2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Wastedyouth]

No team has EVER (in the last 10 years) won a cup or had success by "being mean".

The "mean" teams typically end up flaming out early or being bottom feeders, because they waste ice time on players that take dumb penalties or get scored on.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

What intimidation or toughness did Lucic really bring last year?

That was such an overrated aspect of his game for the Flames IMO.

From our vantage point it seems this way. But players when asked like having brutes around.

Even if Lucic didn’t fight much or be a menace on the forecheck, who’s to say teammates (especially younger) didn’t appreciate him being around.

I loved having my buddy Cody (big rig pig) come to the Fox and Firkin with us. No one would think about starting #### with any of us.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

What intimidation or toughness did Lucic really bring last year?

That was such an overrated aspect of his game for the Flames IMO.

Did everyone forget about the game against the Rangers when Trouba took out Dube and Kadri AND Lucic and our big intimidator didn't do a thing and let Tanev and Dube try to take on Trouba?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Really irks me that absolutely nothing has been done to address our size/toughness, especially after losing Lucic. We need another couple of guys who can hit, fight, and intimidate, or we'll get steamrolled every game. Austin Watson is a guy who can skate, kill penalties, and stick up for teammates- and he's available as a UFA. There's also Nick Ritchie, Max Comtois, and Cal Foote.

While I agree the Flames need some size the Athletic seems to think we made the wise moves in dumping Lucic and Lewis.

https://theathletic.com/4701104/2023...mproved-teams/

On their list of most improved teams over the summer they have the Flames shockingly in the top seven teams and really focused on the departures of Lucic and Lewis as driving factors.

"I’m shocked the Flames ended up this high, especially after losing the Tyler Toffoli trade. But addition by subtraction goes a long way and the Flames added a lot by not re-signing either Trevor Lewis or Milan Lucic. Part of Calgary’s problem last year was how disastrous its fourth line was with Lucic and Lewis being primary culprits of that. They’re gone now and as a result, the Flames are 16 goals better from those two losses alone."

I agree with them. Yes, we need some serious size injected in the lineup, but size with skill. To me that means more Ruzicka and Duehr and then look at the possibilities of Klapka and Pospisil getting some games here and there. Flames have been terrible in giving the young guys shots while sticking with obvious veteran anchors. I hope this changes. I would much prefer to see a young guy get beat on a goal hoping they will learn from the failure rather than watching a washed up veteran not GAF and learn n nothing.

[Wood]

I doubt Foote or Comtois get a deal until the team Canada investigation goes public

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

From our vantage point it seems this way. But players when asked like having brutes around.

Even if Lucic didn’t fight much or be a menace on the forecheck, who’s to say teammates (especially younger) didn’t appreciate him being around.

I loved having my buddy Cody (big rig pig) come to the Fox and Firkin with us. No one would think about starting #### with any of us.

You live in a different world than I do. Can’t say I’ve ever felt the need for protection going to a pub lol.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

From our vantage point it seems this way. But players when asked like having brutes around.

Even if Lucic didn’t fight much or be a menace on the forecheck, who’s to say teammates (especially younger) didn’t appreciate him being around.

I loved having my buddy Cody (big rig pig) come to the Fox and Firkin with us. No one would think about starting #### with any of us.

But did Cody take up a valuable spot in your roster that should have gone to someone with skill?
Say it's trivia night at the Fox and you can only have a team of 4; you still taking big rig pig?

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

While I agree the Flames need some size the Athletic seems to think we made the wise moves in dumping Lucic and Lewis.

https://theathletic.com/4701104/2023...mproved-teams/

On their list of most improved teams over the summer they have the Flames shockingly in the top seven teams and really focused on the departures of Lucic and Lewis as driving factors.

"I’m shocked the Flames ended up this high, especially after losing the Tyler Toffoli trade. But addition by subtraction goes a long way and the Flames added a lot by not re-signing either Trevor Lewis or Milan Lucic. Part of Calgary’s problem last year was how disastrous its fourth line was with Lucic and Lewis being primary culprits of that. They’re gone now and as a result, the Flames are 16 goals better from those two losses alone."

I agree with them. Yes, we need some serious size injected in the lineup, but size with skill. To me that means more Ruzicka and Duehr and then look at the possibilities of Klapka and Pospisil getting some games here and there. Flames have been terrible in giving the young guys shots while sticking with obvious veteran anchors. I hope this changes. I would much prefer to see a young guy get beat on a goal hoping they will learn from the failure rather than watching a washed up veteran not GAF and learn n nothing.

Read that this morning was going to post it.

And it's July 19th and the Flames haven't filled out the roster with fourth line guys so it does look like Conroy is going with an inject some youth plan for the season.

He can't help the market being soft for his 11 month out UFAs, but it looks like he's leaning into his getting younger plan so far.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

From our vantage point it seems this way. But players when asked like having brutes around.

Even if Lucic didn’t fight much or be a menace on the forecheck, who’s to say teammates (especially younger) didn’t appreciate him being around.

I loved having my buddy Cody (big rig pig) come to the Fox and Firkin with us. No one would think about starting #### with any of us.

Except nobody was worried about Lucic because Lucic, in the rare instance he did fight, would only fight other plugs.

