2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[traptor]

Originally Posted by dammage79

Cootes and Reschny that would be their floor. Nesbit, his ceiling.

The D available aren't that great this draft. And there'll likely be a run on them before 18. IMO, they'd be reaching for a D man at 18.

Espn projection/floor analysis


Braeden Cootes, F, Seattle (WHL)

NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Bottom-six checking winger
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, speed, anticipation, forechecking


Cole Reschny, F, Victoria (WHL)

NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Bottom-six forward
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, anticipation, quick hands, competitiveness


Jack Nesbitt, F, Windsor (OHL)

NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Fourth-line defensive center
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Strength, size, competitiveness, two-way play

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Well there you go, I stand corrected. If the Flames won't even go to $2.5 with the cap space they have they must be moving on from Vladar. I wonder if the plan is Cooley?

Cooley is appealing because he will boom/bust. There doesn't seem to be much grey room.

If he booms, you probably get playoffs (assuming no step back from Wolf). If he busts you get a top 10 pick in 26.

[BrownDrake]

Originally Posted by traptor

Espn projection/floor analysis


Braeden Cootes, F, Seattle (WHL)

NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Bottom-six checking winger
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, speed, anticipation, forechecking


Cole Reschny, F, Victoria (WHL)

NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Bottom-six forward
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Two-way play, anticipation, quick hands, competitiveness


Jack Nesbitt, F, Windsor (OHL)

NHL projection: Middle-six two-way center
NHL floor: Fourth-line defensive center
Projection confidence: Fair confidence, medium volatility
Strengths: Strength, size, competitiveness, two-way play

Those ceilings aren’t 50%, probably low probability. All of these guys might be fortunate to end up as 3rd line 2 way centers producing 40 points a year, 1 probably doesn’t make it or is a 3rd or 4th line winger.
We seem fairly well stocked with Frost, Zary and 3 year older Kadri that can probably play 3rd line center, when needed up to 2nd line.
We’re not finding some dynamic 2nd line center in this draft at that draft position.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Cooley is appealing because he will boom/bust. There doesn't seem to be much grey room.

If he booms, you probably get playoffs (assuming no step back from Wolf). If he busts you get a top 10 pick in 26.

How do you figure? I think boom is the very least likely thing for Cooley. Either he's not NHL quality, or he could be a middling back-up.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I haven’t seen any rumours that Peterka is toxic. Just some assessments that he’s not great without the puck.

The Sabres beat reporters say Byram has been great in the room and one of the more passionate guys in the team. But with two LD already making 11 and 8.3 mil, he’s tough to fit in their salary structure. Especially when they need defensive play more than another puck-mover.

Eichel did have a bit of an attitude. I expect that was mostly down to being young and expected to be a saviour.

But yeah, ownership and their hand-picked GM are the ultimate problem in Buffalo. Until the Pegulas sell the team or bring in experienced management to right the ship, the Sabres are going to be a gong-show.

The big divide with Eichel really came from his medical issues and the team not allowing him to do what he wanted to do.
And it seems given his recovery, he was right.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Well there you go, I stand corrected. If the Flames won't even go to $2.5 with the cap space they have they must be moving on from Vladar. I wonder if the plan is Cooley?

Ivan Prosvetov. He's been rumored to be signing with CGY for maybe a month or more now.

[Nelson]

Reschny’s draft-year production is superior to Cootes’, Nesbitt’s and every Flames’ forward-prospect’s draft-year production. And that’s despite Reschny being younger than Cootes and Nesbitt and quote young overall for the draft year. I understand Cootes’ production was limited by playing tough minutes on a bad team, but I think Reschny is being under-rated. I will be very excited if the Flames draft Reschny at 18, and I will immediately put Reschny as the Flames’ second best prospect after Parekh if the Flames draft Reschny.

Cole Reschny - 36.7, 92 points in 62 games in WHL (Apr 6)
Braeden Cootes - 26.0, 63 points in 60 games in WHL (Feb 9)
Jack Nesbitt - 26.1, 64 points in 65 games in OHL (Jan 12)

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Ped

How do you figure? I think boom is the very least likely thing for Cooley. Either he's not NHL quality, or he could be a middling back-up.

Until his injury Cooley's stats were almost super human.

Not disagreeing with you though. He fits the story better than Vladar. Flames will say they were hoping for the upside while being happy with the more realistic result which is that he brings Flames down a bit.

