Speculation: Armchair GM Thread 2025-26 Part Deux; Post-Raz Edition

[Ledge And Dairy]

Whats going on with all the tweeners... like

Sharangovich
Coleman (above)
Frost
Farabee
Tsplykov
Strome

All these guys are 26 or older..?

There's good value in some of them Coleman, Frost, Sharangovich (if he finds his game) and lower value on the rest.

Why are we playing any centers over 26? put King, Kerins in at center for frost and strome forsure, maybe rechney if he's ready.

I'm not dying to move vets like Backlund and Hubderau (if he plays) but why have guys who are closer to 30 now and still have value for draft capital or younger players?

Zary will depend on play/performance, but he could be traded or out of the line up for those younger guys as well.

I'm not a tear it all down guy or you can't have 3-5 vets, but why sit in the middle with guys of that age? Maybe salary floor.. but ya

Im sorry what? King in the NHL? He had 13 points in the AHL last year. He wouldn't even displace Beecher from the 4C role at this point in time. He's already been passed by Gross and Costagna in the pecking order.

If Kerins earns an NHL job great, but frankly I think he's probably done in Calgary. He's no where close to Frost caliber, and I would much rather have Frost playing 1C between Gridin and Coronato to pump up his trade value for the deadline.

Reschny has already committed to another year at NoDak, the soonest he can join the Flames is like late March.

The rest of the players you mentioned will likely all be traded (maybe not Tsyplakov, he might not garner any trade interest). Sharangovich will probably be the hardest to move.

 

[Lunatik]

Im sorry what? King in the NHL? He had 13 points in the AHL last year. He wouldn't even displace Beecher from the 4C role at this point in time. He's already been passed by Gross and Costagna in the pecking order.

If Kerins earns an NHL job great, but frankly I think he's probably done in Calgary. He's no where close to Frost caliber, and I would much rather have Frost playing 1C between Gridin and Coronato to pump up his trade value for the deadline.

Reschny has already committed to another year at NoDak, the soonest he can join the Flames is like late March.

The rest of the players you mentioned will likely all be traded (maybe not Tsyplakov, he might not garner any trade interest). Sharangovich will probably be the hardest to move.

they're still going on about Kerins?

 

[Khrox]

Not that I’m overly attached to anyone within this forward group right now but the insistence to move Zary is strange. First two seasons he was averaging 0.5 ppg and even if he tops out as a third-liner, there’s value in having homegrown talent around as new prospects settle in.

I think it's because there is rumours of Zary asking out of Calgary/being unhappy here.

Now Kuznetsov is a weird person to be happy to move. I swear since nobody hyped him up as a prospect and grew attached nobody realizes how promising he is. He’s a mobile 6’5” shutdown defenseman who didn’t look lost playing 20:05 his rookie year. He’s probably has 3 to 5 years where he’s going to continuously improve, a lot like Kevin Bahl. You hold on to that profile tightly until you see what you have, but our left side as it currently stands could be set for a decade plus with Parekh, Bahl then Kuznetsov and I think we’d be doing wonderful.

Man, I've been hyped on him for a while. Like never in my top prospects, but always in my "dude's gonna be a solid bottom 4 D-man in the NHL" way. I remember he got a lot of flack for not having a great first year in NCAA, and having to point out to people that he was 17 that year, being like the youngest D-man in the league at that time.

 

[Fig]

I like Kuznetsov, but I had no clue what he was supposed to be. I seem to recall he once said in an interview he likes the way Jones (some offensive and phyiscal dman) plays which confused me because he plays nothing like him.

 

[Mobiandi]

Well

 

[Yepthatsme]

I think it's because there is rumours of Zary asking out of Calgary/being unhappy here.


Man, I've been hyped on him for a while. Like never in my top prospects, but always in my "dude's gonna be a solid bottom 4 D-man in the NHL" way. I remember he got a lot of flack for not having a great first year in NCAA, and having to point out to people that he was 17 that year, being like the youngest D-man in the league at that time.

I was relatively indifferent about him until his AHL play going back to 2022. He has a fantastic mix of size and defensive reads to be a true shutdown guy, with the mobility to be able to defend some of the best there is as he climbed levels. With a defense core that will likely feature 3 of Nemec, Parekh, Brzu, and Mews, he should be viewed as a roster lock. The defense core should have star power in spades now with Nemec and Parekh, if anything we need one more Kuznetsov now not less.

 

[RasmusAndersson]

Well

Interesting lol. A second would be a decent return I guess, but still seems meh. I guess clears up the roster crunch though.

 

[tmurfin]

Well

Not sure I’d be happy to just get a second, was hoping they would package him in a bigger deal. Kinda seems like Conroy is throwing the kid a bone

 

[RasmusAndersson]

Zary and 30 to St Louis for pick number 15/16 would be interesting. Better than just getting a late second

 

[BobColesNasalCavity]

Well

Would rather keep him and give him a good stretch on the top 2 lines to see if he can put anything together for a stretch.

Unless it’s a trade that is a no brainer.

 

[Khrox]

we need one more Kuznetsov now not less.

I absolutely agree with this. Kuzy is a guy who is great when you have as much offensive d as we have.

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

Well

If true I am not a fan of this. Get off of Yegor before you try and get off of Zary

 

[JPeeper]

Zary is an enigma, if he can get back on track to where he was treading pre-(2)injuries then trading him away could turn into another Bennett situation. However if he continues on the path he's on then trading him away isn't a big deal. Those injuries completely changed how he played the game, he completely stopped attacking the middle of the ice so he's done as a center. He's nothing special as a winger.

