[Rumour] Dreger: Bowen Byram trade talks heating up. Calgary one of many teams interested

[dammage79]

Depending on the RFA list next year. I can see the Flames tossing an offer sheet with the 27 1st. Ieam end of season standings will dictate that end but I don't think the 26 1st is in play at all , for anybody.

[Enoch Root]

Threat of an offer sheet, and an actual offer sheet are not the same thing.

Offer sheets are presented to the player, and the player chooses to sign or not sign.

'Threat of offer sheets' is a negotiating tactic.

I have no doubt Boomer believes what he is claiming. Bit that doesn't make him right.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Hasn’t it already been reported by Dreger and Friedman that there was a threat of an offer sheet in the interest around Byram?

Boomer’s scoop that this offer sheet interest was from the Flames seems credible and consistent with that reporting. He doesn’t normally spew rumors. Maybe the Flames didn’t like the Sabres asks around Zary and used the threat of an offer sheet to try and gain leverage in the situation?

I read some smoke around the Blues threatening to use one but nothing on the Flames till now. Anyways, threatening an offer sheet and actually offering one are two different things. I bet Buffalo would have just called Calgary’s bluff on that one.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts

It was likely in the mix for Kandre Miller as well.

Not all firsts are created equal. Our 26 1st may well be a top 10 pick. A top 10 pick is worth AT LEAST 2 firsts. A top 5 pick is worth at least THREE late firsts. Yes, a first may have been in play for Miller, but that is not the same thing as offering our first. No way Conroy is offering up our first for these players. Use your head.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Bonded

I read some smoke around the Blues threatening to use one but nothing on the Flames till now. Anyways, threatening an offer sheet and actually offering one are two different things. I bet Buffalo would have just called Calgary’s bluff on that one.

Offer sheets go to the player, not the team. The team receives it after the player has signed.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Offer sheets go to the player, not the team. The team receives it after the player has signed.

I know but Buffalo could have said just go ahead and we’ll take the top ten pick

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I personally don't believe the rumor - no way Conroy is trading Calgary 2026 1st round pick.



Listen to Ray Edwards here, and focus around the 19:00 mark:


https://www.sportsnet.ca/960/flames-...rekh-and-more/


Does this sound like a team that is wanting to trade the 2026 1st? It doesn't to me.


Now, while I will agree that the Flames should be looking at all avenues to build their team, this team does indeed have an issue with retaining players. It has an issue at attracting players. It has an issue at trying to make trades and then getting trades rejected due to NTCs having the Flames on it, or having players not willing to extend post-trade.



Tell me what the most likely path forward is in building a successful team here - drafting and developing your own guys, and letting them grow up together, forming tight bonds over time? Or do you want to make a bunch of trades and bring in a bunch of mercenaries that are already jaded by the business side of the equation? Yes, that's a loaded question, but at the same time, there is a lot of truth there.


The best way for a team like Calgary to to end up with any success in this league is for them to prioritize drafting and development (which they have), and build this team mostly through the draft. Sign your mercenaries when you start turning the corner, trade draft picks for established players when you are turning the corner to contending. That's the plan I think. If isn't, it probably should be.


We at least know that the Flames are prioritizing drafting and development. From that standpoint, I would take all rumours of trading the 2026 first round pick not just with a grain of salt, but a mountain of salt.

Ever since Conroy has come in he has prioritized draft picks. He has accumulated them and has rarely traded them. Clearly he has sadly changed course and now is desperately trying to get rid of them. It is only by the grace of god that nobody wants to take our draft picks that we still have them.

[dissentowner]

So I did some digging around on this and I have the same intel as Royle on this, there was never an offer sheet offered to Byram by the Flames. Also I am told that the $9M ask from the Byram camp is for the Sabres, as in he wants the hell out and he knows they are not paying him that. Byram doesn't want to sign an offer sheet because he is afraid Sabres will match, he wants a trade out of there. The asking price for Byram is too high right now for Flames, Sabres are more interested in young roster players or prospects ready to step in, Vegas 1st does have value to them but not as much as a 1st should. I am told teams have not revisited discussion yet but will probably re-engage as arbitration gets closer.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So I did some digging around on this and I have the same intel as Royle on this, there was never an offer sheet offered to Byram by the Flames. Also I am told that the $9M ask from the Byram camp is for the Sabres, as in he wants the hell out and he knows they are not paying him that. Byram doesn't want to sign an offer sheet because he is afraid Sabres will match, he wants a trade out of there. The asking price for Byram is too high right now for Flames, Sabres are more interested in young roster players or prospects ready to step in, Vegas 1st does have value to them but not as much as a 1st should. I am told teams have not revisited discussion yet but will probably re-engage as arbitration gets closer.

Not surprised that this is the case, it was never ever credible that Conroy was thinking offer sheet. Thanks for the update.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Ever since Conroy has come in he has prioritized draft picks. He has accumulated them and has rarely traded them. Clearly he has sadly changed course and now is desperately trying to get rid of them. It is only by the grace of god that nobody wants to take our draft picks that we still have them.

People keep arguing this, but I'm not buying it. Basically, the argument goes like this:

Everything Conroy has DONE has been great, but there are also a bunch of things he TRIED TO DO but none of those things have happened, because everyone else keeps doing him a favour. Basically, he is the luckiest person on the planet, and keeps on being lucky, over and over.

Or... (as Occam's razor would suggest) maybe rumours are just rumours.