He has a one way contract now, so it seems likely Cooley is the guy.

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Could there possibly be a scenario where we offer Vladar more than 2.5m for one season and then is heavily discounted for the next 2-3 seasons after that?

That would be cap circumvention. That's why I doubt it's worth it to risk potentially losing picks over a backup goalie. Moreover, if he signed such a 1 year deal he could only be eligible to sign an extension halfway through the season.

Originally Posted by traptor

Kind of suprised they're so tight on Vladar. I would of been fine taking him back from 2.5-3. Feels like they're ready to move on if they won't budge 250k.

Vladar has mostly been a pretty average backup in his 4 years with CGY. He had a hot stretch to finish off the season, and there's still potential there, but I don't see him as a $3M backup.

For reference, there are exactly 32 goalies making $3M or more in the NHL next year. I guess it comes down to if CGY thinks that Vladar is the crème of the crop when it comes to backups. I'd rather see Cooley and Prosvetov battle it out, maybe give M. DiPietro(not related to Rick) a PTO as well.

[BrownDrake]

Analysis of 2020 Draft Centers - could have picked another but this one has familiar names and the draft was likely deeper than the 2025 draft. Wasn't deep at the top with first line talent but was full of good quality NHL'ers both D and center/wingers.


Top 9 Centers in the 2020 Draft (brackets for points in draft year)
Tim Stutzle 3rd - playing first line center in NHL (euro)
Marco Rossi 9th - playing 4th line center 60 points, possibly could be a 3rd line center? (120 pts)
Perfetti 10th - playing wing in NHL, 50 points (111 pts)
Lundell 12th - 3rd line center maybe 2nd on weak team 45 points (Euro)
Jarvis - 13th - playing wing in NHL 67 points, (98 pts)
Mercer 18th - playing 2nd line center with hughes injured was winger,lets say 3rd line center potential (42 pts 26 games)
Lapierre 22nd - limited action (86 pts)
Zary 24th - safe to say could be 3rd line center potentially a 2nd 40-45 point pace in 2024/25 or just a winger? (86 pts in 57 games)
Grieg 28th - 3rd line winger 34 points (60 pts in 56 games)


2025 Draft has more high potential centers like Stutzle (Misa, Hagens, Frondell) and potentially a similar number of next tier centers like Rossi/Perfetti/Lundell/Jarvis (Desnoyers, Obrien, Martin, McQueen), the bottom centers in the 2020 draft (Mercer, Zary, Lapierre and Grieg) might be very similar to Carbonneau, Bear, Nesbitt, Cootes, Reschny - you have a decent shot at a 3rd line center/winger, if lucky maybe a 2nd line winger - there is probably a chance that 1 or 2 of those last 5 names don't play meaningful games in the NHL.

[metroneck]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Misa is not far off many of the #1 overall picks. 90 points as a career high for him actually seems quite conservative, with scoring up and all...

McDavid (2014/15) - 44 goals, 76 assists, 120 points in 47 games, 2.55 PPG

Kane (2006/07) - 62 goals , 83 assists , 145 points in 58 games , 2.50 PPG

Misa (2024/25) - 62 goals , 72 assists , 134 points in 65 games , 2.06 PPG

Tavares (2008/09) - 40 goals , 78 assists , 118 points in 59 games , 2.00 PPG

Marner (2014/15) - 44 goals , 82 assists , 126 points in 63 games , 2.00 PPG

Stamkos (2007/08) - 58 goals , 47 assists , 105 points in 61 games , 1.72 PPG


Misa is a lot larger than Kane, and scores a lot more goals than McDavid.
Misa also outscored the next highest forward on his team by over 50 points.
Comparatively, Dylan Strome actually had more total points than McDavid. DeBrincat also had over 100 points.

Ya, but Misa’s numbers were propped up by that blue chip D-man Saginaw has

[Royle9]

I’m told it’s not likely to be Cooley.

[1qqaaz]

Ivan Prosvetov really does sound like a BATNA (best alternative to a negotiated agreement) - perhaps the Flames are using him for leverage in negotiations with Vladar.

Personally, I prefer Vladar. It would be a shame to lose him if they are as close as it seems.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Royle9

I’m told it’s not likely to be Cooley.

