[Rumour] Friedman: Flames and Hanifin have made progress on contract extension

[Jiri Hrdina]

You’ll have to overpay for any of those options

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Bonded

That’s assuming they are in wait and see mode to decide whether to trade or sign them. I think the plan is to sign Hanifin and Lindholm and then pivot by the quarter season mark if they don’t. Another 20 games won’t change their long term plan on core pieces. Im hoping more and more that Lindholm says he wants out and then they can tinker with the roster.

which is the correct way to play it after offseason trades/extensions didn't materialize. Set a deadline (30 games? 40, 50?) and pivot towards trading them if no extensions materialize before that.

I have no issues with re-signing Hanifin if the money makes sense. He's been around for so long, you kind of forget he's only 26 ... that's the kind of long-term deal that is not going to kill you.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

You’ll have to overpay for any of those options

Yes, but I don't exactly see our players eagerly giving the Flames a hometown discount. They're free agents for all intent and purposes. That's why I'm very open to the idea of changing the makeup of our D, and team in general.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Yes, but I don't exactly see our players eagerly giving the Flames a hometown discount. They're free agents for all intent and purposes. That's why I'm very open to the idea of changing the makeup of our D, and team in general.

Sure but Hanifin is a really young free agent
It’s odd to me that people suggest not signing him because you can turnaround and sign someone that presents more risk

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Sure but Hanifin is a really young free agent
It’s odd to me that people suggest not signing him because you can turnaround and sign someone that presents more risk

First of all if you're not signing Hanifin, you're trading him. Therefore you'd have a 'risky' signing combined with other assets. Second Hanifin already has 600+ GP, this is both an asset and also a lot of wear and tear on a 26 yearold.

The main reason why I prefer to move on is because the current makeup of this team is exactly the type of team that wins 1, losses 1, and stays in the middle. Moreover Hanifin's -11 in the last playoff run, really made me question his ability to defend top lines when the competition ramps up.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Free agents next off season:
Montour, Frosling, DeAngelo, Grezlyck, Pesce, Skjei, Dumba, Brodie, Gostisbehere, Dillon, DeMelo, Hakanpaa.

3rd pairing PP specialists: Klingberg, Barrie, Gustafsson

3rd pairing options: C. Miller, Forbort, Chatfield, Rosen, Aho, Stetcher

My point is that there are options. Also Poirier is looking pretty good in the AHL right now. We have him and Solovyov as options for the 3rd pairing next year.

Who is to say any of those players would come to Calgary? We aren’t a screaming hot destination.

If hanifin will extend at a reasonable number, Conroy is obligated to pursue the opportunity.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Who is to say any of those players would come to Calgary? We aren’t a screaming hot destination.

If hanifin will extend at a reasonable number, Conroy is obligated to pursue the opportunity.

I agree we aren't a screaming hot destination. That said it's supply and demand. There are only so many top 4 openings in top teams.

Carolina, and Florida will get their guys, but would probably offer less. Vegas might get a replacement for Martinez. TOR a replacement for Brodie. Boston a replacement for Grezlyck. That's 7D. I think we're ahead of the likes of WPG, and ARI as a destination.

Most of the playoff/bubble teams are set for D: COL, TBL, LAK, NYR, PIT, OTT, DET, SEA, STL, NJD, NYI, EDM

Teams that might want a top 4 D: NSH, MIN, DAL

That mostly leaves non playoff teams, CGY, and WPG.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Free agents next off season:
Montour, Frosling, DeAngelo, Grezlyck, Pesce, Skjei, Dumba, Brodie, Gostisbehere, Dillon, DeMelo, Hakanpaa.

3rd pairing PP specialists: Klingberg, Barrie, Gustafsson

3rd pairing options: C. Miller, Forbort, Chatfield, Rosen, Aho, Stetcher

My point is that there are options. Also Poirier is looking pretty good in the AHL right now. We have him and Solovyov as options for the 3rd pairing next year.

Any player on that list who's worth the weight of their contract will likely be re-signed by their current teams.

I would be shocked if Montour and Forsling aren't re-signed by Florida. They will have the money to do it, and they have even fewer options to replace them internally than any other team, so it becomes a necessity to keep them.

One of Pesce or Skjei will likely re-sign in Carolina, most likely Pesce.

Gostisbehere seems to have found a home in Detroit. 6 points in 4 games and a +4. If he keeps this up they'll probably re-sign him.

All of a sudden you have whittled that list down a lot and the options left are much, much worse than Hanifin. For that reason I understand why they would bring him back, but at the same time, he's not going to be much more than a serviceable top 3 d-man that can eat a lot of minutes.

The key is always internal drafting and development. I like our prospects in Poirier and Morin to replace some guys in the top 4, but they're a season or two away at least. Perhaps Poirier after this year, but it's far from certain. Solovyov and Kuznetsov are in the mix, but likely not much more than bottom pairing d-men.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

I’m not sure I follow some of the logic I see in here on not signing Hanifin because it means “more of the same” for this team. I get it that people think the roster might need changing, and I get it if you don’t want Hanifin because you don’t like the player (although I don’t think you can get back equal value for him in a trade).

But letting walk because he’s the easy option available for change is silly. He’s a different age group than any of our other recent lock ups or Lindholm. You need to keep the right assets if you can, not just make mistakes because of previous mistakes.

[NegativeSpace]

Some people on here won’t be happy until the Flames ice the Wranglers as their NHL squad and every topic seems to be reduced to that discussion again… and again.

