2024 Off-season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I would say there's a better chance that Kuzmenko doesn't score 100 more points in total in his entire NHL career than he puts up 100 in a single season with the Rangers, and I like him

The guy put up 74 points his first season.

In his second season over the entire season he scored at a 53 point pace. While with the Flames and out of Tochett’s doghouse he scored at a 71 point pace.

Unless he goes back to Russia after next season he will almost certainly get 100 more points. If the Flames trade him straight up for a 1st round bust it would be disappointing. Kakko is a guy you burn a Colorado 2nd and a Vancouver 3rd for and tell the Rags to take it or leave it, I don’t think he is a guy you trade one of your only potentially elite offensive forwards for.

[bluejays]

I'm not really buying the Kuzmenko 100 point player theory. He has certain skills, but skills and consistency lead to that mark. It's hard to be consistent for anyone in the league, where you have to be well conditioned and have crazy work ethic. To me he's a player with upside, but I'd be a positively a little surprised if we see a 70 point guy, as I believe that's his realistic upside.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

I saw Berard play in junior. He could score at will and put butts in seats doing so, and his 2 way game was non existent

I had some vigorous responses to the suggestion that it’d take him time to learn a more complete game which is required in the NHL. You’d have thought I killed someone’s dog. It was comical

A few adjustments are needed, there’s less time and space - gotta keep your head up. And he needs to work on his complete game

Crosby came out way closer to fully baked

Plus, Bedard had 61 points in 68 games. Obviously exceptional. But not compared to the established generational players. Mario had 100 points in 73 games. Crosby had 102 in 81. Ovechkin had 106. Gretzky had 137. Even McDavid had over PPG in his injury shortened rookie season (and he came out with 100 the next season). Bedard's rookie production is more like Kane's or Panarin's.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

He was traded by a bad GM who wanted to balance out the salary. That Lindholm trade was awful at the time the trade took place and looks even worse now.

He is an offence only winger that is a detriment when he isn’t scoring. There is a reason teams weren’t lining up to get him and if the Flames can get a good trade in the off-season for him then they should do it. Even if he is pacing for 70 points I think a 1st will be a stretch.

[FlamesAddiction]

If Kuzmenko is producing points close to a PPG rate next season, I don’t think a 1st is out of the question. Obviously it will depend on what other players are available and how motivated some teams are to push their chips in at that time. Trying to predict the market this far out is hard.

[ResAlien]

Between 100 point Kuzmenko and Norris candidate Parekh it sounds like this rebuild is complete

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Plus, Bedard had 61 points in 68 games. Obviously exceptional. But not compared to the established generational players. Mario had 100 points in 73 games. Crosby had 102 in 81. Ovechkin had 106. Gretzky had 137. Even McDavid had over PPG in his injury shortened rookie season (and he came out with 100 the next season). Bedard's rookie production is more like Kane's or Panarin's.

Bedard had basically zero supporting cast, he was it for Chicago’s offense. He had few cheap points.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Bedard had basically zero supporting cast, he was it for Chicago’s offense. He had few cheap points.

Go look at the Caps in Ovie's first year. Hell, Crosby's support wasn't that great. No one over 60 points.

[BigThief]

Ovechkin was 20 for his first regular season game, Bedard turned 19 two weeks ago. A little different.

And yeah Crosby far and away lead his team in scoring but he was surrounded by Hall of Fame players who couldn't stay healthy but played great when they did. Mario was ppg in his limited 20 games. Zigmund Palffy had 40+ points in his 40+ games. John Leclair, Mark Rechhi, Sergei Gonchar. Hell Colby Armstrong played half the season and scored 40 points.

Bedard has Nick Foligno and Jason Dickenson

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Go look at the Caps in Ovie's first year. Hell, Crosby's support wasn't that great. No one over 60 points.

He had Mark Recchi, a 74 point pace in 63 games.

Ovie was 20 years old also, basically 2 years older than Bedard.

[Groot]

For an 18-year old in the NHL, Bedard is 12th in NHL history with 0.897 PPG.

