2024 Off-season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Bubba17]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Fine, take all Oilers players out of the discussion. I am just saying the concept it is bad is baffling to me. I will list a couple players, just want to confirm that you actually think the correct answer is no on all these players because of the concern about using too much cap space and wrecking your future salary structure.

New Jersey Devils - currently have 4.9 million in cap space and have to sign 3 players. Also have no players of significant cap value dropping off their balance sheet in the next two years and they have to sign Hughes and Nemec to big deals.

offer sheet Dawson Mercer a 2 year deal worth 9 million. 3.5 million in year one, 5.5 million in year two. Qualifying offer in year two when they have to sign Nemec would be 5.5 million or he walks to UfA. Cost to the Flames - a high second round pick.

That is an offer the Devils would have to think about, I suspect Dawson Mercer is worth a lot more than a 2025 2nd round pick. He is 23 for this upcoming year.

Your position is that it does not make sense because you have to give up both a 2nd rounder and you think 4.5 million a year is an overpay for a current 22 year old who has put up back to back 20 goal seasons?

To a lesser extent because the teams are not in the same salary cap crunch you could go after Schneider and Perfetti with the same type of contract.

The Qualifying Offer is limited to 120% of their previous contracts annual average (AAV). Changed the year that Tkachuk's previous contract ended because of situations like this.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Bubba17

The Qualifying Offer is limited to 120% of their previous contracts annual average (AAV). Changed the year that Tkachuk's previous contract ended because of situations like this.

Did not know that. I guess they would have to qualify Mercer at 5.4 million then.

[Sandman]

Evander Kane spotted at the Stampede, dressed up like a cowboy….

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Sandman

Evander Kane spotted at the Stampede, dressed up like a cowboy….

He was spotted in the playoffs dressed up as a hockey player.

[Niemo]

To our beloved insiders: any legs to the ‘weak’ rumours of CGY and Isles talks of Pageau + Asset to us? Or Huberdeau trade talks?

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by Niemo

To our beloved insiders: any legs to the ‘weak’ rumours of CGY and Isles talks of Pageau + Asset to us? Or Huberdeau trade talks?

I actually heard the NYI rumours, but Huby ain't going nowhere IMO. If Conny could get us out from underneath that contract, I vote we erect a statue in his honor outside the new arena....

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I actually heard the NYI rumours, but Huby ain't going nowhere IMO. If Conny could get us out from underneath that contract, I vote we erect a statue in his honor outside the new arena....

Agree on Huberdeau unfortunately. I wish there was a mutual buyout option where player can agree to terminate or lower the buyout amount which would affect the cap penalties (in a good way).

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I actually heard the NYI rumours, but Huby ain't going nowhere IMO. If Conny could get us out from underneath that contract, I vote we erect a statue in his honor outside the new arena....

If we traded that contract, meeting the cap floor would be a challenge. I guess there are always some bad contracts out there to take on and you could always give an average free agent a lottery moment by grossly overpaying them for one year.

[Sandman]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

If we traded that contract, meeting the cap floor would be a challenge. I guess there are always some bad contracts out there to take on and you could always give an average free agent a lottery moment by grossly overpaying them for one year.

Yeah, I think there would be some options.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Sandman

I actually heard the NYI rumours, but Huby ain't going nowhere IMO. If Conny could get us out from underneath that contract, I vote we erect a statue in his honor outside the new arena....

Get rid of Huby and good luck making the cap floor.

He’s not going anywhere

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

If we traded that contract, meeting the cap floor would be a challenge. I guess there are always some bad contracts out there to take on and you could always give an average free agent a lottery moment by grossly overpaying them for one year.

I say this as someone who is still hopeful huberdeau can regain something even remotely close to his Florida form but right now if you can trade that contract you do it and sign whatever random free agent who is available to a 1 year $10.5M contract to make the cap flood then worry about it next offseason.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

If we traded that contract, meeting the cap floor would be a challenge. I guess there are always some bad contracts out there to take on and you could always give an average free agent a lottery moment by grossly overpaying them for one year.

