2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[chummer]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So many posters are addicted to sucking on this forum it's hilarious. It showed the year Sutter came back and won coach of the year, half the posters in this thread were nowhere to be found. Huska is the perfect coach for them, enjoy wallowing in your misery. I am going to not even talk about coaching anymore. Pointless. It's fantastic we can't score more then 3 goals a game and we are sure to be heading for great things using such an effective style of play!

Thank the lord.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am going to not even talk about coaching anymore. Pointless.

Win!

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

Diss, are you alright? Genuine question.

I personally think the Flames score 3 goals or less most games because they are devoid of offensive talent. They have zero game breakers.

Nope, not even close to alright. Thanks for asking. I apologize for ranting on about the coach. Like I said, I will leave it alone.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Nope, not even close to alright. Thanks for asking. I apologize for ranting on about the coach. Like I said, I will leave it alone.

Sorry to hear that. I hope things take a turn for the better for you.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

Diss, are you alright? Genuine question.

I personally think the Flames score 3 goals or less most games because they are devoid of offensive talent. They have zero game breakers.

The current Flames to me seem so close, but so far away. By that I mean, all the cogs are in place. They have the work ethic, goaltending, decent defense, and ok depth on forward. But they lack the motor... a true number 1 center. It's just so hard to get one outside of really high draft picks, and even then, you might need more than one shot to get one.

A lot of the forwards are underproducing right now and I suspect that lacking a top line center is a big part of that. Even just being better at faceoffs would probably add 0.5 goals per game and the team would have a few more wins.

I think it is very unlikely that Vancouver would trade Pettersson to us and I am also not convinced that part of the issue with him are his own hang ups, but if he is available, I think it could be the best chance to land a number 1 center without drafting one and it is looking more and more like this team isn't going to bottom right out. There is no denying his skill. As someone else mentioned, this team may have already reached its bottom point for the foreseeable future and it might be time to pivot and figure out how to get better now without going the lottery route.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The current Flames to me seem so close, but so far away. By that I mean, all the cogs are in place. They have the work ethic, goaltending, decent defense, and ok depth on forward. But they lack the motor... a true number 1 center. It's just so hard to get one outside of really high draft picks, and even then, you might need more than one shot to get one.

As someone else mentioned, this team may have already reached its bottom point for the foreseeable future and it might be time to pivot and figure out how to get better now without going the lottery route.

They're actually short probably three game breaking players. Two forwards and at least one defensemen, and that's if Parekh turns into a top defender. I think fans are a little dizzy over the wins in year one of this rebuild and thinking we're just one or two players away from being a contender. We're not.

Pepsifree is right though, we may be stuck not drafting high, meaning we'll be in serious trouble trying to fill those elite spots to become a contender. It would take a miracle to acquire what we need to become a contender without drafting top 5, but I guess we may have to try our best to patch up a playoff team that could possibly do damage at some point.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

The current Flames to me seem so close, but so far away. By that I mean, all the cogs are in place. They have the work ethic, goaltending, decent defense, and ok depth on forward. But they lack the motor... a true number 1 center. It's just so hard to get one outside of really high draft picks, and even then, you might need more than one shot to get one.

C. S. Lewis once wrote about the difference between ‘nearness of resemblance’ and ‘nearness of approach’. A statue of a bodybuilder resembles a bodybuilder more than an ordinary guy who never works out. But the ordinary guy could pump iron and make himself into a bodybuilder, whereas the statue will never be anything but a statue.

The Flames, as presently constructed, resemble a good team when they have a good night. But they don't have the horses to actually become a good team consistently. They have the nearness of resemblance, but not the nearness of approach. Actually getting there will mean going the long way around and acquiring a lot more young talent.

[stemit14]

It’s the ongoing debate of what is needed to win the cup or be a contender for the cup. There are no absolutes but I think, in general, you need at least 3 players that would be considered in the top 10 (ideally top 5) at their position in the league when the team is in their contention window. And a top 10 centre is the position that is the most essential. Some teams get more than one top 10 player in a few positions (Tampa for example).

Here are a few recent examples:

Florida:
Top 10 centre: Barkov
Top 10 winger: Tkachuk
Top 10 goalie: Bobrovsky

Vegas:
Top 10 centre: Eichel
Top 10 winger: Marchessault
Top 10 defenceman: Pietrangelo

Colorado:
Top 10 centre: McKinnon
Top 10 winger: Rantenan
Top 10 defenceman: Makar

Tampa:
Top 10 centre: Point
Top 10 winger: Kucherov
Top 10 goalie: Vasilevskiy

Obviously all these teams had other big contributors to their cup success. Depth and luck are both essential to winning the cup. I’m just saying I think any rebuilding team needs to have 3 players they could confidently say are top 10 (or going to be top 10) at their position in the league before they should be ready to start contending for the playoffs.

