Your 2018-19 Calgary Flames?

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by OldSam

When GG was hired, the GM said it was to take this team to the next level. It is clear that is an abject failure and I could easily argue the team has deteriorated significantly. My first order of business would be to get rid of the coaching staff, except for Gelinas. Including the goalie coach. Bring in a real coaching staff - Quenville, AV, Sutter....someone who can make adjustments based in the players the GM supplies him with.

I would certainly rebuild the third and fourth lines. But I would not trade any of our skilled players until we see what a real coach can do with them.

I'm all for getting rid of coaching staff but why does Gelinas get to stay?

[Gaskal]

• Keep Treliving
• Fire Gulutzan
• Fire Cameron
• Hire Q, Torts, or AV
• Trade Brodie for scoring winger (Hoffman? Gallagher? ....Eberle?)
• Buyout Brouwer

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by New Era

All three spellings are correct and accurate. Betcha didn't know you could spell it so many ways!

And Mark Stone isn't a defenceman

[ComixZone]

I'll have some fun!

Sometime in March/April:

- Sign Adam Fox (3 years, .925M per)
- Glen Gulutzan and coaching staff removed from their positions

Sometime in May:

- Hire Alain Vigneault or Darryl Sutter depending on availability

June 15th:

- Troy Brouwer is bought out


June 22nd: Day 1 of the Draft

Trade 1:

- To CGY: TOR 2018 1st round pick (20-25th overall), SJ 2018 2nd round pick (50-55th overall)
- To TOR: TJ Brodie, David Rittich

Trade 2:

- To CBJ: Oliver Kylington, Micheal Frolik
- To CGY: Cam Atkinson

June 23rd: Day 2 of the Draft

Trade 1:

- To SJ: FLA 2018 4th round pick, CGY 2018 4th round pick
- To CGY: Evander Kane's negotiation rights

- Sign Evander Kane (7 years, 6.25M per)

Trade 2:

- To COL: Michael Stone
- To CGY: 2019 3rd round pick (OTT), 2018 5th round pick (COL)

Free Agency

RFAs

- Jon Gillies (2 years, 1M per)
- Brett Kulak (2 years, 975K per)
- Tyler Wotherspoon (1 year, 800K per)
- Mark Jankowski (3 years, 2M per)
- Nick Shore (2 years, 1.45M per)
- Morgan Klimchuk (2 years, 750K per)
- Emile Poirier (2 years, 750K per)
- Hunter Shinkaruk (2 years, 750K per)
- Garnet Hathaway (2 years, 825K per)

- Matthew Tkachuk extension (8 years, 6.75M per)

UFAs

- Michael Grabner (3 years, 3.75M per)
- Jarome Iginla (1 year, 1M per)
- Thomas Hickey (2 years, 3.25M per)

Line-up:

Kane - Monahan (A) - Gaudreau
Tkachuk (A) - Backlund - Atkinson
Bennett - Jankowski - Grabner
Ferland - Shore - Lazar
Iginla, Hathaway

Giordano (C) - Hamilton
LD2 - Hamonic
Hickey - RD 3
Extra D

Mike Smith
Jon Gillies

LD2, RD3 could be any mix of: Valimaki, Kulak, Fox, Andersson

Extra D could be either Kulak or Wotherspoon

[GranteedEV]

GM: Craig Conroy. You need a GM who has had NHL success in some capacity IMO, but has also paid his dues as an assistant GM. Some of the better GMs in the league are guys like Yzerman, Hextall, and Jim Rutherford. David Poile was an AGM of a cup winning roster built around pure skill. I believe there is a correlation, because these kind of guys don't have minor league biases. The kind of minor league biases that get Tanner Glass, Nik Grossmann, Matt Bartkowski, Ryan Lomberg, etc playing NHL minutes.

Head Coach: In a vacuum, Peter Laviolette. Out of realistic options, any of Lindy Ruff, Joel Quenneville, Alain Vigneult, or even bring back Hartley and Keenan. I don't have a problem with bringing in a rookie coach either, but I would again have some of those similar criteria I had for a GM. No minor leaguer, it has to be someone who's either coached high-end talent to success before, or himself was high-end talent. I would even toss out Patrick Roy out there, at least he's won an NHL division title as a coach. I'm not convinced Darryl Sutter is a stylistic fit but there is no doubting he'd be an upgrade on Glen Gulutzan by default on account of Darryl is a fantastic coach.

