LeBrun interview 1 on 1 with Brad Treliving

[SportsJunky]

LeBrun's interview is up at The Athletic. Great interview. Brad addresses the Tkachuk controversy, the Frolik trade and the resultant cap space, Brodie and Hamonic becoming UFAs and other good stuff. Because of paywall I don't want to quote much but here's a little snippet.

You guys had your (amateur) scouting meetings in Niagara Falls this week. I don’t want to say you tipped your hand, but you created some cap space ($4.3 million) when you traded Michael Frolik to Buffalo. No one is blind to that. So are we to put two and two together that if the opportunity is there, that perhaps you will try to add some scoring before the trade deadline?
Yeah, I mean, two things for us, Pierre, No. 1 we wanted to create some (salary cap) flexibility. We’d been looking at that for a while. Michael is a really good pro, he was a good player for us. With the emergence of some of our younger players, specifically (Andrew) Mangiapane and (Dillon) Dube, there was a little bit of redundancy there. We got a lot of left shots. So it gave Michael hopefully a better opportunity. And it gave us some flexibility. Our hope is that we can find a productive way to use it. If we can find the right fit, and I wouldn’t say anything is imminent at this point, but we’re certainly open to try and make our team better and if we can find — as you said — find somebody that can help us or continue to look at ways to generate more offence and more goals, that’s certainly something we’d like to do.

https://theathletic.com/1540134/2020...ayoff-pursuit/

[Braden]

His response in regards to Brodie/Hamonic leaves me to think theres actually a chance one could get dealt by the deadline.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Braden

His response in regards to Brodie/Hamonic leaves me to think theres actually a chance one could get dealt by the deadline.

please go on...?

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Braden

His response in regards to Brodie/Hamonic leaves me to think theres actually a chance one could get dealt by the deadline.

And the flip side is, if you’re not able to sign one or both, you have more cap space and that’s another asset in this system, right?
You’re exactly right. And I think that sometimes gets overlooked. You look back at the Frolik decision. You’re always looking ‘OK what’s your return in a potential move?’, and we added some draft capital in a fourth-round pick. But the key element is cap space, that is a massive asset in today’s environment where there’s so little of it and there’s been little growth in the cap in the past year. So yeah, we’ll monitor those situations (Hamonic/Brodie) and as we approach the deadline, hopefully make the best decision we can.

Now, the question before was about how he thought it might play out with Hamonic and Brodie approaching free agency. Treliving's response was basically about how they don't have a problem keeping these guys if it can make sense.

So who knows?

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

And the flip side is, if you’re not able to sign one or both, you have more cap space and that’s another asset in this system, right?
You’re exactly right. And I think that sometimes gets overlooked. You look back at the Frolik decision. You’re always looking ‘OK what’s your return in a potential move?’, and we added some draft capital in a fourth-round pick. But the key element is cap space, that is a massive asset in today’s environment where there’s so little of it and there’s been little growth in the cap in the past year. So yeah, we’ll monitor those situations (Hamonic/Brodie) and as we approach the deadline, hopefully make the best decision we can.

Now, the question before was about how he thought it might play out with Hamonic and Brodie approaching free agency. Treliving's response was basically about how they don't have a problem keeping these guys if it can make sense.

So who knows?

I think it would be a massive failure to not retain either one of Brodie or Hamonic or get any assets for them and the walk.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I think it would be a massive failure to not retain either one of Brodie or Hamonic or get any assets for them and the walk.

If those guys walk but they sign an equally good or better UFA with the money whats the loss?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by dino7c

If those guys walk but they sign an equally good or better UFA with the money whats the loss?

The assets you could get for trading a player on an expiring contract that you don't intend to re-sign.

[Flamescuprun2018]

My read of the article is that BT values cap space so not too fussed if one or both dont sign. That cap space will be golden for other needs in off season.

He considers his players on expiring contracts his "internal rentals". He feels the league is shifting to that mentality.

Unless the Flames collapse in the standings between now and Trade Deadline I think those that expected any selling by us at deadline are going to quite disappointed.

Maybe an add but no subtracts.

[FeastersBouwmeesters]

I pray every night we trade Gaudreau at the draft and sign Hall.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FeastersBouwmeesters

I pray every night we trade Gaudreau at the draft and sign Hall.

and also:

[FeastersBouwmeesters]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

and also:

Don't think my wife would be too happy about that.

[SportsJunky]

Have you asked her?

[blender]

Originally Posted by FeastersBouwmeesters

I pray every night we trade Gaudreau at the draft and sign Hall.

Take it outside, God boy.

[madmike]

Meh I really don’t want Hamonic back. I do hope they re-sign Brodie.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by FeastersBouwmeesters

I pray every night we trade Gaudreau at the draft and sign Hall.

If we're trading a high scoring winger with questionable engagement and lack of complete game, why are we just then signing another.

[David Struch]

I'd like to see both Brodie & Hamonic dealt, hopefully for a 2020 1st rounder each. (guaranteed 2nd at least, maybe 1st is conditional on them re-signing)

I wouldn't mind either coming back to Calgary as a UFA.

Might need a 6/7 depth D coming back as well to fill in for the rest of the year.
(someone better than Brandon Davidson, Rinat Valiev, Andrew Nielsen)

2020/21

Giordano - Andersson
Välimäki - Hanifin
Kylington - Yelesin
Lerby (should also step in next season after four years in SHL)

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

The assets you could get for trading a player on an expiring contract that you don't intend to re-sign.

Hockey isn't about winning games ! It's about asset collection! We should trade all our guys every deadline!

It not like we're fighting for 1st in the division or anything!

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by nik-

If we're trading a high scoring winger with questionable engagement and lack of complete game, why are we just then signing another.

Because the prime assets we would get for Gaudreau and longer term contract of Hall.

[868904]

Originally Posted by nik-

If we're trading a high scoring winger with questionable engagement and lack of complete game, why are we just then signing another.

Because Hall plus assets for Johnny > just Johnny

[Strange Brew]

re: Jason14h It’s about winning games. Question is whether you believe a guy like Hamonic is instrumental to winning those games.

If you’re not going to re-sign him he is in effect a “rental”. Maybe you could do better? And maybe you think about seasons beyond this one too.