[CP Story] Reactionary Roster Management

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Great writeup. Except Smith being in a "lesser roll" (calling Textcritic)...

To be clear there is only ONE scenario in which I could see Smith return: that would be on a one-year contract at an insignificant cap hit, and playing spot-duty in <30 games. I don't think it is likely he is back, and I would prefer another option, but I also think that there is a situation in which Smith and the Flames can be successful together.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

To be clear there is only ONE scenario in which I could see Smith return: that would be on a one-year contract at an insignificant cap hit, and playing spot-duty in <30 games. I don't think it is likely he is back, and I would prefer another option, but I also think that there is a situation in which Smith and the Flames can be successful together.

I agree. I think he probably gets a better offer from someone else on the strength of his PO performance. I think Smith still sees himself as a number one guy, as well.

I was mainly bugging Bingo about "roll" there, though.

[TheIronMaiden]

I never saw the Flames as world beaters this season. But I do see this as the first step towards sustained success. BT has had a chance to see what is close to working but doesn't work exactly and I trust that he will make the adjustments required to allow this team to find success for the next few years in a row.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Bingo

I think it should always be in the conversation. Listening isn't shopping. You have to know what your players are worth on the open market to best make asset management decisions down the road.

If a Philly or Jersey want to overpay on a Gaudreau deal you listen, extract more and make a decision. Doesn't mean you're shopping the player.

Absolutely agree with this. Flames should be listening to anyone, and if targeting a guy they really want the ask is someone like Gaudreau or Monahan, then you have to be ready to negotiate from there. I do think they need to be big game hunting, and if you do that, prices are going to be high.

However the answer to the Flames problems is not to start shopping their best players IMO. That is backwards.

[Royle9]

Honestly, I think you're open business on all players less maybe Tkachuk and Valamaki at this point. There's absolutely no reason to trade a big fish unless someone's looking to overpay, especially with the Johnny - Philly connection and how many good assets Philly has.

I'm sure Brad feels the same way (any good GM listens to all offers)
I'd be all for a retool of the top 6 without a rebuild, pending the players coming back provide similar proven impact.

If TB goes hard on Kucherov they may not be able to pay Point what he's looking for. Would they consider flipping point to CGY (home town kid) for Monahan+ at a cheaper $ with term?
One can dream.

I don't think our core (today) has what it takes to battle long and hard in the playoffs, the speed and intensity/toughness is lacking.

[Manhattanboy]

I would not be unhappy moving on from Monahan.

[ThisIsAnOutrage]

Okay, so I haven’t done any sort of cap hit analysis on this, and I know that Phil Kessel has a modified NTC and a NMC, but here’s the base line-up I think solves a lot of problems:

Gaudreau – Lindholm/Backlund – Kessel
Tkatchuk* – Monahan* – Frolik/X
Mangiapane – Bennett – Frolik/X
Dube/X - Czarnik/Ryan – Hathaway

Notes: Backlund, love the guy but we may have to trade him to get other parts
Lindholm: I believe he could try to carry the top line when playing with elite wingers who can do a lot on their own.
Frolik: would like to keep him, but he may have to go.
*denotes need for power skating lessons for this to work.
Defence:
Keep Gio, Anderson, at least one of Valamaki and Kylington, and one of Hanifin or Hamonic (we may have to trade some of these guys for other parts, let’s face it)
Goal: Rittich, and any way to improve over Rittich. Smith as 1b if nothing better available. New Russian guy?
Not pictured: Neal, Stone, Brodie, Jankowski, Fantenberg (although I really liked his game, no objection to bringing him back)

The key to this, of course, is Phil Kessel. The guy is a threat with underrated playmaking abilities. Stops teams from being able to focus on JG so much. Has playoff and cup winning experience. Moving Monahan to the second line makes for a really great “second” line, and may help get him away from top pair d-men who have figured out you can crowd him out of the play fairly easily.

So really, all I’m saying is we need to get Phil Kessel. It really is that simple.

[Sylvanfan]

Monahan and Gaudreau should both have good trade value, but the piece you swap them out for would also have high value. I likely would give them and Tkachuck one more crack at the playoffs before I really wanted to trade one. But by all means, look over any stone you can .

