[Rumour] Friedman: Devils and Flames have had legit discussions about Markstrom

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by browntrout

I just don't see the fit for the flames, Mercer is another smallish winger, they need a Hughes or Nemec, a defenceman who can develop and be impactful when the team is ready to compete in 3-5 years from now. Mercer is also an RFA, what type of money does he want?

It would make sense if new jersey offered him ( not everyone is an untouchable) with a draft pick. Obviously the GM's are talking and can't agree on compensation, I don't think Calgary wants Mercer at this time

Mercer is a center trapped behind too much center depth in New Jersey. Easily a 2nd line center in Calgary and would likely end up being our first line center (although I don’t think Mercer is the prototypical 1st line center type).

No one is giving up a Nemec or Hughes, you need to draft those guys with top 10 picks.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by browntrout

I just don't see the fit for the flames, Mercer is another smallish winger, they need a Hughes or Nemec, a defenceman who can develop and be impactful when the team is ready to compete in 3-5 years from now. Mercer is also an RFA, what type of money does he want?

It would make sense if new jersey offered him ( not everyone is an untouchable) with a draft pick. Obviously the GM's are talking and can't agree on compensation, I don't think Calgary wants Mercer at this time

Maybe someone will recall this better than I do but I believe Conroy stated that the flames were ready to select a player they were really hoping would fall to them at 19 in the 2020 draft and they just missed out on him. That’s when the Flames shifted their focus to moving down and adding more picks in later rounds as they saw a number of players in the same tier and knew they would end up with one of them.

A lot of people here think that player they missed out on was Mercer. If do, I suspect Conroy, Button, Pascal, and many of the execs/scouts who were part of the organization then, probably still hold Mercer in high regard.

[Heavy Jack]

Mercer took over 600 faceoffs his rookie year but with only a 35 percent winning percentage. The following year he didn’t quite take 200 faceoffs in large part to the reason mentioned by Sofa but he got his winning percentage into the low 40s. Finally this year he hasn’t quite reached 250 taken and is up over 48 percent winning percentage. He reminds me of Lindholm a little bit and would like take on center duties quicker than Lindy did if we managed to trade for him. 22 yo righty with center potential checks a ton of boxes for Calgary so I understand the rumoured interest for sure.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by browntrout

I just don't see the fit for the flames, Mercer is another smallish winger, they need a Hughes or Nemec, a defenceman who can develop and be impactful when the team is ready to compete in 3-5 years from now. Mercer is also an RFA, what type of money does he want?

It would make sense if new jersey offered him ( not everyone is an untouchable) with a draft pick. Obviously the GM's are talking and can't agree on compensation, I don't think Calgary wants Mercer at this time

You must be thinking of Holtz

[Badgers Nose]

Who do we push out of the 12 forwards to make room for Mercer and/or Holtz? We don’t even have a spot for Coronado right now.

We need defence right now.Mercer is not better than any of our top three centres at the moment. If you play him as a winger I don’t see an obvious place to put him.

If Marky goes to NJD there has to be a top four defender coming back.

[t0rrent98]

I hope they don't trade him just yet, they are so close to making the playoffs with the way that he and the team are playing. He's probably the reason why the Flames are where they are at now.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Who do we push out of the 12 forwards to make room for Mercer and/or Holtz? We don’t even have a spot for Coronado right now.

We need defence right now.Mercer is not better than any of our top three centres at the moment. If you play him as a winger I don’t see an obvious place to put him.

If Marky goes to NJD there has to be a top four defender coming back.

There is still Hanifin and Tanev to move, we can look at shoring up the D with those moves. I want Mercer+

Is Sharangovich a long term C solution?

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Who do we push out of the 12 forwards to make room for Mercer and/or Holtz? We don’t even have a spot for Coronado right now.

We need defence right now.Mercer is not better than any of our top three centres at the moment. If you play him as a winger I don’t see an obvious place to put him.

If Marky goes to NJD there has to be a top four defender coming back.

Coleman for two firsts! #conman

[Hackey]

Mercer and a mid 1st would be a massive haul. Even at 50% retention I'm doubtful Jersey makes that move but I'd love to be wrong. I'd be happy with one of those two assets and a sweetener.

[Flames1217]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Who do we push out of the 12 forwards to make room for Mercer and/or Holtz? We don’t even have a spot for Coronado right now.

