2024 Off-season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Is our goal really to get the next Lindholm? Another player who is fine as a secondary piece, but not something I'd be building a roster around.

Is the team's goal to get no good players at all until a franchise C or D drops into their lap?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Pure fear. You call everyone else negative but you post the most negative drivel about the franchise, like they are on the short bus of the NHL and just pathetic little victims that shouldn't be expected to do anything of note, should just be happy to have skates.

Tell me what I said that was not true. After that, you can insult me if you like.

Nothing I said is about my own emotional state, so ‘pure fear’ doesn't enter into it. Frankly, the Flames are on the short bus of the NHL. They're the third smallest market in the league, and on the side of the 49th parallel that most players want to avoid. You can deny that if you like, but it won't change the facts, it will just make you delusional.

Its a salary cap league now not the early 90's. The save the Flames campaign worked. Let it go, leave your trauma behind.

Did that change the climate? Did that get Calgary annexed to the U.S.? Did that change the currency, the tax structure, or make Calgary into a market of 5 million people? No to all of the above.

No one is demanding the Flames win the cup, but they want that to be the aim, backed by a sound strategy. That's it.

There is no sound strategy to win the Cup. All you can do is give yourself chances and hope one of them eventually works. As a small Canadian market, the Flames come up to bat with two strikes already against them. That's a fact, and it makes it more difficult for them than for most teams to build a contender.

If you want to cheer for a real contender, save yourself some heartache and pick another team.

The Flames have a new arena on the way and an opportunity to ice a good team in it if they play their cards right. They are no more disadvantaged than a number of other teams in the league.

Which ones, and how have they been doing?

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Oh I completely agree, anyone can see how dumb our ownership group is a mile away. It makes complete sense that we would be going all in for the playoffs with 3 NHL caliber defensemen currently on the roster (with 2 signed).

The reason they have three NHL-calibre defencemen is that they were NOT ‘all in for the playoffs’. Few teams have ever done more to dismantle their roster in mid-season than the Flames did this year.

Make it make sense though. This team needs a blow up badly.

You don't know a blow-up when one is staring you in the face. Maybe it needs to bite you on the nose.

And yet you call the Flames' owners dumb because you think the team is not doing what it obviously is doing.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

You just don't get it do you? You and Paulie both. There is no rebuild, there won't be a rebuild, I don't know how many more times Conroy and the organization have to say that for it to sink into your heads. It isn't happening. The Flames are not going to tank, they are not going to strip it down, they are going to try and reload for the playoffs next year, period.

Wrong.

Conroy has explained that what he means by the word ‘rebuild’ is what fans mean by ‘scorched earth’ or ‘tearing down to the studs’, and he isn't going to do that.

There are miles of real estate between ‘tear the team down to the ground and get rid of every good player’ and ‘reload for the playoffs every year’. You should try visiting there sometime.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

It is such an obvious timeline (to me at least). Trying to do anything other than finish bottom ten next year is a borderline disaster. Imagine going into a re-tool, or a rebuild or a re-whatever and picking 9th and then 29th the next year and not making the playoffs either year. Your team still probably sucks and you are picking down with the conference finalists. Brad literally gave the Flames a gift, a real incentive to tank for a year to get a high pick. The decision on whether to try to tank next year could literally be worth 20+ positions in the first round.

It’s kind of ironic.

Treliving left Conroy with a love letter and many can’t seem to recognize or acknowledge that. When Treliving left, he left this team primed to enter a rebuild/retool more so than any other team in the league, I’d say.there were multiple UFA’s of value. Conroy was left with an hand full of chips at the poker table to cash in. He also, one could argue, exasperate Sutters dismissal by walking himself. Ding-dong the witch is dead. Many of the posters who could not wait to run Treliving out of town while simultaneously asking for a rebuild (for years) are now complaining about the state of the team. They’re getting what they wanted, for years, but evidently it’s not packaged in the way they want or it should have happened earlier or whatever.

Said it last week already, but some just need to have something to complain about incessantly.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

Is the team's goal to get no good players at all until a franchise C or D drops into their lap?

This actually should be their goal.

Or at least no good players over 22/23 years old without tons of control left

Good players now just increase the chance of not finishing at the bottom and getting those stars. And then they will cost money against the cap, limiting our future and current flexibility

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by TOfan

It’s kind of ironic.

Treliving left Conroy with a love letter and many can’t seem to recognize or acknowledge that. When Treliving left, he left this team primed to enter a rebuild/retool more so than any other team in the league,.

Nah, he saddled Conroy with the Huberdeau contract after he screwed up his internal UFAs. Same story with Brad push hard on the guys already under contract and roll over for UFAs. A real parting gift would have been flipping Huberdeau and Weegar or not taking a trade that made the team older.

Not a love letter I’d want.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

This actually should be their goal.

Or at least no good players over 22/23 years old without tons of control left

Good players now just increase the chance of not finishing at the bottom and getting those stars. And then they will cost money against the cap, limiting our future and current flexibility

I think what’s interesting is that it looks like the Flames might be trying to do both.

At least in the Toffoli and Lindholm trades they brought in two guys that were in their mid-prime, let’s say, with potential to increase their value in Sharangovich and Kuzmenko. Both are now trade chips that could further be exchanged for more picks/prospects. It’s a sound strategy.

