Updates on the Flames, plus the latest on Dustin Byfuglien and Luke Schenn in your NHL rumor mill.
No big trade for the Flames?
It doesn’t appear help is coming for the struggling Calgary Flames via the trade market.
CALGARY SUN: Wes Gilbertson reports Flames GM Brad Treliving, appearing on TSN 1200 in Ottawa, cautioned that trades usually aren’t the answer for a struggling team like his. “Going out and just saying, ‘Ok, you’re going to trade your way out of slumps or trade your way out of issues,’ it’s just not realistic,” Treliving said. “We’re not out there trying to blow up our team and do all these sorts of things. At the end of the day, we’ve got a really good group here. We’ve just got to get everybody to play better, more consistently, longer. And that’s the challenge here for us right now.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, there’s no deals to be found that can help the Flames right now, so they’re going to have to suck it up and start playing better. Treliving probably wasn’t planning on blowing up his roster, but a number of respected media sources ( notably TSN’s Bob McKenzie, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman) claimed he was working the phones looking for help over the past couple of weeks. The problem for every struggling team this early in the season is there aren’t many decent trade partners to choose from, since most GMs are still evaluating their rosters in October. With most teams also possessing limited salary-cap space, that makes early-season deals even tougher to find.
Could the Wings pursue Byfuglien?
ESPN.COM: Responding to a reader’s question if the Detroit Red Wings could pursue Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, John Bucciogross said he doubts they go in that direction. Citing Byfuglien’s UFA status at season’s end, he notes the high cost of re-signing him (possibly $7 million annually) and doesn’t consider Big Buff as an organizational pillar.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I concur with Buccigross’ take, and I also don’t believe the Jets are planning on moving Byfuglien anytime soon. Much will depend upon where they are in the standings come the Feb. 29 trade deadline. If they’re out of playoff contention, they’ll likely try to trade Byfuglien, but if they’re still in the playoff hunt, I believe they’ll keep him, even at the risk of losing him to free agency in July.
Update on Luke Schenn.
TODAY’S SLAPSHOT’s Chris Nichols recently cited Sportsnet’s Elliott Friedman regarding the trade status of Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn. Friedman claims the Flyers “have been trying to deal Luke Schenn for awhile and there just aren’t takers.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Considering there are teams currently believed to be seeking defensemen (notably Boston and Columbus), it’s apparent Schenn’s stock has significantly fallen over the past year. He’s been a healthy scratch through half of the Flyers’ games thus far, and his $3.6 million cap hit is difficult to move right now.
” … TSN’s Bob McKenzie, ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman) claimed he was working the phones looking for help over the past couple of weeks…”
I have to believe Treliving. I mean, why would HE contact those three and say he was trying to make a deal knowing full well it would be in their column or whatever the next day? And then deny it? Makes no sense. So, from where are they getting their information? From those Treliving called? Why would they reveal any such information? To what end? I have always thought guys like McKenzie, LeBrun, Friedman (and Garrioch) simply assess the line-up of a struggling team, see where the glaring weaknesses lie and then, figuring that’s what THEY would do (much like we do here) state that in their columns (or whatever) as fact. Maybe they hit the bullseye often enough to lend credibility to their suppositions. Who knows?
I have no first hand knowledge on this but in no way shape or form do the better “insiders” just make up rumors from analyzing teams rosters. That stuff is for amateurs like Eklund. The best media guys really have sources and are connected. They know which persons to call to find out availability of players that has been discussed or offered around the league. Sources discuss people like “young top 4 D offered from Buffalo” or something and the rest is really self explanatory for the “insider” regarding who it pertains to. That way both keep their integrity. I don’t think “insiders” take guesses totally out of the blue, unless they are on TV and asked to do a speculative piece on trades – but that is another thing.
They’re called insider for a reason, people thru out the league know they can be trusted. Have you ever watched draft day or trade deadline day on TSN. How often have you heard the player say they heard about it on tsn first or they watch the show. This is because they have reliable sources and don’t throw them under the bus. I agree that the GM doesn’t call them and say “hey just letting you know, my team stinks right now and im trying to make a trade; wondering who willing to deal; can you tell me Bob?”
haha you believe the GM over Mckenzie Lebrun and Friedman? haha oh boy
haha, yes I do. Haha
George when I GM of any team makes a decision to phone another team about a possible player or gets a call about a player or even discusses any player with another teams GM do you not think that the common practice would,be to discuss any possible moves with a group/committee with in you own organization,
Talk to the coach, the assistant GM, your scouts, any player advisor they hire. The owner, have a meeting, discuss various players around the league, who is desirable, who is available, results of any discussions eight other GMs, other GM’s demands, what else could you offer. Etc etc.
Since I would think here would be a group with in any organization that has knowledge on any such trade possibility it isn’t a far reach that one of the members of such a group would talk to another in the organization and somewhere in all this he “media insider” makes contact, grows a relationship and verifies anything. They are told by a second reliable source and then goes on air and tells us they hear team A is looking to pick up such a player and hear there are talks with Team B regarding player A.
Sorry for the typos.
