Todd Cordell: Five keys to a successful off-season for the Calgary Flames

I would target Mark Stone with a package of Brodie,Fox, and Gillies. I don't think Fox will sign here and I would rather he becomes someone else's risk instead of ours.

What would Dougie Hamilton be worth in a trade?

I don't want him to be traded but Its come up several times by Friedman that I have to ask the question.

I would have to believe if its for picks, it has to get you in the conversation for one of the top 3 picks at the draft? But number one?

...just have to fix our top 6 as well as our bottom 6.

Good points in there. Not many options with Brouwer. I think he's the kind of guy a new coach would probably see as a security blanket too. Every team has bad contracts, I'm fine with him on the 4th line.

I'd love to see Valimaki push for a spot.

Why in the blue hell would they trade Dougie?

Dougie should be the only Dman that is untouchable. Trade Brodie, Hamonic, Stone anyone but Dougie.

I agree with Todd they really need to make room for Rasmus and potentially Valimaki as his stats are very encouraging.

Why in the blue hell would they trade Dougie?
- The-O-G

Yeah, he's an elite defenseman in his prime. Makes no sense to move him. Also, Bill Peters said he wants his defense to be aggressive and jump into the attack to help create offense. Hamilton is perfect for that.

“Micheal Ferland is a fantastic complimentary piece but he's not a guy who will create his own opportunities.”

Exactly. And he doesn’t need to. He just needs to be able to produce when his line mates do create the opportunities.

As for Frolic, I like the guy but it may be time to move on. He’s a great defensive player but we need more from that line.

“Micheal Ferland is a fantastic complimentary piece but he's not a guy who will create his own opportunities.”

Exactly. And he doesn’t need to. He just needs to be able to produce when his line mates do create the opportunities.

As for Frolic, I like the guy but it may be time to move on. He’s a great defensive player but we need more from that line.
- TandA4Flames

I think it's time to move Tkachuk off of the 3M line & get a top 6 player that he can be paired with like Peters referred to the Monahan/Gaudreau pairs. Backlund & Frolik are a good fit for each other & they should be 3rd line. Do that & you instantly upgrade your bottom 6 forwards. Peters seemed to like Janko but never mentioned Bennett. I think Benny maybe part of a real big trade at the draft. If he isn't, I think he'll be one of those moving pieces on Gaudreaus or Tkachuks line. Not sure where Janko fits, but if he anchors the 4th line, I would say that's an upgrade as well. Unless they don't make any blockbuster move & we see Janko Tkachuk & Bennett on the 2nd line & they click in training camp.

I am curious why Gaudreau/Monahan pairing seems to be so untouchable? We keep them together - and what could be one of the leagues best third lines has to be the Flames 2nd line - Backlund/Frolic. I think you separate Guadreau and Monahan to see what transpires for 5-10 games.

Guadreau/Bennett/Foo
Tkachuk/Monahan/Mangiapane
Brouwer/Backlund/Frolic
Ferland/Jankowski/Lazar

I think Brouwer may excel in a shut down role - didn't Bennett look really good until he was removed from the Backlund line - only to have Tkachuk replace him? The biggest hole I see with the above lines would be the suspect 1st line with Foo on the right side - if we traded Stone - I would be targeting a suitable RW, then Foo can move to the 4th line and Lazar can watch from the press box. Good teams role 4 scoring lines in today's NHL - something the Flames cannot do when the top two forwards are on the same line, and the third best forward is on an elite checking line (Tkachuk on Backlund's line). I think anyone will do well with Backlund and Frolic - let that be Brouwer to shelter him a bit.

Why in the blue hell would they trade Dougie?
- The-O-G

“I would agree with that. They don’t have a first-round pick this year from the Hamonic deal. I heard at the GM meetings that Calgary is looking to get it back. And if they’re trading for a first-round pick, it’s going to be a big piece. One of the guys I wonder about because he’s had a great year but he’s probably got some of the most value is going to be a guy like Dougie Hamilton. You know this is a league that loves defense. Calgary’s top prospects, they’ve got some really good defense prospects. I think he’s got 16 goals. I could see teams calling Calgary and saying, ‘What are you thinking about here.'’Elliotte Friedman

I 100% agree that he should not be traded, but if he was, what do you think we could get for him?

Is he worth first overall?

I am curious why Gaudreau/Monahan pairing seems to be so untouchable? We keep them together - and what could be one of the leagues best third lines has to be the Flames 2nd line - Backlund/Frolic. I think you separate Guadreau and Monahan to see what transpires for 5-10 games.

Guadreau/Bennett/Foo
Tkachuk/Monahan/Mangiapane
Brouwer/Backlund/Frolic
Ferland/Jankowski/Lazar

I think Brouwer may excel in a shut down role - didn't Bennett look really good until he was removed from the Backlund line - only to have Tkachuk replace him? The biggest hole I see with the above lines would be the suspect 1st line with Foo on the right side - if we traded Stone - I would be targeting a suitable RW, then Foo can move to the 4th line and Lazar can watch from the press box. Good teams role 4 scoring lines in today's NHL - something the Flames cannot do when the top two forwards are on the same line, and the third best forward is on an elite checking line (Tkachuk on Backlund's line). I think anyone will do well with Backlund and Frolic - let that be Brouwer to shelter him a bit.
- Smells Like Jagr

Bennett Just isnt a good NHL centreman. I would leave him on the wing another season. We also have Shore who i thought looked like a solid 3rd or 4th line centre.I honestly dont think Lazar will be in the lineup next year. Im sure Tre will add scoring depth in free agency and add another scoring winger by Trade. I have a close family friend who works in the NHL circles and hes heard the Flames will be one of the more aggresive players if Tavares hits the market. Been told Hammer is already getting on him.