As far as the top guys/picks. I think that needs to unfold naturally. If you’re lucky enough to get some lottery luck, great. But I don’t think you can or want to bank on that as a strategy. Look at Detroit or Columbus. Both have spent more than their fair share at the bottom and neither has a top 2 pick. Admittedly Fantili is as close as you can get but I get the sense some fans want multiple top 2 or top 3 picks. That’s actually hard to plan for without completely neutering your organization.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Nah, he saddled Conroy with the Huberdeau contract after he screwed up his internal UFAs. Same story with Brad push hard on the guys already under contract and roll over for UFAs. A real parting gift would have been flipping Huberdeau and Weegar or not taking a trade that made the team older.

Not a love letter I’d want.

To be fair, Huberdeau has been an enormous disappointment, but Weegar is fair value and I’d bet has value around the league. Especially to a team like Ottawa.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I think what’s interesting is that it looks like the Flames might be trying to do both.

At least in the Toffoli and Lindholm trades they brought in two guys that were in their mid-prime, let’s say, with potential to increase their value in Sharangovich and Kuzmenko. Both are now trade chips that could further be exchanged for more picks/prospects. It’s a sound strategy.

As far as the top guys/picks. I think that needs to unfold naturally. If you’re lucky enough to get some lottery luck, great. But I don’t think you can or want to bank on that as a strategy. Look at Detroit or Columbus. Both have spent more than their fair share at the bottom and neither has a top 2 pick. Admittedly Fantili is as close as you can get but I get the sense some fans want multiple top 2 or top 3 picks. That’s actually hard to plan for without completely neutering your organization.

As long as the players we acquired and built up their value are moved and not resigned I am perfectly fine with that. If you believe you can get an asset that you can then flip for more/different types of assets go ahead.

Shara and Kuz being moved for more picks (or younger players) is exactly what they should do this season. And then in 25/26 do it again.

At that point you should have 3 top 10 picks (9th this year) - and hopefully the 24/25, 25/26 picks are both top 5. Maybe you get lucky and win a lottery. Maybe not.

Then you do a evaluation of what you have, start making Necas type acquisitions, etc.

Now personally I think its better to ensure you finish bottom 3 those years by gutting the team (I would aim for dead last to ensure you get 2nd overall worse case) - But I understand why you might not/why their existing players might keep them out of that spot

I look at this as a 4 year project minimum before you start acquiring win now assets. That would be my plan if I was running this team.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Just discussing rumours on your discussion board Bingo. Somehow it's always too early to evaluate a potential trade or hindsight is always 20/20.

Evaluate is fine.

Who's stopping you?

It's the jumping to the conclusion that the Flames are actively pursuing it and then over reacting with hyperbole that gets me.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Hey, someone's got to defend the organization's owners and long time managers from mean ol' fans posting on a message board "that no one from the org looks at".

Yeah my who's to blame between Treliving and ownership? was certainly a defense of both camps.

Well thought out.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

As long as the players we acquired and built up their value are moved and not resigned I am perfectly fine with that. If you believe you can get an asset that you can then flip for more/different types of assets go ahead.

Shara and Kuz being moved for more picks (or younger players) is exactly what they should do this season. And then in 25/26 do it again.

At that point you should have 3 top 10 picks (9th this year) - and hopefully the 24/25, 25/26 picks are both top 5. Maybe you get lucky and win a lottery. Maybe not.

Then you do a evaluation of what you have, start making Necas type acquisitions, etc.

Now personally I think its better to ensure you finish bottom 3 those years by gutting the team (I would aim for dead last to ensure you get 2nd overall worse case) - But I understand why you might not/why their existing players might keep them out of that spot

I look at this as a 4 year project minimum before you start acquiring win now assets. That would be my plan if I was running this team.

I believe finishing dead last can still land you with the 4OA pick. Could be wrong on that. Also believe this happened to Detroit who, despite have several years at/near the bottom, only ever got one 4OA pick out of it.

I don’t get the Necas attraction either for a number of reasons, mostly, I don’t think he fits the current trajectory of the team which should still be in a downward direction.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Rhett44

Our ownership is a pile of trash and never seems to let management do their jobs without external pressure to be competitive now.

As per Dreger, Conroy was not allowed to fully do his job at the deadline. Trash ownership group.

This is not a rumor either, it is a fact.

How is that a fact?

Numerous suggestions over the years that Dreger is talking out of his ass.

Could be true for sure, but your last statement is way over the top.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Bingo

How is that a fact?

Numerous suggestions over the years that Dreger is talking out of his ass.

Could be true for sure, but your last statement is way over the top.

Seems like we need a reminder of what a fact is.

[Toonage]

We trade for Necas yet?

Edwards probably itching to steal some news away from the Oilers.

[PepsiFree]

I don’t know, if the trade thread can’t be full of chicken littles ranting on the state of the franchise, demanding their own interpretation of completely unsubstantiated rumours be treated as “fact,” then really… what it is for?

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Toonage

We trade for Necas yet?

Edwards probably itching to steal some news away from the Oilers.

Necas isn’t a big enough name to take away headlines.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bingo

How is that a fact?

Numerous suggestions over the years that Dreger is talking out of his ass.

Could be true for sure, but your last statement is way over the top.

I’m not saying it’s a fact, but his cousin is our assistant GM and he’s broken news from him before.

It probably has more credibility to it right now.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

I’m not saying it’s a fact, but his cousin is our assistant GM and he’s broken news from him before.

It probably has more credibility to it right now.

Absolutely. Could be true for sure.

But I went months hearing how stupid Treliving was. Now it's all the owners fault.

I guess it could be both, but that seems somewhat unlikely.

I'd just like to know what we are dealing with? Is the problem gone? Or is it still present?

And I'm not a fan of calling things facts that are far from it.