2020/2021 Trade Speculation and Rumours

[flamesgod]

So who does Vegas protect? Fleury or Lehner? Fleury has been so good, they’d have to protect him, no? Or we’ll probably see them move one of them before the expansion draft.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

So who does Vegas protect? Fleury or Lehner? Fleury has been so good, they’d have to protect him, no?

Vegas is exempt from the ED, hence why they hoarded everyone.

[flamesgod]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Vegas is exempt from the ED, hence why they hoarded everyone.

Well that seems unfair.

[shutout]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

Well that seems unfair.

They don't get any of the expansion money either.
No money. No player.

[FleeceGang]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Vegas was very fortunate to not only get multiple premium assets from some teams who were scared of the expansion draft, but also scored Fleury who has been lights out. Sounds like the GMs have learned their lesson and I doubt Seattle will be able to make out as well. One thing for sure, there isn't a goalie of that caliber that will be available.

Unfortunately I think there will be a lot of good goalies available. Even in Vegas it's either Lehner or Flower that will be exposed and Flower looked more flowery this season than in the last many. But the kicker will be Free Agency. There are quite a few quality goalies up for contracts this off season and Seattle will have be the team who can write the largest cheques. Possible FA goalie signings include: Grubauer, Freddy Andersen, Driedger, Rask, Ullmark, Mike "Vezina" Smith, and Mrazek.

Will Seattle be gifted an HOF goalie on a silver platter? Probably not, but I do believe they will still have a quality netminder come the season opener.

[Jiri Hrdina]

For people that want to expose and motivate Seattle to take Backlund - how much do you think it would cost to sign a player like him as a free agent?
Or is there another plan to fill his hole in the lineup as a guy who gets the toughest match-ups and still produces offensively?

[BMStrikesAgain]

people who want Seattle to take backlund probably dont care about filling holes in the lineups, they want this team to rebuild and start fresh.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

For people that want to expose and motivate Seattle to take Backlund - how much do you think it would cost to sign a player like him as a free agent?
Or is there another plan to fill his hole in the lineup as a guy who gets the toughest match-ups and still produces offensively?

I don’t advocate it. If you were wanting to lose the salary, you’d trade him with some retention.

But if he were gone (and if you got Eichel), I suppose Lindholm would be your two way matchup guy, and you might play Monahan on a line that is more sheltered. Eichel-Lindholm-Monahan-some guy who played like Ryan but is cheaper is good centre depth.

I haven’t seen Eichel enough to know how he is defensively - if he can go head to head against tough matchups, between him and Lindholm you wouldn’t be too concerned. And Monahan is capable of played good D too.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by keenan87

Really hoping Backlund, Giordano, or Lucic get picked up by Seattle. All horrible contracts for what they bring at this point.

Give it a rest.

Backlund was, arguably, our best player towards the end of 2020 before the pandemic hit.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Give it a rest.

Backlund was, arguably, our best player towards the end of 2020 before the pandemic hit.

Lol and Lucic was an absolute force in Boston. Should we keep him around and build the franchise around him?

As for the end of 2020.. what about the beginning of that season? Should probably drop his salary in half if he only shows up for half the season.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by NewFan

I can understand about Giordano and Lucic. But Backlund is useful players that can play against top Centres of other team and one of better PK of the team.
Backlund + Mangiapane is good combo in the 3rd line that can play and shut down other team's 1st or 2nd line and outscore their 3rd line. So better keep Backlund.

Backlund has not been that player since he got absolutely owned by MacKinnon in the Avs series. I am not even sure he is in our top 5 200 foot players let alone our top one. He is a streaky 45-50 point player who makes over $5M a year and is declining, you dump that contract every day. Nobody is taking him on without sending money back. You could expose him in the expansion draft and Seattle would easily pass.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

For people that want to expose and motivate Seattle to take Backlund - how much do you think it would cost to sign a player like him as a free agent?
Or is there another plan to fill his hole in the lineup as a guy who gets the toughest match-ups and still produces offensively?

Pretty easy.. just need to find someone who can score more than 0.5 PPG in the playoffs and doesn't get embarrassed by the "toughest match-ups" when it counts in the playoffs.

For as much love as Backlund gets.. he has done absolutely nothing along with the rest of this core when it counts in the playoffs.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

For people that want to expose and motivate Seattle to take Backlund - how much do you think it would cost to sign a player like him as a free agent?
Or is there another plan to fill his hole in the lineup as a guy who gets the toughest match-ups and still produces offensively?

Maybe thats part of the reason this team is so bad, Backlund can no longer handle other teams top players. Not even close.

[CalgaryFan1988]

I wonder if Grubauer, Rask, and Mrazek even make it to free agency. Seattle will be licking their chops (Edmonton too if they actually have cap space).

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TOfan

Give it a rest.

Backlund was, arguably, our best player towards the end of 2020 before the pandemic hit.

He’s remarkably consistent in his PPG every year - including this year. And there are quite a few teams paying similar aged guys similar amounts for similar production over a similar term - Nelson, Henrique, Schenn (actually he makes a fair bit more), Pageau, Coyle.

It’s not an ideal contract but I always judge it by whether you could trade it and in this case you could probably trade Backlund and retain a small amount to get a decent return.

[Poe969]

The Flames aren't going to win if Backlund is their second best center. As for who do they replace him with??? Does it matter? In all honesty, if he wasn't on the team would the Flames be that much worse? They are at the point (again) that getting worse is probably better for them. Maybe they'd actually play a prospect or something who knows, but until this team changes drastically it won't matter.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by shutout

They don't get any of the expansion money either.
No money. No player.

From a competitive balance point of view it it still seems like a joke. Top team get another break.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

Maybe thats part of the reason this team is so bad, Backlund can no longer handle other teams top players. Not even close.

I think Phillip Danault would be a great 3rd line center who could take on the other teams top players a produce a bit.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

For people that want to expose and motivate Seattle to take Backlund - how much do you think it would cost to sign a player like him as a free agent?
Or is there another plan to fill his hole in the lineup as a guy who gets the toughest match-ups and still produces offensively?

Given the choice of exposing Backlund and losing that salary, or making a deal with Seattle where they take Lucic, you make the deal to make sure they take Lucic. A 2nd, and Matthew Phillips (just to see heads explode) to Seattle for a guarantee they pick Milan Lucic and his $5.25M salary. Win all around.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Jiggy

I think Phillip Danault would be a great 3rd line center who could take on the other teams top players a produce a bit.

I think he will get a contract very similar to what Backlund already has except with additional years of term