Game report is below, but first let’s talk about Jack Eichel.
According to ESPN Insider Emily Kaplan, the Flames and Golden Knights are the final teams in the running for elite center Jack Eichel.
She claims negotiations are on the one yard line.
Update 2: Elliotte Friedman just said on Tim & Friends that Weekes’ offer isn’t accurate. Phew.
Update:
Kevin Weekes tweeted what he believes is the ask.
If this is true, that is a hard no. No wonder Treliving hasn’t pulled the trigger if this ends up being Adams’ confirmed ask. I would be outraged if Matthew Tkachuk were moved along with that many assets for such a high risk asset. Tkachuk is a heart and soul piece of the Flames core. If it’s really that expensive, one can only hope Treliving is just bidding to raise the price Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon will have to pay.
A few thoughts:
What would be the return? There is room to be creative as the Flames have a lot of assets they could move, but probably need to convince a player to go to Buffalo due to limited NTCs. Monahan could be convinced that he’d get more minutes in Buffalo. He’s a UFA after next season and he’s not going to get a huge contract playing on the fourth line. Backlund also has an NMC and has been instrumental to the team’s success. Lucic? No way he says yes. Hanifin? Maybe. He doesn’t have trade protection, but the team is clicking defensively and he’s a first pairing defenseman. What would you offer as a return?
How confident are the Flames in his health? The club is willing to let him get disc replacement surgery, but acquiring this kind of asset for in the ballpark of 3-4 first round picks, former or future, is an undeniable risk. That means he has to bring a quality of play that is actually worth it. Eichel has had a long time off since his last professional game. The Flames are already dealing with one player who’s trajectory has been affected by an injury that required a year off. See Valimaki lower in the article.
Has the needle moved at all? I outlined during the offseason the factors that are putting Buffalo GM Kevyn Adams in a position of weakness in terms of negotiating a trade. If you want to read a more in-depth explanation head on over to one of my early pieces. Excuse the formatting, I didn’t have editing privilege at the time.
Given the increasing pressure to move Eichel and the factor of time affecting Jack’s injury; how far has Kevyn Adams moved off of his initial ask of four 1st round picks?
If it’s still that high, I would rather the Flames pursue other players with those assets. The Kings are 3-5-1. How long until Rob Blake admits maybe the rebuild isn’t quite over yet and starts answering the phone about Anze Kopitar? Darryl loves him and Kopitar and Doughty talked a lot about wanting to win another cup over the summer. He’s signed for two more seasons after this one and is getting 10 million per, but anyone watching the Kings would agree he’s worth every dollar. He has 13 points in nine games this season. Certainly a safer bet than Eichel and likely cheaper.
If the Flames could lock up Hampus Lindholm following a trade for him, that would be a massive win. He’s set to be a UFA after this season and may be looking to play on a non-rebuilding team. If the Ducks decide to move him, one would imagine the ask would start with a first and a prospect with a decent chance of playing in the NHL.
Josh Manson could be had for a lower price and could complete the top four.
Instead of Eichel, what player would you like to see the Flames acquire? What would you offer? What would you offer or Eichel?
Anyway, here is a look at last night.
The Calgary Flames lost in overtime last night in what was an exciting, but ultimately disappointing game for the home team. The Flames had more than enough high danger opportunities to win this game. The Predators were an open wound of odd man rushes and breakaways in the first. Nine high danger chances in that period alone. One goal on six power plays. The Flames were shut down by one factor — let’s jump back to yesterday’s blog.
Maybe I’ll start underlining that point. 5’11… Finnish goaltender Jusse Saros was fantastic last night posting a .950 save percentage on forty shots. Look at this guy’s last five games:
(Courtesy of nhl.com)
Good gravy. It will be interesting to see where the Predators go this season. If they keep it up they’re playoff bound. If not, Borowiecki would be a great rental defenseman. Speaking of.
Borocop made his presence known Brett Ritchie injured his leg on the fall at the end of a fight with Borowiecki. The fight happened because of a questionable knee on knee thrown by the 32 year old Predators left defenseman.
Dube is adapting Dube seemed to take the advice given yesterday to heart. He challenged the Nashville defensemen with his speed all night and generated several odd man rushes. Darryl Sutter said after the game that he saw major growth from the group in that game — in my opinion he had Dillon Dube in mind when he said that.
How do you solve a problem like Jusso? The Valimaki/Zadorov showdown continues with Zadorov playing accountable enough hockey to keep himself in the discussion. Valimaki hasn’t shown much progress since missing a year, but it seems like the problem is more on the mental side. He is a good passer, but is consistently hesitating once or twice a game until the play stagnates.
He signed a two year 1.55 million contract on the offseason so this idea is a no-go, but I think he should spend a season playing on loan for Ilves of the Finnish Liiga. He played there to begin this season and led the league in points over 19 games. A year of running the powerplay and playing 25 minutes a night would probably be the reset he needs.
(Courtesy of eliteprospects.com)
The Flames play the 3-4-2 Dallas Stars tomorrow at 7pm.
Trevor Neufeld