Welcome back to another edition of CapFriendly Friday! If you are unfamiliar with CapFriendly Friday, it involves looking at trade proposals on CapFriendly.com‘s Armchair GM feature. The Armchair GM feature let’s users become the GM of their team, and make whatever moves they see fit.
Last week, we looked at deals involving John Klingberg, Anthony Duclair, and Alex DeBrincat. The team wasn’t in a playoff spot then. Now, with one weeks to go until the 2022-23 NHL Trade Deadline, the Flames still find themselves outside of the playoff picture, and things are getting dire. This next week is extremely important, but right now, the Flames are in a pickle. The majority of fans seem to think that the team will still add, in an attempt to save the season. But, spending assets for rental players with a chance to miss is always risky.
Before you read on, check out our Q&A with CapFriendly to get insights on the inner workings of the site and some fun stories all about NHL contracts.
As you can probably imagine, some of these CapFriendly Friday proposals get our minds thinking and might make sense at the NHL level, while others are just straight up bonkers. I like to cover a little bit of both, so sit back, grab a snack, relax, and let’s laugh as we dive into some trade proposals. The trade proposals this week are leaning more towards the selling end, including pieces like Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin, Jacob Markstrom, and Tyler Toffoli. Let’s start with a trade proposal involving the Flames and Kings:
Calgary trades Markstrom and Toffoli for a futures package
Let’s start with a wacky proposal. I love trades like this because they’ll never happen, but they are incredibly fun. If the Flames want to retool, starting with Byfield, Grans, Kupari, and a 1st. This would be a homerun deal for Brad Treliving, as Quinton Byfield has so much potential. Although, getting rid of Toffoli would hurt. This will never happen, both because of Markstrom’s NMC and because it’s simply bonkers, but I love it.
Calgary trades picks for Holl
Absolutely not. The Flames are in no position to give up two draft picks, one very high, for a rental defenceman. If it’s only the 2024 6th for Holl, then I don’t have a problem. Toronto might want to clear up cap space to make another move, so it would make sense to make this deal, but this price is simply too high.
Calgary trades Lindholm and Markstrom to the Red Wings for a futures package
Another proposal trending towards rebuilding. I think Calgary could probably get a better return for both Markstrom and Lindholm, especially if they have to retain 1.5M on Markstrom for the next three seasons. The three picks are nice, as well as the three young players. If Detroit upgraded on their prospects, it would make more sense for them, but moving Lindholm and Markstrom would create a lot of cap flexibility for the Flames. Either way, hard to see either team making this move.
Calgary trades Hanifin to the Kings for a package of futures
This is a trade I would do in an instant. Hanifin is a UFA after the 2023-2024 season, and I’m not sure committing to more long-term contracts is the play for Calgary. In this deal, Calgary gets a promising prospect in Turcotte, as well as future picks. Assuming Oliver Kylington returns next season, the Flames will have a left side of Weegar, Kylington, and Zadorov already. Moving Hanifin for a big return could make some sense for future flexibility.
Calgary trades Lindholm to Colorado for a huge package of futures
This exact proposal has been floating around in Flames circles, as it makes a lot of sense for both teams. The Avalanche are looking for a 2nd line centre, and what better than getting Elias Lindholm at a great cap hit for this year and next. In return, the Flames get a young forward in Newhook, a young defenceman in Byram, as well as a 1st round pick. If the Flames want to retool and gain some cap flexibility into the future, this deal makes a lot of sense.
Calgary acts as a third party broker in a Patrick Kane deal
I proposed the Flames do a deal similar like this yesterday, where they use their cap space effectively. If the Flames aren’t going to buy at the deadline, they might as well use their cap space effectively, and act as a third party broker. Minnesota did this last week in the Ryan O’Reilly deal, where they got a free draft pick for eating salary cap space, and again yesterday in the Dmitry Orlov deal. In doing both trades, they received a free 2025 4th rounder, and a 2023 5th rounder, for nothing. If the Flames were to do this deal as this user suggests, I would be over the moon. I’m not sure they could get as high as a third in this deal, but they could very likely get a 4th or 5th. And they should absolutely do that to recoup a draft pick.
One week out
No one knows what is up Brad Treliving’s sleeve. The Flames find themselves in a position where they could just as easily buy, sell, or just stand pat. I would imagine a low buy is the position they will take, as with each loss their playoff chances fall. It doesn’t help that the teams they are chasing seem to be catching a stride, either. Whatever the case, there are no shortage of options forTreliving to consider.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
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