So there is ONE core guy traded this summer...who do you choose?

[CGY12]

My list is as follows;

1) Monahan - Unfortunately in terms of the forward group, he has by far the lowest value. The guy needed to be traded last offseason.
2a) Tkachuk - Foot speed and his contract/QO being the main reasons. He should still have some solid solid value. This guy is not a 9 million dollar player.
2b) Gaudreau - I would honestly keep him but at this point he is interchangeable with Tkachuk. For a team that lacks skill and speed, he is one of very few that possess both. I'd love to see what he can do with an elite C beside him but we may not get to that point in the next few years so it may make sense to move him.
3) Lindholm - He is a good fit for 2nd line C. Keep him unless somebody offers something crazy.

Didn't include D on this list but I hope the org moves Giordano. I would prop him up to 2 if I included him on the above list.

[FanIn80]

Backlund. That contract is already painful, and it's only going to get worse.

I'm perfectly willing to give Jonny and Monny another half-season under Sutter and then re-evaluate at the deadline. Gio has really come around since Sutter took over, and I don't see anyone else ready to fill his skates.

Backlund and Ryan need to go. That's almost $10M we're spending on our 3rd and 4th line centers.

All in all, I think the team has improved dramatically since Sutter took over, but we just lack the offensive horsepower to win games. We're keeping them to around 2 goals, but we're not scoring 3. The games that have gotten out of hand were the ones where we weren't scoring to support our D and had to start cheating to try and catch up.

We need to add a solid top-six RW. I can't believe how many times I've had to repeat this. We're spending almost $10M on our bottom two centers, and we don't have a single top-nine NHL RW in the entire organization. Yet, people think trading our #1 LW and #2 C is the answer to our problems.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

How is a young top 4 RH dman the easiest to replace? Who do we have in the pipeline to replace that RH presence?

It’s amazing how quickly everyone can turn on a player and/or graciously accept them back as a core piece.

Last year everyone wanted Hanifin gone, now everyone wants to keep him.

Even before we all flip flopped about Brodie.

Now it’s Andersson and Valimaki.

Aiy yai yai

Players can’t have bad stretches, even if they are still young and developing, or else this fan base completely turns on them.

I thought that Saturday Rasmus looked good, in a losing cause. And his contract is still good. Quite a few RD are making as much or even lot more than him and producing a lot less. And they aren't defensive specialists like Tanev either. Myers, Ellis, Pulock, Zaitsev, Risto...

[Bourque's Twin]

I'd trade Monahan.

Can someone please enlighten me as to why Monahan is so much worse than he used to be? He was never fast, physical, or seemed like the hardest working guy out there. However, he was so good at getting open in front of the net, and when he had the puck on his stick, there was a good chance that it was going in. Now, he barely seems to touch the puck.

[kermitology]

Tkachuk

He's probably going to get a king's ransom if teams are aware that he's available, and most teams will consider his history. He's not destined to stay with Calgary, his contract dictates that. If you can get a lot for him, you do it.

Gaudreau is obviously another option, and that is entirely going to depend on how much he wants and if he's willing to sign another contract. If he isn't, then he's number 2 in line. He's capable of generating a decent return and will be an excellent addition to a team that already has an elite line driver. For that reason, I don't see any way that you get a #1C using him as the key piece. Like this notion that he can be used to get Eichel.. it's pure fantasy. If Buffalo acquired Gaudreau it would be to put with Eichel. There are no players that will result in an upgrade without taking on some serious risk.

Monahan isn't going to return enough to warrant trading him. He's a good second-line centre. I'm actually surprised that it took so long for teams to bottle him up. I had concerns after his rookie season that he only seemed capable of scoring from the slot.

Generally.. the Flames are in a bad way. They don't have much of a future, they've got seriously depreciating assets, and frankly, I don't see a plan to be successful. They need to be bad to help them into that chance of getting an elite talent, and they need to stop trying to take shortcuts to get it. You can find diamonds in the rough (Gaudreau, Fox, etc) but they come with risk and they're still not at the level of McDavid, Matthews, etc.

[Mattman]

What scares me about trading Monahan away is a situation like Ryan O'Reilly turning his career around, but the way he is trending right now reminds me of Ryan Johansen or Kyle Turris.

Get a good deal for him and I won't complain.

[howard_the_duck]

If we're only looking at one major player moved from this roster, it's a massive fail.

In no other performance setting would such complacency be tolerable. Failing at your job for 3+ years? You better be looking for work.

Sorry to completely fail on the ask of the OP, but there HAS to be more change than this.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I'd trade Monahan.

Can someone please enlighten me as to why Monahan is so much worse than he used to be? He was never fast, physical, or seemed like the hardest working guy out there. However, he was so good at getting open in front of the net, and when he had the puck on his stick, there was a good chance that it was going in. Now, he barely seems to touch the puck.

My own theory is that the league figured out the connection between he and Gaudreau and how to stop it, which is to make Gaudreau act earlier before Monahan gets near the spot, or to push Gaudreau to the corner, and have to pass to a stationary Monahan. Plus, this year, the problem was compounded by their poor RWs which basically cut the ice in half for defenders.

Monahan's slot attempts are being deflected a lot more and/or the pass doesn't get there. It's because both he and Gaudreau are stationary. The goal Lindholm scored from Tkachuk against Edmonton (even though he partially fanned) he skated into the area as the pass was coming. The same happened for one of Monahan's recent goals.

