2017/2018 Trade Speculation and Rumors

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Macindoc

If rumours are true that he wants to play in Canada, with a contender, then the Flames definitely have a chance. Vancouver is not an option, they will be even farther back next season with the loss of the Sedins. Edmonton is already top heavy with high-priced forwards and really needs to shore up its depth and D. Winnipeg has no need. Ottawa is, like Vancouver, on a downward cycle at the moment, and is nowhere near being a contender, even with Tavares. Toronto, like Edmonton, is top heavy on (soon to be) high-priced forwards, while being short on D, and a 7-year 10+M contract does not fit with where their other contracts will be at the time (would be a better fit with a shorter deal). Montreal is intriguing, but the taxes (just like in B.C.) are much higher, so it would have to be a much higher contract value to have the same take-home pay, and I'm not sure they have the depth to be a contender, even with Tavares.

In Calgary (unlike Edmonton or Toronto), Tavares would be a clear 1C. He would be able to play with an elite LW and would have solid 2nd and 3rd lines to back him up, with a (properly coached) very capable D. The only other missing components would be a top 6 RW (could Tavares help Bennett reach his potential on the right side with Tkachuk on the left?) and a goaltender for 2019-20 and beyond. The core would be locked in for a few years to take multiple runs at the Cup, which would not be the case in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Montreal or Ottawa.

Of course, it's only a rumour that he wants to play in Canada. His friendship with Hamonic doesn't hurt, of course, but I doubt it will contribute much to Tavares' decision. So still not a high probability, but definitely more than zero.

If Tavares did sign here, it would be the equivalent of winning the draft lottery. Hell, it would probably be better than that in most cases.

[CliffFletcher]

Anybody have the source on Tavares wanting to play in Canada? I could understand that he's open to playing in Canada, considering that his wife is Canadian (if she was American, the odds of Tavares moving to Canada to spend the next 6-8 years of his life would be close to nil). I have heard an insider comment that Tavares does not like the spotlight, so I think we can rule out Toronto and Montreal.

I'm gonna throw out a wildcard destination: the Blues. They'll have the cap space. They have a strong roster. And I understand St. Louis has a strong reputation among NHLers as a really attractive city to play in.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Anybody have the source on Tavares wanting to play in Canada? I could understand that he's open to playing in Canada, considering that his wife is Canadian (if she was American, the odds of Tavares moving to Canada to spend the next 6-8 years of his life would be close to nil). I have heard an insider comment that Tavares does not like the spotlight, so I think we can rule out Toronto and Montreal.

If you're looking for anonymity then the Flames are probably the most attractive market in Canada.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Yep. Perfect model, we saw the Penguins do it with Malkin, Crosby and Staal. 22M when the cap was 56M.

With a 77M cap, that's the equivalent of 30M. O'Reilly can play on wing if needed and would on the PP. When your top pairing defender, and maybe your best player if Dahlin lives up to hype in the next couple years, is making under 1M you can get greedy with your centers for awhile. It's the team five years from now, but that's when O'Reilly's contract is over.

It's not the centers that matter, if you can get those three as your centers for 30M or under, you take that every single day. It's Okposo, Pomminville, Bogosian, and of course Moulson that actually hurt. But Bogosian is a potential IR candidate, Moulson is making 2M in actual salary next year for a player that is a year removed from being a 15-20-35 player and a PPG player in the AHL. He's not completely immovable, even if it might require an asset to get rid of.

$30M for centres plus $10.5 for your two older wingers as well as adding whatever you have to pay Reinhart as an RFA - probably around $3M. So $43.5M for 6 players. Add Zemgus and Larsson and you are at $47M. Then add $15M for your current top 4 D. That's probably $62M for 11 players. You have 11 to go, some of which are rookie minimums and some of which will be RFAs in another year.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

If you're looking for anonymity then the Flames are probably the most attractive market in Canada.

Agree - we also tend to have the most friendly media of the Canadian markets that may be in the running.

Vancouver - media tries to run everyone out of town.
Edmonton - Friendly...unless you are being run out of town.
Calgary - Overall they don't say a lot negatively about players.
Winnipeg - ???
Ottawa - ???
Montreal - Bunch of crazies
Toronto - Craziest Media market in the NHL

So if you want to be in Canada, on a strong roster, that isn't in a media hotbed, then you're probably looking at Winnipeg or Calgary. And I'm not sure Winnipeg will even be in the running since they will have their own guys they need to lock up.