If you only look at players after the 88/89 season, so only use the last 34 years, and Bedard is 3rd. Behind Crosby at 1.259 PPG and McDavid at 1.067 PPG. And he unquestionably had the worst supporting cast of the 3. I'd also argue that Bedard had a much bigger bullseye on him every game then either McDavid or Crosby in their 18-year old season.

[Enoch Root]

Kuzmenko was not a cap dump, no matter how many times people keep saying it.

Did VAN have to move salary to bring on Lindholm? Yes. But Conroy wanted him included. And his call was a good one.

Kuzmenko isn't getting 100 pts, but he's a good player, and is probably worth more.than Kakko right now. But it's close, and that could be the basis of a good trade for both teams.

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Kuzmenko was not a cap dump, no matter how many times people keep saying it.

Did VAN have to move salary to bring on Lindholm? Yes. But Conroy wanted him included. And his call was a good one.

Kuzmenko isn't getting 100 pts, but he's a good player, and is probably worth more.than Kakko right now. But it's close, and that could be the basis of a good trade for both teams.

Even though the Canucks, Flames and both fanbases knew Kuzmenko was a good flip asset down the line, if Conroy simply wanted him included, there's no way the Flames are getting Hunter.

The Canucks had zero intention of playing him the remaining 1.5 years of his contract, and they would not have the roster they currently do if Kuzmenko's contract was still on the books (I.e. I guarantee anything they would've paid any team an asset to take him at the draft)

Using that leverage to get the additional asset(s) he did for taking on Kuzmenko's contract (even if he wanted him) makes it a cap dump.

Kuzmenko's inclusion was 100% a cap dump

[getbak]

Every time I look at the details of that trade, I'm amazed at the haul Conroy was able to get for a few months of Lindholm.

[Krynn]

Ok if I was Connie I'd tell the rangers ok ,what it will take ,take it or leave it ,
FLAMES
Kuzmenko
Anderson
3rd in 2026
RANGERS
Kaapo Kakko
Alexis Lafreniere
2025 first lol
2026 second

Yes I'm greedy and no its not happen but it seems like the Rangers really want to get rid of both players so let's bend them
Over lol ��

[activeStick]

I think Kuzmenko is a much better player than some here do and I think Kuzmenko is going to have a higher PPG average than Kaako over both of their respective careers. But I do think if there's an opportunity to trade both players for each other with some ++ from the Rangers coming with Kaako, I think it's a smart move by Conroy depending on the ++. Kuzmenko's age and contract status means most likely he'll deserve a high contract when he's due and with the Flames development path, in 5 years, he'll be on the down swing, so for me, it's bad timing. It's too bad, because Kuzmenko is an incredible talent.

[Niemo]

I’m curious, which playoff teams would we project to potentially be calling about Kuzmenko and Mantha at the deadline? Any very early thoughts?

[Sandman]

Kuzmenko is one of those specialty players that has to be used very judiciously to be effective. I think Conroy picked him up specifically to flip him for assets down the line once he got going.

Kuz has some dirty dangles and slick moves to go along with excellent edges, but he doesn’t get enough recognition as one of the slowest players in the league. Not fast at all.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Kuzmenko was not a cap dump, no matter how many times people keep saying it.

Did VAN have to move salary to bring on Lindholm? Yes. But Conroy wanted him included. And his call was a good one.

Conroy wanted him included because he was a cap issue for Vancouver (a dump) and Conroy saw value in taking that bad contract, turning around the player, and getting value.

[The Cobra]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Kuzmenko was not a cap dump, no matter how many times people keep saying it.

Did VAN have to move salary to bring on Lindholm? Yes. But Conroy wanted him included. And his call was a good one.

Kuzmenko isn't getting 100 pts, but he's a good player, and is probably worth more.than Kakko right now. But it's close, and that could be the basis of a good trade for both teams.

Kuzmenko was a cap dump, no matter how many times you are denying it.

No one would take that contract without a sweetener.

Now Conroy saw an opportunity to get some assets for taking him on, as he knew he had a chance to rejuvenate him. He had more value to Calgary than Vancouver. That’s how good trades are made. Hunter had more value to Calgary as well, as Vancouver has the offensive dman covered already.