Trevor Neufeld: Examining a Catch-22 — Roster Dark Horses — Goodbye Mitch McLain

The Flames are gonna be awful, will be picking in the top 10, maybe even top 5.

Conroy should really be going to Kadri, Weegar, Backlund, Andersson and Coleman to see where they'd be interested in going to see if he can work out a trade to collect the best futures assets he can.

Realistically flames fans should be hoping for everyone to take a step. Mediocrity and comfortability have long been a plague on this organization. I love that we are finally going re-build. It’s what we need. However alot of people assimilate rebuild with not trying and selling off all vets. Those are the 2 fastest ways to ruin your top prospects. Pushing to stay competitive is extremely important. Additionally surrounding your prospects with like talent vets is crucial in their development. I’m ok trading guys like Weegar / Anderson IF it will get us better young players with high ceilings AND if Conroy backfills them with other vets that are versions of who you want your prospects to turn into but are still cheap to aquire. For example love to get Karlsson to mentor Parekh and Brzustewicz but he’d be too costly to aquire so get a guy like Klingberg to work with them.

I am also aware of the Montreal trade implications, but if I have to choose between a top 10 pick and potentially ruining development or a 12-15 overall pick but our young players took some big steps it’s a price I’m ok with. It’s sucks handing that pick especially after seeing Money rebound (good for him though wish him nothing but the best!) but I want our players to grow and not take steps back just so we can have a bit better draft pick.

Realistically flames fans should be hoping for everyone to take a step. Mediocrity and comfortability have long been a plague on this organization. I love that we are finally going re-build. It’s what we need. However alot of people assimilate rebuild with not trying and selling off all vets. Those are the 2 fastest ways to ruin your top prospects. Pushing to stay competitive is extremely important. Additionally surrounding your prospects with like talent vets is crucial in their development. I’m ok trading guys like Weegar / Anderson IF it will get us better young players with high ceilings AND if Conroy backfills them with other vets that are versions of who you want your prospects to turn into but are still cheap to aquire. For example love to get Karlsson to mentor Parekh and Brzustewicz but he’d be too costly to aquire so get a guy like Klingberg to work with them.

I am also aware of the Montreal trade implications, but if I have to choose between a top 10 pick and potentially ruining development or a 12-15 overall pick but our young players took some big steps it’s a price I’m ok with. It’s sucks handing that pick especially after seeing Money rebound (good for him though wish him nothing but the best!) but I want our players to grow and not take steps back just so we can have a bit better draft pick.
- kresco

It dawned on me that Columbus is only paying Mony and Johnny around two million more for their services than the Flames did when they were both signed for a little more than six million each.

It dawned on me that Columbus is only paying Mony and Johnny around two million more for their services than the Flames did when they were both signed for a little more than six million each.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

Wish money hands monahan all the best! He’s awesome but Jonny well he can eat a Richard

Thanks Trevor. I really liked your article pushing for MM to be the perfect 13th forward. Good luck to him moving on.
I think we see Conroy take his time trading away more vets, it will all depend on who wants to go and who wants to stay. Huberdeau hinting on not wanting to be in a rebuild could really mess with the chemistry of the team. Maybe if he lives up to even 2/3’s of his salary they may be able to find him a new home.

The NHL should allow teams to put stipulations that if you don’t live up to X production or contributions that the contract can be renegotiated, maybe these spoiled brats would play harder to try earn/keep these big dollar deals

Thanks Trevor. I really liked your article pushing for MM to be the perfect 13th forward. Good luck to him moving on.
I think we see Conroy take his time trading away more vets, it will all depend on who wants to go and who wants to stay. Huberdeau hinting on not wanting to be in a rebuild could really mess with the chemistry of the team. Maybe if he lives up to even 22/3’s of his salary they may be able to find him a new home.
- K-man25

Thanks! It’s kind of funny to see Jonny Paycheck complaining about that. If he lived up to his contract then they wouldn’t be tearing it down.

He does his best on the first powerplay unit and the group needed Kuzmenko to power a late surge just to be above the worst teams in the league. They were at 14.8% (29th) with a month to go in the season.

Thanks! It’s kind of funny to see Jonny Paycheck complaining about that. If he lived up to his contract then they wouldn’t be tearing it down.

