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Good, you're back with more trades where the Flames are giving up pieces no one wants for useful players.

Why would the Oilers ever make that trade?
- Hunkulese

Wait - Kassian is a useful player? Since when?

He's a thug.

Good, you're back with more trades where the Flames are giving up pieces no one wants for useful players.

Why would the Oilers ever make that trade?
- Hunkulese

What? Czarnik is way more useful than Kassian is. The real question us why would we make that trade?

If we want more toughness in the bottom 6 it makes way more sense to try to get Ferly back. Or someone similar to him. You know, someone who's tough but can also play hockey.

Regardless I don't really want to mess with this team's chemistry too much. I think we'll be fine on D when Valimaki and Stone come back, and if Stone doesn't come back then the only move I can really see us making is an upgrade over Prout, and our forward depth is the best it has been in years and we have guys in Stockton who can fill holes.

What? Czarnik is way more useful than Kassian is. The real question us why would we make that trade?

If we want more toughness in the bottom 6 it makes way more sense to try to get Ferly back. Or someone similar to him. You know, someone who's tough but can also play hockey.

Regardless I don't really want to mess with this team's chemistry too much. I think we'll be fine on D when Valimaki and Stone come back, and if Stone doesn't come back then the only move I can really see us making is an upgrade over Prout, and our forward depth is the best it has been in years and we have guys in Stockton who can fill holes.
- Helios

Agreed. There’s plenty of forward depth, the first and second line are chugging along. The third line is starting to get some chemistry going, and if Stone And Valimaki come back there’s 3 depth defencemen

What? Czarnik is way more useful than Kassian is. The real question us why would we make that trade?

If we want more toughness in the bottom 6 it makes way more sense to try to get Ferly back. Or someone similar to him. You know, someone who's tough but can also play hockey.

Regardless I don't really want to mess with this team's chemistry too much. I think we'll be fine on D when Valimaki and Stone come back, and if Stone doesn't come back then the only move I can really see us making is an upgrade over Prout, and our forward depth is the best it has been in years and we have guys in Stockton who can fill holes.
- Helios

Well moving a kid that we competed to sign because his AHL numbers were sky high & appeared to be on brink of a breakout season in the NHL & we then healthy scratch him & dont have room to play him in our top 6. Seeing we didnt use any assets acquiring the kid & flipping him for someone like a Kassian who would serve a role come playoff time would be the type of tweaking I personally would do to get ready for playoffs. But I know everyone has opinions but Im old school & last year, there was a lot of nasty in the playoffs & Flames really have no one in a heavier weight class to deal with that kind of crap. The refs call playoffs way different than regular season. If officiating was consistent I could be convinced the likes of goons like Kassian arent necessary. Just my humble opinion. & yes I bet Oilers would be all over a deal like that & I would bet Czarnik would find himself on the top line in no time flat.

Well moving a kid that we competed to sign because his AHL numbers were sky high & appeared to be on brink of a breakout season in the NHL & we then healthy scratch him & dont have room to play him in our top 6. Seeing we didnt use any assets acquiring the kid & flipping him for someone like a Kassian who would serve a role come playoff time would be the type of tweaking I personally would do to get ready for playoffs. But I know everyone has opinions but Im old school & last year, there was a lot of nasty in the playoffs & Flames really have no one in a heavier weight class to deal with that kind of crap. The refs call playoffs way different than regular season. If officiating was consistent I could be convinced the likes of goons like Kassian arent necessary. Just my humble opinion. & yes I bet Oilers would be all over a deal like that & I would bet Czarnik would find himself on the top line in no time flat.
- Kevin R

We could just bring up Future hall of gamer Hunter Smith for some grit. Problem solved right?

Well moving a kid that we competed to sign because his AHL numbers were sky high & appeared to be on brink of a breakout season in the NHL & we then healthy scratch him & dont have room to play him in our top 6. Seeing we didnt use any assets acquiring the kid & flipping him for someone like a Kassian who would serve a role come playoff time would be the type of tweaking I personally would do to get ready for playoffs. But I know everyone has opinions but Im old school & last year, there was a lot of nasty in the playoffs & Flames really have no one in a heavier weight class to deal with that kind of crap. The refs call playoffs way different than regular season. If officiating was consistent I could be convinced the likes of goons like Kassian arent necessary. Just my humble opinion. & yes I bet Oilers would be all over a deal like that & I would bet Czarnik would find himself on the top line in no time flat.
- Kevin R

So you want to trade a guy who could be Top 6 for someone who is at best a bottom 6 grinder straight up? And not only that, do that trade with the team's biggest rival who we could potentially meet in the playoffs?

