[Rumour] Spector: Flames are willing to move Hudler and Wideman

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Like all things Edmonton, Spector is no good.

Flames are willing to move wideman and hudler. Duh.

He also takes a poke at stastny for being overpaid. Wonder how he feels about Eberle and RNH.

[stemit14]

I would approve a hudler trade if it was part of a package to get a top 15 pick in the draft. Does anyone think hudler + 2nd round pick + 3rd round pick would be enough to get a pick that high or is that a pipe dream?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

If we have a glut of small wingers, well let's not sign cammalleri then.

Hurdler >= cammalleri, so unless the deal is lopsided enough sure but otherwise he is a player who I like on the team and think he is good for the team.

Ignoring everything else and just looking at the players and their contracts, I would much rather have Hudler at $4m than Cammalleri at the $6m or so that he will probably cost.

However, if we sign Cammy (no assets lost) and trade Hudler, we are far better off than if we simply retain Hudler.

Cammalleri + Hudler return >>> Hudler

(and we can still trade Cammalleri in the future as well)

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Why the hell would anyone make that trade then? Easy to acquire supplementary players for potential difference makers? You must mean some really young prospects then.

So Hudler for a litre of Crosby sperm?

I mean difference makers in the sense that Flames are 3-5 years away from contending for the Cup and Hudler isn't going to be there then or if he is he isn't going to be helping much. So if you can trade a guy like Hudler for a younger guy that can turn into a 2nd liner when the Flames window is open then it makes sense.

Difference maker doesn't have to mean an elite guy. Probably should have said contributor instead.

I would say trade Hudler for a 20-22 year old that looks to have 2nd line/2nd pairing potential makes sense for the Flames. Reason other team does it is because they want the 2nd liner now.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Gaudreau and Baertschi are two of our best prospects in what is the deepest our system has ever been in my 20 or so years of following the Flames. Throw in Granlund and yes, I think it's safe to say that one of these kids will pan out and be able to replace Hudler within 1-2 years. Gaudreau has a higher upside than Hudler IMO if he can reach it. Baertschi has a similar upside and so does Granlund. Notice that I never said they'd replace Hudler immediately.

Pump what brakes? Is it a crime to be optimistic on our best prospects? Guess I'm guilty. Rather be that than a debbie downer pessimist.

Settle down. If you look through my history I am generally optimistic, especially lately. I just think you're severely underrating Jiri Hudler. 50+ point, highly skilled winger, with great leadership/mentoring. It's not just about putting up points (unless your an Oiler). I agree Sven and Johnny (and possibly Poirier) have higher ceiling potential than Hudler and will both most likely be very solid NHL players. But until you see a little but more proof of that, I don't see the point in losing Hudler now. Do you really think he's going to have a major regression next year, so much so that he will be less desirable of a trade acquisition?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Nobody over 25 at this point matters at all for the long term.

Except Giordano as he mentors the young kids and especially the young defensemen, gives our defense stability and shows our kids what hard work and dedication can do.

[Red Vinyl]

Maybe I'm on my own thinking this, but I get really nervous when I hear about trades like this. To me, Hudler was one of those key guys that helped start the rebuild last year. He was one of those veterans that embraced the new philosophy and winning attitude, and passed it onto the young kids. He seems like a great mentor for all the young talent we had coming up (Monahan), and all the talent coming this year.

Don't care so much about Wideman.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Settle down. If you look through my history I am generally optimistic, especially lately. I just think you're severely underrating Jiri Hudler. 50+ point, highly skilled winger, with great leadership/mentoring. It's not just about putting up points (unless your an Oiler). I agree Sven and Johnny (and possibly Poirier) have higher ceiling potential than Hudler and will both most likely be very solid NHL players. But until you see a little but more proof of that, I don't see the point in losing Hudler now. Do you really think he's going to have a major regression next year, so much so that he will be less desirable of a trade acquisition?

I wasn't saying you weren't an optimist.

The Flames are looking to make changes, to upgrade. Hudler is one of our most tradeable commodities. I'm not underrating him, quite the opposite. Recognizing that he's a skilled, good veteran is what makes his trade value solid right now. So we're going to be talking about moving him this summer because Treliving and Burke are likely looking to change things around and try to upgrade the team. Sure we can move him later but then who are we going to move now to change things now? He's one of our most valuable commodities that we can part with long term.

