Trevor Neufeld: On the Subject of Adding Physical UFAs

Thanks Trevor.
I think Mackey will get a long look next year, Pospisil has to show some durability. Add 25 year old Justin Kirkland to that list, 6-3” 183 lbs, 25 goals for Stockton another 7 in the playoffs. Walker Duhr had a solid rookie pro season. Would be great if Ruzicka went to Brian McGrattons summer camp.
Time for the Flames to fill some off these spots from the farm.

Thanks Trevor.
I think Mackey will get a long look next year, Pospisil has to show some durability. Add 25 year old Justin Kirkland to that list, 6-3” 183 lbs, 25 goals for Stockton another 7 in the playoffs. Walker Duhr had a solid rookie pro season. Would be great if Ruzicka went to Brian McGrattons summer camp.
Time for the Flames to fill some off these spots from the farm.
- K-man25

Yup I think the boys from Stockton earned a hard long look with the big team

What about Melanie Lou-Cheech extension?
He brings blazing speed, so much so that he's out of breath going from blue line to red line.

Thanks Trevor.
I think Mackey will get a long look next year, Pospisil has to show some durability. Add 25 year old Justin Kirkland to that list, 6-3” 183 lbs, 25 goals for Stockton another 7 in the playoffs. Walker Duhr had a solid rookie pro season. Would be great if Ruzicka went to Brian McGrattons summer camp.
Time for the Flames to fill some off these spots from the farm.
- K-man25

While it's good to have strong players, Rozie doesn't need to fight. Leave that to the Guddy's and Zaddy's, if they return. Rozie wa the default 3C until TDL when he was sent down to make room for Carpenter. BY playoffs, there was no way you could bring him back up due to the 3C being taken over by Jarny.

Kirkland is a career AHL player so far. He should be putting up 25 goals on a high offence Heat team. Outscored by a 5'9" rookie. The reason I bring up Pelletier is he is what the 3rd line was missing, a playmaker. Toffoli went cold when Jarny took the C spot. Too defensive a player to provide offence.

My ideal top 9 would be:
JH-Lindy-Tkachuk
Mange-Backlund-Coleman
Pelletier-Rozie-Tofoli

If Lucic stays, we need two fast players to make up for him.
And they need to big enough to handle the role.
Maybe that big guy Klapka could slot in.

"Chances are very low that Terry gets the same treatment if Nic was patrolling the ice."


No.

While it's good to have strong players, Rozie doesn't need to fight. Leave that to the Guddy's and Zaddy's, if they return. Rozie wa the default 3C until TDL when he was sent down to make room for Carpenter. BY playoffs, there was no way you could bring him back up due to the 3C being taken over by Jarny.

Kirkland is a career AHL player so far. He should be putting up 25 goals on a high offence Heat team. Outscored by a 5'9" rookie. The reason I bring up Pelletier is he is what the 3rd line was missing, a playmaker. Toffoli went cold when Jarny took the C spot. Too defensive a player to provide offence.

My ideal top 9 would be:
JH-Lindy-Tkachuk
Mange-Backlund-Coleman
Pelletier-Rozie-Tofoli

If Lucic stays, we need two fast players to make up for him.
And they need to big enough to handle the role.
Maybe that big guy Klapka could slot in.
- Traveldude

I thought the blog was about adding toughness to the team? Not promoting skill.

In the end, I think defense gets resolved through trades. This season I think only Tanev and Rasmus are untouchable. Shilly's contract demands are a huge question mark though I'm very pleased with his progression.

Connor Mackey's probably going to be handled the same way as other home grown d-men like Rasmus Andersson, TJ Brodie, and Kylington - he'll need to have a very strong camp - and even if he does so, he'll be put in a "competition role" and get put up against Stone/Valimaki/other experienced D-man. 30-40 games max for a rookie D-man IMO, and then they graduate like Kylington did this season.

With the cap situation, guys like Kylington, Mangiapane are potential trading chips. I could even see Toffoli getting moved after how he cooled off - but it'll be interesting to see what shape he'll be in after being on Sutter's training plan for the entire summer.

