Speculation: Armchair GM 2024-25 Season, Craig Conroy's Can Do Calgary Flames

[JPeeper]

You need elite, play-driving players.
I don't understand the obsession with "1C." It's a fetish borne out of TSN mythologizing.
There's 5 Stanley Cup championships between LA and Chicago 2010-2015. The closest thing to an elite centre in all of those rosters was Kopitar. He has one top-10 scoring season, in 2018, 4 seasons after LA's last cup.

Not sure if serious, Toews was regarded as a top 3 player in the league (and won the Conn Smythe) and if Kopitar isn't elite, then what are we even doing here?

Flames had an elite play driving player, we won 2 games in the 2nd round during his entire tenure and never made it past that. We got to one final with Iggy (on the back of Kiprusoff) and then never made it out of the first round.

 

[Sonk]

An ‘elite 1C’ doesn’t have to mean that he scores at a 110 point pace. Kopitar’s defensive ability paired with roughly PPG production made him an elite player

 

[JPeeper]

An ‘elite 1C’ doesn’t have to mean that he scores at a 110 point pace. Kopitar’s defensive ability paired with roughly PPG production made him an elite player

Sasha Barkov has never eclipsed 100 points (got close 6 years ago), last two years they've been to the finals his point totals were 78 and 80 (over a PPG because he missed games) and in the playoffs he was under a PPG.

Is there anyone out there who doesn't see Sasha as a top 5 center in the league? Just so we're clear, I am not ragging on Barkov, I am praising him. Guy IS a top 5 center in this league.

And LA didn't become relevant in the playoffs until they upgraded their center depth and traded for both Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. LA and Chicago also had elite #1 d-men which the Flames don't have either (could with Parekh).

 

[Mobiandi]

After Crosby/Malkin, Kopitar is the best centre of his generation. What exactly are we doing here?

If we want to talk about marginally elite #1Cs that were mythologized but contributed to substantial cup runs, that’s Patrice Bergeron

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Sasha Barkov has never eclipsed 100 points (got close 6 years ago), last two years they've been to the finals his point totals were 78 and 80 (over a PPG because he missed games) and in the playoffs he was under a PPG.

Is there anyone out there who doesn't see Sasha as a top 5 center in the league?

And LA didn't become relevant in the playoffs until they upgraded their center depth and traded for both Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. LA and Chicago also had elite #1 d-men which the Flames don't have either (could with Parekh).

To be fair he misses games every season and has paced 90+ every season since 20/21. I do agree that a legitimate 1C doesn't have to be a 100+ point player but they should be consistently on pace for either 90+ points or 35+ goals

 

[Lunatik]

How has Weegar not made Team Canada? Sanheim & Harley over him?

He's probably no longer available as he had plans to go to Mexico with his family. These guys being added mid-tourney are being picked because they're close by.

 

[Khrox]

He's probably no longer available as he had plans to go to Mexico with his family. These guys being added mid-tourney are being picked because they're close by.

Weegar straight up said he would cancel his Mexico plans if it meant playing for Team Canada

 

[Zirakzigil]

How has Weegar not made Team Canada? Sanheim & Harley over him?


We could only dream of a Kopitar level C over the past 20 years

Harley could quickly fly up, thats why. Weegar is out of country. Harley also had a solid game. Was very impressed.

 

[Darth Vladar]

Harley could quickly fly up, thats why. Weegar is out of country. Harley also had a solid game. Was very impressed.

It’s wild that his birthplace is actually Syracuse, NY. But yeah, he played a fairly decent game, especially for a guy who just got inserted into the lineup on such short notice.

 

[Lunatik]

Weegar straight up said he would cancel his Mexico plans if it meant playing for Team Canada

Yes, then they chose Doughty instead. He would have already been in Mexico by the time Canada needed a defenseman, since it wasn't known until Thursday

 

[Kielbasa]

Yes, then they chose Doughty instead. He would have already been in Mexico by the time Canada needed a defenseman, since it wasn't known until Thursday

TBH, as much as Weegar wanted it, it's good for the Flames that he gets some rest.

 

[JPeeper]

Shouldn't have even mattered, Weegar should have made the team from the start.