I would not for one second see getting to the cap floor as an obstacle if there was a chance to trade huberdeau.

Easy peasy, sign a couple one or two year deals to make it up. The huberdeau contract is crippling and will still be so during our upswing out if a rebuild, most likely.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Get rid of Huby and good luck making the cap floor.

He’s not going anywhere

Any trade for Huberdeau would be cap neutral or have the Flames taking on some cap. Still won’t happen though

[Royle9]

Originally Posted by Niemo

To our beloved insiders: any legs to the ‘weak’ rumours of CGY and Isles talks of Pageau + Asset to us? Or Huberdeau trade talks?

FWIW I haven't heard anything on either of these. With that said its been very quiet. I will ask specifically about Pageau, but I don't see a fit personally.

Huberdeau isn't going anywhere, at least not until some sort of resurgence and an 80+ point season at the very least. What is clear is both the player and the team are not happy with the production. I know he was getting blasted for his comments about the system etc, but he wasn't wrong.

He came from Florida who played as the most offensively aggressive team in the NHL. They played a very heavy east/west system where creativity and passing was key, which go figure fits very well into Jonathan's strengths. Just go back and watch his 110+ point season highlights, almost 90% of the offensive generation was east/west passing.

He came into Calgary and was forced into a more defensively focused system, focusing strictly on north/south aggression which removes the creativity and replaces it with high shot generation and hopefully rebounds while maintaining a strict focus on reduced chances.

Simply put, his game doesn't translate into that kind of system which is very evident. Unfortunately if the Flames continue to go down this road of north/south dump and chase then I don't see him getting back to his old ways, he needs to be allowed to generate those cross ice east/west puck movement and play way more open and aggressive offensively.

He didn't forget how to play hockey, I know we all like to dump on him because he's sucked here and there's no sugar coating it. But he's also not playing the type of hockey he's played his whole career. You have to let your offensive threats play to their strengths, which is why we saw the Jonny-Lindholm-Tkachuk line thrive the final year under Darryl because he let them play east /west and use the creativity.

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by Royle9

FWIW I haven't heard anything on either of these. With that said its been very quiet. I will ask specifically about Pageau, but I don't see a fit personally.

Huberdeau isn't going anywhere, at least not until some sort of resurgence and an 80+ point season at the very least. What is clear is both the player and the team are not happy with the production. I know he was getting blasted for his comments about the system etc, but he wasn't wrong.

He came from Florida who played as the most offensively aggressive team in the NHL. They played a very heavy east/west system where creativity and passing was key, which go figure fits very well into Jonathan's strengths. Just go back and watch his 110+ point season highlights, almost 90% of the offensive generation was east/west passing.

He came into Calgary and was forced into a more defensively focused system, focusing strictly on north/south aggression which removes the creativity and replaces it with high shot generation and hopefully rebounds while maintaining a strict focus on reduced chances.

Simply put, his game doesn't translate into that kind of system which is very evident. Unfortunately if the Flames continue to go down this road of north/south dump and chase then I don't see him getting back to his old ways, he needs to be allowed to generate those cross ice east/west puck movement and play way more open and aggressive offensively.

He didn't forget how to play hockey, I know we all like to dump on him because he's sucked here and there's no sugar coating it. But he's also not playing the type of hockey he's played his whole career. You have to let your offensive threats play to their strengths, which is why we saw the Jonny-Lindholm-Tkachuk line thrive the final year under Darryl because he let them play east /west and use the creativity.

Thanks Royle!

Regarding Huberdeau, I agree on the E-W game and creativity. Certainly seemed like a lot of his offense was generated on the rush too in the highlights from what I remember. Biggest surprise for me was that he doesn't seem to 'run' the PP. I was expecting more on the PP at least.