How would you know it wasnt the other team that was the source? Or if a third teams employee leaked it? If teams are reciving offers for a player for the most part I could see a bit of a shopping process being involved where they may see if they get a better or similar offer….you could try and figure out the source but chances are you would be like a dog chasing its tail.
Another source of info that these “insiders” might have is player agents… doesn’t take much for an agent to let it leak that a certain GM called his players team to inquire if that player is available.
I have no doubt you’re exactly right. I was talking about the GM informing the media. And I asked why would he do that? To what end? If I’m an owner/GM and I even get in inkling details are being leaked to the media, I call everyone together and tell them flat out that there will be an investigation and once the leak is identified they are immediately looking for a new job.
smoke and mirrors
Are GM’s trying to breach contracts in private – yes
Do they admit it once leaked and they can be reprimanded or sued – no
cue any Governemnt official as a role model of corruption and bad ethics
sorry lyle i brought up politics but caught myself to late
Does Cheveldayoff have some kind of unspoken no trade commitment? Seems he will only trade out draft picks. He wouldn’t even trade Kane until it got really ugly. And the goaltending situation he put up with for years, ugh. Ladd and Byfuglien are UFAs after this year, surely somethings gotta happen if they’re out of playoff contention. Can’t see them wanting to resign, but how would I know. And no I am not suggesting anything about the leafs, lol.
Man, if someone could reign in that Byfuglien he could be a real franchise player. His ego just seems to be a little bit bigger than the team.
Agreed but you have to respect the fact that he got a huge amount for Kane (plus). Winnipeg has an amazing amount of prospects coming up. Why not add to that and keep it going? If they got picks and prospects from someone how is that bad? They have one of the better d prospects, a ton of offensive ones and two of the best goalie prospects in the league. Keep that going. They will always have players to take spots if vets leave or if they move someone for more picks and prospects. They are one of the healthiest teams in the league
i was going to say the same.
also they are new (old) team without playoff performance, so they ow it top fan base as well as to keep afloat
additionally, owner loyalty goes a long way….although not a freat organizations, they have built respect and are trending up slowly but surely…
if it aint broken; don’;t fix it
“have been trying to deal Luke Schenn for awhile and there just aren’t takers.”
No surprise there. And that goes for a lot of players. Instead of Luke Schenn, it could read “insert X player here”. It’s hard to trade players before Christmas because of the cap. Rosters are already set. Quite a few UFAs got to experience the tough times themselves between July and late September as they still were on the outside looking in when hockey training camps began and had to accept PTOs to get a look.
Quite a few players are inherently NHLers, but find themselves in a strange situation where nobody would touch them with a 10-foot pole because of their current contracts. The current CBA is quite unflexible and eliminating bad contracts for a team is costly. I happen to like that, as there’s a lot of parity among playoff bound teams.
additionally, the players offered are average to below average, on bad teams.
if it was seabrook and the hawks rumored, you’d see a trade
I don’t think Boston is in a rush to trade for a dman. They have been playing better and will continue to evaluate Morrow and C. Miller both who have good speed and hockey smarts but not strong in their own end yet.
Agree Boston is all set on defense for the moment also have Siedenberg returning. Kids are looking pretty good. Unless they got someone like Byfuglien,Schenn isn’t much of a upgrade. Don’t have any cap space either unless someone would take Kelly.
I still have a soft spot for Schenn but man oh man he needs out of phili. It looks like this year he is going to collect money to watch games unless he gets moved. I would still take him in a heartbeat just to be a tough dman. I am blinded, admittedly, because I have a soft spot for him.
Why are Calgary and Philly no natural trading partners here? Luke Schenn goes to Calgary and Philly picks up some portion of his salary.
Schenn is only 25, so he could end up becoming an anchor for the rebuilding Flames defense. At the same time, he’s a UFA, so if it doesn’t work out, Calgary is not straddled with a bad contract.
the knock is speed and points.
a must for todays shiney hocky
Flames – I agree with Treliving, you can’t trade your way out of tough times, it never ends well for the team in the long run. That being said there are issues that need to be addressed. For starters, Dougie Hamilton has not played at all the way Calgary thought he would and Bob Hartley should make the tough choice and sit him a few games to get the message through. I called this one during the summer but thus far I don’t think Michael Frolik has had the $5 million dollar impact he was supposed to and could be a mistake further down road. Goaltending sad to say is another issue. Ortio doesn’t have the experience to carry the Flames, Hiller has been doing his best, and Ramo is flat out terrible. Another small factor which toes into Frolik is they need better secondary offense from their players. Hudler, Monahan, and Gaudreau can’t do it all. Mason Raymond has been quite the disappointment in that department.
Byfuglien – I can’t see Detroit going after him, with Mike Green and Niklas Kronwall on the backend, scoring isn’t an issue for them. They’re off targeting blueliners who will better help them defensively. That being send, Ken Holland isn’t also the person to overpay at the trade deadline for temporary help. Unlike most NHL teams (looking at you Toronto), Detroit values draft picks and young players and it has benefited them greatly.
Luke Schenn stinks. Package him and his disappointing brother and maybe someone will take them.