[Rumour] Friedman: Flames aggressive in trade market. Getting calls on Hudler.

[Caged Great]

If Detroit wants to flip us Mantha and the 19th overall pick, I would find it nearly impossible to walk away from that even if it cost Hudler. The Flames would get two of the guys that are on everyone's list of contenders at 19 and we'd get Mantha as well.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by PlayfulGenius

Giordano fits that description as well

Giordano is also the captain, Elite and in a more important and difficult to fill position. We also have no back up for his position, where there are plenty of wingers in the system to develop

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Not a chance, way too good for the Flames in this deal.

What about Bowey plus Sanford?

[hockey.modern]

Could you imagine getting two firsts, and then seeing if you could possibly get those trades for a top 10, possibly top 5 draft pick this year.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Not a chance, way too good for the Flames in this deal.

That's why it's called overpayment.

[browna]

Said it before, Hudler's been fantastic this year and really the catalyst for the first line...and the first line was the catalyst for the team results most games.

But the main issue is that the Flames don't have control over him past this year...just as much, he's an ideal player, historically and of course last season, to be that second line player for a team that thinks they're a contender and thinks they just need that extra scoring talent to push them over the edge and into the second and third rounds.

If that type of player can be had at the outset of the season for another team, not just a end of Feb trade line-onwards, he'll command a top price, as not too many players find themselves on teams in the Flames situation (a rebuilding team but a team that had legit success out of the blue, with him being front and center)...and his fantastic play and production last year caught a lot of attention.

Ideally, the Flames get a decent round pick, but also a NHL skilled player that will eventually mature into Hudler, just needs the right amount of ice time to develop some more. For now, said player is a bit cheaper, younger, and comes with 3 years left on a contract.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If Detroit wants to flip us Mantha and the 19th overall pick, I would find it nearly impossible to walk away from that even if it cost Hudler. The Flames would get two of the guys that are on everyone's list of contenders at 19 and we'd get Mantha as well.

LOL, It's not even a possibility. Devellano has shown he doesn't like Hudler enough to sign him for free let alone give up large assists for him.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by T@T

LOL, It's not even a possibility. Devellano has shown he doesn't like Hudler enough to sign him for free let alone give up large assists for him.

That was then, this is now. They've flip flopped before like every team has

But it's still pretty unrealistic

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

That was then, this is now. They've flip flopped before like every team has

But it's still pretty unrealistic

No offence but how about an example!

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Yes but Giordano is an elite player at his position... Hudler is very good but not elite.

8th in league scoring seems pretty elite to me.

[dammage79]

Well these next two weeks are going to be interesting. Who doesn't love trades?

Of course they're taking calls on Hudler, everyone wants top ten scorers. Pony mofo's, it's not going to be cheap. And I still hate the idea of moving on from Hudler. He should be extended. But if they really feel like the core doesn't include Hudler, well I hope they get whatever they do with him right.

[FlameZilla]

Treliving strikes me as someone who is aggressive on the phones, lines up some decent deals, but then isn't afraid to stand pat. He won't just make a trade for the sake of making a trade like some of our previous GMs. It not only has to be right for the team; it has to be perfect for the team.

I can see there being a lot of smoke but not too much fire.

[jeffman]

IMO Hudler was a big reason we made the playoffs this year with some clutch goals and excellent chemistry with mony and gaudreau.
With essentially the same core of players, adding Mantha and 19OA probably won't help us make the playoffs next year. So the question should be are we willing to risk making the playoffs next year to boost our assets for the future? How would this affect the winning culture we are trying to develop?

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by jeffman

IMO Hudler was a big reason we made the playoffs this year with some clutch goals and excellent chemistry with mony and gaudreau.
With essentially the same core of players, adding Mantha and 19OA probably won't help us make the playoffs next year. So the question should be are we willing to risk making the playoffs next year to boost our assets for the future? How would this affect the winning culture we are trying to develop?

Yes we should.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by jeffman

IMO Hudler was a big reason we made the playoffs this year with some clutch goals and excellent chemistry with mony and gaudreau.
With essentially the same core of players, adding Mantha and 19OA probably won't help us make the playoffs next year. So the question should be are we willing to risk making the playoffs next year to boost our assets for the future? How would this affect the winning culture we are trying to develop?

It would likely be a momentary step back. I'm sure that any UFA player would be more than happy to play 1st line RW with Gaudreau and Monahan. There are more than a few guys out there worth signing on UFA day, Williams and Stafford are the best of the bunch. Teams can negotiate with UFA's prior to the draft now, so they would likely be able to gauge the interest of those players and the $'s/term they are looking for. You likely wouldn't trade Hudler if you weren't already aware that say Williams was looking for 3/20 and Stafford in the neighbourhood of 4/22 (numbers pulled out of nowhere and are just guesses). If those #'s were palatable and doable, then you could move Hudler without severely damaging the team.

Hudler never reached more than 57 points before this year and beat that by 19. That is a huge jump and is likely caused by leeching some points off the skill of his linemates. That is not a problem and is a good thing, but that also doesn't make him a top 10 player in the NHL and he may ask for a contract that would be problematic, which the Flames would also be aware of.

[Finger Cookin]

I trust Treliving to leave no stone unturned when it comes to either extending Hudler or dealing him, depending on how offers and negotiations go. Treliving strikes me as thorough and hard-working, and I doubt this situation has snuck up on him or caught him unawares.

If Hudler is extended, I expect it will be a good contract for both parties. If Hudler is dealt, I expect it will be for a good return that will continue to help the Flames rebuild. I hope Hudler stays, personally.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If Detroit wants to flip us Mantha and the 19th overall pick, I would find it nearly impossible to walk away from that even if it cost Hudler. The Flames would get two of the guys that are on everyone's list of contenders at 19 and we'd get Mantha as well.

Does Hudler help out Detroit that much? They had 4 20 goal scorers plus Zetterberg with 17.


If Detroit is willing to trade #19 and/or Mantha they will be wanting a top-4/5 d man to replace 38 year old Zidlicky...

While some have pointed out the Flames don't make the playoffs without Hudler... They don't make it without Wideman or Russell stepping up after Gio was hurt.

It is not as much as a drop off from Hudler to Granlund/Jooris/Ferland/Raymond/Poirier/Klimchuck/

as it is from Russell/Wideman to
Wotherspoon/Diaz/Potter/Sieloff/Kanzig.

If Hudler is traded I would have to think that it would be for top-4 d-man or at least a young d-man that has shown clear NHL potential rather than a forward prospect.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by T@T

No offence but how about an example!

SureLoss pointed it out in the trade thread but they let Quincey go on waivers then paid handsomely to get him back a few years later

[Tinordi]

Sell high on Hudler.

That's what separates the wheat from the chaff among NHL GMs.

[Wolfman]

Hold onto Hudler too long and your return won't be as good. (i.e Iginla)