cross16

Schultz is likely going to get more than that. He was a top 4 dman for the Pens basically all year and topped 50 points. I think Schultz gets over 4.5 on some term, he's really come into his own in Pittsburgh. I really like him but I think he's priced out of the flames budget.

I liked darling but the fact a team was willing to give up a 3rd tells me he's viewed as a starter around the league. I'll be curious to see the $ but I wonder if Carolina will have to pay up to the tune if 3.5-4 mill or more. That sounds a lot of coin for a guy whose never started, but let's see.

Might not be "Flames" news technically or for very long but thought it was cool that Chad Johnson is going to play for Team Canada at the Worlds.

Appreciate it. We should start a campaign. Needs to be a first time for everything

so a nasty rumor is floating around that part of the reason for the delay is Treliving is trying to get a clause in his contract that stops King from meddling in hockey ops. Apparently King insists on being informed of every deal BEFORE it is made and while he won't necessarily block it he must give it the go ahead before it can be done. There is a challenge logistically there obviously because its not like King is in the office all the time and apparently Treliving is very frustrated by that set up. Irregardless of whether or not this is true or not, this is now about 5 years running where rumors of meddling will not go away. While I don't believe everything I read I also believe in where there is smoke there is fire, so the fact this won't go away is quite frustrating. As i've put in numerous posts I am not a Ken King fan and I think he should have been let go years ago but the more this drags on the more I am left with the feeling that this organization will never see the type of success we want as long as King is around. If the Flames lose Treliving over Ken King, which is IMO the only reason he won't be here and I felt that way before I heard this, I will be 1 unhappy camper. So anyone looking for season tickets feel free to inquire.

So i guess we are going to ignore the fact that the Flames had the 2nd most prospects at the World Juniors this year? He's been through 2 drafts on his own (i'm not going to count 2014 as he was here for 2 months prior to it) and I think if you look at the 2015-2016 drafts the early returns are very promising. Criticizing someone because their draft picks haven't made it in 2 years is about as short sighted as you can be. Draft picks take time. I also find it interesting you are suggesting that the flames can't find late round gems but ignore the fact that their top offensive player is a 4th round pick, top Dman is an undrafted free agent, 3rd best Dman is a 4 rounder, Ferland was a 5th, Bouma a 3rd rounder, I'd love to see how many clubs you think have done better than that in the late rounds of the draft. Sure there are a few but let's not act likes its easy to find impactfull players late in drafts, it isn't'

I think you are making a very fair point here and it was one that was asked before the start of the season. You can try and come up with reasons/excuses for it but the reality is that despite great numbers in the 5 years he was there the Blues never seemed comfortable giving him the net to himself and even traded for Ryan Miller in the midst of Elliott having an All-Star season. Yes I understand it was a bad trade and Miller flopped, but when a story repeats itself again and again there is usually a root cause there and on multiple occasions the Blues went a different direction rather than give Elliott the net. I think that speaks volumes. That being said, the gave up only a 2nd round pick and took a chance, and that's what Elliot was he was taking a chance. Irregardless of whether or not he was a number 1 he was a goalie who showed you that at times he could play at an elite level so he was worth the chance, and the cost fit that chance. Didn't work the way anyone hoped but that happens sometimes. Doesn't mean Elliott isn't a good goalie, he just clearly is not a number one and that is a pattern now that IMO just cannot be argued against.

They did. That was one of the last ones the league allowed before they axed it. Bruins got a 2nd for Peter Chiarelli too. Actually worked out for the Flames because they did not owe compensation to the Nucks for hiring Gulutzan.

No. Axed it because teams got tired of having to send compensation for guys who had been fired by their last club. Still need permission, but no more compensation granted.

They dumped that rule unfortunately. Not just Elliott. 3 or 4 different sources have reported Conroy is a person of interest for Buffalo. His stock has risen pretty sharply in the last few years.

It is, but I also cannot put most of the blame on him when the team scored 2 5 on 5 goals in the entire series. Elliot was good in game 1 and they coudln't find a way to win. He wasn't fantastic in Game 2 but Flames only scored 2 goals. Again in Game 4 yes a weak goal early but plenty of time to come back. With the way the Flames offence played Elliott would have had to be spectacular for them to win the series. I find it pretty unfair to say a goalie cost a team a series because he wasn't spectacular. Big reason yes, main reason? I can't get there. Need to hold the team accountable too. Don't disagree that for most of the season he wasn't that great.

