According to Elite Prospects it looks like he is to play in the KHL for 2020-2021.Does Brady Austin(6'3'', 232lb D-man, 26) have a path back to the NHL? Lead Kladno in goals and points this season, 43 pts in 52 games.
Ok. And now for something entirely heretic.
Would you trade Matthew Tkachuk and Doc Ryan to Buffalo for Jack Eichel and a 2nd? I included Ryan to more or less balance out the cap hit and send a C back in return. Tkachuk will still be an RFA at the end of his contract in 2021-22 and Eichel is signed until 2025-26.
Calgary has strength at LW with Gaudreau, Mangiapane, Dube, Bennett, Lucic and yes it would hurt parting with our future captain and power forward, but...
We'd have strength down the middle with Eichel, Monahan, Backlund, Jankowksi, and Gawdin. More if the Flames develop Dube or Bennett at C.
Not enough for Buffalo?
Edit: I floated this heretical idea, because I don't think Buffalo would have an interest in Monahan. They'd be more likely to bite on a bigger fish.
Not sure Buffalo gets enough here. As much as we love Matty (or I do), this might not be enough in their minds. Eichel is a stud - so I think we'd need to add like a 1st or a young D to entice them.Ok. And now for something entirely heretic.
Would you trade Matthew Tkachuk and Doc Ryan to Buffalo for Jack Eichel and a 2nd? I included Ryan to more or less balance out the cap hit and send a C back in return. Tkachuk will still be an RFA at the end of his contract in 2021-22 and Eichel is signed until 2025-26.
Calgary has strength at LW with Gaudreau, Mangiapane, Dube, Bennett, Lucic and yes it would hurt parting with our future captain and power forward, but...
We'd have strength down the middle with Eichel, Monahan, Backlund, Jankowksi, and Gawdin. More if the Flames develop Dube or Bennett at C.
Not enough for Buffalo?
Edit: I floated this heretical idea, because I don't think Buffalo would have an interest in Monahan. They'd be more likely to bite on a bigger fish.
I was thinking a return for Ryan. Ok. Drop the pick coming back. Do you think trading a 22 year old power winger and a pretty good 3C is enough for a 23 year old 1C?Why is Buffalo giving a 2nd? We need to add a 1st and Hanifin.
I'd figure for this to work thing end up along the lines of Tkachuk + Hanifin + 1st would get them real enticed, but that's without anything coming back and I can't see the Flames getting anything extra out of an Eichel deal, at least not a Cozens level prospectI was thinking a return for Ryan. Ok. Drop the pick coming back. Do you think trading a 22 year old power winger and a pretty good 3C is enough for a 23 year old 1C?
Edit: Or do we broaden the deal and add D prospect, .e.g. Valimaki (remember I'm talking a heretical deal!) for a Cozens? Or Risto?
If, a big if, Flames are looking to move on from Johnny Little Hockey, I would strongly consider offering Sean Monahan with him to Ottawa for:I would just keep Gaudreau and run down his contract at this point. COVID has turned the offseason into even more of a buyers market so I don't think it's worth trading him. Tkachuk isn't good enough to be our #1LW yet
Monahan
Hanifin
First 2020
Pelletier
Zavgo/Pospisil/Ruzicka
for Eichel
gotta get that #1C
Memoriability sake? Like collecting a 'relick"?Why would they even want him? Lucid turns 32 this June and he has 3 years left on his contract at $5.25M per.
Then we could offer Johnny Hockey-AndrewMangiapane-Sam Bennett and maybe O Kylington for: Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson and maybe VitlayIf there is a chance in getting Rossi for Monahan, I would do it all the way.
I wonder if Montreal would part with Gallagher and either Caufield or Ryan Poehling for Johnny?Pretty much. Some people still think coots could be had for him lmfao.
Reality is Calgary is in a very precarious spot with this core. Not enough high end assets but too good to tank. Also the potential for Tkachuk to be a ufa a year after Gaudreau brings about the total nightmare scenario for flames fans.