[RoughRiderRowdy]

Originally Posted by wretched34

While Boeser showed this season that he can score, it's one season, there needs to be consistency before you can call him Elite.
Horvat may never be more than a 40-50 point 2nd/3rd line center.

The Flames have a bonafide "Elite" winger in Gaudreau, and Tkachuk has just as much promise as Boeser to be an "Elite" Winger as well.

As for Centers, I put Monahan and Backlund ahead of Horvat, both Offensively, and Defensively, and Jankowski looks like he can be a 20+ goal scorer as well as very defensively responsible.

So, if your argument is that the Canucks have 1 "Elite" forward for Tavares to play with, and a "very good" 2nd line center to back him up, as a Flames fan, I raise you an "Elite" forward and 2 "Very Good" Centers.

You're crazy to think Vancouvers roster is more attractive than the Flames to a player who is looking to win.

Laugh ouy loud hysterically at backlund being better offensively than horvat. Give your head a shake lol

[ForeverFlameFan]

I think he's definitely looking into Calgary, and I am not trying to be biased about it. It's either that or Vancouver.

Vancouver - If not Calgary, then Tavares gets a great chance to be their #1 and live in a beautiful city. He'd have to painfully go through a rebuild though. Pretty sure the guy wants to win right now.

Edmonton - McDavid/Draisaitl/RNH, Tavares would be playing behind McDavid basically. Probably not appealing for an all star, and besides, Tavares wouldn't be able to fit within Edmonton's cap issues that they currently have.

Calgary - We can make room for Tavares. He'd be the #1 center for us with Tkachuk as his star winger to play with. We lack a top 6 player to really contend, Tavares would drastically help us out.

Winnipeg - Would be a good option if they had the cap space to do it. Like SM18 said, they need to lock up a ton of their players.

Ottawa - Don't really need to explain, the Senators are a hot mess right now.

Montreal - If Tavares only wants to go for the money (like Price), then he'll sign his 14 x 7.

Toronto - Matthews and Kadri are the top 2 centers, he'd obviously be their top center if he signed there, but the Leafs are going to have to re-sign players like the Jets soon.

In order, I'd say it's Calgary-Vancouver-Winnipeg/Toronto-Montreal-Ottawa-Edmonton

It's honestly wishful thinking that he'll come here. If I were him, I'd look into signing with the Vegas Knights. Awesome, coach, awesome team play, and they look to be competitive for a few years while the prospects are developing.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by RoughRiderRowdy

Laugh ouy loud hysterically at backlund being better offensively than horvat. Give your head a shake lol

Well, at the moment, their stats are pretty similar, with Bakclund having a razor thin edge. Horvat has more upwards growth potential, being still on the good side of 25. Or maybe he's peaked. They get about the same minutes per game, though I don't know if Horvat gets stuck with the assignments that Backlund does.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Anybody have the source on Tavares wanting to play in Canada? I could understand that he's open to playing in Canada, considering that his wife is Canadian (if she was American, the odds of Tavares moving to Canada to spend the next 6-8 years of his life would be close to nil). I have heard an insider comment that Tavares does not like the spotlight, so I think we can rule out Toronto and Montreal.

I'm gonna throw out a wildcard destination: the Blues. They'll have the cap space. They have a strong roster. And I understand St. Louis has a strong reputation among NHLers as a really attractive city to play in.

A poster on this board Rasta-Masta said as much. Saying he heard Tavares wants to play in Canada and he is friends with Hamonic.

The same poster was right about Peters and Burke before it was announced. Leadse to believe there is an inside connection there so why not believe?

[yourbestfriend]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

It's honestly wishful thinking that he'll come here. If I were him, I'd look into signing with the Vegas Knights. Awesome, coach, awesome team play, and they look to be competitive for a few years while the prospects are developing.

Guys already made $40M+ in his career. I'm not convinced that money would be the biggest motivator for him right now. He seems like a Crosby type guy to me, just wants to win. Regardless of what team he signs with, he'll be pushing $100M after this next contract.

With that said, of the teams still in the playoffs right now, I agree that Vegas and also the Sharks as well, absolutely are starting to seem like they could be landing spots for his services.
Both cities offer anonymity, almost zero media presence, loads of cap room and really strong teams.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

Guys already made $40M+ in his career. I'm not convinced that money would be the biggest motivator for him right now. He seems like a Crosby type guy to me, just wants to win. Regardless of what team he signs with, he'll be pushing $100M after this next contract.

