Unlikely, I know. But, just some theories. Flames will lose Dmen, and could use a top pairing young dman, locked long-term, as Ekblad.
Ekblad is the center piece for Calgary and straight up it is a fair deal for Gaudreau, who has been a but on the outs for the Flames. Flames can also use goaltending depth, and Monty could potentially be a very solid goalie. He has no chance in Florida as Bobrovsky will get playing time, Drieder was solid, and Spencer Knight is soon to be ready. Vatrano is a supplemental goal scorer, and with Monty for Sam Bennett it makes it a fair deal.
Trade with CBJ is an intriguing idea. Wennberg and Anderson have been on the block for Columbus. Panthers could use Wennberg and give him a chance to redeem himself. Anderson, same. He has the size, which is much needed in Florida, and both Wennberg and Anderson could work out with Quenneville. It's a risky move, but Columbus gets rid of two players they no longer want, and newly hired GM Zito may like to give them that chance in Florida.
Matheson to Ottawa is a contract dump. Ottawa needs to raise the cap, they have few dmen, and could give Matheson a chance to pick up where he left off when he looked to be a stud with the Panthers.
Panthers do not need Stralman. I am a Stralman fan, but the D needs to be more mobile. Brodie would be helpful offensively, making up a bit from losing Ekblad.
This Panthers roster adds new faces, new skill, bigger size. The down side is a questionable right winger depth column, but the left wing does enhance the line overall.
Ottawa hard declines, Matheson sucks and is signed for 6 more years, which is 4 too long for cap dumps we’re willing to take. And you didn’t even try to tempt with the multiple 1sts it would take? Come on now
Also Johnny is not on the outs with the Flames organization at all, and we’re looking for a good goalie, not a 3rd stringer
Ottawa hard declines, Matheson sucks and is signed for 6 more years, which is 4 too long for cap dumps we’re willing to take. And you didn’t even try to tempt with the multiple 1sts it would take? Come on now
Also Johnny is not on the outs with the Flames organization at all, and we’re looking for a good goalie, not a 3rd stringer
His cap is not high, and if he turns it around when he was as good as that contract projected him to be, then it is a steal.
A few rumors have Johnny out of favor, but hence why I said "unlikely". Flames could still get a good goalie. There are a handful of good UFA goalies and some goalies on the trade block.
Panthers need defense so there isn’t a reason to trade ekblad for two forwards
They need help up front if they're losing Hoffman and Dadonov, and I think they will because they will go to the highest bidder. Brodie is added, and they have some new young dmen to use.
His cap is not high, and if he turns it around when he was as good as that contract projected him to be, then it is a steal.
A few rumors have Johnny out of favor, but hence why I said "unlikely". Flames could still get a good goalie. There are a handful of good UFA goalies and some goalies on the trade block.
5mil is significant, it’s worse than Zaitsev and Johnson and for much MUCH longer, you’re betting a lot on him rebounding and that would financially cripple Ottawa (it also clogs up the right side with Zaitsev and Matheson for 4+ years when we have Brannstrom, JBD, and Thomson all gonna challenge for a spot either this year or next)
Disregarding the trade itself, Zito was CBJ’s negotiator. He’d have to know that the minimum Ferris will accept for Josh Anderson is the qualifying offer ($2.1M), and there’s a reasonable chance he takes them to arbitration for more.
Disregarding the trade itself, Zito was CBJ’s negotiator. He’d have to know that the minimum Ferris will accept for Josh Anderson is the qualifying offer ($2.1M), and there’s a reasonable chance he takes them to arbitration for more.
Replace Toninato with this year’s first (at minimum, the second-rounder, but Zito knows how good Andy really is) and this gets done
They need help up front if they're losing Hoffman and Dadonov, and I think they will because they will go to the highest bidder. Brodie is added, and they have some new young dmen to use.
Panthers dont have any good new young dman. I’d rather have a way better defense and a questionable offense look at the nyi and somewhat Dallas. You can find fill ins on offense in ufa but there isn’t many top 2 d man in ufa. Ekblad would have to return a top d prospect also
5mil is significant, it’s worse than Zaitsev and Johnson and for much MUCH longer, you’re betting a lot on him rebounding and that would financially cripple Ottawa (it also clogs up the right side with Zaitsev and Matheson for 4+ years when we have Brannstrom, JBD, and Thomson all gonna challenge for a spot either this year or next)