Lucic needs to get packaged with a 2nd to clear cap space, I'm fine with Ruzicka graduating to a full 82 game season in his place. Then you use his cap space for all our free agents. Hard part of trading Lucic for me, was how he responded once Sutter was hired - major noticeable improvement and increased intensity in his game - that deserves major respect. He's been treated very well so who knows maybe he retires after thinking things through, looks like he really wants to continue playing though.

I'm also shaking my head in disbelief, at all the people saying Gaudreau should sign for $9.5m/yr. I bet Gaudreau's arguing for a higher percentage of the cap space, and comparing himself to Kane, who signed for around 14% of the cap at the time of his signing. 14% works out to $11.55m/yr - with that I doubt Mangiapane accepts anything below $6.5m/yr - and that's exactly what could spur significant roster changes IMO.

I'm also shaking my head in disbelief, at all the people saying Gaudreau should sign for $9.5m/yr. I bet Gaudreau's arguing for a higher percentage of the cap space, and comparing himself to Kane, who signed for around 14% of the cap at the time of his signing. 14% works out to $11.55m/yr - with that I doubt Mangiapane accepts anything below $6.5m/yr - and that's exactly what could spur significant roster changes IMO.
- eastcanadAREaholes

Kane was three years younger, had won two Cups and a Conn Smythe when he signed his contract. Gaudreau will be 29 when the season starts and has only had 2 seasons of being a top top player. He's also had no playoff success, and most fans roasted him yearly for that before this season, which again wasn't all that great. No one's going to risk the major handicap of giving Gaudreau more than 10 million a year.

Kane was three years younger, had won two Cups and a Conn Smythe when he signed his contract. Gaudreau will be 29 when the season starts and has only had 2 seasons of being a top top player. He's also had no playoff success, and most fans roasted him yearly for that before this season, which again wasn't all that great. No one's going to risk the major handicap of giving Gaudreau more than 10 million a year.
- Squeaky

yeah fair enough, but without wasting too much time on this monkey business, I think Gaudreau's starting point is to use a higher percentage of cap, and he'll argue for a similar % *at time of signing* when compared to other high end players. He won't get the 18% (iirc) Crosby got, but he's due for at least $10m/yr for comparable players,
ie despite being younger Marner got a high % and barely did anything himself. I think Gaudreau will land somewhere between $10.5m-11.5m/yr, and his starting ask is probably $12m-12.5m, just how he was asking for $8-9m allegedly but signed at $6.8m when he was an RFA..
other factor is Gaudreau has leverage being a UFA, we're up the creek if we can't re-sign Gaudreau and will be sold Pelletier, Coronato, and the soo grehounds guy as our saviours..

PS I get a feeling Treliving might swap Mangiapane for this year's Cole Sillinger, looking for that elusive physical & high scoring #2C

yeah fair enough, but without wasting too much time on this monkey business, I think Gaudreau's starting point is to use a higher percentage of cap, and he'll argue for a similar % *at time of signing* when compared to other high end players. He won't get the 18% (iirc) Crosby got, but he's due for at least $10m/yr for comparable players,
ie despite being younger Marner got a high % and barely did anything himself. I think Gaudreau will land somewhere between $10.5m-11.5m/yr, and his starting ask is probably $12m-12.5m, just how he was asking for $8-9m allegedly but signed at $6.8m when he was an RFA..
other factor is Gaudreau has leverage being a UFA, we're up the creek if we can't re-sign Gaudreau and will be sold Pelletier, Coronato, and the soo grehounds guy as our saviours..

PS I get a feeling Treliving might swap Mangiapane for this year's Cole Sillinger, looking for that elusive physical & high scoring #2C
- eastcanadAREaholes

Crosby was only at 14.5 when he signed his contract. Marner isn't a good comparison. His contract is awful in so many ways, but the Leafs were also paying a premium because he was still a RFA. It's similar to Tkachuk. The Flames are going to have to make it worth his while not just to take the 10 or so million he'll get this year and try for an even bigger contract next year.

9 million for 8 years is already probably too high, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Flames went to 9.5. Anyone going higher than that is likely going to regret it big time in 3-4 years.