If Gaudreau is out I’d dump Monahan ASAP. The limited sample size away from him has largely been disasterous, and he sure as hell cannot carry wingers less capable than him.
U forgot that Tkachuk guy. Honestly Eichel and JG don't even work that we'll tgt, play Eichel with Tkachuk and have Lindholm and Backlund with JG. Gives 2 legit scoring lines.Wow. That's a full-package offer for a singular star.
What would Flames look like now:
Johnny Hockey-Jack Eichel-hmmm a"RW'er"?Maybe Rookie G Gawdin?
AMangy-Backsman-Lindy
Lucic-Ryan- Bennett
??Lw-DillonDube-Eetu Tuuloa(Rookie) or Matthew Phillips(R) or Adam
Ruzicka (R) or Buddy Robinson (R)
Johnny would have to be on his game again Eichel would likely double-shift all over the place. Kinda of crazy?? In my opinion but...?
Hughes is probably only available for Mony & Gaudreau! Way too much for not enough return, even if Hughes turns into Eichel#2 and Patrick Kane level career.What? Ridiculous. Tkachuk was hands down our best forward this year.
Trading Johnny is imperative if we lose again IMO. Running down his contract is the most asinine thing I have ever heard. If we don't have playoff success this season, the odds of Gaudreau resigning slip to nil. At that point we have to maximize that asset's value to this franchise.
Gaudreau has a value contract relative to his production. He'll have 1 more year left at that rate. He has plenty of value, especially to a team who believes they would have a good shot at retaining him. I'm still eyeing buffalo (looking to make Eichel happy, has plenty of pieces) or NJ (ownership wants results on a quicker timeline than bottom feeding allows) as good candidates. Both have a strong shot at retaining Gaudreau post contract as well.
From Buffalo I would want the package to be around Cozens. Using the Niewendyk trade as an example, I would look for Cozens+Montour for Gaudreau.
NJ is a bit more difficult. They have 3 1st round picks though. I would ask them for two of those, and Zacha. Alternately, I would be very interested in Hughes+ Subban for Gaudreau
Wow. That's a full-package offer for a singular star.
What would Flames look like now:
Johnny Hockey-Jack Eichel-hmmm a"RW'er"?Maybe Rookie G Gawdin?
AMangy-Backsman-Lindy
Lucic-Ryan- Bennett
??Lw-DillonDube-Eetu Tuuloa(Rookie) or Matthew Phillips(R) or Adam
Ruzicka (R) or Buddy Robinson (R)
Johnny would have to be on his game again Eichel would likely double-shift all over the place. Kinda of crazy?? In my opinion but...?
Instead of core players, what about support players?
Is there some combo of Bennett/Mangiapane/Janko/futures that makes sense for targeting someone like Risto or Montour? This helps Buffalo up front, reduces a slight forward logjam/LW logjam for us and upgrades our d depth + RD + options away from Brodie and Hamonic if that's what direction we are heading at.
The question is whether it is problematic from an expansion POV.
Is there some combo of Bennett/Mangiapane/Janko/futures that makes sense for targeting someone like Risto or Montour? This helps Buffalo up front, reduces a slight forward logjam/LW logjam for us and upgrades our d depth + RD + options away from Brodie and Hamonic if that's what direction we are heading at.
Not really though? Has any superstar gotten two top line players and a mid/top pairing defensemen with big upside? If that's what it takes no one is getting Eichel (Which is realistic, but this isn't even an offer Botteril could throw out as a joke)If Calgary wanted Eichel, it would take...
Tkachuk
Monahan
Andersson
For
Jack Eichel
In no way do I want to touch Ristolainen from the Sabres. I don't see value in him even for someone like Bennett. Montour is a maybe, I don't know him that well, but anyone considering Ristolainen as someone to trade for needs to check themselves.