I guess you didn't watch many Flames games last year. What was their weak link? Flames fans don't want to trade Hamilton just like Leafs fans don't want to trade Marner or Nylander. You have to trade something of value to get something of value though. The Flames have the players in the system to fill a Hamilton hole just like the Leafs have the players to fill a Nylander hole.

It's not really worth discussing though. The Leafs aren't trading Marner or Nylander after the season they just had.
- Hunkulese

1st- no they don’t. Maybe in a few years some of these guys will develop into solid top pairing guys. But joy right now.
2nd- and neither should CGY consider Hamilton after the last 3 seasons he had.

It makes a lot of sense for 1 team. The Leafs. They have the depth to make this type of move. The Flames do not.

This would create a glaring hole on the top pair, the only functional pairing the Flames had last year. Sure, we get a top 6 RW, no argument there, but how do you fill the hole on D? Unless you plan on opening up the wallet for Carlson, there is no replacement on this roster for Dougie.

Sign a free agent for the right side (Neal Grabner Perron), or move some prospect capital to bolster your right wing, but under no circumstance do you mess with your next decade on the top pairing until you either have a replacement or you are in full rebuild.
- rmull905

Exactly! Scoring wingers can be addressed via free agency, top pairing D under 25 cannot. Sure, you may pay a bit more with FA but at least you keep the strength of your team intact.
Also, we do have some guys that may turn into scorers and if not, you can address that with the draft. Wingers are the easiest to prepare for the NHL. You get extremely lucky if you can draft a young D that becomes a legit and solid top pair D before the age of 23.

Exactly! Scoring wingers can be addressed via free agency, top pairing D under 25 cannot. Sure, you may pay a bit more with FA but at least you keep the strength of your team intact.
Also, we do have some guys that may turn into scorers and if not, you can address that with the draft. Wingers are the easiest to prepare for the NHL. You get extremely lucky if you can draft a young D that becomes a legit and solid top pair D before the age of 23.
- TandA4Flames

Obviously, losing Hamilton would create a hole in the Flames lineup, but the Flames also have options to fill that hole. I think Brodie, Hamonic, or Stone could all be successful playing with Giordano. Behind them, the Flames have 4 prospects who are likely to be top 4 NHL defencemen and 3 of them could probably play in the NHL next year. With that many options, they could probably figure something out that works.

The Flames right now have zero attractive options to be the second line scoring RW. They also don't have a single forward prospect who you can say will be a legitimate top six guy with any kind of certainty.
- Hunkulese

No, the Flames don't have anybody that can step in and take Hamilton's spot. The guy has gotten better every single season he's been a Flame and he's not even 25 yet. Not to mention that he led the League in goals by a defenseman this season. Hamilton should be the only unotuchable on the blue line besides maybe Gio.

It is way easier to find a scoring winger than it is to find a defenseman like Hamilton. He's not going anywhere unless someone massively overpays.

Why does this site never allow quoting on phones?!!!
- TandA4Flames

Same reason it doesn't allow T&A threads

Well some much for trying to steal Wilson out of Washington.

Well some much for trying to steal Wilson out of Washington.
- K-man25

i wouldnt say never, it will be up to how much they want to keep Carlson and if they will move money out to keep him. Wilson may also have priced himself out.

But the more i watch wilson the more i like him and him with chucky and backs would be a solid line. Would be good addition to get bigger stronger and more skilled.

Well some much for trying to steal Wilson out of Washington.
- K-man25

Supposedly Coyle has not been playing that well in Minny. Could be a chance he can be had for cheap.

Weak link was Glughead. Mans an imbecile!
- K-man25

And now he’s in our bench...

And now he’s in our bench...
- Iggysbff

Yup, future head coach.

He has nice hair.

Yup, future head coach.

He has nice hair.
- DuranDuran

I’m not stoked about the add either, but Im not too hard on him, considering the piss poor roster he had to work with.

I’m not stoked about the add either, but Im not too hard on him, considering the piss poor roster he had to work with.
- Larsson_fan

I think he does some things well. But he never seemed to win the bench over.

But with Edmonton's roster and GM he should be able to help get you guys within about 10 points of the playoffs.

I’m not stoked about the add either, but Im not too hard on him, considering the piss poor roster he had to work with.
- Larsson_fan

I think he does some things well. But he never seemed to win the bench over.

But with Edmonton's roster and GM he should be able to help get you guys within about 10 points of the playoffs.
- DuranDuran

I’m not stoked about the add either, but Im not too hard on him, considering the piss poor roster he had to work with.
- Larsson_fan

And boy, that roster he's walking into... WOW! I mean, he's got McDavid. And Drai. and. Um. Hey, you've got that new arena right? That thing is supposedly real fancy. So, there's that.

And boy, that roster he's walking into... WOW! I mean, he's got McDavid. And Drai. and. Um. Hey, you've got that new arena right? That thing is supposedly real fancy. So, there's that.
- rmull905

I see the same issues here as in CGY. Depth up front isn't great.