I think the lack of a third line killed the team. I'm not sure if stacking the middle to be Lindholm/Monahan/Backlund/Ryan and than trying to add in one more legitimate scoring winger, and moving Bennett into the top 6 will work.

The 88 Flames were able to come across a situation that allowed them to add Gilmour on the cheap due to circumstance. In today's age, I don't see that happening. But once the team could stack centers of Niewendyk/Gilmour/Otto they were a force. This team won't be able to come anywhere close to that, but Monahan/Backlund/Jankowski isn't good enough. I'm not so convinced that you'd want to change Ryan's role too much either. So can Lindholm move back in the middle and be more effective, or can you find a guy who'd be a better first or second line center.

[NewFan]

After watching playoffs I wanted to get a true number 1 C, using all assets like 1st round, Kylington, Brodie, Mangi, Dube, Stone, Frolik and Jankowski. But when you see all the Centres, I understood it's almost impossible to get one if you may overpay so much. So I hope our GM and his pro scouts find a gem who can play 1b or 2a kind of centre who is hard to play against and can a score a little bit. And find good RW who is fast, good for forecheck and kind of big guy.

[GordonBlue]

I remember all the posters who swore Monahan must have been injured, and that's why he played poorly in the latter part of the season.

shouldn't we have had that big reveal by now?

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by GordonBlue

I remember all the posters who swore Monahan must have been injured, and that's why he played poorly in the latter part of the season.

shouldn't we have had that big reveal by now?

Well TBF, wasn't there a report of a cracked finger?

[Bonded]

Broken thumb at least. Monahan thinks he is good for the worlds and Peter's disagrees.

[Harry Lime]

So Monahan had a broken thumb since February, which made him unable to shoot, avoid contact, stop going to the front of the net and not stand up for his teammates in a scrum.

No wonder Johnny looked so frustrated.

I'm not only disappointed in Monahan, but in neither Peters or Tre making him sit and rehab. Doubly diappointed that Monahan was allowed to stay on the first line with an injury that impeded the offense so drastically.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

So Monahan had a broken thumb since February, which made him unable to shoot, avoid contact, stop going to the front of the net and not stand up for his teammates in a scrum.
.

Yeah, that is the issue with that injury, shooting I get and maybe I understand the scrum part but the front of the net and contact seems like an iffy excuse on the other two.

[Toonage]

A broken thumb would absolutely impede his ability to shoot, stick handle, grab & hold.

So yeah, in a weird way it makes sense he would shy away from contact and scrums. He can't grab a jersey, can't / doesn't want to punch (not his game anyway), and wouldn't want to get whacked on his already broken thumb.

When he did get into the slot he still managed to get a few good shots off (at home against Anaheim near the end of the year for example) it was just finding that opportunity that proved difficult.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

So Monahan had a broken thumb since February, which made him unable to shoot, avoid contact, stop going to the front of the net and not stand up for his teammates in a scrum.

No wonder Johnny looked so frustrated.

I'm not only disappointed in Monahan, but in neither Peters or Tre making him sit and rehab. Doubly diappointed that Monahan was allowed to stay on the first line with an injury that impeded the offense so drastically.

I am guessing that Monahan didn't disclose the extent of his injury. He has a developed pattern now of playing through a lot of stuff that he probably shouldn't. I think he figured he could grind this out and as a result coaches and trainers were not completely aware of the severity of his injury.

[Harry Lime]

Bothers me that Peters thinks he's too injured to play a light hitting international tournament, but he's ok to play the most important position besides goalie in the playoffs. Someone dropped the ball.

To Textcritic (edit)
That may have been the issue, but that raises a lot of new questions.

[Toonage]

^ I think Peters would just rather see Monahan stay home, rehab and train than risk further injury or a setback

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Bothers me that Peters thinks he's too injured to play a light hitting international tournament, but he's ok to play the most important position besides goalie in the playoffs. Someone dropped the ball.

Because one is for the top prize in the top league and is for who he works for, and the other is for a voluntary and fairly meaningless tournament.

That's just my guess.

[Strange Brew]

I don't know how much we should analyze Monahan's potential injury. Obviously there was something but he also played in a meaningless game at end of season.

We simply have no idea how it affected him and ultimately it is a results business. He has been a remarkably consistent performer and this season was more or less on par for him.