With that said, of the teams still in the playoffs right now, I agree that Vegas and also the Sharks as well, absolutely are starting to seem like they could be landing spots for his services.
Both cities offer anonymity, almost zero media presence, loads of cap room and really strong teams.

Don't kid yourself. He will set a price. If teams are all the same on that price then, and only then will he consider other factors. If a team outbids the others, that team will have Tavares. The only exception might be the Isles.

[yourbestfriend]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Don't kid yourself. He will set a price. If teams are all the same on that price then, and only then will he consider other factors. If a team outbids the others, that team will have Tavares. The only exception might be the Isles.

For sure he will set the price, but I can't see a <$1.5M aav gap between two teams making a difference if it meant a legit shot at winning a cup.

If LV offered $11M and Mtl offered $12.5M, can't see him choosing Mtl over LV

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

For sure he will set the price, but I can't see a <$1.5M aav gap between two teams making a difference if it meant a legit shot at winning a cup.

If LV offered $11M and Mtl offered $12.5M, can't see him choosing Mtl over LV

That is $10 million over the life of the contract. I think that matters to most hockey players. It would to me.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by yourbestfriend

For sure he will set the price, but I can't see a <$1.5M aav gap between two teams making a difference if it meant a legit shot at winning a cup.

If LV offered $11M and Mtl offered $12.5M, can't see him choosing Mtl over LV

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nhl-te...says-1.2838415

Montreal needs to pay up substantially more to make up for taxes. Montreal is out of the running for top end free agents pretty much before discussions begin. Canadian teams in general are in tough, as taxes have risen, and American taxes have dropped substantially for the rich.

[Kipper_3434]

Well if we're gunning for Tavares might as well do everything possible to bring home here. Step1 frolik+ stone for Okposo. Step 2 signet tavarez. Step 3: speculate about lines

Benzo-Tavares-Okposo
Gaudrea-money-ferkland
Tkachuck-Backlund-Brouwer
Jankowski and whoever

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Well if we're gunning for Tavares might as well do everything possible to bring home here. Step1 frolik+ stone for Okposo. Step 2 signet tavarez. Step 3: speculate about lines

Benzo-Tavares-Okposo
Gaudrea-money-ferkland
Tkachuck-Backlund-Brouwer
Jankowski and whoever

But Taveres makes wingers better.....like Okposo. Why bring in the horrible contract that he got because of Taveres when we could just bring in a new, cheaper guy for Taveres to make better?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

That is $10 million over the life of the contract. I think that matters to most hockey players. It would to me.

I know it wasn't the intent of his post but tax rates actually means he'd make more in Vegas. Montreal has a 53% income tax at 12.5M, so he's bringing home 6M. Vegas is 37%, so at 11M he's bringing home 7M.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Kipper_3434

Well if we're gunning for Tavares might as well do everything possible to bring home here. Step1 frolik+ stone for Okposo. Step 2 signet tavarez. Step 3: speculate about lines

Benzo-Tavares-Okposo
Gaudrea-money-ferkland
Tkachuck-Backlund-Brouwer
Jankowski and whoever

Okposo is a terrible terrible contract. We hate Brouwerplays, why would we like Okposos on top of that?

Also the Flames want to get faster, unsure how Okposo fits that mold as well. I mean I get the Islanders tie in for JT but let's not cripple the team too badly.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

A poster on this board Rasta-Masta said as much. Saying he heard Tavares wants to play in Canada and he is friends with Hamonic.

The same poster was right about Peters and Burke before it was announced. Leadse to believe there is an inside connection there so why not believe?

While I appreciate his lead on Peters everything I have heard is that Tavares prefers to stay with the NYI. My source for that is Tavares who has stated it multiple times to the media. I have never heard he wants to play in Canada, if the rumours of him not liking the spotlight are real then that eliminates any Canadian market. They are all media gong shows.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

I know it wasn't the intent of his post but tax rates actually means he'd make more in Vegas. Montreal has a 53% income tax at 12.5M, so he's bringing home 6M. Vegas is 37%, so at 11M he's bringing home 7M.

Vegas has more money to spend anyway.

His agent will have something to say as well, and the union might give him a few hints that less than the best price isn't looked at kindly.