cross16

If that picks is a first what goalie went for more? The Avs gave up basically that package for Keumper for a year (more because they won the cup). Keumper was in his prime and not 34. Cory Schneider didn't return a roster player and he was traded as one of the best goalie in the league at the time. Many, many years of control. Semyon Varlamov cost a 1 and a 2nd and that was for years of control. The standard there is a 1, maybe 1 other pick and then at best a B/C prospect. sure you can counter and try to suggest Markstrom is worth more because of his play but IMO that is negated by the fact he's 34, had some injuries, and has a record of rocky play since coming to Calgary. There really is nothing out there to suggest that if the Flames are trading Markstrom they are going to get more than what you've outlined here.

Devils have a lot of flexibility. They are not using Hamilton's LTIR so they have that and next year for 14 players they have 20 million in cap space. Outside of Toffoli and Mercer that's is a lot of money to fill out the roster. Neither Toffoli, nor Mercer are going to warrant that large of contracts right now. I think the Devils would want Vanacek in the deal to free up both the space and that cap, but they don't need to include Mercer for salary reasons.

I get it. I don't agree with it is what I'm saying. I have no idea what the Devils offered so i'm not trying to suggest the Flames are doing anything wrong. If the idea is it has to be Mercer or you move on then IMO the Flames are making a mistake. For example if the flames were offered Hotlz and said no that be a mistake IMO. If it were me, I would not be happy to have Markstrom here for 2 more years if you are getting good trade offers now. Set a high price sure but don't make it unreasonable.

I don't disagree in theory but I do think there is a line between a high price and an unreasonable one. Flames should be cautious about where that line is drawn IMO especially with a goalie. There are only so many potential landing spots for Markstrom so if you are going to make your price unreasonable teams will move on. so yes I agree they have time, but what they may lack is a reasonable amount of suitors. I'm not suggesting the Flames should have taken a deal but if their approach was "Mercer or bust" then basically they don't want to trade Markstrom. Not sure I would agree with that approach.

I get it's because we like him, and there are rumors the Flames really wanted him in that draft, but I think your dreaming if you think the Devils are going to trade Mercer to the Flames for Markstrom and/or Hanfin. When was the last time a good young top 6 forward was traded for an aging goalie or a pending UFA? If that's your price I don't think you are trading with the Devils

I have a hard time calling this a "kick" personally. more of a push with this shin. Doesn't lead with the skate so not a kick to me. But I also would have had no problems with, and would have advocated for, a longer suspension as well. No real need to blur the lines here.

That would be my angle here, have they really had the opportunity to do so? Since salary retention became more common the Flames have traditionally been in the position of the other team needing to retain and not them. I don't think any team out there wants to retain if they can help it. I trust this ownership group doesn't want to spend money if it doesn't have to so it really comes down to the can the GM pitch to them that paying a player to go away is worth it for the organization, and I have full confidence that if they did the club would retain. I just don't think that opportunity has existed very often.

This is how i interpreted it as well. I don't think the point was the deal fell apart because the Flames wouldn't retain, it's just that they couldn't come to an agreement on the value of what the Flames should get for retaining. It does sounds like they got to a point where the value for the player was in the ballpark but for them to retain wasn't worth it. I'm fine with that approach. He does go on to suggest that the Flames are not in a hurry to move Markstrom and he still feels that many don't feel they want to move him feeling they are not sure what it would do to a locker room that has become a much more positive place this year.

He did a solid trade I agree. As I said it wasn't meant as a criticism or critique just stating i'm not sure it's fair to give him credit for sticking to a price on Lindholm when Lindholm would be here (and on a pricy contract) if he had of wanted to be. As i've said for a while I think Conroy is off to a solid start. Biggest strength being he hasn't panicked and he has stuck with his convictions of what he feels his players are worth. I like that trait. Just trying to be fair in the analysis.

Friedman on the Flames from 32 Thoughts today: Devils and the Flames have been looking at each other for a while. Flames and Devils did go down the path on Markstrom. Says he feels the package was close but retention was the issue. Says Flames have only retained 1 time in their history and says most in the league know that isn't something they like to do. He's not ready to say it's dead (only takes 1 call) but he's been told the Devils have moved on. Know they can get a 2nd for Tanev but still looking to get a first. Not sure where things are with Hanifin

Suspended for a game for kicking a player

Toffoli yes but I think, this may change depending on our perspective, he got lucky with Lindholm. From everything I have heard and be let to believe they put a huge contract on the table for him one that was an overpay IMO. Lindholm chose he didn't want to be here and they moved on. Not to say that means Conroy hasn't done well, just that I don't give him credit for the Lindholm decision as that one was made for him.

