2022/2023 Trade Speculation and Rumours

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Listening to the radio is just depressing...this team over values it's players way to often....give the kids a chance....they have to clear cap space for next year...so why not get extra assets right now...does anyone really believe this team will make the playoffs even next year....the direction of this team is going no where

Unless a team will massively overpay, there’s no reason to get rid of anyone right now. There’s the off-season for that.

[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by mdubz

Unless a team will massively overpay, there’s no reason to get rid of anyone right now. There’s the off-season for that.

The most valauble asset we can add is draft spots in this draft, there is a reason. Even top 12 would be nice vs picking 16 or so right now

[Izzle]

Originally Posted by browntrout

Listening to the radio is just depressing...this team over values it's players way to often....give the kids a chance....they have to clear cap space for next year...so why not get extra assets right now...does anyone really believe this team will make the playoffs even next year....the direction of this team is going no where

Sounds like the beginning of the decade of darkness.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by genetic_phreek

Can't speak for anyone else but as a Flames fan, this season has to be one of the biggest failures of all time with the organization. Superstars leave, new stars arrive only to underachieve, coach and GM aren't on the same page, whole team is underperforming, no clarity on the future.

All that while true, isn't why it's one of the biggest failures of all time.

It's the fact that there's likely no real silver lining out of such a blah season.

When Colorado had a 48 point season in a year they expected the playoffs, they somehow managed to get Cale Makar out of that.

It's one thing if the Flames are not good enough, but they also manage to not be bad enough.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

Its a cruel world when Seattle fans have a much brighter short and long term future than us.

Actually that goes for about 90% of the fan bases in the league.

IMO the only other team that is possibly in a worse state in Vancouver.

[Sec214]

Originally Posted by Pickle Juice

What's the latest Sec214? Give us something Please?

No real update, the sell prices are set high by the team for the players that would return a immediate impactful return. Unfortunately Calgary has approved retention its only in a case if the return is worth it and they have not received those offers.
This could be the boldest hold in franchise history. I wouldn't call it Indecisiveness.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Macho0978

The most valauble asset we can add is draft spots in this draft, there is a reason. Even top 12 would be nice vs picking 16 or so right now

Have to assume that no one wants to pay anything for our pending UFAs. Not that much of stretch really.

As for next year’s UFAs. Those are hockey trades. Probably require a lot of moving pieces for Flames to get what they want.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

We spent a 1st in 2025 to build this roster was all I was getting at. They've sunk a future 1st round pick to build this mess.

But they also acquired a 1st 'to build this mess'.

You can't just list one side of the ledger

[Savvy27]

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

I have a silly question - Does nobody believe that any of the Flames will be better next year? Or is the consensus is that these guys are what they are - Markstrom is a less than average goalie, Huberdeau is a 50 pt guy, Mangi is a 15 goal guy, etc...?

If someone had the best statistical year of their career in 2021-22 and then had the worst statistical year of their career in 2022-23 are we going with "they will always be closer to the worst than the best"?

I'm just saying, yes the trade value may be there now, and they may lose some trade value over time, but is a bounce back season not possible? Many posts note that if they had even average goaltending, or were close to average shooting percentage the Flames would have won a few more games and be in the show.

Not silly at all. I'd be very surprised if they are not better next year if they stand pat. Goaltending will almost certainly be better. Kadri, Huberdeau, and Weegar will be past the first year jitters, life disruption, and for Kadri he would get a full off-season to get in peak condition. Some concern about age related regression but they aren't quite that old yet.

There is also cause for optimism in that there should be internal improvement based on Pelletier, Duehr, and even Gilbert (if he stays on) displacing ineffective veterans like Lucic (remember when he was playing in the top 6?), Ritchie (I know he had a good run at one point), and Stone.

Dube has progressed and Mangiapane has bizarrely regressed to such an extent that I would happily bet on a bounce-back from him. Kylington is an absolute wildcard, but he may return and improve the defense as well (he is a guy that I think was sorely missed for his contributions and also for the distinct style he plays that no one else on the team does).

And that is without even touching on the unsustainable bad luck that they have had. Plenty of reason to be postive.

I have two issues with standing pat right now though:
1) There is still clearly a problem with how the team struggles to generate high quality chances and the coaches do not seem to be figuring out a way to address it, so I don't think a late season run is at all realistic.
2) The team has a player in Tyler Toffoli that I think makes all the sense in the world to trade. His value is never going to be higher than it is right now. Proven scorer and proven winner having a career best season. And I don't think he fits well with the team.

He's most effective shooting from the flank on the powerplay, so the coaches have put him there at the expense of having Lindholm and Huberdeau on the flanks where they thrive.