He does his best on the first powerplay unit and the group needed Kuzmenko to power a late surge just to be above the worst teams in the league. They were at 14.8% (29th) with a month to go in the season.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

I hope they pump and dump Kuzmenko. If he has a good beginning Flames will get another late 1st for him from a hopeful team.

Speaking of dark horses, Defense is interesting.

The OHL hasn't had defensemen with 90+ pts too often, and when they joined an NHL team they posted 0.5 pts/g

I wouldn't be surprised if Brzustewicz or Parekh make the team if they have strong camps. Poirier needs 20+ games in the AHL because of his injury last year, and I could totally see him or Brzustewicz/Parekh paired with Weegar and Anderson - if they're so good they force management's hand. I don't think Miromanov and Bahl are necessarily locked in as top 4 defensemen, even Pachal who's on the 3rd pair on daily faceoff isn't a lock

Kerins is another interesting dark horse candidate, if Coronato is an NHL regular, Kerins will have ample opportunity to become a point per game AHL player - and knock on the Flames door

The Flames are one of the most intriguing teams for the upcoming season. The most likely way things play out is they get another top ten, possibly top five, pick, but there is a semi-realistic path to them opening the playoffs at home next spring. Last season was the first in a long time that actually went how people were expecting it to go.

I'm also expecting Conroy to make a trade to improve the team for the now before the season starts.

Thanks Trevor. I really liked your article pushing for MM to be the perfect 13th forward. Good luck to him moving on.
I think we see Conroy take his time trading away more vets, it will all depend on who wants to go and who wants to stay. Huberdeau hinting on not wanting to be in a rebuild could really mess with the chemistry of the team. Maybe if he lives up to even 2/3’s of his salary they may be able to find him a new home.
- K-man25

Huberdeau can quit. That would be the most respectable thing to do.

Speaking of dark horses, Defense is interesting.

The OHL hasn't had defensemen with 90+ pts too often, and when they joined an NHL team they posted 0.5 pts/g

I wouldn't be surprised if Brzustewicz or Parekh make the team if they have strong camps. Poirier needs 20+ games in the AHL because of his injury last year, and I could totally see him or Brzustewicz/Parekh paired with Weegar and Anderson - if they're so good they force management's hand. I don't think Miromanov and Bahl are necessarily locked in as top 4 defensemen, even Pachal who's on the 3rd pair on daily faceoff isn't a lock

Kerins is another interesting dark horse candidate, if Coronato is an NHL regular, Kerins will have ample opportunity to become a point per game AHL player - and knock on the Flames door
- eastcanadAREaholes

There's zero chance that Parekh makes the team out of camp. He's not close to being a complete player yet. He has a ton of stuff to work on. The Flames need him to be a number one defenceman, and he has a much better chance of getting there by being the number one guy in the OHL than he does if he's playing sheltered minutes in the NHL.

Huberdeau can quit. That would be the most respectable thing to do.
- DuranDuran

I doubt he’s walking from 10 mil. To me it looks like Connie is doing what he thinks will elevate his game enough to garner interest. Can’t see any team trading for him. It’s like a big FU from Treliving. One of the worst GM’s in Flames history. Although both Risebrough and Sutter did their best to claim the title.

There's zero chance that Parekh makes the team out of camp. He's not close to being a complete player yet. He has a ton of stuff to work on. The Flames need him to be a number one defenceman, and he has a much better chance of getting there by being the number one guy in the OHL than he does if he's playing sheltered minutes in the NHL.
- Squeaky

Agree, lots of time to play in the show. Go back to junior and play for Team Canada at the WJ’s. Will be nice for us Flame fans to have something to cheer about this winter.

There's zero chance that Parekh makes the team out of camp. He's not close to being a complete player yet. He has a ton of stuff to work on. The Flames need him to be a number one defenceman, and he has a much better chance of getting there by being the number one guy in the OHL than he does if he's playing sheltered minutes in the NHL.
- Squeaky

We'll see, I'm open minded - Miromanov and Pachal can be overtaken by design. One thing I'd do is to ensure Parekh and Brzustewicz get their 7 games in to make sure they get paid and develop some loyalty. You could go 1-3 games at the beginning of the year and 4 games at the end if they do well with their minor league teams.

Poirier is a more obvious choice because his ELC is probably in year 3, if he has a strong camp I'd give him game 1 with the Flames to get paid and give him a taste, then call him up 1/4 into the season.

