cross16

Interesting D pairings. I'm surprised by the Kylington Muromanov pairing. Feels very high risk, high reward

I don't know that he is going to pop but I'm a big fan of Mercer. I just think he does everything well, he competes hard, wins battles, does the little things you need to win. I think he is a potential future captain. Reminds me a lot of Travis Konecky

39 and hasn't been very good for the last 3-4 years 37. Had like 2 amazing months and then was a below avg starter after that. If those 2 are what you want to point out that we should keep him and we could still ahve a good starter, i'm not sure they are proving your point. If you can't find better than those guys to be your starter, you've got a problem in your hockey ops IMO. I get the point there is no guarantee Markstorm 2 years from now just suddenly sucks and i'm not making that point either. The probability that Markstrom is going to be a good starter when he is a UFA is not in his favor. Why play the odds?

Oh i'm fully on board with trading Mang and even if all I got was mid round picks i'd do it. Open up a spot for Pelletier. I just don't think the Flames see it that way.

Toffoli going to WPG. That's a great fit for him.

I don't think Kylington is going anywhere. I think you'll see him re sign post TDL. I think the Flames would move Mang if they got a good offer. Not sure that's going to happen though.

I think there are 2 things that get missed in this Markstrom discussion for me: 1. He is 34. I don't understand the angle of "why would we walk ourselves into goalie instability". Trading Markstrom doesn't walk you anywhere it just speed up the timeline that is already in place. 2. All of this is assuming he wants to be here. I wouldn't be so sure of that. He sees where this team is going. I can understand "wolf isn't ready" and "I don't want to tank" those are fair reasons to not be keen on trading him. But as I said above, it doesn't change what is aleady coming so why aren't the Flames getting value for someone? And lastly if you don't trade him what's your plan to not give up a high draft pick next year? Again, doesn't have to be this deadline but not moving Markstrom now or in the summer is IMO irresponsible management.

It sounds quiet. I don't expect the Flames to do anything major today but be surprised if they did nothing. Really does not sound like Markstrom will get moved

Still sounds like the only way that Markstrom is traded is if the Devils put Mercer and a pick on the table. If that hasn't happened by now I don't know why the Devils are going to suddenly cave tomorrow.

Don't think he's going to be moved.

Pretty torn on this one. On one hand Dreger is Nonis' cousin so it's easy to say there is a connection there. Having said that this is bad story to leak and have out there. Doesn't speak with on your hockey ops so I doesn't really make sense he'd want it out there. It wouldn't surprise me at all if ownership was pushing them to make the playoffs as that's very much their MO. Until your out of it, we want you to get ether. It's consistent behavior there for sure. That being said can you really look at this d core and say yup we'll get in? Some mixed messages here for sure.

Looks like Toffoli is on the move

Perhaps Flames implications here?

This was fast... Says he will play tonight.

think it would be Markstrom they'd ask about, not Vladar. They are rumored to want a goalie, just don't think Vladar is a target.

I mean come on we don't have to be silly here. Of course he wasn't just sitting there doing nothing no one has remotely suggested that. Agree to disagree I guess but IMO and from what I have heard, the Flames plan A was keeping Hanifin and I don't think it should have been. I don't doubt for a second they listened to offers in the summer but I think they did it under the pretense of our plan A is to keep him. Remember his answer in the summer was not "i won't re sign" it was " I won't re sign.. right now". Does it drastically change where they are today, highly unlikely it's just a process that IMO is open to criticism and probably not how I would have preferred to see it handled, especially given the return he got.

Not a surprise here given the moves but nice to see.

fine by me. as I said I like the results too. But this is a double standard and I just personally think it's kind of low to keep dumping problems, some of which made up, on past employees as a means to justify the change today. Especially when the reality of it it is their processes really isn't all that dissimilar. I just don't like it but to each their own.

I don't think anyone is saying there was a missed opportunity in the summer. The missed opportunity on all of these players was 2022, not 2023. My point is I don't like the process. Hanifin indicates to you he doesn't want to be here but you wait, wait until he has a change of heart and then try and keep him why? Why was Hanifin considered to be that type of priority? Market was soft int he summer yes but why would it get more robust for a player like him and why would you want to potentially limit your suitors at the TDL? I do not think you get significantly more for Hanifin in the summer to be clear. I think you would have had more options yes but that doesn't mean a significantly better trade. You'd be lower in the standing right now though and that IMO would have been the better win. I

2026

Flames made every attempt to re sign Lindholm. Ultimately he isn't here because he doesn't want to be. Flames made multiple attempts to re sign Hanifin. Ultimately he isn't here because he doesn't want to be. Right before they traded him they make attempts to re sign Tanev. Ultimately he isn't here because he doesn't want to be. I don't think this is the Flames pulling the trigger on a rebuild, this is the Flames reacting to the reality that the core they built to try and win is done. I think this is plan b, plan A was keeping Lindholm/Hanifin. I'm happy they are gong this route but don't agree this signals a change. This is not a shot at Conroy at all either BTW, I think Conroy is doing a fine job so far. Yes I do wonder if they waited too long on Hanifin but that's it. You had to wait on Tanev and Z for cap space and while I personally didn't like it, I do understand the idea of wanting Lindholm to stay. Just don't like how every problem gets dumped on the guy on the way out and suddenly the new shiny toy can do no wrong. Yet we don't acknowledge we'd be singing a different tune today if Lindholm and Hanifin had of said yes to their contract offers.

At this rate they probably won’t need to add much at all

Jake Guentzel

Devils advocate. Why would they advocate for the condition if they didn't have a desire to move the pick? Why would Conroy mention in his media hit specifically that the 2026 pick is unconditional? Obviously we don't know I just woudln't say it's unlikely.

A lot of what you are saying here doesn't make sense but this is the biggest one I would disagree with. I don't believe at all that signing Hanifin was plan B. I think the Flames made a lot of efforts to get him signed and got very, very close to having him re sign. Ultimately he isn't here because he doesn't want to be and not because the Flames don't want him.