[Rumour] Chris Johnston: Lindholm is interested in staying

[Hackey]

Sure. But there is a massive difference between Mackinnon and Hertl. Hertl is probably better suited to be a 2nd line center on an elite team. So to me sure he can be a 1st line center by definition but he likely isn't when it comes to trying to win a Cup.

[gvitaly]

I'm personally trying to figure out what would hurt the team more in the Lindholm situation:
1. Losing Lindholm for nothing
2. Losing Lindholm in a bad trade, setting the table for low ball offers in future trades
3. Signing Lindholm to an 8 year contract that doesn't age well

Out of those 3 bad options, losing Lindholm for nothing almost seems like the lesser evil. Of course, ideally we either sign Lindholm and then he gets back to the PPG Lindholm that can dominate on both sides of the ice, or trade Lindholm for a great package of assets.

I just wanted to throw it out there, but the Flames actually have ~$35.5M in cap space for next offseason. If the Flames lose Lindholm/Hanifin they could throw money at Toews, Nylander, or Guentzel. They could also try and find the next Tanev/Giroux/Pavelski by signing a guy like Novak, Schiefele, Reinhart, Duchane, Tarasenko, Marhessault, Arvidsson, Pesce, and Skjei hopefully Conroy will be savvy enough to avoid creating more anchors.

With so much capspace they could even offersheet Pettersson. The point is that the Flames will have options in either scenario, and even if we lose our players for nothing there will still be a lot of interesting players available.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Saying “I am willing to stay” vs “I want to stay” definitely sounds like a guy who needs a big contract on his terms so I expect it could have a full NMC, heavy bonuses, and as high of an AAV as possible.

If this was an interview he gave in English, then I would agree with you. But, this is a translation, which makes scrutinizing the finer points of his responses pretty futile.


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[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

If this was an interview he gave in English, then I would agree with you. But, this is a translation, which makes scrutinizing the finer points of his responses pretty futile.


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Lindholm has perfect English. The google translate makes it seem like it's a bit broken so hard to really say what they exact quote is.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Sure. But there is a massive difference between Mackinnon and Hertl. Hertl is probably better suited to be a 2nd line center on an elite team. So to me sure he can be a 1st line center by definition but he likely isn't when it comes to trying to win a Cup.

7-8 of the guys on your list, including Draisaitl, who you have as the #3 center overall, are the #2 centers on their team. Guys like Draisaitl, Malkin, Stamkos, Hischier, etc are better suited as #2 line centers on elite teams or in some cases even just average teams because that’s exactly where they play.

So, again, stuff like “better suited to be a 2nd line center on an elite team” is just made up nonsense.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

7-8 of the guys on your list, including Draisaitl, who you have as the #3 center overall, are the #2 centers on their team. Guys like Draisaitl, Malkin, Stamkos, Hischier, etc are better suited as #2 line centers on elite teams or in some cases even just average teams because that’s exactly where they play.

So, again, stuff like “better suited to be a 2nd line center on an elite team” is just made up nonsense.

Well, Malkin in his prime was a pretty darn good 1C when Crosby was out.

It's actually hard to rank Stamkos v Point on TB. They've each taken the reins at different times.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Didn't they move Stamkos to the wing?

Kind of like Leon isn't a pure C he plays a lot on the wing as well.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Well, Malkin in his prime was a pretty darn good 1C when Crosby was out.

It's actually hard to rank Stamkos v Point on TB. They've each taken the reins at different times.

Oh, so you're suggesting that the idea that a player who might be a #2 center "on an elite team" couldn't be a "true" #1 center is... nonsense?

Yeah, who would have thought.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Sure. But there is a massive difference between Mackinnon and Hertl. Hertl is probably better suited to be a 2nd line center on an elite team. So to me sure he can be a 1st line center by definition but he likely isn't when it comes to trying to win a Cup.

Was 28 year old Doug Gilmour a ‘true elite No1C’ when the Flames traded him?