Signifcant moves: I would replace Travis Hamonic with any average top 4 left handed defensemen, and move TJ Brodie back to the right side where he belongs. Hamonic is really an irrelevant piece who has only nine points this season (Brett Kulak has seven in half the ice time) and shoots THREE percent on his career - no wonder there's no offense when he's on the ice. I would waive anyone on the roster who is slow, and make moves to bring in bottom six speedsters like Hagelin, Byron, Grabner, etc. Load the bottom six with speed and skill, and forego this truculence nonsense that winners don't really care about as they blow opponents out. I would trade Mike Stone away as I don't think he's particularily good or even the better player on his defense pair, and allow Rasmus Andersson to be our #6D next season. Oh and not bring in Bartkowski types.

Line up: I would move Sam Bennett back to center, but give him actual linemates. Maybe even Jankowski at wing. Guys who can play uptempo ahead of him rather than behind him. To me the key is to not have the same lineup every night. Lines only have chemistry for so long and I fully agree with coaches who blender their lines regularly as it keeps opponents guessing in their pre-game scouting. Dillon Dube is in the NHL next year. Honestly should have been in the NHL this year with what he showed in preseason. Smith-Rittich would be my tandem, I have no issue with the goaltending we've gotten from either guy, outside of two whole games from Rittich. Gillies is not an NHL goalie at present and needs a lot of work on his technical game.

Biggest development: Sam Bennett gets linemates as a center and succeeds as a top line two-way center, allowing Backlund to be an elite 2B center. Actual high end center depth and a style balanced between aggressive defensive play and high-reward offensive play propels this roster to where it belongs.

[Flamescuprun2018]

BT GM. Super hard working and on the phones with all GMs daily. Learning on the job. Wont make same mistakes over again. Only reason I bother getting so emotionally invested in this disappointing team.

New coaching staff. Someone who would instill confidence in this team when they give up a goal rather than pure panic! This team is emotionally very fragile. Hartley was so much better at this one thing. Too bad not much else. Quenneville intriguing.

One winger via trade (Stone) or UFA for Backlund/Frolik line.

Keep 1st line as is for a bit longer. Ferland got his 20 goal bonus and then sat back so might not be the long term answer. Still not sold on him for 1st line long term but can give it one more chance. Bennett can step in if Ferland falters.

3M line dismantled. Tkachuk moved to Bennett/Jankowski for new 2nd line.

Backlund/Frolik now our shutdown 3rd line which needs a new LW or RW. Perfect to groom someone like Klimchuk or Lazar since Backlund can make anyone look good there. Wonder if Dube could work there. He looked so good in preseason. Backlund could teach him alot.

Brouwer traded with 50-75% retained salary to anyone. Better than 4 years of AAV on the books with buyout. So painful to waste a roster spot on him.

Versteeg only gets a PTO to see if still has it. 2nd PP could still use him.

Youth movement for 4th line anchored by Shore or Lazar at center. One or two of Mangiapane, Dube, Gawdin, Hathaway, Foo rotate in and out until we find the energy line that can contribute goals once and awhile!

Andersson replaces Stone. Better number 7 than Bartkowski as UFA to sit in the press box most of time. Fox becomes PP specialist and top right shot Dman in Stockton. Valimaki and Kylington continue to develop in Stockton.

Smith starts. Gillies and Rittich battle it out for backup role. Parsons and one of Gillies/Rittich in Stockton.

Most importantly do not tinker with that 1st PP now that Hamilton and Tkachuk on it. It is so much better than any grouping I have seen with Flames. Give that group time to gel.

[OldSam]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I'm all for getting rid of coaching staff but why does Gelinas get to stay?

