Friedman's 31 thoughts - Feb 19 - Flames are a stealth destination for Duchene?

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Toonage

Regardless, why would they risk that?

Pay him $3.5M for another year just for the right to overpay his brother?

If a player is hurt would the team pay the contract or is it insurance?

If Stone is definitely able to come back then maybe it works? For all we know the Stone brothers hate each other.

[SportsJunky]

I think getting Michael Stone back by playoff time solves the defense issues. He would round out the group along with Valimaki. I just wish Stone had more snarl to his game. I'd like to see a punisher back there and that's not really his game. He does make his share of hits though, so that's something.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Love

Trading Dube would hurt.

Nah. He's a bottom-9 player (maybe even bottom-6) and ultimately pretty replaceable. If you can turn that into a deep playoff run you do that every time.

[blankall]

I actually think the Flames can afford a big fish, and they should be targeting someone relatively young, that they can re-sign.

Re-signing any major upcoming UFA will likely involve moving all of Frolik, Stone....and likely Brodie in the off-season.

The reason I think Brodie is expendable, is because of Kylington, Andersson, and Valimaki. Although Brodie looks great on Giordano's pair, a lot of d-men look great there. Next season, depending on how they play, odds are good that at least one of the big 3 d-men prospects will be ready for a top 4 role. Brodie is likely the odd man out, and the team will be better absent Brodie and plus a player like Duchene or Stone.

It's very rare that so many high caliber forwards are available at once. The Flames should strike now and take advantage.

They could move a 1st+ for one of the big free agents. Then re-coup futures by trading Brodie.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

I think getting Michael Stone back by playoff time solves the defense issues. He would round out the group along with Valimaki. I just wish Stone had more snarl to his game. I'd like to see a punisher back there and that's not really his game. He does make his share of hits though, so that's something.

I think they still need a veteran LHD.

I brought up Patrick Nemeth as a guy a couple days ago and see Friedman now mentions him as well, as a guy to have around but doesnt have to play every night.

After Gio there is not any playoff experience on the left side...need some depth in that regard or an injury to Gio you have Hanifin, Valimaki, Kylington playing one side for 60 minutes...just no snarl there.

[Firebot]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Nah. He's a bottom-9 player (maybe even bottom-6) and ultimately pretty replaceable. If you can turn that into a deep playoff run you do that every time.

Dube?

He's fricking 20. He's a PPG player at the AHL level. He was never meant to make it at training camp yet worked his way on the lineup. He was in the top 10 PPG in the WHL last year.

He will likely be a force on the 2nd line within 3 years. You don't trade that potential.

[868904]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I think they still need a veteran LHD.

I brought up Patrick Nemeth as a guy a couple days ago and see Friedman now mentions him as well, as a guy to have around but doesnt have to play every night.

After Gio there is not any playoff experience on the left side...need some depth in that regard or an injury to Gio you have Hanifin, Valimaki, Kylington playing one side for 60 minutes...just no snarl there.

I think it all depends on whether Michael Stone can play. If he can, I don't see the need for another veteran defenseman. I don't think Michael Stone on his off side is any worse than Patrick Nemeth. Or if you make Andersson move over, he's still probaby better than Nemeth.

Plus Nemeth doesn't exactly bring that much snarl. If it's snarl you are looking for, put Prout in. He's performed admirably this season and seems to play better the more consecutive games he gets. He just keeps it simple. Plus the game slows down in the playoffs, which might make it easier for him to play his game.

The one thing about the Flames young defense, in particular Andersson and Valimaki is that their greatest attribute is poise. This is in the most recent article on the Flames site where Gio talks about these two kids. I think both kids will adjust just fine in the playoffs, it might take a game or two, but they should be fine.

I think it's a waste of an asset if they trade a 3rd or 4th round pick for a guy like Nemeth. I'd do a 3rd for Kronvall, just so he can be like a Jagr type mentor to the young defense, but don't think he's moving or at that price.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Nah. He's a bottom-9 player (maybe even bottom-6) and ultimately pretty replaceable. If you can turn that into a deep playoff run you do that every time.

It would cost a 1st round draft pick to obtain a prospect the calibre of Dube. So not easily replaceable. He's 20 year old and the 2nd best forward on the Heat in his first year pro. Only Quine who is 5 years older has done better. If it wasn't for his injuries early on this season he would probably still be on the NHL team.
You don't trade your #2 prospect for a wish and a prayer.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by blankall

I actually think the Flames can afford a big fish, and they should be targeting someone relatively young, that they can re-sign.

Re-signing any major upcoming UFA will likely involve moving all of Frolik, Stone....and likely Brodie in the off-season.

The reason I think Brodie is expendable, is because of Kylington, Andersson, and Valimaki. Although Brodie looks great on Giordano's pair, a lot of d-men look great there. Next season, depending on how they play, odds are good that at least one of the big 3 d-men prospects will be ready for a top 4 role. Brodie is likely the odd man out, and the team will be better absent Brodie and plus a player like Duchene or Stone.

It's very rare that so many high caliber forwards are available at once. The Flames should strike now and take advantage.

