Tricky decisions for Treliving (LeBrun article)

[Roof-Daddy]

For F sakes sell, sell, SELL.

I like Russell, but we have too many Dmen anyways, and lots of puckmovers too. Get some picks for him.

Jones is a big bodied RWer, doesn't matter, get some picks for him.

Love Hudler too, but let's hope he gets healthy and plays more like last years Hudler, then sell him too.

It's a rebuild, plus we have tons of depth, so losing all those players won't hurt the team too much IMO, if at all really.

Stock up on picks, because you never know who the next Dougie might be, and you want to have the flexibility to acquire that player and still draft enough players to keep the cupboards from emptying.

It's still just year 3.

[SuperMatt18]

I would be afraid of giving Hudler any extension.

Was never the best skater and IMO it looked like he already lost a step this year.

Was a good UFA signing for us but we replaced him with Frolik and the smart decision would be to turn him into an asset

[Roof-Daddy]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Granlund - Colborne
Bollig - Stajan - Jooris

Raymond rotating in and out
Grant, Hamilton, Shore, etc for call ups for injuries

Giordano - Brodie
Smid - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman

Nakladal rotating in and out
Wotherspoon, Kulak, Kylington for call ups for injuries

We'd be just fine without Russell, Hudler and Jones IMO.

[browna]

It is a tricky spot. Last year was just Glencross,and everyone knew that he wasn't long term and were pulling for him to do well. It was pretty much known a couple weeks in advance he was gone.

This year, different story. People here wanting to shed four or five FA's...an entire line. Shipping them all out is not a good message to be sending to a team of what will be young guys,callups, plus Gio for the final 6 weeks of the season, if they scratched and clawed as a team (and with those departing players last year too) to get to that point, knocking on the playoff door, especially given the start.

Also, they are not getting first round, probably not second,and possibly not even third round picks for these guys as a return..any of them.

And Gio going down with injury was a rallying point, which is a lot different mentality in the dressing room then when shipping off a defenseman for future magic beans (even if those beans turn out down the road). Flames may well do fine without Russel and I think they will, but let's not compare those two situations as equal as far as the mindset of the dressing room.

So Treliving has, in my opinion, to pick one or two of them to ship out and just let the others stick around and continue to be part of the team. That is,unless you can get NHL bodies back in any trades other than just picks.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Granlund - Colborne
Bollig - Stajan - Jooris

Raymond rotating in and out
Grant, Hamilton, Shore, etc for call ups for injuries

Giordano - Brodie
Smid - Hamilton
Engelland - Wideman

Nakladal rotating in and out
Wotherspoon, Kulak, Kylington for call ups for injuries

We'd be just fine without Russell, Hudler and Jones IMO.

There are a lot of non rentals I want off that roster before next October.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by browna

It is a tricky spot. Last year was just Glencross,and everyone knew that he wasn't long term and were pulling for him to do well. It was pretty much known a couple weeks in advance he was gone.

This year, different story. People here wanting to shed four or five FA's...an entire line. Shipping them all out is not a good message to be sending to a team of what will be young guys,callups, plus Gio for the final 6 weeks of the season, if they scratched and clawed as a team (and with those departing players last year too) to get to that point, knocking on the playoff door, especially given the start.

Also, they are not getting first round, probably not second,and possibly not even third round picks for these guys as a return..any of them.

And Gio going down with injury was a rallying point, which is a lot different mentality in the dressing room then when shipping off a defenseman for future magic beans (even if those beans turn out down the road). Flames may well do fine without Russel and I think they will, but let's not compare those two situations as equal as far as the mindset of the dressing room.

So Treliving has, in my opinion, to pick one or two of them to ship out and just let the others stick around and continue to be part of the team. That is,unless you can get NHL bodies back in any trades other than just picks.

Possibly not a 3rd for Hudler? Then keep him for the playoff run. (but he would in fact return much more than that)

[PlayfulGenius]

Acquiring 2nds and 3rds could help Treliving get into the Top 7 should the Flames end up outside of that range.

[Erick Estrada]

In reference to the topic the situation is really becoming less tricky as the days go by and the deadline moves closer. A good poker player knows when his hand isn't good enough and it's time to fold.

[mikephoen]

If Treliving can get something for Nakladal, he should move him, too. The guy is 28 and has zero NHL games played. He isn't part of the long term plans either.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

If Treliving can get something for Nakladal, he should move him, too. The guy is 28 and has zero NHL games played. He isn't part of the long term plans either.

I think you summed up rather neatly just exactly what Treliving could expect to get for Nakladal via trade.

[JJ1532]

Originally Posted by browna

Also, they are not getting first round, probably not second,and possibly not even third round picks for these guys as a return..any of them.

