The 2025 Offseason thread.

[Bingo]

I've always wondered how a team would do, say in a generation (25 years) with a hard rule where you can't sign a single player past the age of 34.

28 year old wants to stay ... 6 year deal

32 year old wants to stay ... 2 year deal

And then at 34 it's year to year.

A lot of turnover. A lot of players leaving before the team or the player want them too, but cap space and likely assets with players getting traded.

I think you need to take it decision by decision, truly, but it would be interesting to put a rule in place and see where it takes you.

[Vinny01]

The Flames need to avoid a Nashville type offseason where they spend all their cap on some veterans that eats up roster spots and cap space on aging players. Ultimately I do not think they will do that but if the Flames went out and signed Bennett, Boeser, and Ekblad it could be disastrous but the team on paper looks much better.

Huberdeau-Bennett-Coronato
Zary-Kadri-Boeser
Sharangovich-Frost-Farabee
Lomberg-Backlund-Pospisil

Weegar-Ekblad
Bahl-Parekh
Bean-Pachal

Wolf
?

Trade Andersson, Coleman for futures.

Disclaimer this is not what I want to see happen just throwing out a scenario. I don’t like it since all 3 UFA’s are late 20’s and would want 6-7 year deals for top money to come here.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I've always wondered how a team would do, say in a generation (25 years) with a hard rule where you can't sign a single player past the age of 34.

28 year old wants to stay ... 6 year deal

32 year old wants to stay ... 2 year deal

And then at 34 it's year to year.

A lot of turnover. A lot of players leaving before the team or the player want them too, but cap space and likely assets with players getting traded.

I think you need to take it decision by decision, truly, but it would be interesting to put a rule in place and see where it takes you.

In my opinion this is the only way that you can stay competitive year after year without having to go through the cyclical downswings that lead to fans wanting to tank.

I would move it to 32 years old. Continually moving out players that are going for their third contracts and bringing in younger players, prospects, and picks. You would have to have a good scouting staff to make it work to an excellent level. In a lot of ways like the junior hockey models but with an extended life cycle.

[shutout]

Only big name UFA that really makes sense for the Flames to pursue would be Marner as he has game breaking offensive potential. Ehlers is a lite version of what Marner could bring but I am not sure he is going to be worth what he is going to get paid.

Bennett does not help this team with scoring goals or creating offense.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by shutout

In my opinion this is the only way that you can stay competitive year after year without having to go through the cyclical downswings that lead to fans wanting to tank.

I would move it to 32 years old. Continually moving out players that are going for their third contracts and bringing in younger players, prospects, and picks. You would have to have a good scouting staff to make it work to an excellent level. In a lot of ways like the junior hockey models but with an extended life cycle.

Once word gets around that is the Flames policy you’d have a pretty hard time attracting players to come year. Or resign here. You’re never going to build a full team through the draft. You are always going to need free agents or players acquired via trade.

[Vinny01]

End of the day the time to take swings to make this team rapidly better is not now. Truly the earliest I want to see it is the summer before we open Scotia Place. I would not do much this summer other than trade Andersson. They should focus on signing their guys to extensions like Coronato, Zary, Bahl, Wolf. If they stub their toe next year the 2026 draft has some high end prospects and the chance to draft a generational player like McKenna tells me this team needs to stay the rebuild course despite the 96pt season.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

End of the day the time to take swings to make this team rapidly better is not now. Truly the earliest I want to see it is the summer before we open Scotia Place. I would not do much this summer other than trade Andersson. They should focus on signing their guys to extensions like Coronato, Zary, Bahl, Wolf. If they stub their toe next year the 2026 draft has some high end prospects and the chance to draft a generational player like McKenna tells me this team needs to stay the rebuild course despite the 96pt season.

This.

Stick to the plan, acquire young assets, and look to start filling holes in a couple years.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

???

Nobody said St. Louis wasn’t on the list. Tkachuk would only extend for a handful of teams. He chose those destinations, not the Flames. Five of the six were sunbelt teams. Tkachuk loves going to the rink wearing flip flops and hanging out at the pool on his off-days. He’s also said even before he went to Florida, Bennet gushed about how great the lifestyle was. But he would have been happy to go the Blues as well because it’s his hometown.

Tkachuk wasn’t going to wind up anywhere he didn’t want to live.

all I said is the Flames made the final call and it COULD have been St. Louis which is NOT a beach city. Flames also could have been far less accomidating to a player bailing on them.

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

No chance. Roughly $15M to sign Bouchard and 5 more guys.

They’ll have a ton of space when McDavid decides to move on here shortly.
I’d wager anything less than a cup final again has him thinking elsewhere.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Royle9

They’ll have a ton of space when McDavid decides to move on here shortly.
I’d wager anything less than a cup final again has him thinking elsewhere.

If they don't go deep - minimum 3rd round - you have to think he decides enough is enough

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I've been told that Craig has contracts ready for both Wolfy and Coronato.
Zary was all but ready to be locked up long term (and I still think he will) but his injury setbacks seem to have potentially changed some numbers there.