Because he is the Eliminator. ☺ I don't know really. I just can't believe he is responsible for this unmotivated, craptastic system.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by New Era

Obviously tensions are high and disappointment in the season is crushing everyone's soul, but a post by Jiri in the GT last night got me thinking. I thought we could try and inject some more positive energy into the site and look to the future. So share your hopes of what the team will look like to open the season based on:

GM: Who is your guy?
Head Coach: Who is your guy?
Signifcant moves: What do you do to right the ship?
Line up: Who plays with who?
Biggest development: What is going to happen that will shock people?

My go.

GM: Brad Treliving

I don't mind the job that Treliving has done putting the team together on paper. I think that he has some major short comings, but I think he is a smart guy who learns from his mistakes. I think that he recognizes the pickle he has put the team in and will take the appropriate steps to resolve the problem.

Coach: Alain Vignault or Joel Quennville (which ever one gets sacked)

I think either of these guys will know how to use the talent on this team in the most effective manner. Transition and speed will the focus of the hockey team, and the defense will be free to join the rush, driving the opposition insane. Players will be put in positions where they will be successful and play with other guys they can feed off of. No more square pegs in round holes. The players will get a system that works for them, and they will then be accountable because they are playing a game they are best suited for.

Significant moves:

Troy Brouwer is shown the door. Sorry Troy, I really like you, and had high hopes for you, but the game has passed you by. Its buy-out time. I wish you luck getting another gig in the NHL, but if you want to continue playing hockey you might want to keep that guy's number who offered you that beer league slot. The NHL is just too fast for you.

TJ Brodie is traded to Ottawa for Mike Hoffman. I've been talking about this one for a while, and I think the potential is still there. Hoffman would be a great addition to the team, and moving Brodie gives opportunity to others who are ready.

A major retool of the 4th line with a focus of them being a true energy line. I want to see a 4th line that goes out on the ice and has the opposition wince. I want size, speed, and guys that will bump. Devante Smith-Pelly is a guy I bring in just to be a poop disturber on that 4th line. I also want four players on our BUS Squad (broke underpaid superstars - in the making) who need experience, can cut their teeth in the NHL, and have the ability to play up and down the lineup as needed. There will be some shuttling between the NHL an AHL as they rotate, but I want these guys on the team for a month or two at a time.

Roster:

Johnny Gaudreau - Sean Monahan - Micheal Ferland

If it aint broke, don't fix it. This line is lethal when it is on. I think that we are seeing just how important Ferland is to the trio as it has not been the same since he went down with injury. Ferland comes back healthy and this line starts clicking again.

Mike Hoffman - Mikael Backlund - Michael Frolik

Defensively responsible and still capable of putting up offense. Backlund gets a more traditional scorer and a player more in his style of play. I see this as a natural scoring line that can also play against the best the opposition has to offer and stop them from being effective in our end.

Sam Bennett - Mark Jankowski - Matthew Tkachuk

This is the line the fans will grow to love and the opposition will learn to hate. Two balls of hate centered by a big skilled center? This just has success written all over it. I think that Tkachuk and Bennett are destined to play together, sharing many of the same characteristics and style of play. Play them with a big center with great hands and this is a line that drive the opposition batty and chip in more than their fair share of offense.

Garnett Hathaway - Nick Shore - Devante Smith-Pelly

The opposition is going to hate playing against this line. All speed and size and bump and grind. They won't get a ton of ice, but when they do, they get to cause mayhem out there. Nice thing is they are also defensively aware and shouldn't hurt you in the defensive zone.

Mark Giordano - Doug Hamilton

One of the best pairs in the game. Don't break what is already fixed.

Brett Kulak - Travis Hamonic

Kulak has shown he is more than capable of playing in every situation. Time to move him up the lineup and give him more responsibility. Frankly, Kulak and Andersson were a very effective pair together in the few games they played together, so that option could still be there. I just like the blend of skill and toughness on this pair.

Rasmus Andersson - Michael Stone

Stone seems like a good fit with Andresson, and to bring him along. I think Stone is very good at working with any partner, and will know when he has to cover mistakes made by his partner. Andersson is going to be a breath of fresh air on the back end and I look forward to his arrival,

Tyler Wotherspoon (one way contract)

Wotherspoon gets the popcorn contract. I think he's earned it and will be a good fill in up and down the lineup where needed.