[Hockey_Ninja]

I’m at the point where I don’t believe anything these players say to the media about their expiring contract status until Friedman tweets out that they’ve signed

[heep223]

Lindholm is a great C. Because of the Hubes and Kadri contracts the team is forced to continue to try and compete over the next few years. They are unlikely to compete if they trade Lindholm. Therefore they should sign him.

I still think Lindholm-Kadri-Backlund down the middle should be one of the better C groups in the West if not the league. Last season was simply baffling

[blender]

Originally Posted by Hackey

Sure. But there is a massive difference between Mackinnon and Hertl. Hertl is probably better suited to be a 2nd line center on an elite team. So to me sure he can be a 1st line center by definition but he likely isn't when it comes to trying to win a Cup.

One thing that is often overlooked is how a common it is for players to have a great performance in the playoffs but be inconsistent or average over a larger sample size. Few players are always a sure bet, but you have to be building a team around potential.

I can definitely see Lindholm, for example, as potential difference maker at his position. You don't forget how to bury pucks from the slot the way he did two seasons ago. I'd hate to see fifth overall Lindholm, acquired at expense, be a top-ten center in the league over the next few seasons with another team. You try to add to him, IMO

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

If this was an interview he gave in English, then I would agree with you. But, this is a translation, which makes scrutinizing the finer points of his responses pretty futile.


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Nah. Time to be honest with ourselves. He doesn’t want to play in Calgary unless he’s massively overpaid. IMO he hasn’t shown enough to be a legit 1st line C and his best years are with an epic playmaker in his prime in Gaudreau and a legit incredible borderline top 5 NHL player in Tkachuk.

Monetize and pass. The deal should be there and negotiable. It does not have to be an absolute home run. Do what you did with Toffoli. I’m sure it’s there if you call 31 teams. He’s not a Flame.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by heep223

Lindholm is a great C. Because of the Hubes and Kadri contracts the team is forced to continue to try and compete over the next few years. They are unlikely to compete if they trade Lindholm. Therefore they should sign him.

I still think Lindholm-Kadri-Backlund down the middle should be one of the better C groups in the West if not the league. Last season was simply baffling

It's driving me nuts how all those years of "best D on paper" and now "best C depth" hasn't translated for #### on the ice.

Baffling indeed. Based on each of those guys performances in the previous season, that should have been a top tier 1-3 center group.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by heep223

Lindholm is a great C. Because of the Hubes and Kadri contracts the team is forced to continue to try and compete over the next few years. They are unlikely to compete if they trade Lindholm. Therefore they should sign him.

I still think Lindholm-Kadri-Backlund down the middle should be one of the better C groups in the West if not the league. Last season was simply baffling

In the league?!?!?

[blender]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Well, Malkin in his prime was a pretty darn good 1C when Crosby was out.

It's actually hard to rank Stamkos v Point on TB. They've each taken the reins at different times.

Malkin was a beast the year he won the Conn Smythe; best player in the world at the most important time.

[blender]

Originally Posted by jayswin

In the league?!?!?

I would tend to agree with your skepticism, but if they all played ro potential it would be pretty formidable.
Hope they can come together as a team this se a season.

[traptor]

Lindy currently is a #1 center. I think most can agree that he is in that mid 20's range.

Can he be a #1 center on a serious contender? Sure.
But you probably need some truly elite talent (top 5) in other positions.


Also, I realllllly hate how this is the mantra everyone on this team keeps touting.

"Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen"

It just sounds defeatist, like they realize they aren't that good, and are just hoping to get lucky.

[blender]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

It's driving me nuts how all those years of "best D on paper" and now "best C depth" hasn't translated for #### on the ice.

Baffling indeed. Based on each of those guys performances in the previous season, that should have been a top tier 1-3 center group.

They still could be.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by blender

They still could be.

I sure hope so. I'd like to see that pan out for a change. I'd like to see the Flames bringing Vegas like depth to games and able to roll these good centers playing good hockey.

But first each guy needs chemistry with their linemates. This was part of the problem.

The only guy you could say had that was Backlund. But he's also extremely versatile and can mesh with just about any one.