Calgary enters the year with re-tool in mind. Not trying to tank, but also lowered expectations for this year with the sights on a bounce back the year after.
The UFAs are top priority and Conny handles them as follows:
- Signs Lindhom for an 8 year deal in the $8-9M range. He is #1C for years to come
- Signs Backlund to a hometown discount, using the C as a chip. 3 years $4M
- Tanev has been a warrior, but doesn't fit with the long term vision. I've seen trade proposals from BF fans trying to get him. The 2nd is a must, the additional pick could be negotiated
- Toffoli's stock will never be higher, and LA is in now mode. LA knows Toffoli will sign an extension and be happy to be in LA. Flames fans want a 1st, but Turcotte has enough potential that a 2nd seems reasonable
- Hanifin wants out. Detroit is being aggressive. Flames get a good prospect and a 1st out of it. Zadina is a reclamation for Calgary, and a cap savings for Detroit.
- Boston free's up over $1M in cap and gains a younger player in Coleman, who brings something Boston could use. Hall is a Calgary boy who accepts a trade home. He replaces what Toffoli brought for the Flames.
- After freeing up the cap space, the Flames leverage it to help out The Leaf. Leafs replace Murray with Vladar, who Tre is very high on. They save considerable cap, and the Flames get a 1st for their help. Vladar gone creates room for Wolf.
This lineup leaves lots of opportunities for younger players to earn a spot on the roster. There is a Top 6 winger spot up for grabs, which Peltier or Coronato seem likely to fill.
The 3rd line still has Backlund as the anchor, and Dube replaces what Coleman brought. Backlunds winger spot has long be a great place to put rookies.
The 4th line is will be young, but also get less minutes than under Sutter. A good place to ease some players into the NHL.
On D, the loss of Hanifin and Tanev is noticed. Kylington coming back is a question mark, but he was a Top 4 D two years ago. Dumb is brought in as the #4 (Could be someone else that better fits, though Dumba being a Calgary boy has its bonuses). Stetcher was great to end the year in Calgary. He signs on to bring stability to the bottom pair.
Markstrom will bounce back, and Wolf will get a nice introduction to the NHL, with plenty of support.
3 Firsts and 3 Seconds plus a couple of prospects help restock the prospect pool.
Not going to win the cup, but will be competitive and well positioned. Similar approach that Dallas took, and it worked well for them.
Do you seriously think Lindholm is going to stolidly around knowing Hanifin wants out? Lindholm going to…
I think Lindholm wanting out would have a cascading effect on others wanting out too. I don't think Hanifin wanting out has the same effect though. Hanifin is good, but Weegar got his money and The Flames should be looking at deals, even if Hanifin wanted to stay. The market for D is dry apparently, so good time to take advantage.
You don't know when he will or won't stolidly. That's his private business
No need to get defensive. Just watched this game for a long time and generally if one player wants out others do too. Calgary’s future looks dim as well. Their prospect pool is not very deep and they are an older team too.
You forgot to add in Rasmus at 50% retained, hubuedeau at 50% retained, Lindholm at 50% retained, this year's first, next year's first, Dustin wolf and toffoli to the wings deal. That is legit how far off and bad your trade is and how much not of a fit hanifan is
No need to get defensive. Just watched this game for a long time and generally if one player wants out others do too. Calgary’s future looks dim as well. Their prospect pool is not very deep and they are an older team too.
I just said this to another Flames fan literally a minute ago but I'll say it again (except this time it's worse since you're asking for MORE)
Hanifin is not a need in Detroit. Scoring players that are young are. Marco Kasper and 9th overall each have more value TO DETROIT than Hanifin does, because Detroit is a rebuilding team who have a million strong LD prospects already.
Hanifin is better than them now, but trading away a center and a pick that can be used to bolster a weak offense on detroit's strongest position is bad use of resources. Find someone else for Hanifin, we don't want him. We especially don't want him at the cost of a top prospect and a top 10 pick.