Mike Smith - Jon Gillies

Gillies wins the backup because I see Mike Sith providing the mentorship another big goaltender needs. Watching Smith play up close will help him become the starter we will need in a couple years. This is an investment in the future as much as it is an investment in our immediate team.

BUS Squad - Dylan Dube, Andrew Mangipagne, Spencer Foo, Oliver Kylington

Every team needs an influx of energy and guys that can step in and play. You also need a way to keep the guys in the minors motivated. Give them some slots to battle for and play for. Injuries happen and these are the guys you want to fast track into the system and get them ready to play and backfill positions were needed. Giving learning opportunities in the show is something this organization needs to get better at. This is one way to do it.

Biggest Development: Just before the Labour Day long weekend the City of Calgary and the CSEC announce they have come to agreement on a deal that will address the comprehensive sports entertainment needs in Calgary. A new hockey arena, football stadium, and field house will be announced, injecting some much needed energy into a city needing a lift. Hey, dream big, right?

What's your take?

You hogged all the good ideas, I got nothing.

[Sylvanfan]

As much as the losing streak sucks and it will likely result in missing the playoffs I think the overall picture needs to be looked at.

In the NFL you see at least 5 of the 12 playoff teams change out every season. The NHL seems to be going this way too. There are about 6 solid established teams than a group who seem to swap in and out.

The Flames should put up 90 points or more in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2011-2012. It's not much of an accomplishment but it's at least an indicator that the floor has been raised.

Like most other Canadian teams I think the Flames became guilty of ting to accelerate the rebuild too early. They spent pretty hefty to get Hamilton and Hamonic in terms of assets before they had established themselves as being better than the 8th bet team in the Conference. Whereas in spite of all the ctiticism a team like Winnipeg stayed patient and stuck to their plan. Only parting with significant assets when they had played 3/4 of the season as a top 5 team. Even the Leafs have avoided moving their top picks thus far,

I think a coaching change is likely a if the right guys are available. I think they will avoid the more significant changes to the roster. Likely try to build better forward depth and look to improve goaltending depth. Maybe they do look to swap out a veteran D for a forward to make space for a younger player.

I think they need to take hard look at themselves and resolve to stay with the plan. In today's NHL trading multiple high picks for a 22 to 25 year old due a good salary is not working.

[Jetfire]

Great post and I agree with pretty much all you suggest... but...

Originally Posted by New Era

...Gillies wins the backup because I see Mike Sith providing the mentorship...

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

-Giving chances to people like Glass and Grossmann at the expense of some of the younger players. This might be Gulutzan's doing.
-Not firing the coaching staff months ago

There's a common denominator with these mistakes; these are all low-skill high-grit players. Now we're getting almost no scoring from the 3rd and 4th lines.
I have faith that Treliving has learned from the obvious.

But a lot of this might be Burke's doing as well.

Posters on this site are not being honest with themselves. People blame Treliving for not giving opportunities to youth by bringing in Glass etc. But the reason, as has been publicly stated, he did not bring in more scoring before the season was specifically to leave room for young players to exceed. Bennett, Jankowski, Hathaway, Foo, Shinkaruk, etc...these guys were supposed to be the difference in scoring from last year. In fact, Treliving's main fault this season might be that he put too much reliance on "push from within". He shored up his defence to try and give coverage for mistakes by young players and trusted that they would play better. Bottom line players like Glass were never brought in to replace skilled young players. They are veteran filler that can be shuttled between Calgary and Stockton, can sit on the bench, and if the coach wants, can play the odd shift.

If you want to criticize BT for not bringing in more scoring up front, be my guest. But you can't also say he doesn't provide opportunities for young players. BT was let down by his young players and if he gets fired (very unlikely imo), that will be a large reason why. A season like this is exactly why GMs don't go into the season with a bunch of holes in the line up expecting all the prospects to turn into superstars. Fans around here always seem to think the kids are all right and they just need the opportunity. Fact is, Calgary's prospect pool at forward got exposed this year as being void of talent. Maybe Dube will be better, but no one from Stockton has provided anything other than an ok shift that doesn't look out of place.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

GM: Craig Conroy. You need a GM who has had NHL success in some capacity IMO, but has also paid his dues as an assistant GM. Some of the better GMs in the league are guys like Yzerman, Hextall, and Jim Rutherford. David Poile was an AGM of a cup winning roster built around pure skill. I believe there is a correlation, because these kind of guys don't have minor league biases. The kind of minor league biases that get Tanner Glass, Nik Grossmann, Matt Bartkowski, Ryan Lomberg, etc playing NHL minutes.