I don't know what he's actually going to do here though. I assume Yawney is PK and defense, Viserios probably PP.

Apparently Woodcroft would do a lot of tape watching and advise the team what they were up against. Seems that GG could get that role. That and he sounds like a guy that TM will lean on and listen to

And boy, that roster he's walking into... WOW! I mean, he's got McDavid. And Drai. and. Um. Hey, you've got that new arena right? That thing is supposedly real fancy. So, there's that.
- rmull905

Yeah , our roster isnt special, but he’s only an ass coach.

But serious question, from the Flames fans perspective, what do you see as the biggest difference between the Oilers 2016-17 team that kicked ass and the dogpoop failure that was last season?

Aside from Eberle/Strome, the rosters are pretty much the same....what do you guys see that went wrong? I have my own ideas and heard it all from the dimwits on the Oil threads.

Yeah , our roster isnt special, but he’s only an ass coach.

But serious question, from the Flames fans perspective, what do you see as the biggest difference between the Oilers 2016-17 team that kicked ass and the dogpoop failure that was last season?

Aside from Eberle/Strome, the rosters are pretty much the same....what do you guys see that went wrong? I have my own ideas and heard it all from the dimwits on the Oil threads.
- Larsson_fan

Only opinions but

the OIl: goaltending, defense (loosing Sekera, Sekera not being the same player when back), and loosing speed on the wing.

Flames: coaching, Brodie/Hamonic pairing not jiving, and no secondary scoring

Only opinions but

the OIl: goaltending, defense (loosing Sekera, Sekera not being the same player when back), and loosing speed on the wing.

Flames: coaching, Brodie/Hamonic pairing not jiving, and no secondary scoring
- DuranDuran

I think Klefbom needing surgery for the past 3 years is kinda another major issue on the defense.

I still don't get why it took them so long to go for surgery. Guy complained that it was like nails in the shoulder at times, season was done so shut him down.

I see the same issues here as in CGY. Depth up front isn't great.

I don't know what he's actually going to do here though. I assume Yawney is PK and defense, Viserios probably PP.

Apparently Woodcroft would do a lot of tape watching and advise the team what they were up against. Seems that GG could get that role. That and he sounds like a guy that TM will lean on and listen to
- Lahey

Yup, agreed, Flames have some issues to address as well, just didn't want the perception being that Gully is moving into some A+ roster. Like Calgary, there are 3-4 pretty talented fwds and a bunch of muck to sort through.

I think Gully's biggest misgivings here were utilization and adaptation.

Yeah , our roster isnt special, but he’s only an ass coach.

But serious question, from the Flames fans perspective, what do you see as the biggest difference between the Oilers 2016-17 team that kicked ass and the dogpoop failure that was last season?

Aside from Eberle/Strome, the rosters are pretty much the same....what do you guys see that went wrong? I have my own ideas and heard it all from the dimwits on the Oil threads.
- Larsson_fan

A few things:
Eberle Strome is a big dropoff, agreed.
Lucic is regressing, like the contract or not, I think this is now is accepted fact (a la Brouwer)
Scoring depth fell off - 2016/17, 8 guys with 30 or more points, 2017/18 only had 5

Talbot was not the same guy. A 3.02 GAA is just too much if you don't have the secondary scoring. Hard to count on 4 goals a game.

Flames need scoring depth this year for sure - they were barely a playoff team the year before, so I really don't hold that roster in much higher regard. Thought Hammer would be a difference maker this year. Thought Bennett might show up a little more, he didn't. Brouwer was a bad signing the day the Flames made it and he's struggled at every turn

A few things:
Eberle Strome is a big dropoff, agreed.
Lucic is regressing, like the contract or not, I think this is now is accepted fact (a la Brouwer)
Scoring depth fell off - 2016/17, 8 guys with 30 or more points, 2017/18 only had 5

Talbot was not the same guy. A 3.02 GAA is just too much if you don't have the secondary scoring. Hard to count on 4 goals a game.

Flames need scoring depth this year for sure - they were barely a playoff team the year before, so I really don't hold that roster in much higher regard. Thought Hammer would be a difference maker this year. Thought Bennett might show up a little more, he didn't. Brouwer was a bad signing the day the Flames made it and he's struggled at every turn
- rmull905

Also Frolik got hurt and had an off year so that 2nd line was less of a game changer.

You look at what a guy like Smith Pelly brings compared to Brouwer and its a lot more for a lot less. I honestly think they thought brouwer would be a #1 RW.

I really think the Flames are lacking a leader in the top 6. I would toss that into whomever they try and add to the mix this year.

Also Frolik got hurt and had an off year so that 2nd line was less of a game changer.

You look at what a guy like Smith Pelly brings compared to Brouwer and its a lot more for a lot less. I honestly think they thought brouwer would be a #1 RW.

I really think the Flames are lacking a leader in the top 6. I would toss that into whomever they try and add to the mix this year.
- DuranDuran

If DSP was making 4mil people would be pretty pissed off though