And yes his value could definitely regress. He was the Flames top scorer last year. A bad stretch or some injuries next year and his value could certainly be lower. Look what a bad start to the season did to Cammalleri's value.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Also, regarding Wideman: He isn't a bad player. He's a useful NHL defenseman, but he's redundant on this roster. Gio and Russell run the first PP unit, and the right thing to do is give Brodie the chance to run the 2nd unit. Which means Wideman is now the 3rd or fourth option on the 2nd unit powerplay, and he isn't providing good value for what his strengths are.

Now if a team has a d-corps that lacks in skill, offensive D, powerplay help etc, they can find room for Wideman. He helps. Just not here.

Definitely don't buy that Wideman is redundant on this roster. Right handed defenseman? Wideman. Big shot from the point? Gio is finally making better decisions when to unleash it, but other than that, Wideman. Able to log lots of minutes? Wideman.

He's unfortunately shown more warts this season like Eben worse than usual defensive play and career low shooting percentage. I'm happy to have him for next season until a suitable replacement us found.

[Trumbull]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Sell high on Hudler and get bigger. Makes sense.

I agree with this. Let's get some picks and/or get a better, larger, younger roster.

[handgroen]

hudler would be a good fit for anaheim who needs scoring help beyond top line.

the 10th overall pick would be a good fit for the flames, who need all the help they can get.

[Hackey]

But, but, but who will provide leadership if we trade Hudler? Were going to end up just like the Oilers.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by handgroen

hudler would be a good fit for anaheim who needs scoring help beyond top line.

the 10th overall pick would be a good fit for the flames, who need all the help they can get.

Treliving would be given GM of the year.

[Badgers Nose]

I can't wait for Treliving to do something so that I can start forming a real opinion of him.

Right now it's all just scary rumours.

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by stemit14

I would approve a hudler trade if it was part of a package to get a top 15 pick in the draft. Does anyone think hudler + 2nd round pick + 3rd round pick would be enough to get a pick that high or is that a pipe dream?

I'd love to see us try and make a deal like this but not sure what teams would go for it.

[Lanny_McDonald]

I thought the brain trust was recently telling season ticket holders they like the makeup of the team and could see them challenging for a playoff spot? How does trading away your best offensive threat and one of your top defensemen jive with that claim? I just don't see this being realistic.

Flames are short on talent up front. They are even shorter on talent on the back end, with no one being ready to contribute, if you listen to the guys running the club. The way you go full Oiler is to start moving veterans that fill those positions without having players ready to take over. You never go full Oiler. The only way Hudler gets dealt is if the club has another deal lined up for a better veteran, someone with size. The only way they deal Wideman is if they have another deal in place for a solid veteran on the blueline that provides similar skill and depth. I don't see either of those happening unless the Flames are going all in on the McDavid turtle race.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Hackey

But, but, but who will provide leadership if we trade Hudler? Were going to end up just like the Oilers.

If Hudler is that important for a successful Flames rebuild, we're in a lot of trouble.

[Icon]

Not shocking news. As he mentions, I'd say Gio & Monahan are untouchables from the previous roster... and I'd add a few of the prospects into the range of " the offer had better be ridiculous for us to look at it*

If you can get a decent return for Wideman, might as well.

I think Hudler seems like a good mentor, but again, if the return's worthwhile why not.

I'm more interested to see what they can do with Jones... he had a bigtime off year last year. So it's either bounce back time, or trade-while-low-value time.

[Plett25]

I like Hudler. I like Wideman too.

I don't particularly want either of them gone, but I'll be OK with parting with either/both of them as long as we win the trade.

It could be a win-win scenario, but as long as the Flames get better, it is fine by me.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Hackey

But, but, but who will provide leadership if we trade Hudler? Were going to end up just like the Oilers.

Well if Hudler is the only guy in the nhl who provides leadership , we should be able to get a kings ransom for him!

We signed him as a UFA and there will be other guys like him available too. And as someone said, if trading him means we're doomed then we're really screwed.