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Fixing the team by bringing him back

Created by: deys3232
Team: 2022-23 Calgary Flames
Initial Creation Date: Jan. 26, 2023
Published: Jan. 26, 2023
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
People often point to the losses of Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk as the main reason for the Flames' struggles this season, but the reality is that the team's struggles go much deeper than just those two players. While Gaudreau and Tkachuk were undoubtedly talented players and their absence has certainly been felt, the team's issues extend well beyond just those two players. It lies on the back end.

The Calgary Flames had a defensive season to remember last year, boasting the best 5v5 goals against/60 minutes in the league. But this year, they're struggling to replicate that success, currently sitting at 15th in the same stat. The only difference? The departure of defenseman Erik Gudbranson.

Gudbranson may not be the flashiest player on the ice, but his size, experience, and leadership make him a valuable asset to any team. At 6'5" and 216lbs, he's a force to be reckoned with in front of the net and on the boards. He's also a seasoned veteran, with over 500 games of NHL experience under his belt.

But perhaps most importantly, Gudbranson is the type of player that Sutter likes to have on his team. He's a physical enforcer and a stay-at-home defenseman who can clear the front of the net and protect his goaltender. Him and Milan Lucic give the Flames the most intimidating enforcer duos in league history.

Of course, trading a first-round pick for Gudbranson would be a significant move, but it's one that could pay off big for the Flames. It's not every day that a team has the opportunity to acquire a player who can make such a substantial impact on the defensive end. The Flames should pull the trigger and bring Gudbranson back to Calgary where he belongs.
Trades
CBJ
  1. 2023 1st round pick (CGY)
Buried
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2023
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
2024
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
2025
Logo of the FLA
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
Logo of the CGY
ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
21$82,500,000$72,202,500$0$200,000$10,297,500
Left WingCentreRight Wing
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$5,900,000$5,900,000
LW, RW
M-NTC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$4,850,000$4,850,000
C, RW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$2,125,000$2,125,000
RW, LW
UFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$762,500$762,500
LW, C
UFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$7,000,000$7,000,000
C
NMC
UFA - 7
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$5,800,000$5,800,000
RW, LW
UFA - 3
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$2,300,000$2,300,000
LW, RW, C
RFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$5,350,000$5,350,000
C
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$4,900,000$4,900,000
RW, LW
NTC
UFA - 5
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$5,250,000$5,250,000
LW, RW
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$800,000$800,000 (Performance Bonus$200,000$200K)
RW, C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$827,500$827,500
RW
UFA - 1
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$3,250,000$3,250,000
LD/RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$1,125,000$1,125,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$6,000,000$6,000,000
G
NMC
UFA - 4
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$1,237,500$1,237,500
LD
M-NTC
UFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$4,550,000$4,550,000
RD
UFA - 4
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$750,000$750,000
G
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$3,750,000$3,750,000
LD/RD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Columbus Blue Jackets
$4,000,000$4,000,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 4
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$750,000$750,000
RD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$750,000$750,000
RW
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$2,500,000$2,500,000
LD/RD
UFA - 2
Taxi Squad
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$762,500$762,500 ($0$0$0$0)
LD
UFA - 2
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$912,500$912,500 ($0$0$0$0)
LD
UFA - 1
Logo of the Calgary Flames
$863,333$863,333 ($0$0$0$0)
LW
RFA - 2

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Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:22 p.m.
#1
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Lol, he might be the worst player in the league
Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:24 p.m.
#2
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Absolute A tier troll, I really applaud you!
CaseyFlyman and benjgc liked this.
Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:24 p.m.
#3
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Hockee
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Quoting: littlejerryseinfeld
Lol, he might be the worst player in the league


While it's true that Gudbranson isn't known for his offensive production, it's also true that he brings a lot of value to a team in other areas. He's a big, physical defender who can be a force on the penalty kill and in front of the net. He's also a leader in the locker room and a player who coaches can rely on to set the tone on the ice. To say that he's the "worst player in the league" is not only an exaggeration, but it also ignores the many positive attributes that Gudbranson brings to the table. Every team has players with different roles and responsibilities, and Gudbranson's role is to be a stay-at-home defender, who can bring experience and physicality to a defensive unit. It's not always about point production, but building a well-rounded team.
CaseyFlyman and benjgc liked this.
Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:27 p.m.
#4
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Get it done Treliving!
deys3232 liked this.
Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:27 p.m.
#5
TrevorA
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Yeah, that’s never happening.

Guds was okay at $2mil, but he’s not worth $4mil/yr
Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:27 p.m.
#6
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Hockee
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Quoting: mvp13
Absolute A tier troll, I really applaud you!