I say all this knowing that the "Dallas model" means drafting players and keeping them in minors in year 1 and graduating them only if they do well at that level - there could be exceptions, outside chance but it could happen IMO

Agree, lots of time to play in the show. Go back to junior and play for Team Canada at the WJ’s. Will be nice for us Flame fans to have something to cheer about this winter.
- K-man25

Yup, all spots are earned. Unless you are Huberdeau.

Yup, all spots are earned. Unless you are Huberdeau.

- DuranDuran

or Lucic - Treliving's bright idea. I was pounding the table to trade Lucic with a 1st to go after Hall or at least have space during the peak years of the last crew.. instead Treliving trades our 1st to accommodate the desperation signings.

Anyway currently there's lot of hype around this year's picks, but players in year 2-3 of their ELCs have good odds to get a chance with the Flames, just like Pospisil. I really hope we get a pleasant surprise from Poirier and Kerins. Pelletier has to step it up too.

Thanks for the article Todd.

This is an interesting lineup you propose:

Pospisil-Sharangovich-Kuzmenko
Zary-Kadri-Coronato
Coleman-Backlund-Rooney
Huberdeau-Mantha-Pelletier
Lomberg

Rooney seems really out of place. I am also thinking Mantha or Kuz might get the Backland-Coleman bump if they get the chance.

Thanks for the article Todd.

This is an interesting lineup you propose:

Pospisil-Sharangovich-Kuzmenko
Zary-Kadri-Coronato
Coleman-Backlund-Rooney
Huberdeau-Mantha-Pelletier
Lomberg

Rooney seems really out of place. I am also thinking Mantha or Kuz might get the Backland-Coleman bump if they get the chance.
- DuranDuran

Todd used to blog for us. He was the 5 things to watch for guy. Trevor is nothing like him, providing us with interesting things to read.
There’s no way Lomberg isn’t a 4th line fixture, don’t see him missing many games. Once he shows the others up, and provides an example of how to play in your face hockey, I’d expect Huska to like his game. Wouldn’t be suprised to see Kirkland in the lineup either, former Rocket playing for a former Rocket coach.
Lomberg Kirkland, Klapka would be an interesting 4th line. Klapka would play bigger knowing Lomberg was there to protect him.

It’s miserably hot here in K town. Live across the street from the beach and just got out of lake Okanagan. Stay cool D.

Todd used to blog for us. He was the 5 things to watch for guy. Trevor is nothing like him, providing us with interesting things to read.
There’s no way Lomberg isn’t a 4th line fixture, don’t see him missing many games. Once he shows the others up, and provides an example of how to play in your face hockey, I’d expect Huska to like his game. Wouldn’t be suprised to see Kirkland in the lineup either, former Rocket playing for a former Rocket coach.
Lomberg Kirkland, Klapka would be an interesting 4th line. Klapka would play bigger knowing Lomberg was there to protect him.

It’s miserably hot here in K town. Live across the street from the beach and just got out of lake Okanagan. Stay cool D.
- K-man25

Yeah Not the first time I have called Trevor the wrong name. I am a bit blond somedays. Trevor is infintiely better.

I miss my summertimes in the Okanagan. Central AB lakes have nothing on BC lakes. Lets hope for some rain with all this heat.

Bring it on!
https://www.sportsnet.ca/...n-construction-next-week/

Yeah Not the first time I have called Trevor the wrong name. I am a bit blond somedays. Trevor is infintiely better.

I miss my summertimes in the Okanagan. Central AB lakes have nothing on BC lakes. Lets hope for some rain with all this heat.
- DuranDuran

Every day that ends with a Y.

Every day that ends with a Y.
- Oildrum

Todd used to blog for us. He was the 5 things to watch for guy. Trevor is nothing like him, providing us with interesting things to read.
There’s no way Lomberg isn’t a 4th line fixture, don’t see him missing many games. Once he shows the others up, and provides an example of how to play in your face hockey, I’d expect Huska to like his game. Wouldn’t be suprised to see Kirkland in the lineup either, former Rocket playing for a former Rocket coach.
Lomberg Kirkland, Klapka would be an interesting 4th line. Klapka would play bigger knowing Lomberg was there to protect him.

It’s miserably hot here in K town. Live across the street from the beach and just got out of lake Okanagan. Stay cool D.
- K-man25