cross16

Offensively yes but Ekblad is even pretty sub par in his own zone. Florida's d is definitely a type, they move the puck well, they can transition and play fast but all of them struggle defending in their own zone. Big reason why Tampa dispatched them so quickly, they limited their transition game and once on their heels Tampa feasted. Maurice had the Jets playing a similar style so I get the fit, i'm just not sure it's how Florida is going to get better. They need to be able to defend.

Ya that was his MO when he coached the Canes but the Jets were the opposite, he could never figure out how to get that team to play d. Year after year they were awful defensively and Helleybuyk saved them. So his tenure with the Jets matches how the Panthers are built I just thought they'd want someone with more success getting teams to buy in defensively.

This is a bit of surprise for me. Not so much that Brunette is out (there were some suggestions out there he didn't like/want the head coach job) but going to Maurice is interesting.

Be interesting. He doesn't carry Panarin's profile so be interesting to see how it goes for him. Seems like a guy who just had a good year and translated it into an NHL deal.

Appears that it was a inaccurate (or perhaps premature) report. It's since been refuted. Doesn't mean that he isn't a candidate but it does not appear to be a done deal, multiple people have confirmed.

My understanding of Sergeev is that he is still committed to playing at UCONN in the NCAA next year and has no plans on changing that commitment. I'd be surprised if much changes as I think this is actually lined up pretty well. Vladar has one more year, where he is dirt cheap, before he is RFA and then Wolf has 1 more year after that at another cheap salary so Flames look well positioned to have affordability at their back up spot which is likely going to be pretty important to them given the construction of their roster. I would hope they would want Chechelev back in at least the ECHL/AHL fold next year so I would imagine they would look for a 3rd option. Some on an NHL deal that can move up and down and give them some more depth.

No real surprise here. Flames have depth but I would expect them to look to add it to again this offseason.

And as it works in any trade if you can move someone and get better by all means, but so far i'm not really seeing much of that in the desire to move Tkachuk. Tkachuk is an top end talent so unless you are getting that in return I don't think you are getting better by moving him position value or not.

I don't think it changes anything. Really the only attraction to going to Philly is that is it Philly and Kevin Hayes is there. They are not a better team, don't really look to have a better future and Gaudreau (from everything i've heard) loves playing for Sutter. If he goes to Philly (which i think is unlikely anyway given how much $ they have to clear in order to fit him) I think it's because he always wanted to go there. The fit isn't great IMO.

Agreed. It's a lot of plugging 1 hole by creating another one type of proposals too.

i feel the same. Really like Robert Thomas and would have had no problem with the flames taking him but loved the Valimaki pick. I think injuries have played a major role there but seeing the need at center and Thomas breaking out…. Ya a part of me can’t stop thinking “what if”. I’m still holding out hope thought. He’s a great talent and his career was on track before his knee injury so I think it’s very plausible he just needs a good summer and someone to get in his ear and help him get his game back

They’ve also expressed the desire to be more cap friendly. Don’t know what they would trade Boeser for those 2 contracts and add a whole pile of money to their cap. They don’t really have the flexibility for that.

looks like those are projections based on market value equivalents and they tend to be pretty good. That being said I think the flat cap environment has made these projections more challenging as they tend to be based on comps for the last several years. what I find funny thought if how people are somehow act like the flames don’t know the position they are in. Like the cap and these contracts just snuck up on them? they are a better run organization than that. They have a plan we just don’t know what it is yet.

McDavid and Draisaitl are great players yes but they actually have not really made players better actually. I don’t really agree with the premise that elite players always make whom ever better. It can be hard to play with elite players sometimes. Look at the Pens and Crosby. anyway this all comes down to whether or not you believe in analytics. The analytics say that Puljujarvi is a play driver who is ready to break out and the flames are in a position where they need to find bargains so that’s a bet I’m willing to make.

Flames are not going to be able to afford Nichuskin that is why. I agree he is a great player but he's about to get paid. The rationale behind Puljujarvi is he really looks like the next Nichuskin. High pick, with really good underlying numbers, but not really in a position to thrive or breakout on his current team. You can get Puljujarvi for cheaper than Nichuskin and I think you very likely have the same player in 2 years from now.

Interesting fit. Cassidy did a lot of good in Boston and consistently had them as a very good 5 on 5 team, especially defending and transitioning which is where Vegas struggled this year. But be interested to see how Cassidy does when he doesn't have the best line in hockey to play 25-30% of the time. but the fit makes sense.

Guess it depends on what you mean by drive play. For me that's getting the puck going the other way and creating chances and he does that at a very high level. He doesn't convert them into high danger mind you as the chart shows below. but when he's on the ice, and you saw this in the playoffs, the Oilers are hardly defending. He's basically what Mang was the last 2 seasons.

You must be thinking of someone else because this didn't happen with Kaako. He's been a Ranger since they drafted him.

Probably 1. Puljujarvi 2. Dach 3. Kaako

agreed. Opportunity, a coach who is going to challenge you, be fair and they are a good team. On top of that they don’t really have a defined top 6 or 9 so there is room to grow especially long term flames have plenty to offer the right candidate. Just need to find the right skill set at a price they can afford

Flames should be very interested in Kakko if he is available. I’d be shocked if he was but of for some reason he is they should be all over it. See what happens with Gaudreau obviously but assuming he is back my view of the flames if they want to take a step they have to scour the league for a player (or maybe players) they feel are ready to break out. It’s fun to talk about big names like Schiefele or Chychrun but I just don’t see they as realistic for the Flames. Need to try and find some value given their cap space, roster and asset list.

So technically there is no 20 year old limit for the AHL as it's not an AHL policy, you can play in the AHL as long as you are 18 by September 15th. This relates to the NHL and CHL's transfer agreement and yes the cut off dates are the same but it only applies to players drafted out of CHL.

Doubt it. this stuff has been out there for a few years now and kind of start when his personal chef sued him. Whether or not it changes my opinion of acquiring Scheifele is irrelevant as I don't think the Flames can afford him anyway even if Winnipeg where to move him.

I would check on the price of Dach but I don't think you go all in for him. I'm certainly intrigued by the fact that he may be available but I think the concern is also why? is it character or are they trying to selling high on a guy they think teams will over value due to his draft position? If the answer is yes to both of those then you move on. If it's a case of an organization trying to move on too early then check in but the price would have to make sense. No way should they move anything like Mangiapane for him, this has to be a buy low style acquisition for it to make sense. I do think Dach can still be a good player in this league but that doesn't mean he will be so trading off the active roster for a project doesn't make a ton of sense to me. Can't overpay, he isn't worth it. I also think people should be a lot more cautious moving Tkachuk than is being thrown out here. Part of the reason I think the Flames didn't beat the Oilers, and struggled at time with the Stars, is they are short on elite talent in comparison to contending teams. Moving Tkachuk likely takes them backwards and not forward so the focus should really be on how do we find that additional piece.

It's a great match but i'm with conundrumed this is going to come down to goaltending. Outside of that position I think the Avs are the better team. High end talent is similar but Avs are deeper (especially on D) and most importantly they are faster and because they can come at you via the rush and the forecheck I think they are going to give Tampa a hard time. But when Valislevki cranks it up there is no one better and the Avs goaltending has been below avg for most of the playoffs. As good as the Avs are I don't think there is enough there to overcome that gap so they need one of their guys to play at a high level. I think this series go 6 or 7. I want to pick the Avs just because I feel it's their time but so much swings on the level of play they get from their goaltending.