Do not bridge, please! Max years, lock them in.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

If they don't go deep - minimum 3rd round - you have to think he decides enough is enough

I know there are many teams that would line up to sign him should he go to market... but I have my doubts that any other team would bend over to the degree that the Oilers have to appease him.

Maybe he stays where he is so he can keep calling the shots.

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Royle9

They’ll have a ton of space when McDavid decides to move on here shortly.
I’d wager anything less than a cup final again has him thinking elsewhere.

I can see him playing in LA like Gretzky. Lol

[cannon7]

I don't see Bennett signing with the Flames pretty much ever. Even if they were offering the most money.

A guy like Ekblad, assuming he can stay clean, would be a solid pickup. Would be interested in Brock Boeser or Pius Suter if the price is right.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by dino7c

all I said is the Flames made the final call and it COULD have been St. Louis which is NOT a beach city. Flames also could have been far less accomidating to a player bailing on them.

Not if they wanted him signed to an extension. It was Tkachuk who was accommodating. He could have said there’s only one team I’ll sign an extension with and totally sewered his trade value. Or he could have simply waited a year, walked himself to free agency, and left the Flames with nothing.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Not if they wanted him signed to an extension. It was Tkachuk who was accommodating. He could have said there’s only one team I’ll sign an extension with and totally sewered his trade value. Or he could have simply waited a year, walked himself to free agency, and left the Flames with nothing.

Walked himself to a 7 year contract? how would that year have gone with the Flames? Over 100 points? doubt it.

He helped himself as much as anyone. If he only gave them one team they would have hung on to him longer...maybe until the deadline. Like with Colorado/Rantanen trade him wherever the #### they wanted. Hanifin tried to give the Flames one team he would sign with, they smartened up by then though.

The point was though he didn't just choose beach destinations, players go places for various reasons. It wouldn't be all that shocking for the Flames to make a suprising signing this offseason.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Royle9

They’ll have a ton of space when McDavid decides to move on here shortly.
I’d wager anything less than a cup final again has him thinking elsewhere.

Do you think that with his wife opening a new restaurant, expecting a baby and his relationship with Drai would make him stay in Edmonton? I have a feeling he may take a small discount to have a say in what the Oilers do moving forward.

You have to think that he would ask for an upgrade in goaltending and looking to add a 1/2 defenceman.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Walked himself to a 7 year contract? how would that year have gone with the Flames? Over 100 points? doubt it.

He helped himself as much as anyone. If he only gave them one team they would have hung on to him longer...maybe until the deadline. Like with Colorado/Rantanen trade him wherever the #### they wanted. Hanifin tried to give the Flames one team he would sign with, they smartened up by then though.

The point was though he didn't just choose beach destinations, players go places for various reasons. It wouldn't be all that shocking for the Flames to make a suprising signing this offseason.

Who would be that surprise signing? Won’t be Marner. Word is if it’s not Toronto, it will be the US. Bennett? Maybe, but I’m skeptical. Have to think the Panthers and Bennett find some way to get things done there. Boeser? Doubt this one as well. The door seems shut on him staying in Vancouver. American fellow, seems likely he will head south of the boarder too. If the Flames are deep anywhere, it’s on the wing. If last year proved anything, it was they don’t need UFA wingers to fill out the roster (Mantha). Ekblad, I don’t see a fit for either side.

If Vladar leaves, maybe they take a run at Jake Allen. Would that constitute a surprise’? Listening to Stienberg recently, he along with others think the Flames will have interest in Bennett but otherwise, they’re sticking to the plan of integrating young players.

I think this offseason amounts to an Andersson trade and, maybe, one more ‘surprise’ trade. That could be trading some picks/prospects in areas of depth for other prospects. For instance, is there a LHS D out there they might want to trade one of there LHS wingers or RHS D for? I think that is less likely but wouldn’t dismiss it entirely.

[Flames_F.T.W]

I think Calgary and Buffalo hook up for a D trade. They've got 3 LHD that are top 4 and we have a surplus of RHD. Byram or Powers would be a nice add. Buffalo clearly needs a shakeup so I'm sure they'd consider a lot of potential deals

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Flames_F.T.W

I think Calgary and Buffalo hook up for a D trade. They've got 3 LHD that are top 4 and we have a surplus of RHD. Byram or Powers would be a nice add. Buffalo clearly needs a shakeup so I'm sure they'd consider a lot of potential deals

I think that could be interesting.

I’ve thought that Dahlin and Byram are a pretty good pair and the Sabres might not want to split them. If I’m not mistaken, Warrener, who pays attention to the Sabres, thinks pretty highly of Power.

Problem I see, is do the Flames have the pieces Buffalo would want? Anyone with trade protection would probably say no. Are the Sabres interested in some futures from the Flames? I’m not convinced Brzustewicz or Mews is enough.

If I’m Buffalo the guy I’m asking for is Coronato and I’m not sure the Flames would want to do that. They have a greater need for more RHS forwards than LHS D. Zary, maybe?

If the Flames do end up with Power or Byram, it’s going to come at a cost. I don’t think Buffalo will want draft picks and like I said I doubt many players across the league would waive to go to Buffalo right now.