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Calgary Flames Roundtable: Late-season collapse

By Ramina Shlah

WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 5: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets raises his stick in celebration after teammate Paul Stastny #25 deflects the puck past goaltender Jon Gillies #32 of the Calgary Flames for a second period goal at the Bell MTS Place on April 5, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 5: Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Winnipeg Jets raises his stick in celebration after teammate Paul Stastny #25 deflects the puck past goaltender Jon Gillies #32 of the Calgary Flames for a second period goal at the Bell MTS Place on April 5, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 25 2017: (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 25 2017: (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Question four: GM Brad Treliving reportedly told the other GMs at a meeting last week that he’s planning on trading for a first round pick, do you think that’s a good idea?

Jonathan Boulanger

I want to see changes, but smart changes. Trading for a first round pick is a good idea, but in today’s day and age it will cost you an arm and a leg so Treliving needs to be very careful with what he gives up in an effort to acquire one. His eyes were clearly bigger than his stomach when he traded for Travis Hamonic last summer, which is why the team is without a first rounder this year in the first place. Moves like that are what create perennial NHL basement dwellers. Be careful, Brad.

Ian Gustafson

I think there are positives and negatives to it. Getting a first rounder could provide more depth to the team but at the same time the Flames already have so many great prospects in Stockton and some up with the team right now. It’s a question of is it really worth it? I’d rather they try to get more depth wingers.

Tomas Oppolzer

Yes, the draft is the easiest way to build up talent and the 1st round is the best place to do that. If they can trade someone like Hamonic, Brodie, or Sam Bennett for a mid-to-late 1st rounder that would be huge.

Related Story: Flames Daily - Trading for a first round pick?

Benjamin Prokopy

Not really.  The Flames have more immediate needs than can be acquired at the draft.  The need for more scoring among bottom 6 forwards has been well documented, for instance.  Put another way, the team needs help now.  Best to use their limited trade assets for an NHL-ready player.

I do enjoy the prospect (pun intended) of drafting players such as Brady Tkachuk or Filip Zadina.  Players like that, however, are projected to be drafted very early and will only be traded at an extreme premium.  I’m not sure any team selecting within the top 10 of the draft is likely to part with their selection.  That leaves Treliving to more realistically deal with teams selecting more towards the middle or the bottom of the draft.  Obviously, the talent is thinner as the draft deepens.  And this team does not need another player in Stockton right now.

There is also the notion of cost.  Realistically, a first round selection will cost the Flames high end players.  The obvious trade targets would be Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Dougie Hamilton and, perhaps, Matthew Tkachuk.  Those players are, in my mind, simply too much to part with for a pick which may not ultimately improve the team.

Brad, if you’re reading, please leave the draft alone.

Dan Raicevich

Not really sure. Depends where in the first round you would like to make that selection or what you are targeting. But to draft in the first round for the sake of it is not a good strategy.

Treliving is going to have a good amount of work to do this summer in order to make this team better from a compete level perspective and add skill at the forward spot.

Ramina Shlah

I agree with the option for a winger over a first-round pick. The Flames right now don’t necessarily need a total rebuild, just a couple of hinges need tightening here and there. They need a consistent top-six RW and they need some help with their secondary scoring. Spencer Foo may be able to help with one of those problems, but if Treliving is going to make a big trade, I’d prefer a top-six forward.

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