What Should the Flames Do By Monday? Poll?

[Flamescuprun2018]

I would suggest a weekend poll in the lead up to Monday's trade deadline that is something like this:

1. Add top 6 forward and give up major assets
2. Add depth forward and give up minor asset
3. Add depth Dman and give up minor asset
4. Add starting goalie and give up major assets
5. Add backup goalie and give up minor asset
6. Stand pat with no moves at deadline since we are deep enough and have a long contender window to consider
7. Sell something at deadline for offseason cap space and a draft pick given how deep the team is

The last few games have convinced me we have lots of depth across the forward and Dman group to stand pat.

Given the following:

Return to health of Valimaki and Stone
Excellent play of Kylington and Andersson. Prout serviceable.
Emergence of Czarnik and Eatbread as solid depth forwards.
Stellar play of Quine, Lazar and Dube in Stockton as black aces.

Goaltending is a wildcard but better to address in offseason when options greater since so critical to organization. Smith starting to look comfortable anyways.

Lets hold onto what we have within our somewhat shrunken prospect pool and our limited 2019 picks and run with what we have into postseason. It seems to be a seller's market so far.

I wonder what proportion of CPers feel the same way?

BT usually does something unexpected anyways.

[Flashpoint]

Only hole in our lineup is goaltending IMO, but I don’t see us making a move since there are no clear upgrade options.

Love the chemistry, so stand pat.

[flambers]

My vote = Add top 6 forward

Ideally I would like the Flames to add Hayes....

[GGG]

I’m a hold for this year.

I don’t like a rental on the top 6 - too expensive
We don’t have cap space to sign a top 6 rental
I like our bottom 6
I think depth on D is sufficient
We could use a top 10 goalie but I don’t like Bob and not much else is there and I don’t see any value in a back up.

So I think this is a hold our draft our draft picks.

[topfiverecords]

2.

[gilligans_off]

1 or 6 for me. I’m only giving up a lot for Stone at this point but I’m not upset if we stand pat.

[taxbuster]

Add a beefier forward - someone with muscle and power to clear defenders. Minor asset given up only.


Alternatively: same as above but a D-man just in case we meet the Sucks.

[Erick Estrada]

I think trade deadline day is the dumbest day of the year outside of July 1st. The only winners are the selling teams as most buyers end up giving up future assets for rentals that don't work out. Capitals won the cup last season without making any deadline moves and I don't understand why a team like the Flames that's 2nd overall would want to make changes to what's been working all season and Mark Stone won't correct the Flames Achilles heel which is goaltending. It's likely goaltending which will seal the Flames fate this season and that's a bed the GM made in the offseason as there are not really any compelling options in the goaltender market so I would hope Treliving doesn't make any foolish moves to bolster Ottawa's rebuild when this team will only go as far as Smith and Rittich take them.

[Frequitude]

Go all in. Starting goalie and depth defenseman for sure. Maybe a top 6 forward. You never know when this opportunity will come again.

[Monahammer]

I've sold myself on stone or bust at this point. So 1 or 6

Preference for stone because I think we could really take a shot at the cup

[CSharp]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

Add a beefier forward - someone with muscle and power to clear defenders. Minor asset given up only.


Alternatively: same as above but a D-man just in case we meet the Sucks.

I still think Clifford is the guy to pick up if he's still available.

[1qqaaz]

For the acquisition of a forward, it depends. If it's someone who can be extended, like Burakovsky or Wennberg, then go for it.

If it's a rental like Simmonds, then no. That's just not good usage of assets. Even Zuccarello is way too old for me to want to extend him. I don't see how it's possible to acquire and re-sign Stone. The Flames would have to send Neal or someone back the other way, and that would raise the price.

The Flames are more than fine on offense and defense, and goaltending is by far the largest question mark moving forward.
It would be crazy to get a rental forward when out team is 2nd in goals for, while the goaltending is only average about 90.5% between the two goalies.

[dissentowner]

Goaltending is fine. Now that Smith has found his game you have two solid goalies. Goalies get hot and cold all the time, look at Brobovski's year. People are making a mountain out of a mole hill.

[oldschoolcalgary]

going with 2.

solid middle six player like a zucherrello/Dzingle/nyquist/johansson

Flames decide that rolling with the number 2 overall team and not disrupting chemistry is more important...and the price for stone is too rich for them, but not winnipeg

we'll see.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

going with 2.

solid middle six player like a zucherrello/Dzingle/nyquist/johansson

Flames decide that rolling with the number 2 overall team and not disrupting chemistry is more important...and the price for stone is too rich for them, but not winnipeg

we'll see.

Chances are, an “all-in” option like Stone is going to also play on the second line - so the effect on team chemistry, it seems to me, would be exactly the same as a Zuccarello type.