[btimbit]

I get that people are sick of this core but Hanifin is a great dman and he's only 26.

I'd be happy with a big trade but equally happy with a solid re-signing. Just don't let him walk for nothing

[camm13]

There aren't any good young dmen coming up as UFAs this summer... too bad they can't flip him at the deadline. And then have him re sign in the summer. They could but they won't

[Bonded]

I would rather they trade Hanifin but I’d rather they give him 6.5 than Zadorov 5

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

Free agents next off season:
Montour, Frosling, DeAngelo, Grezlyck, Pesce, Skjei, Dumba, Brodie, Gostisbehere, Dillon, DeMelo, Hakanpaa.

3rd pairing PP specialists: Klingberg, Barrie, Gustafsson

3rd pairing options: C. Miller, Forbort, Chatfield, Rosen, Aho, Stetcher

My point is that there are options. Also Poirier is looking pretty good in the AHL right now. We have him and Solovyov as options for the 3rd pairing next year.

Deangelo is not in that group he is the face of pp specialist group.

I'd argue none of those guys are upgrades and some are a few years older than Hanifin.

It would be amazing to see the uproar letting a younger Hanifin walk and replace with a older and worse player for more money.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Any player on that list who's worth the weight of their contract will likely be re-signed by their current teams.

I would be shocked if Montour and Forsling aren't re-signed by Florida. They will have the money to do it, and they have even fewer options to replace them internally than any other team, so it becomes a necessity to keep them.

One of Pesce or Skjei will likely re-sign in Carolina, most likely Pesce.

Gostisbehere seems to have found a home in Detroit. 6 points in 4 games and a +4. If he keeps this up they'll probably re-sign him.

All of a sudden you have whittled that list down a lot and the options left are much, much worse than Hanifin. For that reason I understand why they would bring him back, but at the same time, he's not going to be much more than a serviceable top 3 d-man that can eat a lot of minutes.

The key is always internal drafting and development. I like our prospects in Poirier and Morin to replace some guys in the top 4, but they're a season or two away at least. Perhaps Poirier after this year, but it's far from certain. Solovyov and Kuznetsov are in the mix, but likely not much more than bottom pairing d-men.

You could be right. Even in that case there's always the trade route. Sanheim from PHI comes to mind. Lindgren in NYR is an RFA, you could potentially get back in a trade for Hanifin.

Right now would be an interesting stretch of 4 games to see if Hanifin steps up(with top PP time), and what the Flames look like. As things stand now, I still think that our top 4 needs a different mix.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am ok with him being traded or with him re-signing. He is young enough that he can win with the current core, or with the next core.


I will, however, reserve judgment on the signing based on the term, cap hit and structure. Hanifin at a contract that starts with a 6 without a trade clause (or very limited) and a contract that can easily be bought out? That's a huge win. Hanifin on a contract that starts with an 8 for 8 years, with a full NMC, with the vast majority of his contract being paid in bonuses? Wouldn't like that much. I expect it will be somewhere in the middle. I don't think he is offensive enough to have his contract start with a 9.



I generally do like Hanifin. I like him as a fairly solid top pairing minute-muncher, who defends well and moves the puck well. I like him a lot less on the PP, however. What he isn't is a dynamic game changer that is an important piece of the core, so I hope his contract reflects this, and if his demands don't reflect this, then I do hope he is traded.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

If Hanifin's contract starts with anything more than a 7 I'll riot.

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Sure but Hanifin is a really young free agent
It’s odd to me that people suggest not signing him because you can turnaround and sign someone that presents more risk

And he's far more valuable to teams in need if he has a contract in place. You aren't locked in so much other than a list of teams the player would not go to. I.e. Edmonton.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I am ok with him being traded or with him re-signing. He is young enough that he can win with the current core, or with the next core.


I will, however, reserve judgment on the signing based on the term, cap hit and structure. Hanifin at a contract that starts with a 6 without a trade clause (or very limited) and a contract that can easily be bought out? That's a huge win. Hanifin on a contract that starts with an 8 for 8 years, with a full NMC, with the vast majority of his contract being paid in bonuses? Wouldn't like that much. I expect it will be somewhere in the middle. I don't think he is offensive enough to have his contract start with a 9.



I generally do like Hanifin. I like him as a fairly solid top pairing minute-muncher, who defends well and moves the puck well. I like him a lot less on the PP, however. What he isn't is a dynamic game changer that is an important piece of the core, so I hope his contract reflects this, and if his demands don't reflect this, then I do hope he is traded.

Problem is we may have to acquire a "next core".
Maybe trading someone like Hanifin is needed to get picks/prospects to do that.

It's too early in the season to know if our current core has the goods, so no point in doing anything now unless it's a contract that would have good trade value.
If it turns out we have a 500 core team, something has to be moved to start creating that next and a much better core.
Signing another guy who can lock us into being too good to be bad, too bad to be good, isn't the move.

[Mindtravellee]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Problem is we may have to acquire a "next core".
Maybe trading someone like Hanifin is needed to get picks/prospects to do that.

It's too early in the season to know if our current core has the goods, so no point in doing anything now unless it's a contract that would have good trade value.
If it turns out we have a 500 core team, something has to be moved to start creating that next and a much better core.
Signing another guy who can lock us into being too good to be bad, too bad to be good, isn't the move.

I thought all the expiring contracts gave the flames a chance to retool for another crack, while also expanding the prospect pool. Instead we'll be middling forever.

Hanifin isn't a bad signing. Needs to become more Tanev, but will probably play forever