FIRE TRELIVING!

FIRE TRELIVING!
- K-man25

I am still on the fence with Tre.

I wonder what the Flames would look like if:

- they had a world-class coach (before signing Sutter)
- properly developed Bennett,
- had given Monahan proper rest when injured
- not signed The poopty deal James Neal
- had gotten something for Brodie and Gio.

I have to think it would be a much more competitive team. It seems a lot of the above decisions were made to just get into the playoffs, and not to be a yearly contender.

My questions about the team are below.

1) Was Tre making decisions based on what he was told by ownership? Or was he making decisions based on maintaining job security?

2) Did this team underperform for the 3-4 years prior to this season? Or did they overperform this year? Take into account their two biggest stars are both up for new salaries this year. How much of it was the Sutter effect?

3) If JG walks for nothing, does it close this team's cup window.

Lots of questions. Right now JG holds the cards. The longer this drags on the less likely it is he signs with the Flames.

I am still on the fence with Tre.

I wonder what the Flames would look like if:

- they had a world-class coach (before signing Sutter)
- properly developed Bennett,
- had given Monahan proper rest when injured
- not signed The poopty deal James Neal
- had gotten something for Brodie and Gio.

I have to think it would be a much more competitive team. It seems a lot of the above decisions were made to just get into the playoffs, and not to be a yearly contender.

My questions about the team are below.

1) Was Tre making decisions based on what he was told by ownership? Or was he making decisions based on maintaining job security?

2) Did this team underperform for the 3-4 years prior to this season? Or did they overperform this year? Take into account their two biggest stars are both up for new salaries this year. How much of it was the Sutter effect?

3) If JG walks for nothing, does it close this team's cup window.

Lots of questions. Right now JG holds the cards. The longer this drags on the less likely it is he signs with the Flames.
- DuranDuran

8 years as GM and 2 playoff round wins, I’m starting to lose confidence.

I am still on the fence with Tre.

I wonder what the Flames would look like if:

- they had a world-class coach (before signing Sutter)
- properly developed Bennett,
- had given Monahan proper rest when injured
- not signed The poopty deal James Neal
- had gotten something for Brodie and Gio.

I have to think it would be a much more competitive team. It seems a lot of the above decisions were made to just get into the playoffs, and not to be a yearly contender.

My questions about the team are below.

1) Was Tre making decisions based on what he was told by ownership? Or was he making decisions based on maintaining job security?

2) Did this team underperform for the 3-4 years prior to this season? Or did they overperform this year? Take into account their two biggest stars are both up for new salaries this year. How much of it was the Sutter effect?

3) If JG walks for nothing, does it close this team's cup window.

Lots of questions. Right now JG holds the cards. The longer this drags on the less likely it is he signs with the Flames.
- DuranDuran

Yeah I have always been a Tre advocate but the position he has put this organization in with two of our best players is a bit of an eye opener. For how often we get top 10 picks in the draft, we just cant afford to let them walk for just cap space as the silver lining. Gaudreau situation should never have come to this. We all loved this last season but for pi$$ sakes, I can hear any hope & excitement for next year getting flushed down the toilet. & oh yeah, we get to rinse & repeat & do the same thing with Tkachuk next summer.

Personally, the team took a chance on him & has treat Gaudreau like gold & to drag this $hit out before deciding is crap. If he wants to be close to home & family so be it, people will understand, but say so now. If Philly is the preferred destination, then fine, they will need that 8th year to keep cap hits workable in their nightmare cap structure. Maybe we can do a sign & trade 8 years of a decent cap hit for Gaudreau & maybe Kyllington to start with for the likes of Provorov & Atkinson. Helps both teams manage their cap & team going forward.

Also if Tkachuk doesnt want to sign a reasonable multi year deal then Treliving needs to sell high on him as well. Realistically, I dont see any happy endings here, I hope Im wrong, but I see a disastrous year coming up with screams for Tre's head. You'll see me as one of the mob with torches heading down to the Saddledome.

Every day that goes by it looks more and more like Johnny is not signing here. If that's the case, it's quite conceivable we don't make playoffs next year. Will Coronato sign when he's done school? I'd think he's watching this scenario carefully.

