. Not sure what is a great deal for a 35-year-old too. People might be way off that he will just stay for $3M to $3.5M, he still might want to get paid. Especially when Sweden is a good option for him at the end of his career.

[N-E-B]

Personally I'd move all 6 of them between now and next deadline. Re-stock the cupboards. It isn't working. It's not one trade or free agent signing away. I appreciate that they tried to stay competitive, given the crap hand they were dealt this summer, but admit it's not happening and adjust accordingly.

[tvp2003]

Give them until this summer to sign an extension; if they don't, trade them at the draft.

Don't fall into the trap of having the team inevitably bounce back and play well in 2023/24 and us having to chase them or worse, lose them for nothing. Either you're in or you're out.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Mods can move this to the trade speculation thread if they want but I think it’s enough for a separate discussion, so it doesn’t clutter that one where people want actual rumours.

Backlund, 35
Tanev, 34
Lindholm, 29
Hanifin, 27
Toffoli, 32
Zadorov, 29

These 6 players will be these ages when their next contracts kick in. What should be done with them?

Backlund has earned the right to do what he wants imo, if he wants to extend at $5-6 mil x 2 or 3, extend him. If he wants to chase a cup, send him where he wants to go.

Tanev would be similar, he’s a huge asset on the back end, but also his health hasn’t let him make an impact in the important games yet. Would like to keep but think the trade return would be attractive.

Lindholm is an interesting problem. Is he an elite 1C and expects to be paid like one? Or does he think he’s just a solid top line guy? Can you trade him for elite 1C value? Re-singing him at $8x6 or 7 wouldn’t even be the worst thing in the world but I’d be super interested to see what a 50% retained Lindholm package would be this TDL.

Hanifin has many of the same questions. Is he a core piece? Does his next contract start with a 5, 6, 7, or 8? Seeing the American exodus, does he even want to re-sign?

Toffoli had been up and down as a Flame, and is very up this year. It always hurts less to move wingers, but consequently they’re worth less.

Zadorov, do any other teams think he could be a top 4 solution? Or is he a depth guy? Do the Flames want to pay a depth guy 3.75 mil?

If it was up to me I’m moving Hanifin, Toffoli, and Zadorov for futures and currency. I wouldn’t immediately shortcut into moving that currency for like a Chychrun or whatever, keep it through the draft and see what can be best done with it. Not having the 2025 1st means the team can’t be bad that year but 2024 can still be building if needed. Should be an interesting week leading up to the TDL.

Whomever is our GM should be fired if he gives Michael Backlund 3 years at $6M a year. Let's not let sentimental feelings get in the way of common sense here. I mean if we want to continue to chase mediocrity that would be a great start. I don't hate Backlund but his game is going to fall off a cliff fairly soon.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I feel like the Flames and Carolina make a ton of sense. Carolina could use a scoring winger, and a physical d-man. Carolina has a ton of cap space next year (13 players signed for $53M - $30M of projected cap space).

Toffoli ($4.25M)
Zadorov ($2.75M - Flames retain $1M)

$7M Total Salary

for

2023 1st
2024 2nd (PHI)
2024 3rd (Conditional to 2nd of Carolina makes Stanley Cup Finals)
Ryan Suzuki (2019 1st - keep the Flames tradition of having the worse brother alive)

Carolina has the room to take on that $7M next year easily. Flames open up some cap room for the offseason and add some assets to either use in the draft or to use to re-tool.

Carolina has built a great team with a great future and managed their cap perfectly, doubt they go through all that effort to acquire a couple older guys and deplete their future potential.

[TheIronMaiden]

Backlund, 35
Tanev, 34
Toffoli, 32
Zadorov, 29

[SaskyFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

You assume Lindholm wants to stay.

Isn’t the entire thread based on that assumption for all players here. Aren’t 99% of the trade rumours and UFA signings discussed in the forum based on that too.

[Roof-Daddy]

The team will probably get good goaltending next season and be back in the playoff picture once again. If that's the case, there will be no selling these players at the 2024 TDL.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SaskyFlamesFan

Isn’t the entire thread based on that assumption for all players here. Aren’t 99% of the trade rumours and UFA signings discussed in the forum based on that too.

