2018/2019 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Moneyhands23

Oh hell no!

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

One of the few goalies left in the league worse than Smith. Hard pass.

Plus, Peters has already thrown him under the bus in Carolina.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Why would Detroit? Trade a guy who's played for them for years for a worse goalie?

Why would this have anything to do with Detroit's decision? Has Jimmy Howard assented to untouchable status in Detroit? I suspect they'll move him for a pick/prospect without much reservation. The more important question is whether Howard has any trade protection, and if so would he waive to go to Calgary?

Having this year as his last is probably appealing for the Flames. I would be surprised if they find their long term goaltending solution during this season. One way or another I think this is going to be an offseason issue.

[GranteedEV]

Sprong, who has four goals in 38 regular-season games at the NHL level, is no better than the third-best right wing on the team behind Phil Kessel and Patric Hornqvist, who are signed through 2022 and 2023, respectively.

But we are talking about a second-round pick (46th overall) from 2015, someone who led the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in goals (32) and points (65) last season and a forward who has scored at pretty much every level at which he’s ever played, including more than a goal per game his last year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

...

But as Rutherford assesses his team, he could easily determine they need some help on defense with Justin Schultz out for a few more months and try to flip Sprong for a defenseman who has fallen out of favor with his current team.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/p...s/201811050132

If Sprong is on the table the Flames should be making an offer. He's a RHS sniper, something the Flames PP still lacks (because instead of going after Kovalchuk we went after Neal). He's a scorer who is buried behind Phil Kessel, playing 8 minutes a game.

Could a Stone for Sprong swap make any sense? Would be a big injection of offensive speed and talent to our bottom six, and while I would want to see Sprong on PP1 with Gaudreau and Gio feeding him one-timers, he'd still be an upgrade on our joke of a PP2 if Peters went the traditional route.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/p...s/201811050132

If Sprong is on the table the Flames should be making an offer. He's a RHS sniper, something the Flames PP still lacks (because instead of going after Kovalchuk we went after Neal). He's a scorer who is buried behind Phil Kessel, playing 8 minutes a game.

Could a Stone for Sprong swap make any sense? Would be a big injection of offensive speed and talent to our bottom six, and while I would want to see Sprong on PP1 with Gaudreau and Gio feeding him one-timers, he'd still be an upgrade on our joke of a PP2 if Peters went the traditional route.

I remember it being pretty well documented that Kovalchuk was looking at New York or California... I don't think he ever would have signed in Calgary.

[Toonage]

Also, why would you sign a 35yr old looking for big money to a deal when he hasn't played in the NHL in 5 years whereas James Neal has not only played in the NHL he's been in the past 2 cup finals?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I remember it being pretty well documented that Kovalchuk was looking at New York or California... I don't think he ever would have signed in Calgary.

That may have been the case. Regardless, I'm talking about Sprong.

Originally Posted by Toonage

Also, why would you sign a 35yr old looking for big money to a deal when he hasn't played in the NHL in 5 years whereas James Neal has not only played in the NHL he's been in the past 2 cup finals?

Because he was and remains the better player, the elite one, who fills more of a team need. He also signed for less term, because he was 35 and not 31. It's water under the bridge at this point but Kovalchuk was by far the better signing.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

That may have been the case. Regardless, I'm talking about Sprong.



Because he was and remains the better player, the elite one, who fills more of a team need. He also signed for less term, because he was 35 and not 31. It's water under the bridge at this point but Kovalchuk was by far the better signing.

Lol nice drive by, how are the king's doing? How.many goals have they scored?

By your logic Flames should have signed JT

[GioforPM]

Kovalchuk the sniper has scored two more goals than Neal, who is clearly off to a slow start and expected to improve. He has far more assists, sure, but if a sniper is what you want, Kovalchuk is there.

As for the power play, Lindholm is a RHS and has 4 powerplay goals.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by VilleN

I remember it being pretty well documented that Kovalchuk was looking at New York or California... I don't think he ever would have signed in Calgary.

I agree that Kovalchuk wouldn't sign here this time.

But prior to the NJ contract he was spotted in Calgary looking at houses if I recall correctly.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

That may have been the case. Regardless, I'm talking about Sprong.

You implied that Calgary chose to pursue Neal over Kovalchuk. That wasn't the case.

[VilleN]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Because he was and remains the better player, the elite one, who fills more of a team need. He also signed for less term, because he was 35 and not 31. It's water under the bridge at this point but Kovalchuk was by far the better signing.

That is your opinion. He hadn't played in the NHL in 5 years - it wasn't known how his game would translate back over to the NHL. Arguments could have been made for either signing, it is not cut and dried as to who the better signing is. I'll give you one thing though, the shorter term would have been nice.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Why would this have anything to do with Detroit's decision? Has Jimmy Howard assented to untouchable status in Detroit? I suspect they'll move him for a pick/prospect without much reservation. The more important question is whether Howard has any trade protection, and if so would he waive to go to Calgary?

Having this year as his last is probably appealing for the Flames. I would be surprised if they find their long term goaltending solution during this season. One way or another I think this is going to be an offseason issue.

Since he plays for Detroit, it's their decision That's how it works.

Saying Calgary can get him for a worse goalie making more money and a mid pick would be insane for Detroit to consider.

Detroit still needs to field a team, it is a business. And their business is simply not helping the Flames for fun.

Just because he's not untouchable doesn't mean he'll be given away.

[TheIronMaiden]

There is debate about goalie solutions in four different threads right now. I wonder if fans are concerned.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

There is debate about goalie solutions in four different threads right now. I wonder if fans are concerned.

[David Struch]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

There is debate about goalie solutions in four different threads right now. I wonder if fans are concerned.

This whole goal-tending problem is snowballing into a crisis very rapidly.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Why would this have anything to do with Detroit's decision? Has Jimmy Howard assented to untouchable status in Detroit? I suspect they'll move him for a pick/prospect without much reservation. The more important question is whether Howard has any trade protection, and if so would he waive to go to Calgary?

Having this year as his last is probably appealing for the Flames. I would be surprised if they find their long term goaltending solution during this season. One way or another I think this is going to be an offseason issue.

Howard can give a list of 10 that he would be willing to go to. I don't see why Howard wouldn't waive to go to Calgary other than that he's an American. After all, he is moving at the end of the year anyway. The bigger question is whether Smith would waive to go to Detroit, where he will probably get shelled. They've had 9 games over 35 shots against, 3 over 40.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Howard can give a list of 10 that he would be willing to go to. I don't see why Howard wouldn't waive to go to Calgary other than that he's an American. After all, he is moving at the end of the year anyway. The bigger question is whether Smith would waive to go to Detroit, where he will probably get shelled. They've had 9 games over 35 shots against, 3 over 40.

I haven't looked at the stats but Smith strikes me as a goalie who has always performed better when facing a lot of shots.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I haven't looked at the stats but Smith strikes me as a goalie who has always performed better when facing a lot of shots.

I think there is something to this, and it may help to explain some of the weird disparities we see in Smith's game, such as the difference between his record on home ice compared to on the road.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I haven't looked at the stats but Smith strikes me as a goalie who has always performed better when facing a lot of shots.

He may be, and his play this year might suggest he is, or at least that he needs some easy ones to warm up on.

But his comments about defence make me think he doesn't think that way. Even just personnel wide, look at their defence.

[ForeverFlameFan]

A goalie I would want to take a stab at is Mrazek.

Only 26 and already has 191 games on his belt. His stats recently haven’t been so great with the poor play by the Wings in his final years there and not so hot defense in Philly.

He’s the same age as Rittich but has 164 games more played.