[Roko]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So I did some digging around on this and I have the same intel as Royle on this, there was never an offer sheet offered to Byram by the Flames. Also I am told that the $9M ask from the Byram camp is for the Sabres, as in he wants the hell out and he knows they are not paying him that. Byram doesn't want to sign an offer sheet because he is afraid Sabres will match, he wants a trade out of there. The asking price for Byram is too high right now for Flames, Sabres are more interested in young roster players or prospects ready to step in, Vegas 1st does have value to them but not as much as a 1st should. I am told teams have not revisited discussion yet but will probably re-engage as arbitration gets closer.

Guarantee silence recently was teams analyzing their dev camps and see where prospects are at. If they had players take a big step back - or health is poor etc. then a team could negotiate better educated.

Flames getting to see a Mews etc. could change inclusion in a trade.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

People keep arguing this, but I'm not buying it. Basically, the argument goes like this:

Everything Conroy has DONE has been great, but there are also a bunch of things he TRIED TO DO but none of those things have happened, because everyone else keeps doing him a favour. Basically, he is the luckiest person on the planet, and keeps on being lucky, over and over.

Or... (as Occam's razor would suggest) maybe rumours are just rumours.

I know this isn't exactly the point youre trying to make, but i dont think everything CC has actually done has been great.


Trade wise:
Great:
Lindholm and Marsktrom


Okay:
Toffoli, Frost and Farabee


Underwhelming:
Hanifin, tanev and zadorov


Signings have been a mixed bag so far too. Ive like some, Coronato, and disliked others, sharangovich. Limited sample size here as he hasn't done any notable UFAs yet (which is a good thing).


Drafts were solid overall. 2025 was good. 2024 was great. 2023 was ok.



I'd give him a B to B- so far. Good not great.

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

So I did some digging around on this and I have the same intel as Royle on this, there was never an offer sheet offered to Byram by the Flames. Also I am told that the $9M ask from the Byram camp is for the Sabres, as in he wants the hell out and he knows they are not paying him that. Byram doesn't want to sign an offer sheet because he is afraid Sabres will match, he wants a trade out of there. The asking price for Byram is too high right now for Flames, Sabres are more interested in young roster players or prospects ready to step in, Vegas 1st does have value to them but not as much as a 1st should. I am told teams have not revisited discussion yet but will probably re-engage as arbitration gets closer.

Thank you for the information, we appreciate it!

[dammage79]

Conny hasn't spent any draft picks. And it's debatable that he has shopped any as we have only heard one or mayber two rumors. But that also depends on what kind of player they're shopping for. Top 6 RHS center that's cost controlled and under 25? Yeah I can see him parting with some draft capital to make that deal. A potential top pairing LD that's young and cost controlled? I can see that too. But I don't know if Byram is that guy. But that's my thought.

Anyways. He hasn't spent any draft capital. And that's the only truth you need. There's no need to spin out over something that has not happened. Because even if theres truth to the rumors, nothing's been done. And doesn't sound like it will be done.

Also, seems like Conroy's got handle on things. Don't think he's gonna pull a Trelivings and push in his chips too early. Maybe he thinks about 2027 like I said if the end of season standings end up the same as last year's.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by traptor

I know this isn't exactly the point youre trying to make, but i dont think everything CC has actually done has been great.


Trade wise:
Great:
Lindholm and Marsktrom


Okay:
Toffoli, Frost and Farabee


Underwhelming:
Hanifin, tanev and zadorov


Signings have been a mixed bag so far too. Ive like some, Coronato, and disliked others, sharangovich. Limited sample size here as he hasn't done any notable UFAs yet (which is a good thing).


Drafts were solid overall. 2025 was good. 2024 was great. 2023 was ok.



I'd give him a B to B- so far. Good not great.

Given what UFAs went for this offseason the Sharangovich signing is a pretty good deal. I personally think he rushed back last year and it threw off most of his year. He was a half a point a game player in 2025, if he is a 45-50 point winger that is a good contract given what players make under the new cap.

The mere fact that he is committed to moving out vets for draft picks makes him pretty good imo. He has never deviated from that basic concept from day one.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Given what UFAs went for this offseason the Sharangovich signing is a pretty good deal. I personally think he rushed back last year and it threw off most of his year. He was a half a point a game player in 2025, if he is a 45-50 point winger that is a good contract given what players make under the new cap.

The mere fact that he is committed to moving out vets for draft picks makes him pretty good imo. He has never deviated from that basic concept from day one.

All the moves he's made are future-driven

All the rumours that didn't happen, where others have 'saved him', are win-now oriented.

Just doesn't fly. I'll stick with what he's done, and what we know.

[traptor]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Given what UFAs went for this offseason the Sharangovich signing is a pretty good deal. I personally think he rushed back last year and it threw off most of his year. He was a half a point a game player in 2025, if he is a 45-50 point winger that is a good contract given what players make under the new cap.

The mere fact that he is committed to moving out vets for draft picks makes him pretty good imo. He has never deviated from that basic concept from day one.

Yeah forsure. You can't give a true grade until it's fully played out. Sharagovich could be a stud the rest of the contract and still make it a steal.


That speaks overall too. Most of CC trades so far have been more on the demolition side. It'll be interesting to see what some of his big "building" moves look like. A Byram deal would definitely be one of these.

[dino7c]

Sharagovich looked to be getting back to his old self near the end of the season...old 23-24 self that is. Does that and his contract is a steal with the cap going up.

[TheScorpion]

Yegor in a down year plagued by injury scored 17 goals, which is more than Frost, Coleman, Zary, Pospisil, Backlund — all guys people seem to like. The only Flames who scored more were Kadri, Huberdeau, and Coronato — all top-six forwards. If that's the worst-case scenario for him, I'll take it.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Sharangovich might be a 2nd half player. Both years he came on in the second half.

I would still deal him for Byram as long as that contract demand is 7 or below.