cross16

Fair, I only ask because I'm curious. I just wonder if anything would change. Conroy's been here the entire time so he would be part of all those decision I would assume.

I would view that was very risky. Hiring a guy who has never been a GM as POHO? I would get the interest in him as a GM but i'm also not that brining in a rookie GM right now is the route that I would go if i'm the Flames. I know I mentioned Tulsky and McFarland and while both are rookie GMs I think there profiles are significantly more intriguing than Mike Futa's. He'd be someone i'd be interested in only if a POHO was here.

I mean you could but my question would be why? What's going to change and what are you hoping to get out of that move?

I think right or wrong choice is a debatable point, and likely in the eye of the beholder, but for me it clearly shows what the organization (and more directly the owners) mindset towards the club is.

No and it's not likely to ever happen as it's not the operating model of the Flames ownership structure, they are a group that operates behind the scenes. Been that way since Day 1 and from my understanding is by design.

With the season now over the wait begins on what the Flames will do with Treliving. I'd be surprised if he goes but people have been fired for less so I think it's a possibility and it wouldn't shock me if the Bennett situation puts the owners over the top. For me though, I hate the idea of firing people unless you know who that replacement is and can be do things better. I'm not as optimistic as some that it's going to be easy to upgrade over Treliving. So for me if they go that route its for 1 of 3 options. 1) Hire a POHO (either Mike Gillis or John Davidson) and then let them hire whomever they want. This would be my preferred route because I think the Flames need that person who can work directly with ownership and let the GM just do his job. I think they need that separation and I don't see John Bean being very effective on the hockey side of things. This means more $ though so wouldn't shock me if they don't want to go that route. Outside of the POHO model there are only 2 names I think worth looking at for GMs 2) Eric Tulsky. A bit of a pioneer in the hockey analytics game and IMO a large chunk of the Hurricances success is owed to him. I think if the Flames want to build a sustainable winner without bottoming out they need to do things differently and steal a little bit of the Moneyball approach. Tulsky is as smart as they come and what impresses me most about the Hurricanes is from top to bottom they are built with the same vision in mind. Problem here is he is very likely the GM in waiting so he's going to be hard to pry IMO. 3) Chris McFarland. Avs asst GM who is being given a lot of credit for building the Avs into what looks to be the next powerhouse of the league. The Avs management team has been super impressive from almost all angles these last 4-5 years so I think stealing anyone from there is worth pursing. Outside of that though I think the options are really unimpressive so if the Flames cannot land one of these 3 options I don't think it makes sense to make a change. I don't see how it would make them better.

Just to add to this, I don't think there is a more aggressive coach in the league than Quenville. Versteeg has told the story about how if a dmen every slowed the play down and took the puck behind his own net waiting for a change, Quneville would run down the bench to yell at them. Bennett could not have gone to a better spot for his style of play.

John Shannon put the “museum” story out there. It’s never been repeated by anyone else and I’m not sure he even meant it literally. it’s one of the dumbest narratives in the league.

This is a very fair and good point. NHLPA fights ever CBA to keep fines low and has really restricted the leagues ability to fine. It is very sad your right.

It really seems to me the NHL is afraid of losing this aspect of their game but I really question why. Why do you want fighting? why do you want players getting thrown to the ground and cheap shottd? The best showcase for hockey IMO over the last couple decades has been the Olympics and there is no fighting, no scrums no nothing. Sure seems to me the best way to continue to sell the game is to emphasize the speed and skill so I struggle to see why the NHL is to scared to let this go. to be clear I am not advocating that we move away from physical hockey, I love the physical aspect of hockey but it's the cheap shots, after the whistle stuff and fighting I can't stand. I have a hard time seeing it's place because I also look at football. Just as physical a game as hockey, they don't have any of this stuff going one, and don't require the policing of it either. I don't get the hesitation.

I agree with much of this, especially Beniers. Really good player but I don't see that high upside either because the IQ doesn't jump at you. I have the same RNH comp you do, which is still worthy of a high pick, but isn't a game changing pick. I'm with you when it comes to Power-Clarke in that you preference on style is going to have a big factor on who you like more. I can see why some scouts on Mckenzie's list didn't have Clarke as high (where some put him top 2) because he doesn't defend in the traditional way. Clarke is my kind of dmen though because I like the guys who can transition fast and be part of your attack. There are some games you watch Clarke and you'd swear he was playing forward. This is part of what holds me back a bit with power, i'm not sure I see a player who is going to be above avg in transition or part of an attack and that limits his upside for me. I get the appear to drafting him number 1 though but it's a lot of Eric Johnson vibes for me, a guy who you project to be a stud based on physical tools and what he's done up to this point but when you project them out you don't see that upside. I don't really see Guenther in the power forward mode myself, in fact I see the opposite. I think his ceiling could move higher if he can get stronger and add more of a power element to his game. Right now I think he relies much more on speed, agility, smarts and his shot to produce and if he could get stronger on the boards he'd be a real handful and maybe a star.