I really don't think Conroy will be a good GM. He's the equivalent of a golden retriever, really personal and friendly and I think he's great in his role as a more friendly face for the management team but he doesn't strike me as someone who has the chops for the head job. He's better suited meeting with Adam Fox's mom to try and hype Calgary than he would be grinding someone down in a contract negotiation or trying to make deals with the sharks that are other GMs in this league. I like the guy but I'm just saying, that's an elite level job that you need insanely intelligence and poise for, being an ex NHLer is basically the only thing he has in common with Yzerman.

And I don't get why these minor league deals bother people so much. All they cost is a contract spot, they're the lowest risk moves anyone could possibly make. If you want to criticize BT his three major #### ups are:

Brouwer contract
Trading unprotected first for Hamonic
Gulutzan hire

Why are we even talking about Grossmann? He played like five games and then he was gone, because he was a hail Mary on a PTO not a high money contract on a one way.

[btimbit]

My idea are pretty similar to New Era's.

GM: Brad Treliving. I don't see a reason to replace him. Apart from wanting stability in management he's proven to be a smart effective GM, even if he does have a tendency to over analyze and sit on his hands a bit when quick action is needed, I'd still prefer that to someone that makes knee jerk reaction after knee jerk reaction.

Coach: Either of the OP's suggestions, Dave Tippett or, in a perfect world, Nashville loses in the second round, fires their coach, and the Flames can nab Peter Laviolette.

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

GM: Craig Conroy. You need a GM who has had NHL success in some capacity IMO, but has also paid his dues as an assistant GM. Some of the better GMs in the league are guys like Yzerman, Hextall, and Jim Rutherford. David Poile was an AGM of a cup winning roster built around pure skill. I believe there is a correlation, because these kind of guys don't have minor league biases. The kind of minor league biases that get Tanner Glass, Nik Grossmann, Matt Bartkowski, Ryan Lomberg, etc playing NHL minutes.......

i envision this happening in every gm's office in the nhl.....

[phone rings]... good morning gm abc's office
goooooooood morning!!! this is conny, is abc available?
one moment mr. conroy, please hold the line
mr. abc, conny's on line 1.... yes, i'll clear your morning schedule and i'll call your wife and cancel your lunch reservations too.

ha! ha! i love conny - got to meet him in penticton at young stars a few years ago. nicest guy ever and he LOVES to chat! we saw him as he and some other coaches were walking to the arena. i don't remember which coach it was, but as soon as conroy started chatting with us the one coach called over and said "conny...20 minutes right?!?!?!" while pointing to his watch!
and yea... conny was late becuz he stayed too long talking to us, and he was sooo apologetic he had to go. such a good guy!

[timbit]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

GM: Craig Conroy. You need a GM who has had NHL success in some capacity IMO, but has also paid his dues as an assistant GM. Some of the better GMs in the league are guys like Yzerman, Hextall, and Jim Rutherford. David Poile was an AGM of a cup winning roster built around pure skill. .

Some interesting comments but I can’t figure this statement out, as I cannot recall this ever happening.

As far as I know, Poile has never been part of a SC organization.

[Willi Plett]

1. I’d start sooner than later. After the last couple of games I hold little hope this team will make the playoffs. I fire the coach now. The real reason? I want to see this group under a different coach. Interim coach must be interested in a more active defense but will obviously be an internal person. Huska, Conroy, Gelinas are the potential choices. Side benefit and media fan excuse is that it is a shake up, one last ditch effort but real motive is to see all players under a different lens.

2. Virtually all coaching staff terminated. Glenn, assistants, goal coach. Gelinas might survive - depends on 3.

3. Offseason requires a new coach. Hopefully a veteran but I don’t know who’s available yet. First choices Tortes, Hitchcock. Also would like an associate head coach who comes in with the clear expectation to be the next coach when the coaches shelf life expires. I have a very specific motive for that. I want Todd Rierdon on my staff. He won’t come as an assistant but I need a short term veteran motivator coach.