Team Canada needs to hire people who can assemble a team based on merit and not who is on their NHL team, ie. dipshits like Doug Armstrong who bring shit goalies like Binnington and mid d-men like Parayko because he plays for the Blues. Ignoring the fact Binnington is shit and has been for years, let's not only bring him but give him EVERY GAME where he let's in a bad goal EVERY game.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Shouldn't have even mattered, Weegar should have made the team from the start.

Team Canada needs to hire people who can assemble a team based on merit and not who is on their NHL team, ie. dipshits like Doug Armstrong who bring shit goalies like Binnington and mid d-men like Parayko because he plays for the Blues. Ignoring the fact Binnington is shit and has been for years, let's not only bring him but give him EVERY GAME where he let's in a bad goal EVERY game.

Binnington was one of the best goalies in the league last year statistically. I have no issue with him being on the team. Agree that Weegar should have been there the entire time, especially over Parayko and Sanheim.

 

[Khrox]

Team Canada needs to hire people who can assemble a team based on merit and not who is on their NHL team, ie. dipshits like Doug Armstrong who bring shit goalies like Binnington and mid d-men like Parayko because he plays for the Blues. Ignoring the fact Binnington is shit and has been for years, let's not only bring him but give him EVERY GAME where he let's in a bad goal EVERY game.

The one that gets me is not bringing Logan Thompson. Guy is statistically the BEST Canadian goaltender this year. And they didn't bring him because the coaches DeBoer didn't like him in Vegas because he asked for more playing time over Adin Hill.

 

[Darth Vladar]

The one that gets me is not bringing Logan Thompson. Guy is statistically the BEST Canadian goaltender this year. And they didn't bring him because the coaches DeBoer didn't like him in Vegas because he asked for more playing time over Adin Hill.

Whatevs, it’s only to the Capitals’ benefit having their ace healthy and rested for the stretch drive.

 

[JPeeper]

Binnington was one of the best goalies in the league last year statistically. I have no issue with him being on the team. Agree that Weegar should have been there the entire time, especially over Parayko and Sanheim.

No he wasn't, his GAA was 2.84 and his SV % was .913 (slightly above the median). His stats are worse this year...the year we're actually playing.

He was really good for literally one year and they won the Cup, that was 6 years ago. The guy has been an average to below average starter for years.

 

[joescores]

I think it is pretty clear what the management should do with the likes of Raz, Kadri, Coleman, Vladar and/or even Backlund while he holds any value (Caps are looking for a 3rd C since Eller trade didn't pan out) before or on TDL:

* Flames- SJ, wsh, tampa, canes, panthers, flyers, stars

* Canucks- vegas, utah, kings, ducks, kraken, DUCKs


It has been fun but stay on track, don't lose the pick to Montreal and we start again next year- hopefully much stronger!

 

[Lunatik]

No he wasn't, his GAA was 2.84 and his SV % was .913 (slightly above the median). His stats are worse this year...the year we're actually playing.

He was really good for literally one year and they won the Cup, that was 6 years ago. The guy has been an average to below average starter for years.

Binnington was 9th in SV%, the league average was .903, the median of goalies with 35 or more games was Ottinger at .905 (#20 of 39).... Binnington was literally just as close to #1 (.921) in the league as he was to the median

It was also #2 to Talbot (the difference was less than .001) among Canadian goaltenders

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

No he wasn't, his GAA was 2.84 and his SV % was .913 (slightly above the median). His stats are worse this year...the year we're actually playing.

He was really good for literally one year and they won the Cup, that was 6 years ago. The guy has been an average to below average starter for years.

Last year Markstrom's GAA was 2.78 and his SV% was .905 yet he had a fantastic year. Markstrom had the 3rd highest GSAx in the league last year with +28.93, the only 2 goalies with a higher GSAx's were Hellebuyck with +39.35 and Binnington with +29.74. Statistically Binnington was great last year but just like with Markstrom in Calgary, his team left him out to dry.

 

[SlovakFlame]

I believe the Flames will not make any moves before the TDL, except trading cap space for draft picks.

 

[Lunatik]

I believe the Flames will not make any moves before the TDL, except trading cap space for draft picks.

The Flames have never done this, I'm not sure they will start. I'm not saying they won't do it, just that they haven't before and I'm not sure they will start... that said, the Flames never retained salary before trading Rittich, and never retained on a contract with term until Markstrom, so there could be a first time for more things.