Not surprised. Doubt it will be the Russian also. If Vladar doesn’t re-sign, my guess they signing a veteran back up.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by BrownDrake

Analysis of 2020 Draft Centers - could have picked another but this one has familiar names and the draft was likely deeper than the 2025 draft. Wasn't deep at the top with first line talent but was full of good quality NHL'ers both D and center/wingers.


Top 9 Centers in the 2020 Draft (brackets for points in draft year)
Tim Stutzle 3rd - playing first line center in NHL (euro)
Marco Rossi 9th - playing 4th line center 60 points, possibly could be a 3rd line center? (120 pts)
Perfetti 10th - playing wing in NHL, 50 points (111 pts)
Lundell 12th - 3rd line center maybe 2nd on weak team 45 points (Euro)
Jarvis - 13th - playing wing in NHL 67 points, (98 pts)
Mercer 18th - playing 2nd line center with hughes injured was winger,lets say 3rd line center potential (42 pts 26 games)
Lapierre 22nd - limited action (86 pts)
Zary 24th - safe to say could be 3rd line center potentially a 2nd 40-45 point pace in 2024/25 or just a winger? (86 pts in 57 games)
Grieg 28th - 3rd line winger 34 points (60 pts in 56 games)


2025 Draft has more high potential centers like Stutzle (Misa, Hagens, Frondell) and potentially a similar number of next tier centers like Rossi/Perfetti/Lundell/Jarvis (Desnoyers, Obrien, Martin, McQueen), the bottom centers in the 2020 draft (Mercer, Zary, Lapierre and Grieg) might be very similar to Carbonneau, Bear, Nesbitt, Cootes, Reschny - you have a decent shot at a 3rd line center/winger, if lucky maybe a 2nd line winger - there is probably a chance that 1 or 2 of those last 5 names don't play meaningful games in the NHL.

Hagens is 5 months younger than Celebrini and got half as many points as Celebrini did playing in the same Hockey East division as Celebrini did the year before. Don’t think you have to worry about him being like Stutzle.

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Not surprised. Doubt it will be the Russian also. If Vladar doesn’t re-sign, my guess they signing a veteran back up.

Jake Allen could be a nice vet

[Ped]

Notable UFA goalies:


Ville Husso
James Reimer
Jack Campbell
Alex Lyon
Vitek Vanecek
Kaapo Kahkonen (In the AHL Finals)
Jake Allen
Anton Forsberg
Alex Georgiev
Matt Murray
Ilya Samsonov


Not a lot there. Wonder if the Flames would be looking at someone who they feel may have some untapped potential and hasn't caught on in another team or gotten a proper chance.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

That would be cap circumvention. That's why I doubt it's worth it to risk potentially losing picks over a backup goalie. Moreover, if he signed such a 1 year deal he could only be eligible to sign an extension halfway through the season.

Well, that’s what I’m referring to. Say he wants 2.5, we don’t want to do that.

But, we could offer 3.5m one year and 2m for the others.

I’m just saying it makes sense to offer him a high 1 year deal and see if he would be willing to extend to 2-3 years after at a significantly lower rate. Especially with wolf still being on ELC.

[BrownDrake]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Hagens is 5 months younger than Celebrini and got half as many points as Celebrini did playing in the same Hockey East division as Celebrini did the year before. Don’t think you have to worry about him being like Stutzle.

You are probably right, I don’t like him that much, I’d say he could be in between Misa/Frondell and the next group if he isn’t right in the next group of centers. I just dropped him in that first 3 centers as he seems to be loved by quite a few analysts and in virtually every mock I’ve seen he’s in the top 5. He might be one of the best playmakers in the draft but where he plays and his results are making that a tough guess.

Hopefully Conroy can make a deal to move us at least into the 7-9 range, maybe not possible but I’m crossing my fingers, an O’brien or Martin or maybe a big swing for McQueen may get us an impact 2nd line center.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Ped

Notable UFA goalies:


Ville Husso
James Reimer
Jack Campbell
Alex Lyon
Vitek Vanecek
Kaapo Kahkonen (In the AHL Finals)
Jake Allen
Anton Forsberg
Alex Georgiev
Matt Murray
Ilya Samsonov


Not a lot there. Wonder if the Flames would be looking at someone who they feel may have some untapped potential and hasn't caught on in another team or gotten a proper chance.

With all due respect many of these guys are at least as good as Vladar has been