Huge Shakeup in Flames Land - TRADE CONFIRMED

[MatthewFlames]

Rumours abound that the Calgary Flames have made a sequence of trades that involve many of their top young prospects, including NHL Calder Trophy Candidate Matt Read, 2011 first round draft pick Matt Puempel, as well as young established players such as Steve Downie, Patrik Berglund and Mikael Backlund. GM Kershaw refused to comment pending league approval of all the paperwork. Its well known that the Flames have been looking to target a top 6 defenseman and have been working the wires for players such as Alexander Edler, Duncan Keith, Drew Doughty and Dion Phaneuf. Rumours that the Flames may have landed two or three of these players may explain the confusion over which players the Flames have actually landed.

Click to read more...

 

[Dryden]

Hmmm

 

[MatthewFlames]

Hmmm

Trade me DUNCAN! NOW! Or I'll report you to the handsome police in Philly

 

[Fooladelfia]

pffffff............

 

[MatthewFlames]

Breakdown of a deal

The Calgary Flames have made it official. Today is was confirmed that Dion Phaneuf is a Calgary Flame. Heading in the other direction is NHL Calder trophy candidate Matt Read, young forwards Steve Downie and Mikael Backlund, and defenseman Cameron Gaunce and Dave Schlemko.

"Obviously I really love my prospects but when I stepped back and looked at the long term planning of the squad and what the immediate needs are, then this deal just makes sense." says the GM, who is normally very hesitant about trading his prospects.

Here is the rationale behind this deal, which appears to be an overpayment. "And it probably is," said Kershaw, "but sometimes you have to overpay to pry the best players from teams."

And there is a large amount of risk on the Dallas Stars side as well - they get depth but do they get top liners? It's well known that Downie and Backlund were 4th line players on the deep Calgary squad. And it appears that both of their careers have stalled offensively - making it increasingly doubtful that they will ever crack the top 9 or more importantly the top 6. "We just have other players who are far more advanced development wise and we're doubling down that guys like Berglund, Setoguchi, Skinner and Anisimov will continue to develop and remain top 6 guys for the rest of their careers."

Moving the defensman also became much easier with the emergence of Jake Gardiner. Gaunce and Schlemko are guys who have an upside of 2nd pairing guys but probably not much more. On a team that now has 6 Dmen in the NHL who are under the age of 30 - Phaneuf, Hamhuis, Michalek, Sekera, Clitsome, Gardiner - in addition to veterans Phillips and Beauchimen - and with other prospects such as Mark Borowiecki and Matthew Bartkowski knocking on the door, it was hard to see Gaunce or Schlemko ever seeing the light of day for this Flames team.

The emergence of Zack Kassian and the promise of Brad Ross also numbered Steve Downies days as a Flame. And Mikael Backlund just hadn't shown the organization that he is going to be able to catch on as an offensive player in the NHL. This was a case of selling high.

Matt Read is a difficult one - but was obviously the key cog to get a player in Phaneuf who plays 23+ minutes a night and is back on track for 50 points in the NHL - and perhaps even a return to Norris land.

Phaneuf fills an immediate need of an offensive defenseman and will probably start in the second pairing and 1st PP unit.

The salary cap has also played into the Flames favor. They had 10 million in cap room before this deal - and Phaneuf's salary fills the void left by the retirement of Brian Rafalski. In addition - the Flames feel that Kassian can continue in the NHL this season - and his rookie deal on the 4th line next season will be vastly superior to Downies project $1.85 million cap hit.

Rumours that the Flames continue to hunt down one more big name defeseman continue, in addition to the Flames need now to fill a 4th line spot before the season starts.

Flames line-up as of today

Skinner - Datsyuk - Hejduk
Berglund - Umberger - Setoguchi
Wolski - Gaustad - Anisimov
Greening - Stapleton - ??

Phillips - Hamhuis
Phaneuf - Michalek
Beauchimen - Sekera
Clitsome

Backstrom
Reimer (still unsigned)
Budaj
DiPietro

 

[Dempsey]

Good trade for the Flames. You're right about selling high when it comes to Backlund...I've never seen the promise in him that some do.

And Dallas gets a lot of quality depth with potential to really fill out their lineup.