Champion teams are built from the draft.....PERIOD. You do not give up draft picks to try and patchwork a team together.

Giving up three picks for Calle Jarnkrok is the kind of move that sets a team back unmeasurably.

Treliving has had 8 years. Time to say goodbye.

FIRE TRELIVING!
- K-man25

Or...snag a goalie that win in the PO's...

You guys have a nice , solid, and physical defenseman,coming up through the junior ranks. Don't be surprised if Yan Kuznetsov pushes for a roster spot, next season.

Fan the Flame
Season Ticket Holder
Calgary Flames
Location: BC
Joined: 03.06.2022

Yesterday @ 5:29 PM ET
Champion teams are built from the draft.....PERIOD. You do not give up draft picks to try and patchwork a team together.

Giving up three picks for Calle Jarnkrok is the kind of move that sets a team back unmeasurably.

Treliving has had 8 years. Time to say goodbye.

Tampa gave up at least a 2nd or 1st for Coleman, this year they gave 2 1sts for Hagel for his $1.5m cap hit. Depends where your at in "the cycle". There's truth to Treliving assuming he was further ahead in that cycle than he really was, ie the Hamonic trade.

That said, I'd be ok with throwing the kitchen sink at our #2C problem. We go right back to last year, by phoning Columbus and asking them what they want for Cole Sillinger. A 1st plus Valimaki and/or Mangiapane and/or a 2nd.

Our current plan as Conroy said, was asking if Coronato's college team could try him at center this season, and of course hope Monahan recovers..

Or...snag a goalie that win in the PO's...


- LordHumungous

Playoffs...
What a concept, hey?

Fan the Flame
Season Ticket Holder
Calgary Flames
Location: BC
Joined: 03.06.2022

Yesterday @ 5:29 PM ET
Champion teams are built from the draft.....PERIOD. You do not give up draft picks to try and patchwork a team together.

Giving up three picks for Calle Jarnkrok is the kind of move that sets a team back unmeasurably.

Treliving has had 8 years. Time to say goodbye
Tampa gave up at least a 2nd or 1st for Coleman, this year they gave 2 1sts for Hagel for his $1.5m cap hit. Depends where your at in "the cycle". There's truth to Treliving assuming he was further ahead in that cycle than he really was, ie the Hamonic trade.

That said, I'd be ok with throwing the kitchen sink at our #2C problem. We go right back to last year, by phoning Columbus and asking them what they want for Cole Sillinger. A 1st plus Valimaki and/or Mangiapane and/or a 2nd.

Our current plan as Conroy said, was asking if Coronato's college team could try him at center this season, and of course hope Monahan recovers..
- eastcanadAREaholes

Your point about knowing where you are at in " the cycle" is well taken and the #2C definitely needs to be addressed.

However with two playoff wins in 8 years and a virtual bare cupboard for the up coming draft I would suggest Treliving has failed on both sides of " the cycle."

Your point about knowing where you are at in " the cycle" is well taken and the #2C definitely needs to be addressed.

However with two playoff wins in 8 years and a virtual bare cupboard for the up coming draft I would suggest Treliving has failed on both sides of " the cycle."
- Fan the Flame

It depends on if he keeps the core together or not. If Gaudreau and Tkachuk stick around for under 20 million a year, he can get a solid NHL ready prospect for Mangiapane, and 2 or 3 of the AHL guys are for real, he's built a soild team that'll be competitive for at least 4-5 more years.

There hasn't really been playoff success yet, but the do have 2 division titles and had the most points in the West one year. They also did better than 24 other teams this year. That's pretty impressive considering he has to do it in Calgary. And who knows what would've happened if the Peters nonsense hadn't happened.

The Flames also have enough long term prospect projects that are looking like real players. They had the luxary to be able to use some of the picks last year to try and improve their team. Most people were happy with the moves when they were made.

I don't get all the negativity towards the Flames considering the season they just had.

Playoffs...
What a concept, hey?
- geta02it

lol well played

Mackey and Pospisil, if he can stay healthy, would be good physical additions.