Adding toughness in the form of guys that can actually play is great. Prioritizing a spot for a face puncher (especially one that doesn’t even punch faces) over talent is a bad recipe for success.

The future of team toughness is guys like Bennett, Trouba, Gudas, and Zadorov that can actually play the game.

[Sandman]

As I’ve said a million times, until hockey becomes a non-contact sport, size and toughness will always be an important factor in building a winning team- like it or not. Speed and skill are of course the most important, but what do teams look for at the TDL? Usually size, toughness, and secondary scoring. If we don’t get bigger and tougher, teams like the Oilers are going to run over us. You may disagree, but NHL GM’s think like me.

Walker Duehr helps in this regard, but he won’t be sticking up for teammates, and Zadorov is big and physical, so he helps too. Lucic didn’t fight often, but that’s because he didn’t have to- he was a deterrent and made everyone on the bench feel 10-ft tall. I’m not even necessarily talking about fighting, but you need some guys to grill the steaks while other guys fold the pastries.

Edit: I’m talking about functional toughness, not just face-punchers. Watson is a guy who provides size, speed, and toughness, but can also play a regular shift and kill penalties.

[Vinny01]

Swapping out Lucic, Lewis, Ritchie, Toffoli, Stetcher, Stone
With
Coronato, Pelletier, Sharangovich, Duehr, Kylington, and Osterle

Definitely makes the team younger with higher skill upside than what we had before. I do think more moves will be made before the season starts as I do think we see Vladar, Hanifin, and maybe a forward move out sometime soon

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Except nobody was worried about Lucic because Lucic, in the rare instance he did fight, would only fight other plugs.

Adding toughness in the form of guys that can actually play is great. Prioritizing a spot for a face puncher (especially one that doesn’t even punch faces) over talent is a bad recipe for success.

The future of team toughness is guys like Bennett, Trouba, Gudas, and Zadorov that can actually play the game.

And a lethal powerplay is a better deterrent than a goon any day.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

No team has EVER (in the last 10 years) won a cup or had success by "being mean".

The "mean" teams typically end up flaming out early or being bottom feeders, because they waste ice time on players that take dumb penalties or get scored on.

F ya it did.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Swapping out Lucic, Lewis, Ritchie, Toffoli, Stetcher, Stone
With
Coronato, Pelletier, Sharangovich, Duehr, Kylington, and Osterle

Definitely makes the team younger with higher skill upside than what we had before. I do think more moves will be made before the season starts as I do think we see Vladar, Hanifin, and maybe a forward move out sometime soon

This is why no matter what happens there is some reason for optimism. Every year people complain that some prospect gets sent down for some 35-year-old cheap signing. Conroy is filling the roster with kids and during the summer people seem upset about it. Once camp starts, we will be happy with the line up and there will be lots of upside with this team.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

But did Cody take up a valuable spot in your roster that should have gone to someone with skill?
Say it's trivia night at the Fox and you can only have a team of 4; you still taking big rig pig?

You have me laughing at that one. Cody did serve the role as less attractive wing-man to pair up with any less desirable roommates we encountered. But point made.

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Except nobody was worried about Lucic because Lucic, in the rare instance he did fight, would only fight other plugs.

Adding toughness in the form of guys that can actually play is great. Prioritizing a spot for a face puncher (especially one that doesn’t even punch faces) over talent is a bad recipe for success.

The future of team toughness is guys like Bennett, Trouba, Gudas, and Zadorov that can actually play the game.

100% agree. We don't need one dimensional. But we need toughness that can also play. Hard to find those, but Tanner Jeanott's are out there.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Sandman

As I’ve said a million times, until hockey becomes a non-contact sport, size and toughness will always be an important factor in building a winning team- like it or not.

Edit: I’m talking about functional toughness, not just face-punchers. Watson is a guy who provides size, speed, and toughness, but can also play a regular shift and kill penalties.

Lucic was actually pretty disappointing when it came to providing toughness when it was needed IMO. Rangers game was already pointed out but in the Oilers series he was a no show. His on ice play was also hurting the team more than his 'toughness' helped. Go find a young guy if you want a 'tough' guy. No more Auston Watson's etc.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Lucic was actually pretty disappointing when it came to providing toughness when it was needed IMO. Rangers game was already pointed out but in the Oilers series he was a no show. His on ice play was also hurting the team more than his 'toughness' helped. Go find a young guy if you want a 'tough' guy. No more Auston Watson's etc.

A guy like Watson can play a regular shift, and won’t hurt you with his skating. You still need checkers who can pk on your team.

[united]

I always defer to 1,200-game veteran, Jason Spezza, on the topic.
https://theathletic.com/2481179/2021...leafs-veteran/

When Ottawa would dress a super tough guy, like, let’s say that they would dress Matt Kassian in the lineup, I remember Jason explaining to me, “Listen, you’re gonna hear a lot of people tell you, you add a tough guy in the lineup and everybody feels like they’re two inches taller, and that’s why we like it.”

He’s like, “No, we love it because we’re playing with only 11 forwards. That way, guys like me get more time.”

[Bonded]

I am sure there is someone younger who can score 11 points and provide some sandpaper.