He also seems to only have chemistry with Lindholm, so the coaches have made adjustments like having 3 second lines instead of a top line. In both cases where the Flames should be catering to an actual star player in Huberdeau, they are favoring Toffoli. And this is nothing against him, he is doing great and leading the team in scoring... it's just that a great Toffoli is on pace for 70 points.

The last time the Flames made the playoffs with a leading scorer playing at that scoring rate (with the exception of the bubble season that they got in through the play-in round) was in 2005-06. Totally different era and Kipper winning the Vezina.

Again, not Toffoli's fault. He's been really good and repaid the coaches with a solid performance in the favorable circumstances. However, I just do not think that he is an ingredient that contributes to a winning recipe with the other players on this team and I don't think he would be putting up these numbers if he were not being catered to either.

[genetic_phreek]

I wonder if Treliving is trying to be patient because the summer and start of the season he panicked once we lost Gaudreau and Tkachuk and didn't have Huberdeau and Weegar signed. He panicked, signed guys to long term, traded Monahan to get Kadri. All things haven't really worked out and now he doesn't want to "panic" again.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by traptor

Seems like this organization always has bad luck. At some point it's not bad luck and just bad decision making

We had good luck with a late round pick turning into Johnny Gaudreau.
We had good luck with the Canucks passing on and gifting us Tkachuk.
Our 2 best players of the last 10 years were part luck.

The bad luck thing is an overblown & inaccurate narrative.

[Strange Brew]

Sure seems like an ideal chance to deal proactively with the reality of entering next season with 6 UFA's. You won't be able to keep all of them.

While i don't hate the concept of bringing back the majority of the team, I don't need to see an exact replica. They should know who they want to build around.

[keenan87]

If there is an agreement that Treliving will be leaving, wouldn't it make sense to do it right away? Instead of doing it in the off-season? ... when Treliving can just move to another team and spill draft secrets.

[Sec214]

[dammage79]

Guys, there's no way they bring the team back as is. It's not possible.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think Lindholm is one of the most likley candidates to not want to re-sign. Plus, he's lost his linemates (hell, 3 of them) who he had big time success with. He justifiably probably feels underpaid at the moment, whereas Backlund, Tanev, Hanifin, Dube, Toffoli are paid right around where they deserve to be.

Hanifin's American so there's that concern. Toffoli is a guy who's been on a bunch of teams so moving's not a big deal to him either.

Yeah, I agree.

Lindholm watching his linemates evaporate over this past offseason has to have changed his perception of the team and where it’s headed. Even if the Flames are trying to compete, it’s not the same room, not the same guys. If it were my decision to make, you get an extension from Lindhom in the offseason or you move him before the start of next season. Unless Carolina kicks down Treliving’s door here in the next hour with an offer you can’t possibly say no to. I think this one is headed towards a split but would be pleasantly surprised if it doesn’t turn out that way.

Toffoli was a great pickup, in part, because he has a desirable contract and no trade protection. I think Treliving could recoup the assets spent last year to get him, or very close to it. Problem here is I could see Sutter not wanting to move him, right now. I don’t think Sutter would ever accept punting on the season and I do think he has input, or clout, on roster decisions. If it were up to me, I would be actively listening on Toffoli with an eye to moving him today if you can get value.

Hanifin, yes the American issue is something to be mindful of. Perhaps it’s scar tissue but he’s another guy I don’t have much hesitation in moving once the right offer comes in whether that is today or in the offseason. Again, I’d be pleasantly surprised if he would want to resign but I have my doubts.

Baclund snd Tanev are players I would consider resigning on 2-3 year deals at, or slightly below, their current dollars. Zadorov is a player you can move. Like him but he’s probably the easiest to replace of the 6.

Most of these moves are offseason moves, I think. Unless there is a surprise here in the next hour.

[mdubz]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Guys, there's no way they bring the team back as is. It's not possible.

But Derek Wills says this team can do serious damage in the playoffs...

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

IMO the only other team that is possibly in a worse state in Vancouver.

7.5% chance at Bedard right now, we have 0%

If they win that lottery...for all the Canucks' management disfunction, a core Hughes, Bedard, Pettersson, and Demko would definitely be a good foundation to add wingers and depth around.

[genetic_phreek]

As frustrating as this season has been, as frustrating as this trade deadline has been, there is still one thing that can totally redeem this season for me, when the Oilers are eliminated from the playoffs. I guess that's something to look forward to.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by mdubz

But Derek Wills says this team can do serious damage in the playoffs...

It's the salary cap. They simply can't.