 

[Yepthatsme]

Well

Best for all parties, Calgary needs room to add young players and out of our gluttony of complimentary middle 6ers his value to what he provides ratio is definitely the highest. This might sound a bit scathing, but if Honzek comes back at just the level he was to start the year he will have more of an impact than Zary.

Zary gets a chance with another team without a gluttony of players to get a foothold somewhere.

Would rather keep him and give him a good stretch on the top 2 lines to see if he can put anything together for a stretch.

Unless it’s a trade that is a no brainer.

At this point, I would rather give all of the following that time for varying reasons:
Gridin
Frost
Coronato
Farabee
Honzek

And by the end of the year:

Reschny
Wyttenbach
2026 6th (potentially)

Zary’s “give him a chance with better linemates” argument makes less sense when he needs to be moved to make room for said better linemates. It makes the most sense, people are just more emotionally invested in him than our other players/prospects for some reason.

 

[Yepthatsme]

If true I am not a fan of this. Get off of Yegor before you try and get off of Zary

One loses this team a second round pick to trade away. One gains it, the correct option is extremely clear.

 

[Lunatik]

If true I am not a fan of this. Get off of Yegor before you try and get off of Zary

It's been rumored for weeks now, Zary wants a fresh start because he is unhappy with his ice-time.

I was one of the only posters on here defending him after his first pro-season, but If it's true, then f*** him. Let his sorry ass bounce, because he did sweet f*** all to earn playing time over guys who played last year.

 

[BobColesNasalCavity]

Zary’s “give him a chance with better linemates” argument makes less sense when he needs to be moved to make room for said better linemates. It makes the most sense, people are just more emotionally invested in him than our other players/prospects for some reason.

Put him at center then. It’s not emotional investment, it’s play him ahead of Backlund and Strome and give him a make it or break it opportunity rather than the 4th line. I’m sick of seeing Backlund play in the top 6 blocking young guys. He should never play there again.

 

[RasmusAndersson]

Best for all parties, Calgary needs room to add young players and out of our gluttony of complimentary middle 6ers his value to what he provides ratio is definitely the highest. This might sound a bit scathing, but if Honzek comes back at just the level he was to start the year he will have more of an impact than Zary.

Zary gets a chance with another team without a gluttony of players to get a foothold somewhere.

At this point, I would rather give all of the following that time for varying reasons:
Gridin
Frost
Coronato
Farabee
Honzek

And by the end of the year:

Reschny
Wyttenbach
2026 6th (potentially)

Zary’s “give him a chance with better linemates” argument makes less sense when he needs to be moved to make room for said better linemates. It makes the most sense, people are just more emotionally invested in him than our other players/prospects for some reason.

I think that’s a harsh assessment of Zary. He had a terrible season last year, but before his injuries he was one of our best (if not our best) player at making plays in transition and entering the zone with possession. I don’t think Honzek or Farabee (or even Coronato) replace that specific skillset. I’d rather just sit Sharangovich in the press box and give Zary one final chance at middle-6C before dumping him for a second. Or even scratch one of Pospy/Klapka to make room for Zary for half a season before writing him off.

 

[RasmusAndersson]

It's been rumored for weeks now, Zary wants a fresh start because he is unhappy with his ice-time.

I was one of the only posters on here defending him after his first pro-season, but If it's true, then f*** him. Let his sorry ass bounce, because he did sweet f*** all to earn playing time over guys who played last year.

That seems harsh. If he actually demanded a trade fine, but if he’s just frustrated with his situation and wants ice time then why f*** him? We should want hungry young guys who wanna fight for spots

 

[Lunatik]

Not sure I’d be happy to just get a second, was hoping they would package him in a bigger deal. Kinda seems like Conroy is throwing the kid a bone

I always takes "wants a 2nd", "wants a 1st and a 2nd" with a massive grain of salt.

I always take that as meaning something with the approximate value of

 

[Lunatik]

Zary is an enigma, if he can get back on track to where he was treading pre-(2)injuries then trading him away could turn into another Bennett situation. However if he continues on the path he's on then trading him away isn't a big deal. Those injuries completely changed how he played the game, he completely stopped attacking the middle of the ice so he's done as a center. He's nothing special as a winger.

very similar to Pelletier after his injuries w/ how it changed his play

 

[Lunatik]

That seems harsh. If he actually demanded a trade fine, but if he’s just frustrated with his situation and wants ice time then why f*** him? We should want hungry young guys who wanna fight for spots

I don't care if it's "harsh"

He played like shit. He lost playing time. It's that simple.

 

[Mobiandi]

Zary’s days were numbered as soon as he called out Huska in the end-season media availability.

When we move him, we will have lost the only player we have that attacks the middle of the ice (intelligently, at least - Frost tries but he is horrible). I guess it will help the tank.

 

[Darth Vladar]

They are going to want a defenseman that is just about to enter a very good prime, is my guess…

So #6 and Nemec doesn’t get it done?

 

[Ledge And Dairy]

It's been rumored for weeks now, Zary wants a fresh start because he is unhappy with his ice-time.

I was one of the only posters on here defending him after his first pro-season, but If it's true, then f*** him. Let his sorry ass bounce, because he did sweet f*** all to earn playing time over guys who played last year.

If we trade him we trade him. Not the end of the world. I don't think he is going to go and be lights out on another team like Bennett was. I would just rather give him another shot over someone like Yegor. He's still the 4th youngest forward on our roster