I personally think the flames have one player that is a good bet to already be a top 10 player at their position and that’s Wolf - I think he’ll solidify a spot as a top 5 goaltender league-wide as early as next season. I think Parekh has a decent chance to be a top 10 defenceman in the league but it could be 4-5 years away or more from happening. Can’t say any other players in the system are a good bet to be either a centre or winger that’s top 10 at their position but you never know. Huberdeau is only 2 years removed from being a top 5 winger league-wide and he’s playing his best hockey since becoming a flame.

But it’s the centre that’s the most essential. It’s very rare for any team to win a cup without a centre that’s one of the top 10 in the league. It’s why I don’t think Minnesota’s great regular season will amount to any playoff success. They easily have a top 3 winger in the league and a top 5 goalie right now but without a top 10 centre, I don’t think they will do much. They would be a good trade partner for Pettersson to be honest.

[dino7c]

I think people forget Eichel was a HUGE question mark when traded due to injury concerns. That is why Buffalo traded him in the first place.
Certainly hurt his value.

Flames have 2 firsts this season and 2 firsts next to go with the 2nd most cap space in the NHL and are currently in a playoff spot. They could make some things happen here...I'm not suggesting go crazy but IF top end players in their mid 20s are available they have to at least look into it.

[TOfan]

I still think Fredman’s suggested Pettersen - Cozens/Byram swap makes the most sense.

Any trade for Pettersen, I bet, would be a win now move opposed to what the Flames could offer, which would be draft capital/prospects as the most valuable assets they currently have. Specifically their 2025 picks (NJ & Fla) both look to be high twenties. I don’t believe those will move the needle much in Vancouver’s eyes. I don’t think the Flames have the assets to make this move.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

People are going to have to realize pretty quick here that this team isn’t getting much worse than it is, so it might be worth figuring out how to get better without that step.

I agree that this is the likely scenario for this year. I think the Flames are going to be on either side of the playoffs from here on out.

That said, I do think there is a chance the bottom falls out next year, particularly if Andersson will not extend, if that happens and if (big if, I know) there’s a chance Backlund wants a crack at the cup. The Flames could find themselves in the bottom 1/3 of the league, or lower. I see next year as a pivotal one in projecting the clubs short term outlook. It will either be more of the same with small incremental steps of replenishment of the clubs pick/prospect pool or a step backwards into lottery territory.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I still think Fredman’s suggested Pettersen - Cozens/Byram swap makes the most sense.

In a way that would be a bit like the Flames trading Hamilton for Hanifan and Lindholm. Players are all different contractually which changes values a lot. But the concept of a young more proven player for two guys with high pedigree, but not having hit their NHL potential is similar. Flames did add to get the two guys from Carolina, but Flames traded a guy with 2 years to UFA for two RFA guys they could sign for 6 years. So that's why the Flames had to add.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

In a way that would be a bit like the Flames trading Hamilton for Hanifan and Lindholm. Players are all different contractually which changes values a lot. But the concept of a young more proven player for two guys with high pedigree, but not having hit their NHL potential is similar. Flames did add to get the two guys from Carolina, but Flames traded a guy with 2 years to UFA for two RFA guys they could sign for 6 years. So that's why the Flames had to add.

If the Flames wanted to be in the game I would think that Rasmus and Zary would be a more attractive package. It would cost the Canucks less money over the next two years which is really a big chunk of their Miller window and they are arguably better players than Byram and Cozens.

I would argue that Rasmus Coleman and the Colorado 2nd would also be a more attractive package for cost and window reasons. Byram and Cozens make around 11 million this year. Next year it will probably be north of 12. Ras and Coleman would make less than 10. If the Flames are any of Ras’s contract it would be even less.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I think people forget Eichel was a HUGE question mark when traded due to injury concerns. That is why Buffalo traded him in the first place.
Certainly hurt his value.

Flames have 2 firsts this season and 2 firsts next to go with the 2nd most cap space in the NHL and are currently in a playoff spot. They could make some things happen here...I'm not suggesting go crazy but IF top end players in their mid 20s are available they have to at least look into it.

Eichel just wanted an artificial disk replacement. The Buffalo was stupid and started beefing with him, no other injury concerns. Calgary was fine with it that they made a huge offer.