 

[DomBarr]

I believe the Flames will not make any moves before the TDL, except trading cap space for draft picks.

Well lets see what sort of deals there are:
1) Rentals - The Flames won't play in this market. They won't spend assets for a pending UFA

2) Selling - This gets murky. I would say they do not make a deal to sell a player for futures. They don't really have a great deal of pending UFA's that are worth anything and have publicly said Kadri, Andersson, and Weegar will not be moved this season and even if they were it would be more for the players coming back as opposed to futures.

3) Buying - I may strongly disagree with it but I can see Conroy using picks and prospects to acquire a 22-24 YO middle 6 centre with unproven offensive upside.

4) Middle man - trading cap space for picks

• as a true 3rd party and trading a retention slot for a pick
• a cap clearing deal - a $3 to $8 M cap hit player plus 1st, 2nd or 3rd round pick for futures

not sure these will happen no matter what Conroy says I do not think ownership will buy a pick with retention and cap clearing deals are more of an offseason thing.

5) Hockey Trade - PLayer in/Player out - This is the sort of deal that the Flames would need to do to get Cozens. The Sabres won't want futures they will want players that can help mentor their young players. I don't think we see this at the deadline. Also Conroy has said that Andersson, Weegar and Kadri are not on the market this season and those are the players that can return a young player with a lot of upside.

overall i think that it is extremely likely that the Flames are done trading for the season now UNLESS a team offers up a young center with upside and only wants futures for him.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Well lets see what sort of deals there are:
1) Rentals - The Flames won't play in this market. They won't spend assets for a pending UFA

2) Selling - This gets murky. I would say they do not make a deal to sell a player for futures. They don't really have a great deal of pending UFA's that are worth anything and have publicly said Kadri, Andersson, and Weegar will not be moved this season and even if they were it would be more for the players coming back as opposed to futures.

3) Buying - I may strongly disagree with it but I can see Conroy using picks and prospects to acquire a 22-24 YO middle 6 centre with unproven offensive upside.

4) Middle man - trading cap space for picks

• as a true 3rd party and trading a retention slot for a pick
• a cap clearing deal - a $3 to $8 M cap hit player plus 1st, 2nd or 3rd round pick for futures

not sure these will happen no matter what Conroy says I do not think ownership will buy a pick with retention and cap clearing deals are more of an offseason thing.

5) Hockey Trade - PLayer in/Player out - This is the sort of deal that the Flames would need to do to get Cozens. The Sabres won't want futures they will want players that can help mentor their young players. I don't think we see this at the deadline. Also Conroy has said that Andersson, Weegar and Kadri are not on the market this season and those are the players that can return a young player with a lot of upside.

overall i think that it is extremely likely that the Flames are done trading for the season now UNLESS a team offers up a young center with upside and only wants futures for him.

The Flames have never done this, I'm not sure they will start. I'm not saying they won't do it, just that they haven't before and I'm not sure they will start... that said, the Flames never retained salary before trading Rittich, and never retained on a contract with term until Markstrom, so there could be a first time for more things.

The Flames have also functioned at or near the cap ceiling for nearly 10 years now. This season they are well below the cap ceiling and have saved loads of actual money in doing so. For 3rd party retention I think it really depends on the contract being retained on. If the going rate for 50% retention on a 6M contract is a 4th that would work out to about 300k for a 4th round pick. I'm not sure ownership would bite on that but they probably would consider at 250k and less. Those numbers get smaller still if the player had a signing bonus at the start of the season.

 

[super6646]

Zary practicing on the wing with Backs and Coleman and Rooney still in the lineup. Like I always expect this org to do the wrong thing, but come the f*** on . Not taking their “playoff push” remotely seriously at this time, but from a developmental standpoint it’s disappointing as well. This team is 2 seasons out from having Morgan Frost as their best natural centre option if this is the path they are taking.

 

[Volica]

Zary practicing on the wing with Backs and Coleman and Rooney still in the lineup. Like I always expect this org to do the wrong thing, but come the f*** on . Not taking their “playoff push” remotely seriously at this time, but from a developmental standpoint it’s disappointing as well. This team is 2 seasons out from having Morgan Frost as their best natural centre option if this is the path they are taking.

The tank is real, we just didn't see it coming properly.