[TheScorpion]

Trade for Stone or Zuccarello and a middle-six centre like Brassard. With extra priority given to the former.

Bring up Quine, Graovac, Dube, Rychel, Valiev, and Valimaki.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I say stand pat.

This is the first year the Flames look like real contenders, and there will be several years to come with most of our key players locked up long-term. You need to consider the cost of acquisition for a player that will have any significant impact on the lineup, and you also have to carefully consider shifts in chemistry.

The only player I would really want is Stone, but locked up long-term on a deal under $8 million per year, otherwise it will put this team in cap hell.

I don't think the rest of the players would move the needle significantly enough in terms of talent, and it might be a detriment to team chemistry, which is at an all-time high. I'm not all that interested in adding guys like Hayes or Zuccarello, or even depth defensemen/forwards.

This team is exceptionally deep, even at the minor league level with guys like Quine and Lazar available. We are potentially 9 NHL-level defensemen deep if Stone is cleared to play. I see no benefit to getting any depth players.

You also want to see what you have in the current roster for their first real playoff test. Maybe they all shine right away and go deep? We already know what to expect from some of our players from previous playoff experience.

You could argue that goaltending needs to be upgraded, but I think we have two perfectly viable options to start games and win. Most teams can only rely on one to win in the playoffs. Rittich is inexperienced, but talented. Smith is very experienced (including a previous long playoff run), but is getting old. I think Smith still has enough in the gas tank for a playoff run this year, and he seems to be rounding into top form at the right time. Considering the limited goaltending options and the high acquisition cost of any significant goalie, it doesn't make sense to me to take a chance on another goalie when we have two that are capable enough.

I would rather keep thinking long term. At some point we will need young, good, cheap players on ELCs to maintain a competitive window. You have to hold on to top draft picks and high end prospects or rookie NHLers to fill in for older, more expensive veteran players that are no longer part of the core.

If the Flames have a catastrophic playoff failure this year, it would be a genuine surprise. This is the 2nd best team in the league, and they've been continually meeting and surpassing expectations all year. I say let them run. The only team I doubt they could beat in a 7 game series is Tampa Bay. Anyone else they can beat, even the best in the West.

Stand pat and hold onto the future assets.

[Icon]

I believe in Tre, we're after Stone for a first and a good prospect not named Valimaki or Dube (and another pick or prospect), with a plan to sign Stone, ship out Brodie & Frolik for picks in the offseason to get room for Tkachuk's new deal.

I'm guessing this shoe drops tomorrow.

[Beatle17]

Trade for Kris Kreider.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I say stand pat.

This is the first year the Flames look like real contenders, and there will be several years to come with most of our key players locked up long-term. You need to consider the cost of acquisition for a player that will have any significant impact on the lineup, and you also have to carefully consider shifts in chemistry.

The only player I would really want is Stone, but locked up long-term on a deal under $8 million per year, otherwise it will put this team in cap hell.

I don't think the rest of the players would move the needle significantly enough in terms of talent, and it might be a detriment to team chemistry, which is at an all-time high. I'm not all that interested in adding guys like Hayes or Zuccarello, or even depth defensemen/forwards.

This team is exceptionally deep, even at the minor league level with guys like Quine and Lazar available. We are potentially 9 NHL-level defensemen deep if Stone is cleared to play. I see no benefit to getting any depth players.

You also want to see what you have in the current roster for their first real playoff test. Maybe they all shine right away and go deep? We already know what to expect from some of our players from previous playoff experience.

You could argue that goaltending needs to be upgraded, but I think we have two perfectly viable options to start games and win. Most teams can only rely on one to win in the playoffs. Rittich is inexperienced, but talented. Smith is very experienced (including a previous long playoff run), but is getting old. I think Smith still has enough in the gas tank for a playoff run this year, and he seems to be rounding into top form at the right time. Considering the limited goaltending options and the high acquisition cost of any significant goalie, it doesn't make sense to me to take a chance on another goalie when we have two that are capable enough.

I would rather keep thinking long term. At some point we will need young, good, cheap players on ELCs to maintain a competitive window. You have to hold on to top draft picks and high end prospects or rookie NHLers to fill in for older, more expensive veteran players that are no longer part of the core.

If the Flames have a catastrophic playoff failure this year, it would be a genuine surprise. This is the 2nd best team in the league, and they've been continually meeting and surpassing expectations all year. I say let them run. The only team I doubt they could beat in a 7 game series is Tampa Bay. Anyone else they can beat, even the best in the West.

Stand pat and hold onto the future assets.

I agree with all this, but I do have reservations about Frolik who has one assist in his last eight playoff games. So if we can swap him for a Namestnikov type I'd be stoked.

Oh and I want Ferland back but only if we can dump Neal's salary.