They could move a 1st+ for one of the big free agents. Then re-coup futures by trading Brodie.

Gio definitely looked pretty great yesterday with Andersson

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Split98

Gio definitely looked pretty great yesterday with Andersson

Against a team whose top line might not be a 3rd line on a playoff team.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Split98

Gio definitely looked pretty great yesterday with Andersson

I definitely agree. I think the Flames are an overall better team with this lineup next year

Gio-Andersson
Hanifin-Hamonic

Gau-Mon-Lind
Tkachuk-Duchene/Stone - X
X-Backlund -X

The Flames would have a lot of options to fill in those Xs. Having another genuine scoring threat on the 2nd line makes the team better overall than the difference between Brodie and whoever the Flames have take his role.

[The Boy Wonder]

Originally Posted by Firebot

Dube?

He's fricking 20. He's a PPG player at the AHL level. He was never meant to make it at training camp yet worked his way on the lineup. He was in the top 10 PPG in the WHL last year.

He will likely be a force on the 2nd line within 3 years. You don't trade that potential.

You do if it means you can bring in Mark Stone, a proven, in his prime player.

If Dube has to go to make that happen then so be it.

[monkeyman]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

other rumors:
Oilers resisted lowball offers on Puljujarvi but the player is not happy there

I wonder if Puljujarvi goes back to Sweden if he’s not traded. His contract is up and he won’t getting a huge NHL contract considering his numbers. If he’s really unhappy, maybe going home will help him find his game.

[bax]

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Bennett - Duchene - Lindholm
Frolik - Backlund - Neal
Mangiapane - Ryan - Hathaway

2nd, Jankowski, Stone, Pospisil for Duchene. 2nd turns into a 1st if we win the SC or Duchene re-signs.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by bax

2nd, Jankowski, Stone, Pospisil for Duchene. 2nd turns into a 1st if we win the SC or Duchene re-signs.

Ottawa will be get a guaranteed first if they trade Duchene. The more likely scenario is a 1st plus another contingent first if we win a SC.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by blankall

I actually think the Flames can afford a big fish, and they should be targeting someone relatively young, that they can re-sign.

Re-signing any major upcoming UFA will likely involve moving all of Frolik, Stone....and likely Brodie in the off-season.

The reason I think Brodie is expendable, is because of Kylington, Andersson, and Valimaki. Although Brodie looks great on Giordano's pair, a lot of d-men look great there. Next season, depending on how they play, odds are good that at least one of the big 3 d-men prospects will be ready for a top 4 role. Brodie is likely the odd man out, and the team will be better absent Brodie and plus a player like Duchene or Stone.

It's very rare that so many high caliber forwards are available at once. The Flames should strike now and take advantage.

They could move a 1st+ for one of the big free agents. Then re-coup futures by trading Brodie.

Thanked for the Brodie asset and cap management angle. It wasn't too long ago people would get piled on for realizing that it is probably a likely scenario.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Thanked for the Brodie asset and cap management angle. It wasn't too long ago people would get piled on for realizing that it is probably a likely scenario.

Quite frankly, I think Brodie is likely gone after his next contract expires anyways. Also, the emergence of Kylington, Andersson, and Valimaki certainly makes trading Brodie more palpable.

At the end of the day, the Flames are going to have to get creative with their contracts to avoid losing players to the expansion draft. Hording our d-men makes no sense.

[Patek23]

I hope we wind up with Simmonds. A guy like Duchene comes in and completely changes our dynamic as there is no chance we don’t send a core piece back. All signs point to this being a tight knit group I don’t think it would be good to mess with that. Adding a guy like Simmonds can probably be done with picks and a prospect.

[djsFlames]

Duchene and Nemeth sounds like a good deadline to me. Tre would only pull the trigger if the price is palatable to him.

Then Neal comes back for playoffs which has been his bread and butter and this team is stacked like pancakes.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

I hope we wind up with Simmonds. A guy like Duchene comes in and completely changes our dynamic as there is no chance we don’t send a core piece back. All signs point to this being a tight knit group I don’t think it would be good to mess with that. Adding a guy like Simmonds can probably be done with picks and a prospect.

The dynamic among the team, particularly the bottom 9 seems to be fairly fluid anyways, with lots of players moving up and down. Although bringing in another top 6 forward, pretty much means the end of the triple M line, that line is probably on the outs anyways. Tkachuk is moving up and down the lineup, spending a lot of time with other linemates. Bennett is also nipping at their heels for ice time.

Simmonds, IMO, is on a downward trajectory. He'll be 31 this summer and looking for a relatively long-term deal. Bringing Simmonds in has Neal pt 2 written all over it.

If the Flames are going after a forward, I'd be upset if we wasted substantial assets on anyone other than: Stone, Panarin, Duchene, or Hayes, who are all high end and young. If the Flames manage to acquire a guy like Simmonds without giving up their 1st, Dube, or one of their big 3 d-men prospects, I'd be all for it. But even, then I'd probably prefer it if they put those assets towards acquiring someone they intend to keep long-term who's age fits in with the rest of the core a little bit better.