Aren't they? Why not?

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

If Treliving can get something for Nakladal, he should move him, too. The guy is 28 and has zero NHL games played. He isn't part of the long term plans either.

Don't think he has much trade value. You never know, Nakladal could be here longer than some of Russell, Wideman, Emgelland or Smid if he gets a chance this year and runs with it.

[David Struch]

Yes, trade Hudler, Jones, Wideman & Russell for draft picks... the Flames need all the lottery tickets they could get to discover another Gaudreau or Brodie and a couple more Bouma and Ferland types wouldn't hurt either.

[Caged Great]

I might even be willing to deal Ramo and/or Hiller if the Flames can find a quality asset for either on Feb 29th. Having Poulin/Ortio backup for the last month would be fine.

I could also see some other guys get moved if a deal makes sense (Engelland Smid for example)

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by David Struch

Yes, trade Hudler, Jones, Wideman & Russell for draft picks... the Flames need all the lottery tickets they could get to discover another Gaudreau or Brodie and a couple more Bouma and Ferland types wouldn't hurt either.

This. 1000x THIS!

If you have extra picks, you can take a flyer on a Gaudreau, and afford to fail. Extra picks allows for a little more boom and bust.

A little more Gaudreau, Brodie, Ferland. We still obviously need a few more pieces.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think we also have to look at the existing roster and ensure there are enough vets around to help shoulder the load and provide leadership.

Giordano, Stajan, Engelland (apparently one of the leaders on the team), Smid (you aren't going to get a whole lot if anything for Smid and Engelland at least until next year's TD) and Wideman. These are the 'vets' I would say. Raymond is 29, but I don't know if he falls into that category. No idea on Frolik either. Backlund has worn an A at times - so maybe we can lump him in there?

So, is the above enough leadership and experience to continue nurturing the young guys and absorbing an influx of another few on the team? Will Calgary miss Hudler's leadership - he has worn an A before. Russell wears an A. Jones? Hiller I don't count - I think there are few goalies that one can say are leaders anyways.

I think that Monahan, Gaudreau and Brodie are far enough along that they may not need too much coddling any longer - if at all. I think guys like Backlund and Frolik are far enough into their careers that they know how to be pros - and they both play the game the right way in every zone and both never stop skating and competing hard. I think the Flames can unload all of Hudler, Jones, Russell and Hiller this year, and not have it adversely impact the leadership on the team too much. Every player that is liked in the dressing room that is traded away is always depressing for the team - especially when it is for futures. I just think this team has enough leadership, and the existing youth on the team has character, that the Flames will be able to do it.

Raymond and the rest of the players that people seem keen on in trading away will be dealt with next season. The Flames are not going to make a poor trade to just offload a player. Would you throw-in a Gaudreau to offload one year of Raymond? Of course not - not that one could expect the Flames to find another Gaudreau (or Brodie!) in the 4th or whatever round it would take in order to get rid of a Raymond. Simply isn't worth it.

[Caged Great]

Another thing to consider is that you would only be shedding veteran talent for a couple months. If say the Flames deal off 6 or 7 guys at the deadline, those spots are not all going to go to young guys next year. They will likely target another Frolik type of player or two on UFA day up front and potentially a guy like Brian Campbell on D if they deal multiple defenders at the deadline.

It wouldn't hurt to allow the upper portion of the farm system that are either going to need an opportunity in the NHL or be moved on from to be given an audition in the NHL in the last month. That way you can sort out things a bit in order to see which guys have a leg up on any roster spots next year. Guys like Agostino, Hamilton, Grant, Wotherspoon, Kulak, Nakladal, Sieloff etc.

[Dajazz]

I agree with the posters saying its not black or white. We can't/shouldn't have a fire sale, but perhaps bringing back Jones a 1m/year is a good filler in the bottom 9.

Hudler will want more, perhaps 5x5 and that is a big nono, he has value and thus should be traded.

Russell, never was and never will be a fan. Good attitude perhaps, but he gets hemmed in his zone again and again. Trade for the right value or do not re-sign unless its for peanuts.

Wideman is probably untradeable (and has one year left), Raymond is horrible and has zero value. Not much one can do there.

When Frolik and Hamilton was acquired I figured it was pretty telling what the plan was with Hudler/Russell/Wideman going forward.

[browntrout]

It would be a huge mistake not to sell the UFA's on this team. This team got man handled by the ducks last playoffs. Team desperately needs size and skill if they want to compete in the western conference Would love to see calgary draft the two big Finns in the first round. Brad would have to trade a roster player to make it happen. At this point you have to wonder if Brodie or Hamilton are on the trade market, considering the flames were in serious discussions with Columbus about Johansson.

[Tinordi]

Johansen?

That's news.