Zary-Kadri-Mercer
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Huberdeau-Sharangovich-Kuzmenko
Pelletier-Pospisil-Duehr

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

Who do we push out of the 12 forwards to make room for Mercer and/or Holtz? We don’t even have a spot for Coronado right now.

We need defence right now.Mercer is not better than any of our top three centres at the moment. If you play him as a winger I don’t see an obvious place to put him.

If Marky goes to NJD there has to be a top four defender coming back.

It’s not about right now. Our top 2 centers are 33 and 34. This move is about the future, which Mercer would be a huge part of.

The Flames lack any top quality C in their system. Be it through picks or young players, this has got to be THE focus in trade returns.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by t0rrent98

I hope they don't trade him just yet, they are so close to making the playoffs with the way that he and the team are playing. He's probably the reason why the Flames are where they are at now.

That's exactly it. The Flames areonly as good as they are because of goaltending, and the only thing holding the devils back is goaltending. Sell them on what they could be with him, and cash in!

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Flames1217

Zary-Kadri-Mercer
Mangiapane-Backlund-Coleman
Huberdeau-Sharangovich-Kuzmenko
Pelletier-Pospisil-Mangiapane

Double shifting 88? Not a good plan

I would go

Coleman backs Mercer
Huby sharky kuzy
Zary kadri Popisil
Mangi Rooney Pelletier

Until you deal 88 for whatever you can

[The Cobra]

Calgary would kill to land Mercer.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Locke

This is the ultimate question.

We might make the playoffs. I sincerely doubt we do any damage.

The same ultimate question in 2004. Remember what happened? Lots of playoff damage!

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

Of course its going to be salary retention being the hanging point. The Flames have retained on a single player in a trade, and that was a few hundred thousand dollars. You're talking about multiple millions for a player that is plying his trade elsewhere. Not Edward's style. That is going to take some major convincing and I'm not sure Conroy will be able to convince Edwards to accept those terms. Amount retained on the UFAs he's traded so far? Zero.

And I get that for 2.5 years.

If they use their retention slots on rentals it's one thing. Understandable to balk at multiple seasons in my mind.

If they balk on rest of year rentals the owner doesn't understand leverage (which would be doubtful)

[kyuss275]

A lot can change in 30 days but as of right now,even if devils meet flames price, I’m not convinced he would waive at this moment.

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I can see a Markstrom trade happening this summer, but I don't think it'll happen mid season.

Challenging but before the trade deadline is when we might get an offer that's too good to turn down. Sounds like Conroy is sticking by a high cost to get it done as he should.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Bingo

And I get that for 2.5 years.

If they use their retention slots on rentals it's one thing. Understandable to balk at multiple seasons in my mind.

If they balk on rest of year rentals the owner doesn't understand leverage (which would be doubtful)

I think they will retain on expiring contracts, especially if it leads to larger returns or gets the player they want. I think that door is open, it just needs to be justified. Retention on multi-year contracts? That's a bridge too far for this ownership group IMO. Until they do it, I will say it remains a hard no.

If you think Edwards doesn't understand leverage you've never dealt with the man. He uses every bit of possible leverage and does everything he can to save pennies on the dollar. He didn't become a billionaire by not knowing how to squeeze blood from every stone. He's not giving money away without getting value back. I suspect Conroy knows exactly what that value mark is and will only retain if that value proposition is achieved. Otherwise he just sets himself up to get on the wrong side of the primary owner, which he clearly doesn't want to do.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Lanny_McDonald

I think they will retain on expiring contracts, especially if it leads to larger returns or gets the player they want. I think that door is open, it just needs to be justified. Retention on multi-year contracts? That's a bridge too far for this ownership group IMO. Until they do it, I will say it remains a hard no.

If you think Edwards doesn't understand leverage you've never dealt with the man. He uses every bit of possible leverage and does everything he can to save pennies on the dollar. He didn't become a billionaire by not knowing how to squeeze blood from every stone. He's not giving money away without getting value back. I suspect Conroy knows exactly what that value mark is and will only retain if that value proposition is achieved. Otherwise he just sets himself up to get on the wrong side of the primary owner, which he clearly doesn't want to do.

I think it was pretty clear in my last post that I was suggesting Edwards does understand leverage.