Of course the Oilers would be all over that because it is an absolutely terrible trade for Calgary and a great trade for Edmonton. Kassian isn't an upgrade over anybody we already have who plays a similar role. Both Hathaway and Lomberg are at least as good as Kassisn is and we don't have to give up a single asset to put them in the lineup.

Again, if you want toughness in the Bottom 6 there are way better players to go after than Kassian, most of whom are on teams that aren't the Oilers. It makes no sense to upgrade a team we could potentially have a playoff series against for an asset we don't need.

We could just bring up Future hall of gamer Hunter Smith for some grit. Problem solved right?
- DuranDuran

Bingo. Now where's he playing again?...

So you want to trade a guy who could be Top 6 for someone who is at best a bottom 6 grinder straight up? And not only that, do that trade with the team's biggest rival who we could potentially meet in the playoffs?

Of course the Oilers would be all over that because it is an absolutely terrible trade for Calgary and a great trade for Edmonton. Kassian isn't an upgrade over anybody we already have who plays a similar role. Both Hathaway and Lomberg are at least as good as Kassisn is and we don't have to give up a single asset to put them in the lineup.

Again, if you want toughness in the Bottom 6 there are way better players to go after than Kassian, most of whom are on teams that aren't the Oilers. It makes no sense to upgrade a team we could potentially have a playoff series against for an asset we don't need.
- Helios

I dont know about that. No way Lomberg would go against the likes of Reaves. Not that I think Kassian would beat him but he would answer the bell. He would also be the type to take liberties against the other teams better players. Peluso & Prout can fight but everyone grumbles knowing they are slow & cant skate at NHL level. Kassian can. Czarnik is free currency & & right now not a key part of the line up & chemistry we have built so far. 4th line with Hathaway Kassian & Ryan would actually cycle better than many think. You think Hathaway & Lomberg are our answer to the likes of Reaves, Wilsons & Big Buffs, all monsters we're going to have to get through in a grueling series? I dont think so. What pi$$es me off the most in games like the Panthers, is no one went after Florida when Yandle took that vicious two hander on Monahan. We could have lost Monahan for the rest of the year if that connected with his hands.

Remember, back in 2004 we had a pretty good face puncher in the Polish Hammer Oliwa & we still acquired Chris Simon who was a mean SOB was capable of playing in the top 9 as well. Oliwa when dressed for playoff games would play 4-5 minutes at most but Simon was regular shifted. Peluso & Prout are our Oliwa version of face punchers. Kassian can play 10 minutes a game. Kassian was a former 1st round pick, not that he lived up to that draft status, but to get there the kid did have some skills.
Just saying, any trades made need to be of that kind of nature that wont mess with our current chemistry. Big name rentals would be a waste of assets.

/

Wait - Kassian is a useful player? Since when?

He's a thug.
- rmull905

A thug is more useful than an undersized player who'll end up having a great AHL career. Czarnik has done nothing to show he deserves to be a full time NHLer, and he's not exactly young.

I dont know about that. No way Lomberg would go against the likes of Reaves. Not that I think Kassian would beat him but he would answer the bell. He would also be the type to take liberties against the other teams better players. Peluso & Prout can fight but everyone grumbles knowing they are slow & cant skate at NHL level. Kassian can. Czarnik is free currency & & right now not a key part of the line up & chemistry we have built so far. 4th line with Hathaway Kassian & Ryan would actually cycle better than many think. You think Hathaway & Lomberg are our answer to the likes of Reaves, Wilsons & Big Buffs, all monsters we're going to have to get through in a grueling series? I dont think so. What pi$$es me off the most in games like the Panthers, is no one went after Florida when Yandle took that vicious two hander on Monahan. We could have lost Monahan for the rest of the year if that connected with his hands.

Remember, back in 2004 we had a pretty good face puncher in the Polish Hammer Oliwa & we still acquired Chris Simon who was a mean SOB was capable of playing in the top 9 as well. Oliwa when dressed for playoff games would play 4-5 minutes at most but Simon was regular shifted. Peluso & Prout are our Oliwa version of face punchers. Kassian can play 10 minutes a game. Kassian was a former 1st round pick, not that he lived up to that draft status, but to get there the kid did have some skills.
Just saying, any trades made need to be of that kind of nature that wont mess with our current chemistry. Big name rentals would be a waste of assets.
- Kevin R

You know who else can fight? Sam Bennett, who's already on the team, better than Kassian, and will drop them with anybody. If fighting is what you want we already have a guy that can do it. If more physical play in general is what you want we already have guys that can do that too.