One thing I noticed from his last 2 seasons in Florida (or maybe just last) was that he was used on the PK and was quite effective (had a handful of SHPs). I believe in an interview during his last season in FLA he mentioned that it helped the defensive side of his game and engagement during 5v5. I'm surprised we haven't put him on the PK to try to get him going more (although he has been greatly improved since the start of 2024).

Regarding Pageau, I thought the fit made sense if we could somehow pry a 1st out of Lou even if it means throwing in a prospect that has a lower ceiling. He's a C and seems to play an engaged game with some physicality. Probably someone we can flip at next year's deadline for an asset as teams are always looking for his type for C depth as a rental. He's shown previous playoff clutchness too.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Royle9

Simply put, his game doesn't translate into that kind of system which is very evident. Unfortunately if the Flames continue to go down this road of north/south dump and chase then I don't see him getting back to his old ways, he needs to be allowed to generate those cross ice east/west puck movement and play way more open and aggressive offensively.

This is what is what makes the trade so bad. Either pro scouts failed or Treliving ignored them.

[Niemo]

Originally Posted by Bonded

This is what is what makes the trade so bad. Either pro scouts failed or Treliving ignored them.

I haven't been impressed with our pro scouts' abilities for a long time now. Seems like we have a lot more misses than hits when it comes to UFA signings. I'm very interested in seeing how Conroy's low risk / good reward signings work out this year.

[ComixZone]

I don't think there's any chance for trading Huberdeau, even if he does bounce back to being a PPG guy.

Jeff Skinner is the comparison I'd use. He got his payday for a one-off 40-goal season, collapsed, and then bounced back and even surpassed the point productuion of that 40-goal season and there was still no biters on him.

Huberdeau is a $10.5M anchor attached to heel of this organization. The best they can hope for is that into the later parts of the career, he's still able to produce his 50'ish points.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Royle9

FWIW I haven't heard anything on either of these. With that said its been very quiet. I will ask specifically about Pageau, but I don't see a fit personally.

Huberdeau isn't going anywhere, at least not until some sort of resurgence and an 80+ point season at the very least. What is clear is both the player and the team are not happy with the production. I know he was getting blasted for his comments about the system etc, but he wasn't wrong.

He came from Florida who played as the most offensively aggressive team in the NHL. They played a very heavy east/west system where creativity and passing was key, which go figure fits very well into Jonathan's strengths. Just go back and watch his 110+ point season highlights, almost 90% of the offensive generation was east/west passing.

He came into Calgary and was forced into a more defensively focused system, focusing strictly on north/south aggression which removes the creativity and replaces it with high shot generation and hopefully rebounds while maintaining a strict focus on reduced chances.

Simply put, his game doesn't translate into that kind of system which is very evident. Unfortunately if the Flames continue to go down this road of north/south dump and chase then I don't see him getting back to his old ways, he needs to be allowed to generate those cross ice east/west puck movement and play way more open and aggressive offensively.

He didn't forget how to play hockey, I know we all like to dump on him because he's sucked here and there's no sugar coating it. But he's also not playing the type of hockey he's played his whole career. You have to let your offensive threats play to their strengths, which is why we saw the Jonny-Lindholm-Tkachuk line thrive the final year under Darryl because he let them play east /west and use the creativity.

Thanks for the info. Any information on whether huska is going to let the hubby line play east-west with other lines playing north south. Like you said with Sutter that’s what he did which Johnny- tkachuk line. If conroys goal is to get back the old hubby , I think the east/west play style is the only way to do it .

[dammage79]

Revisiting the trade doesn't help. Especially calling it a bad trade. Because from what we've been led to believe is that the FLA deal was the best deal for CGY. And revisionist history aside, it was. What effed it up was the immediate contract offer to Huberdeau. THAT is what messed it up

Huberdeau at 8 or 7 million ? Palpable and movable.

Let him ride out his FA year and see where it went? Tree didn't leave Conny a choice.

The trade itself was pretty great. What followed was the disaster . Too much money, toouch pressure, too much square pegging into a round hole. That's the mess.