I wouldn't agree with that, D should get just as much consideration. I personally have Clarke over Beniers. But it is a good example of why I do thin winning the lottery would be great for the Flames. Without winning it I think the best case scenario is likely the Flames draft 8th and those 2 are not going to be there IMO. I agree. I'm not a fan of Edvinsson myself and don't have him in the top 10. Here is a person I really hope that Flames are not targeting. Curious if you do? In that 10 range I think Cole Sillinger should be on the radar too. Cole Sillinger and Chaz Lucius are my favorite 2 players that could be available around 10. I have no problem with drafting a dman as long as they slot in the right spot. as I said I have Clarke as my 2nd best player in the class right now. So to clarify, having Power at 4 doesn't mean I don't like him or don't think he is good I just like others more. I do think he could be a really good NHL dman but I think his range of outcomes is wide. I do think if he hits he's Alex Pietrangelo but there is also a lot of Tyler Myers in his game too. He is pretty safe IMO, in that he will play in the league but I think his upside is what is in question for me. His hockey sense, for me, is not at an elite level. I agree with much of this, but personally I actually think Clarke has the highest upside. Clarke's IQ, especially in the offensive zone, is off the charts good. Clarke reminds me so much of Dougie Hamilton it's uncanny. It's part of the reason I like Clarke more than Power I think his upside is higher. I agree with the Pietrangelo comparison but only if everything works out and like I said earlier I see a lot of Tyler Myers when I watch him. Guenther for me reminds me a lot of Jeff Carter, with more potential on the goal scoring side If he can fix a few things with his shot/one timer he could be a huge weapon on the PP and put up 40 goals annually. I think his two way game needs work but he shows commitment to it so I think he'll get there. I like the upside of both Guenther and Clarke move than Power because I think it's more likely they'll reach it but that's certainly open for opinion there.

IMO you should always draft BPA and I don't understand why the draft class would change that. I think positional needs gets considered when you are thinking BPA though unless there is a prospect who is clearly better. I would pass on Power, not because I prefer the positions that Beniers or Guenther play it's because I think they are better prospects. Right now I would have Power as my 4th best player in the class so it's not a position thing for me at all and I like Brandt Clarke more anyway if we are talking Dmen.

The lottery rule change for winning twice in 5 years takes effect next year. Winning this year wouldn’t count. I get there is no consensus number one but winning the lottery means your still walking away with your best player. I’d still take that personally especially in a draft that I think is thin on potential difference makers. You might not get one at 4 or past 5. I think Guenther is number one myself. Securing him would be a big win.

It was. 1 game. Think what Wilson did was significantly worse, with far more potential for damage but that's the NHL for you.

Welcome to the NHL, where we prefer you to break players necks and bear wrestle players over holding our staff accountable.

He did do the Zibanajed deal which was a steal for sure. He has done some good things that was poor choice of words on my part. I do think they are going in the right direction but I just don’t think it’s due to savy management. That being said I certainly don’t think they deserved to be fired I’d be very happy if Davidson was interesting in running hockey ops for the Flames.

The timing of this is shocking and it's going to lead to a lot of questions but if you strip that away this isn't as shocking as it seems. While the Rangers are in a good place moving forward most of the moves that have been made to put them there they got really lucky on and didn't actually require good management. They lucked out into Lafreniere Lucked out into Kakko Panarin chose the bright lights in FA Fox only wanted to play there. Outside of that what's the management done to put them in a good spot? Not suggesting they've been poor, nor do I think they should have been fired, but I also wouldn't say they've done a great job.

He should be ranked much higher IMO, i really like this kid. Depending on how the board fell I wouldn't have a problem with him being taken by the Flames in the low teens. He's got things to work on but if he corrects them, look out.

Love that the Rangers called both Tom Wilson and the DPOS out on this one

I agree, Tom Wilson is a joke. I am fine with physical hockey but when you constantly lose your cool and take it out on other players you have a problem. Tom Wilson has a problem IMO and should be dealt with. But I also don't' think the league really cares about this stuff to be honest which is too bad because I think in the very near future they are going to have a big incident on their hands and it's going to have been entirely preventable.

Whether it was on the table or not i'm not sure if relevant as I don't believe Florida would have taken the deal. there was a decent drop off from Barkov to Monahan pre draft that I don't think extra picks would have closed the gap on. Their 3 game win streak, 2 of which Kipper started, in April that season is what cost them Mackinnon/Barkov. It's really too bad Kipper didn't take that trade to Toronto.

It's an Eric Francis article, but a look at the expansion draft for the Flames. Biggest nugget is that Lucic confirms he has already agreed to waive his NMC for the expansion draft. While I don't trust him as an insider I do find it interesting that he does seem to believe Gio will be exposed. That makes sense, but I wasn't convinced it would be an option. https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/need-retool-flames-roster-affects-seattle-expansion-draft-situation/

Anytime you can elevate a pending UFA dman into your top 4 over your club's first round pick you just have to do it I guess.

I agree Wolf is undersized and it's going to be something to overcome, but at the same time to put a ceiling on it is foolish IMO. 2 of the top 4 goalies in save % this year are 6'0 or less (both have played over 20 games as well)