Team: 2021-22 Calgary Flames

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 17, 2021

Published: Jul. 19, 2021

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Trade explanations below you donkeys (I am obviously not donkey brained so don’t come at me) (honestly, I’m open to criticism or opinions, but from what I know, as well as my bias as a flames fan, this would be my ideal off-season though I’m sure I’m not valuing certain players properly, and to be fair this is a rough idea)

Gio: gets claimed

Forsberg: Elite shot and if Ellis can get traded, and traded for that little (though I am fairly high on Meyers and see the upside in Patrick/Glass), Forsberg (considering he’s NSH’s only forward with significant value) would be someone Poile might look into trading if he wants to get assets for a rebuild, now with an extension in place before the trade his value would go up rather just trading him as a rental (which I’d want to extend him to something like 8x8) and if so you could include either 2nds or someone like Pettersen, who although I wouldn’t want to give up, he’s very similar to Mangi and so he doesn’t necessarily fill a need.

Eichel: 1. His injury is almost certainly overblown, yes it may require surgery, but if only rehab is even an option, then it isn’t career threatening and almost certainly will not affect his play. 2. for my money he’s either traded to MIN or CGY, I believe I remember hearing that BUF wants an immediate top 6 center in return (which MIN can’t provide), and while Monys value is down from this last year, he’s still likely regarded as a top 6 C if not 1C, especially if he can potentially play with Johnny. Johnny on the other hand could either be part of a sign and trade to maximize his value with either BUF or another team that BUF would flip him to (think PHI since they seem to be clearing up cap, and ya know, he wants to play there). Them alone are probably worth 3 firsts if not more and then they get two more (which personally as much as I do value draft picks and think the flames have done well with theirs, the flames very likely won’t get a center like Eichel with their picks). Even with the injury Eichel should recover and become a top 5 center and the 1C that the flames desperately need to contend.

Garland: Arizona seemed to be disinterested in resigning him earlier this offseason, and considering they 100% want to cut salary, an all futures package which essentially is a 1st, 2nd, and cheap depth d with potential would suit both their needs and Garlands value, he provides insanely underrated hockey IQ and great skill and drive (idk why ARI doesn’t want him but they don’t seem to want anyone)

Forsberg: Elite shot and if Ellis can get traded, and traded for that little, Forsberg (considering he’s NSH’s only forward with significant value) would be someone Poile might look into trading if he wants to get assets for a rebuild, now with an extension in place before the trade his value would go up rather just trading him as a rental (which I’d want to extend him to something like 8x8) and if so you could include either 2nds or someone like Pettersen, who although I wouldn’t want to give up, he’s very similar to Mangi and so he doesn’t necessarily fill a need. As for including Backlund in the trade, yes it clears up cap space for the flames, but his production is still at or near his contract, and for a rebuilding Preds team, he’s exactly the kind of guy you’d want as a leading voice in that locker room, and if need be (which the Duchene and Johansson contracts help with this) he can help you reach the cap floor.

McCabe signing: again, because he’s injured doesn’t mean he’s bad. He’s been a greatly underrated defensive defenseman from what I’ve seen of him (and according to Dom Luszczyszyn’s And JFresh hockey’s models was in the 93rd and 96th percentile of defensive play for defensemen over the last three years, played mostly with Risto, and still wasn’t a offensive black hole, plus he looked a lot better this year pre-injury)

Perry signing: I would think for what he’ll make would be highly sought after, but he can be a ruthless player who has cup experience and has proven the last two years that he’s able to still produce and perform at a high level in the playoffs, if Perry isn’t available for a price we can afford or decides to sign elsewhere, then someone with a similar amount of playoff and hopefully cup experience should be brought in, especially with Eichel who could really learn from them or at least be more comfortable coming to Calgary with those types of leaders in the locker room (not saying Eichel has attitude problems, just that he’s still young and somewhat impressionable)

Next year when Forsberg, Tkachuk, and Mangiapane should all get roughly a 2-3 mil. raise salary will need to be cleared, and in doing so Lucic will almost certainly need to have his cap hit moved. So one idea I had to do so while also keeping what he brings to the team, would be a move similar to the Orpik trade a few years ago where WSH traded him to COL, who bought him out for WSH to resign at a lower cap hit. So assuming Seattle (or whoever else has cap space: Chicago, or Arizona and maybe include him in the Garland trade) buys out Lucic (roughly 3.5 in salary, 3.75 cap hit) for Calgary to resign afterwards (cause I honestly think he’s begun to love it here + he could get a letter + he’s become a fan favorite) Looch himself wouldn’t actually lose any money, and the flames could resign him (a la Orpik) for somewhere between league minimum and $1.5 mil. Which would fit under the cap for next year with room for 3 scratches at 900k-700k as well. (Brower’s buyout and any of Gaudreau’s salary the flames retain come off the books as well)

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