And besides, who was Pittsburgh's face-puncher? They didn't acquire Reaves until after they won their 2nd Cup. Sure the Capitals had Tom Wilson, but the funny thing about Tom Wilson is that he's also a very skilled player, as much as no one may want to admit it.

As for the Yandle thing, that happened right at the end of the game and he was immediately kicked out for it. There wasn't any time for him to answer it and the refs handled it.

2004 was 15 years ago. The game is different now than it was then. You don't need a group of face-punchers to win Stanley Cups anymore. Comparing this team to the one in '04 is about as relevant as comparing them to the Seahawks.

I completely agree that we shouldn't be trading for big name rentals but no one is asking to and trading for a player the team doesn't really need is just as bad asset management. I'd much rather have Czarnik as a depth option than Kassian and that alone means he isn't a "free asset". You can't have too much scoring depth, especially in the playoffs.

You know who else can fight? Sam Bennett, who's already on the team, better than Kassian, and will drop them with anybody. If fighting is what you want we already have a guy that can do it. If more physical play in general is what you want we already have guys that can do that too.

And besides, who was Pittsburgh's face-puncher? They didn't acquire Reaves until after they won their 2nd Cup. Sure the Capitals had Tom Wilson, but the funny thing about Tom Wilson is that he's also a very skilled player, as much as no one may want to admit it.

As for the Yandle thing, that happened right at the end of the game and he was immediately kicked out for it. There wasn't any time for him to answer it and the refs handled it.

2004 was 15 years ago. The game is different now than it was then. You don't need a group of face-punchers to win Stanley Cups anymore. Comparing this team to the one in '04 is about as relevant as comparing them to the Seahawks.

I completely agree that we shouldn't be trading for big name rentals but no one is asking to and trading for a player the team doesn't really need is just as bad asset management. I'd much rather have Czarnik as a depth option than Kassian and that alone means he isn't a "free asset". You can't have too much scoring depth, especially in the playoffs.
- Helios

You also cannot get pushed around or have teams take liberties on your top players. Its the playoffs and it happens. Having a guy that can play hockey and police the other team is a good thing. Dressing Prout to be that guy is a bad thing.

Lomberg and Hath are not enforcers, they are 4th line grinders. Lomberg can fight but is not a big guy.

Saying that Bennett should be the guy to drop the gloves against guys like Reaves or Buff is IMO rediculous. Bennett is tough as nails but not a heavy weight and you don't put him in that role.

There was a reason why Calgary tried hard to get Reaves last year. They need a guy like him.

You also cannot get pushed around or have teams take liberties on your top players. Its the playoffs and it happens. Having a guy that can play hockey and police the other team is a good thing. Dressing Prout to be that guy is a bad thing.

Lomberg and Hath are not enforcers, they are 4th line grinders. Lomberg can fight but is not a big guy.

Saying that Bennett should be the guy to drop the gloves against guys like Reaves or Buff is IMO rediculous. Bennett is tough as nails but not a heavy weight and you don't put him in that role.

There was a reason why Calgary tried hard to get Reaves last year. They need a guy like him.
- DuranDuran

Thanks Bro! Exactly my thoughts & there arent too many that can play 8-10 minutes a game & do the role. Peluso would be a disaster trying to fit him in the regular lineup as well. As much as trading with Oilers is kinda taboo, in this case I think we have a match. I think Hathaway/Bennett/Neal play larger with a guy like Reaves, Wilson, Big Buff or even a knuckle dragging Kassian in the lineup. Heck he looked ok scoring two goals last night lol.

"Czarnik has done nothing to show he deserves to be a full time NHLer, and he's not exactly young."

True, but Kassian is a plug. Not sure what the fix is, but I wouldn't deal for Kassian.

You also cannot get pushed around or have teams take liberties on your top players. Its the playoffs and it happens. Having a guy that can play hockey and police the other team is a good thing. Dressing Prout to be that guy is a bad thing.

Lomberg and Hath are not enforcers, they are 4th line grinders. Lomberg can fight but is not a big guy.

Saying that Bennett should be the guy to drop the gloves against guys like Reaves or Buff is IMO rediculous. Bennett is tough as nails but not a heavy weight and you don't put him in that role.

There was a reason why Calgary tried hard to get Reaves last year. They need a guy like him.
- DuranDuran

Sure but we haven't been pushed around all year and have already won several games playing a gritty, physical style. This isn't as soft a team as some of you seem to think it is.

And even if you want more physical players there are way better options than Kassian to look at. So why target him and give the Oilers a potential top 6 winger when we don't have to and there are better options out there anyway?

This team really doesn't need much and you don't want to mess with the chemistry too much. If you really want more toughness or a fighter in the bottom 6 there are better options out there than Kassian.