I wouldn’t say that, no. The constant ask for players to locked down to max deals assumes they want to leave earlier.

[SebC]

It's tough because those are our best players. I'd rather sell Markstrom, Huberdeau and Kadri.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

Carolina has built a great team with a great future and managed their cap perfectly, doubt they go through all that effort to acquire a couple older guys and deplete their future potential.

Aho is a UFA after next season and no guarantee he stays - he already signed an offer sheet to go to Montreal once. Teravainen, Fast, Martinook, Skjei, and Pesce all UFA after next year too.

You have to push your chips in at some point to win a cup.

[genetic_phreek]

This thread should be the Flames trade tracker.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

If you want to rebuild, I think you need to keep Backlund.

The guy consistently makes young players noticeably better.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

If you want to rebuild, I think you need to keep Backlund.

The guy consistently makes young players noticeably better.

This would make sense if he was maybe in his late 20's but he's about to turn 34 in two weeks.

[Badgers Nose]

I think apart from Hanifin, term is the concern due to age.

Backlund, 35 - keep on a short Bergeron/Krejci contract if Backs is willing, otherwise trade
Tanev, 34 - trade, his play style is too hard for an older guy
Lindholm, 29 - 5 year contract or trade
Toffoli, 32 - trade
Zadorov, 29 - trade as we have (or have proven we can get) a steady pipeline of 3 pair defensemen in the org between drafts and college FAs

I'd want to know now how likely the Backs, Lindholm and Hanifin extensions are. If not then offer them up now, at the draft and next deadline. I don't believe there is one window to extract maximum value - set the price and see who will pay.

I wouldn't leave it to the players and agents to ponder too much on Lindholm and Hanifin as they are so high value. They are super valuable to this team and you either need to lock them up or get maximum returns.

[Sylvanfan]

I'm probably jaded by skepticism...but a retool/reload will just recycle the last 10 years. That's not good enough.

I think you have to try and trade all of them. Good players and good people. But the organization legacy does not exist in Calgary...so is Backlund greater than Iginla or Giordano. No he's not, so at his age without an elite team in place move on.

Lindholm you could keep as he is a really good player. But without other elite talent around him you might waste his next 4 years. Get assets to help rebuild. Hanafin is similar not as accomplished as Lindholm, but should have a bit longer shelf life. Don't Bouwmeester him..but if you can get picks move him.

Tanev and Taffol are both solid vets and shouldn't be on a rebuilding team.

Zadorov...he's hot and cold. Trade him if you can get something.

Dillon Dube, yeah I'd trade him too next year.

Huberdeau/Kadri/Weegar...sorry about your luck, but your play helped shape thus. You're getting paid well so be pro's and maybe things improve before you expire or you do enough to be easier to be moved elsewhere.

Leaves Anderson, Mangiapane, the aforementioned vets with some farm guys and fill ins to get you by for a few years since you still need to ice a team.

It's pretty scorched Earth, and it's likely 5-6 years of pain. But if you don't do something disruptive to break the cycle...it's just going to keep repeating.

[iggyloob12]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I think apart from Hanifin, term is the concern due to age.

Backlund, 35 - keep on a short Bergeron/Krejci contract if Backs is willing, otherwise trade
Tanev, 34 - trade, his play style is too hard for an older guy
Lindholm, 29 - 5 year contract or trade
Toffoli, 32 - trade
Zadorov, 29 - trade as we have (or have proven we can get) a steady pipeline of 3 pair defensemen in the org between drafts and college FAs

I'd want to know now how likely the Backs, Lindholm and Hanifin extensions are. If not then offer them up now, at the draft and next deadline. I don't believe there is one window to extract maximum value - set the price and see who will pay.

I wouldn't leave it to the players and agents to ponder too much on Lindholm and Hanifin as they are so high value. They are super valuable to this team and you either need to lock them up or get maximum returns.

Hard to imagine that Lindholm would sign a 5-year contract when the Flames offered 7 and 8 years this past offseason to players of similar age and importance. And he's coming off a sweetheart deal.

[Poe969]

Let's hope these guys get traded at the draft