4. Need to add a RW who can score 20+. First choice likely Gallagher if I can get him. Must be right handed. Prefer gritty, large, 22-26. He shoots left but I’d love Mantha. Would then be shopping for a 2nd player with a right shot.

5. To get said player I’m willing to trade a D not named Giordano or Brodie. Willing to trade Fox, Kilington, depth forward prospects, a 2018 pick (that will be a late one ha), a 2019 pick that isn’t my 1st.

6. My no trade list includes Tkachuk, Giordano, Hamilton, Gaudreau, Anderson, Valimaki, Monahan, Backlund, Ferland.

7. In that trade or a 2nd trade, I’m looking also for a depth forward. Again, prefer a RH, RW. I would consider signing Kane to fill one of the holes but depends on the numbers. I need the cap room for Tkachuk and Ferland and Bennett if he isn’t part of my package out. I would also move more if I can improve my 2018 draft (ie a 1st or 2nd back) but it isn’t first priority and not sure I can do that and what’s above. Still, I’m willing to trade a blue chip D man and at least one maybe 2 blue chip prospects. One of whom (Fox) I believe to be highly coveted.

8. Brouwer. Would love if I could trade him out. Willing to retain the max. Won’t buy him out for 1 more year though. Will keep him in the bottom group if I have to this year.

9. Can I extend Tkachuk early? Sure will try.

10. Players under evaluation for next year, for the trade etc. Brodie, Stone, Hamonic, Shore, Lazar, Bennett, Hathaway.

11. Treliving. Depends what he tells me his plan is. Depends if he can honestly evaluate his own mistakes and where he did okay things but that didn’t work out. Is he learning and getting better? Does he have the respect of other GMs? Can he get the moves done? Will he make faster decisions and will he get contracts done earlier without signing bad ones?

12. Ken King. I like Ken but he seems redundant now if we aren’t working on an arena deal. Didn’t really get the job done. I might be looking for a new face in that role.

[Flash Walken]

The flames are likely to be worse next year than they are this year.

Career years from teams best players. No critical forward or defensive injuries this year. No tkachuk level prospects graduation or maturation. Everyone over 32 one year older. Backlund contract kicking in and limiting ability to add salary. Tremendous organizational pressure to improve leading to short term decision making.

[Harry Lime]

I wrote something similar to the following lineup in another thread. I wonder what things would look like if there wasn't an attachment to certain players being together, or a desire to see certain players fulfill a particular role instead of playing to their strengths.

To this end, I would see GG gone.

I would bring up Klimchuk to play with Backlund and Frolik. He has turned into a solid shutdown winger, and that could be a line that would stifle the best opposition in the league.

I would leave Bennett on the top line wing all season. He has a top six skillset, but they want to change him into a bottom six energy guy. That needs to be stopped before he actually becomes that guy.

I wouldn't trade for help up front. I would just let the team create off of the rush more than they are allowed to now.

That third line can create offense.

If I were to trade for someone, it would be for a more well rounded left defense. I think that trade fodder are Brodie, Stone, and one of Rittich or Gilles. I would move then all for someone like Hanifin, although for that a third team would need to be involved.


Bennett- Monahan - Gaudreau
Klimchuk - Backlund - Frolik
Tkachuk - Jankowski - Ferland
Lazar - Shore - Hathaway

Gio - Hamilton
Hanifin - Hamonic
Kulak - Andersson
Wotherspoon

Smith
Gilles

[wingmaker]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

The flames are likely to be worse next year than they are this year.

Career years from teams best players. No critical forward or defensive injuries this year. No tkachuk level prospects graduation or maturation. Everyone over 32 one year older. Backlund contract kicking in and limiting ability to add salary. Tremendous organizational pressure to improve leading to short term decision making.

I would say the Smith injury is as catastrophic an injury as the Flames could have had at the time. Certainly seems like the team would at least have 2 or 3 more wins and possibly more since he went down.

[getbak]

Bring 'em home...