That tells you they realized they knew they couldn't win without that premier #1C.

We need to use our picks to make our picks. We can gather more picks in later years, and once we have a core built use our picks for trades.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Dissentowner is right though, if you look at Huskas head coaching career his teams don't score.

It has to be some real #### luck to only coach teams that have no offensive talent, or maybe the coach prefers a style that is safe. I think Huska is an excellent coach for the PK and coaching dmen.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I do that all day. Reminds me of when folks thought Mangiapane and Dube were untouchable in an Eichel deal.

Seriously?

I'll have to look back on that!

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Seriously?

I'll have to look back on that!

Fix these ads first Bingo please. I have Whiskey for you.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Eichel just wanted an artificial disk replacement. The Buffalo was stupid and started beefing with him, no other injury concerns. Calgary was fine with it that they made a huge offer.

That tells you they realized they knew they couldn't win without that premier #1C.

We need to use our picks to make our picks. We can gather more picks in later years, and once we have a core built use our picks for trades.

I think if Conroy is actually thinking about trading for Pettersson it somewhat comes down to how good he thinks his current prospects and players under 25 are in the system along with what he might get for the picks. I think he could put together a pretty good package for Pettersson without including picks, in part because I don’t think that the Canucks want picks and in part because he has some decent assets to trade. But right now in the organization imo he has the following depth for players 24 yrs of age or younger by position (depth that I think could make an impact at the NHL level or already are)

Defence
Bahl
Parekh
Hunter
Mews
Maybe solovyov
Maybe Morin
Maybe Poirier
Maybe Grushnikov

Wingers
Honzek
Coronato
Pelletier
Suniev
Battaglia
Basha
Stromgren
Gridin

Centers
Zary (if he is a center)
Keirns

Considering Bahl, Coronato and Pelletier already look like they are NHL players he probably needs 2 dmen to turn out and 2 more wingers to turn out and he has at least his d-core more or less set and his top 9 wingers (with Huberdeau and Sharangovich being the other wingers). Sometime in the rebuild, probably 2027 and beyond he will need 3 centers. It will be pretty tough for him to turn picks at that point in time for multiple centers considering how often they become available. I hope Conroy is putting his best efforts into Pettersson just given the ability of the player and how often players like that become available.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

Dissentowner is right though, if you look at Huskas head coaching career his teams don't score.

It has to be some real #### luck to only coach teams that have no offensive talent, or maybe the coach prefers a style that is safe. I think Huska is an excellent coach for the PK and coaching dmen.

His championship team in the dub was 5th out of 22 teams in scoring

His team in 13/14 was 2nd in the dub in scoring

His team in 12/13 was 2nd in the dub in scoring

07/08 was 5th out of 22 teams in scoring

I would think being in the top 5 of league scoring 4 out of 7 years is pretty good in terms of offensive production.

His first year in the AHL his team was 6th out of 30 teams in scoring

I don’t think his coaching record shows a guy whose teams cannot create offence.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

I think if Conroy is actually thinking about trading for Pettersson it somewhat comes down to how good he thinks his current prospects and players under 25 are in the system along with what he might get for the picks. I think he could put together a pretty good package for Pettersson without including picks, in part because I don’t think that the Canucks want picks and in part because he has some decent assets to trade. But right now in the organization imo he has the following depth for players 24 yrs of age or younger by position (depth that I think could make an impact at the NHL level or already are)

Defence
Bahl
Parekh
Hunter
Mews
Maybe solovyov
Maybe Morin
Maybe Poirier
Maybe Grushnikov

Wingers
Honzek
Coronato
Pelletier
Suniev
Battaglia
Basha
Stromgren
Gridin

Centers
Zary (if he is a center)
Keirns

Considering Bahl, Coronato and Pelletier already look like they are NHL players he probably needs 2 dmen to turn out and 2 more wingers to turn out and he has at least his d-core more or less set and his top 9 wingers (with Huberdeau and Sharangovich being the other wingers). Sometime in the rebuild, probably 2027 and beyond he will need 3 centers. It will be pretty tough for him to turn picks at that point in time for multiple centers considering how often they become available. I hope Conroy is putting his best efforts into Pettersson just given the ability of the player and how often players like that become available.

He will need 3 of those listed players to turn into stars. Otherwise going all in for Pettersson is going to lead to the Iginla and Gaudreau years although this time with a center.

I don't view him in the Eichel tier. I think he is a tier below and that is my issue with him. Can he drive play, and can he make his wingers better. Otherwise, we are stuck with a Lindholm 2.0