ya i'm sorry,, you go up 4-1 in a playoff game and your goalie lets in 2 weak goals to bring them back in the game, that is on your goalie 100%. Elliott cost them game 3 I think there is no doubt about that. having said that he didn't cost them the series so that part I agree with. You score 4 goals in a playoff game and you need to win 99.9% of the time. Having said that I dont' think we are at a point where Elliott can not come back. He shouldn't, and I don't think will be, Plan A but I also don't think the Flames should get in a position where they get desperate and hand out a bad contract or make a bad trade. Work your options and if it comes back to Elliott being the right fit then he is an option. I'm not Elliott's biggest fan, wasn't before the playoffs either, but I also think you have to take a step back and not read too much into a few bad days. Elliott was fantastic in the playoffs last year and while he clearly is not a number 1 he did show you he has the ability to carry a team at times int he regular season too. When you look at the first round guys like Crawford, Bobrovsky, Jones and heck even Dubnyk really didnt play well. Have to be cautious over reacting based on 1 playoff series. Especially, when he was not the main reason you lost the series.

For what it's worth King yesterday on the radio mentioned to not expect any "surprises" in his hockey ops group. All signs point to Treliving being back. The hockey ops thing is interesting because really for a team that has gone through a lot of change at the top in the last half decade, their hockey ops group has remained surprisingly consistent. They've added here and there but a lot of key people remain in key roles. Wonder if that finally changes?

Ken Kings response

Council now receiving initial details on the CLMC report of an arena at Victoria Park Worth noting on the last tweet that the majority of council did agree that CalgaryNext was not feasible. Didn't agree it was time to completely "kill" it however.

By all reports. Fleury and the Pens have an very good relationship. It's been mentioned by a few sources too that Fleury wants to start so if Pittsburgh is going to turn it over to Murray, which they will, he wants to go somewhere else.

Report heading to council Monday to discuss a Plan B in Victoria Park. Edit: the report itself http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/cache/2/5axlxevhr2wjb0nmiodnbucg/5419230421201703372538.PDF Nothing too fancy in there. Couple quick highlights; - Located where the 2 north parking lots are now (see picture below) - Arena only. No mention of a stadium, just mentions potentially some "auxiliary" features. - Interesting in that them mention this is in a zone that has already been approved for a CRL so there is a funding source for the infastructure to put it in. - Land is owned by Stampede but they are agreeable to the land swap

Good luck to Stockton. By all reports they've played some solid hockey lately so hopefully they can get hot again and get on a little run.

Very possible. I just feel Hawks are really high on Crawford and for all he has done there I think they would be hard pressed to let him go. Could always change though but I get where you are coming from. Not sure if you are suggesting this or not but I wouldn't aggressively pursue Crawford if i'm Calgary. I'm most definitely not advocating that Darling should get 4-5 million, but if there is a team out there that sees him as a starter and gets desperate that is where it could get to. There are teams out there desperate enough for goaltending, see Dallas, Calgary, WPG, probably Philly.

I like Darling as well. The common criticism on him will be that he plays behind the Hawks, but I don't think people realize that the Hawks are not one of the better defensive teams in the league and are only about middle of the pack. Flames were actually a better defensive unit than the Hawks in almost all measures. They really rely on good goaltending and Darling doesn't drop off from Crawford at all. I was really impressed with him in the playoff a few years ago when he came in and really saved the series for the Hawks. Only downside to him is that being a UFA and so many Talbot comparison does the bidding get out of control? He could easily wind up as the best goalie out of this UFA crop but are we willing to throw 5 million or more at him? If you can get a 3 year deal around 4 million or less I would bring him in over Elliott personally.

On paper. But I don't trust he would make it without KK and owners input. If they want him gone he would be gone. Its not burkes call that he isnt signed yet.

It has less to do with how I feel about BT and more how I would feel about ownership/Ken King. Not extending Trelivings contract to me would signal that his ownership group is either not committed to winning or just has no idea how to win

I really think he'll be back, but boy oh boy am I going to lose it if they don't bring him back.....

I'm not happy with Elliott either but at this point I think there is zero doubt who gives you the best chance to come back in this series and that is Elliott, no question. The only reason you start Johnson is to hope he catches what he did in November. I like the odds of Elliott having a bounce back game more than I like the odds of Johnson going on a tear.

It wouldn't change the fact that Elliot was not very good in Games 2 and 3. He was good in Game 1 but I thought the first 2 in Game 2 were soft/weak and the first two last night were as well. You can give him the benefit of the doubt in certain cases but I think at a minimum he's let in 3 weak goals in the last 2 games. You are not going to win many playoff series with your goalie doing that. Lots has gone wrong for the Flames in this series no question, but unfortunately Elliott is on that list too. Not giving you the goaltending you want. Flames are 2nd last in 5 on 5 Save %, but yet are bottom 5 in shots against, scoring chances against and high danger scoring chances against. They are dead last in Save % in the playoffs. Going to be very difficult to argue that Elliott has given the Flames good enough goal tending in this series.