In short, this year he's often been surrounded, because the play just wasn't set up that way.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I'd trade Monahan.

Can someone please enlighten me as to why Monahan is so much worse than he used to be? He was never fast, physical, or seemed like the hardest working guy out there. However, he was so good at getting open in front of the net, and when he had the puck on his stick, there was a good chance that it was going in. Now, he barely seems to touch the puck.

Very easy to completely neutralize a guy who is that one dimensional. The book is out on how to shut him down as a player and he has shown zero ability to adapt

Compounded by the fact he is playing without confidence we are all seeing what Monahan can do when he’s not finishing. The answer is next to nothing

[Lanny_McDonald]

All of the above. Personally, I don't think it matters. Any one, two, three, or all of them moving on wouldn't matter. This team needs an enema.

[Psytic]

With the assumption that the Flames will never ever bottom out and that they are going for a retool. They could follow LA and trade just enough to pick first while still having high end pieces in place. They now have guys like Byfield, Turcotte and Kaliyev to go with Kopitar, Doughty and Brown. It could actually be a quick turnaround for them or not.... we dont know yet but you can see what they are going for on paper.

Seems like an option for the Flames. Maybe move Markstrom to a contender so they can tank to the proper range for blue chippers. Move Chucky just due to his QO and/or package with Monahan for some blue chippers or rising stars. Shoot for some blue chip C prospects in the draft to play with Johnny and move Lindholm back to wing. Protect Gio and then trade him out for picks to a contender. Cant put my finger on exactly which one piece to move but it would almost have to be Markstrom or he may keep the Flames relevant regardless of who else they trade.

[FlamesAddiction]

Tkachuk is simultaneously the main core piece I want to keep, but also the one that I think we need to trade the most. He is the one that I think is worth the most in a trade, and also the one that is least likely to be a lifer in Calgary.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I'd trade Monahan.

Can someone please enlighten me as to why Monahan is so much worse than he used to be? He was never fast, physical, or seemed like the hardest working guy out there. However, he was so good at getting open in front of the net, and when he had the puck on his stick, there was a good chance that it was going in. Now, he barely seems to touch the puck.

I think injuries have a big part of this myself. For me what else can explain this level of decline. He's had mangled wrists for the last 3 years, and he had to miss camp with a back injury the first year he signed that extension. He's not old, but 589 games is a lot of mileage for a guy who'd not even 27 yet. So the spots he used to score from are better covered, if he is there the release isn't what it was, he's not able to score from further out, and it's too taxing to go to closer in area's and battle.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Gio out of respect for him if he wants to chase a cup

Tkachuk because of the 9 million QO

Lots of Monahan slagging here. Tough to be an offensive difference maker when you’re playing 4 on 5, which is what it’s like when Ritchie or whatever other AHLer was stapled to the other wing.

As long as we are learning absolutely nothing from observing the Sam Bennett situation, that’s the important thing

[djsFlames]

Whichever of Monahan/Tkachuk nets you an enticing return.

I don't think Monahan is as low value as people around here think. As others have said he's a good 2C that can score goals at a top 30 level if he gets his wrist issue sorted out.

There will be teams out there that see Pacioretty potential in him as he's proven he can net 30.

[chedder]

Agree on Tkachuk. Best chance of getting a real top 6 player back in return and I don't think he's going to be here long term anyway so best value would be trading him now.

All this talk of Monahan not being a number one centre. Maybe not but he's definitely a great number 2 centre and I think Lindholm is quickly becoming a very good option for top centre.

[ah123]

Tkachuk is the first one out the door. He should bring back the best package, and he has not looked engaged at any point this season. And if BT or the next GM can package him with Monahan, to really upgrade the team, that is fine too.

I am also ok keeping Monahan for another year... I am really curious what Sutter can mold him into

[The Yen Man]

Unfortunately, I think if you can't ink Johnny to an extension of something like $7M x 7 (it'd be ideal if it was 5 years, but no way can I see him doing that), then it's time to move on from him.

I'd be willing to give Monahan another year, and see how Sutter works with him over the summer. If there's a good trade to be had, then I'd for sure be ok trading him. I just don't think you're going to get much of anything right now. I feel like we'd be trading him for pennies on the dollar, and if that's the case, I'd rather just keep him.

I wish we can trade Backlund, but I don't see that happening either. Lindholm I'd absolutely keep. Chucky I would keep unless we can get something good for him. Gio, I'm ok either way.

[1qqaaz]

Tkachuk. I like him, but he's the only one who can bring back someone interesting and move the needle.

However, I'm guessing they would move Monahan, who has far less value, in some meaningless trade that results in more mediocrity.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by chedder

Agree on Tkachuk. Best chance of getting a real top 6 player back in return and I don't think he's going to be here long term anyway so best value would be trading him now.

All this talk of Monahan not being a number one centre. Maybe not but he's definitely a great number 2 centre and I think Lindholm is quickly becoming a very good option for top centre.

Monahan is the 1 out of the 3 that I think stands the best chance of opting to stay in Calgary long term. The Flames will probably offer him at least as much as any other team would.

I'm not sure about Gaudreau. I don't think it's a given that he won't sign an extension, but the Flames need to figure that out and then act accordingly. We can't lose him for nothing or wait until his NTC kicks in before finding out he wants to test the market.