This is the first time since they acquired him that I’m seeing a confident and relaxed Huberdeau. Seeing a player just play and react and not think the goal is one thing but what’s more impressive is how he broke up but previous zone exit by knocking down the puck. It’s those little details he’s been excellent at these last few games. That’s what tells me he isn’t thinking much out there anymore

This is why I was more excited getting Weegar in that trade than Huberdeau. Such a good and underrated dman Better yet, only 1 of those goals is on the power play. All of those guys have at least 5 plus in the same time frame.

I don't think Zary has any shot of winning the Calder. Don't see him making a larger impact than Bedard or Faber. Might be able to be one of the finalist but he's going to really need to crank it up the rest of the season. I think his game has leveled off quite a bit since the start, which makes since given what I thought he was going to be as an NHLer.

Yes and no, don't think it's this straightforward. Part of the reason Jarome popped after his draft year was Shane Doan moved on. Iginla moved into his role and took off. I think good players on bad teams can be just as misleading because even on bad teams someone has to score. I'd also take a look at the Rockets because it's not like Tij is on his own there. I'm not really for or against drafting Tij but I think he has reached overrated status here. I also find it interesting that for years there has been angst about drafting left shot wingers and now there is a big push to draft one. I think Tij has a chance to be a really good pro but I personally don't see Jarome in there when I watch him.

I’m of a different opinion, I don’t think he stays. He has been leaning towards leaving since the summer and j don’t see what is going to change his mind. I think deep down Conroy already knows but they want to give every effort I think he’s dealt in a sign and trade if I had to make a call on it. Just my feeling, not based on anything I’ve seen or heard

I’m with Jtech. Despite what some say/report I see trading Markstrom as difficult. In addition to what Jtech said I think the NMc is challenging because I don’t think Markstrom will go just anywhere. So the flames have to get an offer that they like enough to be ok with moving him, on with the idea of having potentially really bad goaltending, and from a place they think makes sense for Markstrom good luck.

I am a nerd so I think they are fun. Very much in the minority on that one i'm sure.

There are essentially 2 worst case scenarios for the Flames: 1. Flames lose a first rounder between 2 and 10 in the 2025 draft. In order for this to happen the Panthers would have to fall from top 10 to bottom 10 this year AND wind up as a lottery pick team next year. 2. The Flames could feasible give up the 1st overall pick in 2026. In order for this to happen all of the above has to happen in addition to the Flames winning the lottery and drafting 1st overall in 2025 and then winning it again in 2026

Yes sorry that was a typo on my part. There is no lottery protection if the Panthers can't send the 2025 pick to Calgary and it becomes the 2026. Correct that there is lottery protection on the 2025 for the Panthers. But to keep it simple this all boils down to the Panthers IMO. I think we know what the Flames are it's whether or not the Panthers have a collapse in them. If they collapse this season and somehow fall into the bottom 10, that's trouble because then the Flames won't get the 2025 first rounder. Next season if they fall off and wind up in the bottom 10 that's also trouble because it would mean Flames could give up a top 10 pick. Bottom line is become a Panthers fan for the next 18 months.

Small clarification. The decision point on the Florida pick is this year. If Florida is in the top 10 this year then they cannot complete the trade for Giroux, would keep their pick and send Philly their 2025 first. Be default that would give the Flames Florida 2026 first rounder. At that point, it no longer matters where Florida finishes. If, and this is looking to be the most likely scenario given Florida is already 13 points clear of the bottom 10 and playing well, Florida finishes outside the top 10 their 2024 first rounder goes to Philly and then the 2025 rounder goes to Calgary. Then the next decision point is next year's standings. If both CGY/Florida finish outside the top 10 Montreal gets the better of the 2. If CGY is top 10 and Florida isn't, Panthers pick goes to Montreal and it's done. so in order for the Flames to give up a top 10 pick, Florida essentially has to have a pretty epic collapse for the rest of the season.

Only if Florida is also bad. As long as Florida isn't a bottom 10 team next year Flames would not lose their pick.

Tampa isn't locked into the playoffs and don't have the ability to sign Hanifin next year. I don't see why they'd be interested and I definitely don't see then giving up Hagel.

Starting a new thread for one of the better stories of the year. Pospisil has been on the cusp for a while just coudln't stay healthy. Great that he is making the most of his chances. Today gets a 2 year deal for 1 mill AAV per. Honestly feels a little rushed but it's low risk so it's worth it. He can be sent down and come off the cap fully if it got there and still is an RFA when this expires. I don't mind betting on these types of players.