There will be 30 other teams doing the same and the odds of him coming here are probably less then 10% but its exciting none the less.

What would Dougie Hamilton be worth in a trade?

I don't want him to be traded but Its come up several times by Friedman that I have to ask the question.

I would have to believe if its for picks, it has to get you in the conversation for one of the top 3 picks at the draft? But number one?
- Yeah...Baby

We. Are. Not. Trading. Dougie. Hamilton.

Even the thought of it is pure ridiculousness. Just stupid really.

Todd Cordell: Five keys to a successful off-season for the Calgary Flames
- ToddCordellCGY

Blow it up

I think it's time to move Tkachuk off of the 3M line & get a top 6 player that he can be paired with like Peters referred to the Monahan/Gaudreau pairs. Backlund & Frolik are a good fit for each other & they should be 3rd line. Do that & you instantly upgrade your bottom 6 forwards. Peters seemed to like Janko but never mentioned Bennett. I think Benny maybe part of a real big trade at the draft. If he isn't, I think he'll be one of those moving pieces on Gaudreaus or Tkachuks line. Not sure where Janko fits, but if he anchors the 4th line, I would say that's an upgrade as well. Unless they don't make any blockbuster move & we see Janko Tkachuk & Bennett on the 2nd line & they click in training camp.
- Kevin R

Frolik is done IMO.

The 2nd "pair" is Backlund and Tkachuk. If they can get a banger for that line we are laughing.

Frolik is done IMO.

The 2nd "pair" is Backlund and Tkachuk. If they can get a banger for that line we are laughing.
- The-O-G

I think a 3rd pair of janko/foo or janko/Mangy would be pretty solid as well.

“I would agree with that. They don’t have a first-round pick this year from the Hamonic deal. I heard at the GM meetings that Calgary is looking to get it back. And if they’re trading for a first-round pick, it’s going to be a big piece. One of the guys I wonder about because he’s had a great year but he’s probably got some of the most value is going to be a guy like Dougie Hamilton. You know this is a league that loves defense. Calgary’s top prospects, they’ve got some really good defense prospects. I think he’s got 16 goals. I could see teams calling Calgary and saying, ‘What are you thinking about here.'’Elliotte Friedman

I 100% agree that he should not be traded, but if he was, what do you think we could get for him?

Is he worth first overall?
- Yeah...Baby

You probably aren't trading him to a team that's the worst in the league. You'd be trading him to a team like Vegas. He's worth probably 2-3 first round picks. Or 2 firsts and a top prospect.

I think a 3rd pair of janko/foo or janko/Mangy would be pretty solid as well.
- numbear

Yeah it's worth a shot. I mean ideally Foo/Janko/MagP are on the third and fourth lines getting good match-ups. That's where we need to be.

Frolik is done IMO.

The 2nd "pair" is Backlund and Tkachuk. If they can get a banger for that line we are laughing.
- The-O-G

I can't argue as they are paying Backlund as a 2nd line centre. But Peters did refer to Backlund & Frolik being a pair. Agree Frolik is done as a top 6 forward but he is still very responsible as a defensive player & suits a 3rd line shutdown role. I think the 2nd line needs to produce way more offence & not be a shutdown line. Why I slid Backlund to the 3rd line. Just not sure Janko is ready to be a top 6 yet.

Buying out or retaining salary with Brouwer doesn't make a lot of sense. Yeah, he makes too much money, but he's not completely useless. The Flames are already desperate for veteran leadership in the dressing room, and Stajan is likely gone. To bring in a veteran guy to fill the Brouwer role is going to cost them at least 2.5 million. When you add that to whatever they retained for trading him or buying him out and they're spending more than they were.

The cap is going to continue to go up, especially if they bring in Seattle sooner rather than later, so the Flames aren't really in that bad a shape capwise unless they give out another stupid contract for a UFA this year.

Guadreau/Bennett/Foo
Tkachuk/Monahan/Mangiapane
Brouwer/Backlund/Frolic
Ferland/Jankowski/Lazar

- Smells Like Jagr

Foo was a very average player in the AHL last year, and now you want him on the top line?

Foo was a very average player in the AHL last year, and now you want him on the top line?
- Hunkulese

What wrong with giving him a shot on the top line?!

Guentzel, Connor, Anderson, DeBrincat, Hirchier to name a few, all rookies playing top line roles this season.

What wrong with giving him a shot on the top line?!

Guentzel, Connor, Anderson, DeBrincat, Hirchier to name a few, all rookies playing top line roles this season.


- Flamin_Irishmin

Dude....

What wrong with giving him a shot on the top line?!

Guentzel, Connor, Anderson, DeBrincat, Hirchier to name a few, all rookies playing top line roles this season.


- Flamin_Irishmin

It has nothing to do with being a rookie. He was an average player in the AHL last year. He's also not a young stud prospect like the players you named. He put up the same numbers as Klimchuk, and no one's even suggesting Klimchuk for the 4th line next year.

If that's the best option the Flames have for their top line RW, they're in trouble.

Here's an idea, maybe stick with the guy who's had success playing in the spot and has gotten better and more consistent every year he's been in the league.

Dude....
- The-O-G

I know he was first overall guy, just making a point