Hey, I know some people might think I'm just trolling with this Gudbranson argument, but I really believe that he could make a big difference for the Flames. Sure, he might not be the most flashy player out there, but he brings a lot of qualities that the team needs right now. His size, experience and leadership can be huge assets for the Flames, especially with how the league is trending towards a more physical style of play. Plus, having him form a duo with Milan Lucic would strike fear in the hearts of any opposing player. I know his numbers may not be the best, but a change of scenery and a return to Darryl's system could do wonders for him. It's worth at least considering, don't you think?
Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:34 p.m.
#7
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Likes: 1,500
Quoting: deys3232
While it's true that Gudbranson isn't known for his offensive production, it's also true that he brings a lot of value to a team in other areas. He's a big, physical defender who can be a force on the penalty kill and in front of the net. He's also a leader in the locker room and a player who coaches can rely on to set the tone on the ice. To say that he's the "worst player in the league" is not only an exaggeration, but it also ignores the many positive attributes that Gudbranson brings to the table. Every team has players with different roles and responsibilities, and Gudbranson's role is to be a stay-at-home defender, who can bring experience and physicality to a defensive unit. It's not always about point production, but building a well-rounded team.


All of this, plus cost-certainty at just $4M, and for 3 more years! To make the money work, I'd suggest Calgary adding quality depth-forward and SC-Champion Blake Coleman ($900,000 retained), and have Columbus add this year's 1st-round pick for even value.
Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:36 p.m.
#8
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Hockee
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Quoting: KingofRnR
Yeah, that’s never happening.

Guds was okay at $2mil, but he’s not worth $4mil/yr


It's understandable that you may have concerns about the potential reacquisition of Erik Gudbranson and the cost associated with it. However, it is important to note that Gudbranson's presence on the team last season was a significant contributing factor to the Flames winning the Pacific and having the best 5v5 goals against/60. His size, experience, and leadership also bring a valuable dynamic to the team, particularly when paired with Big Z. And his role as an enforcer provided a necessary physicality to the team. I think it's important to consider all options and potential solutions to address these issues. As for the concern about his salary, it is important to remember that the salary cap is not a fixed number and can change in the coming years. Overall, it is important to consider the long-term benefits and potential impact a player like Gudbranson could have on the team.
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Jan. 26, 2023 at 10:39 p.m.
#9
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Hockee
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Quoting: CaseyFlyman
All of this, plus cost-certainty at just $4M, and for 3 more years! To make the money work, I'd suggest Calgary adding quality depth-forward and SC-Champion Blake Coleman ($900,000 retained), and have Columbus add this year's 1st-round pick for even value.


I totally understand where you're coming from with wanting to improve the defense, but I think it would be a tough call to trade away Coleman. He's definitely a valuable player with his grit and intangibles, plus he's got a couple of cup wins under his belt. While Gudbranson does bring some physicality and experience to the table, I'm not sure if he's worth giving up a guy like Coleman who has proven himself to be a valuable contributor. It's definitely a tough decision and one that the front office will have to weigh carefully.
CaseyFlyman liked this.
Jan. 26, 2023 at 11:26 p.m.
#10
LongtimeLeafsufferer
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Kinda strange that Calgary has done so poorly.....They ":lost" Gaudreau, Tkachuk and Monahan, but received Huberneau, Kadri and Weager....not that bad of an exchange.
Looks at Florida, they were a really good team last year, they lot Huberneau and Weager and received Tkachuk. And geez they look like bottom 10 this year.
Jan. 26, 2023 at 11:33 p.m.
#11
torontos finest
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darryl suter is going to print this out and jam it under trelivings door
Jan. 27, 2023 at 9:22 a.m.
#12
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Quoting: deys3232
Hey, I know some people might think I'm just trolling with this Gudbranson argument, but I really believe that he could make a big difference for the Flames. Sure, he might not be the most flashy player out there, but he brings a lot of qualities that the team needs right now. His size, experience and leadership can be huge assets for the Flames, especially with how the league is trending towards a more physical style of play. Plus, having him form a duo with Milan Lucic would strike fear in the hearts of any opposing player. I know his numbers may not be the best, but a change of scenery and a return to Darryl's system could do wonders for him. It's worth at least considering, don't you think?


I'm going to go out on a limb that 100% of the people who read your title and saw the team you are trading with would think this would be about Gaudreau.

If you are actually being serious, I don't think this helps at all... the problem is goal scoring. Gudbrandson was an awesome bottom pair defenseman for CGY last year, but that's all he is... bottom pair. Maye 15 minutes a night? That isn't the problem. Besides the fact Shillington will be back eventually and there isn't even any room for him
 
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