Trevor Neufeld: Catching Up: Obscure stats & trends - Solving a problem like Kuzmenko

Thanks Trevor.
Flames still don’t have an answer for Olivier, guy is one of, if not the toughest guy in the league. Guys will be watching for him all night.

This team looks tired and uninterested the last 4 games. I don’t know how you can play uninspired hockey for 54 minutes, then turn up the heat and score 2 quick goals and expect to win anything. Goalies getting hung out to dry, I’m sure one will get an injury trying to save this team.

I would like to see Kuznetsov or Solovyov called up as well, our bottom guy isn’t cutting it and Miromanov could use a spot in the press box.

Time to make a move, we need to shake up our center position. How can we be so terrible at faceoffs?

I’d expect this next game to be a very emotional one with the Gadreaus in the house.
Go Flames!

Thanks Trevor.
Flames still don’t have an answer for Olivier, guy is one of, if not the toughest guy in the league. Guys will be watching for him all night.

This team looks tired and uninterested the last 4 games. I don’t know how you can play uninspired hockey for 54 minutes, then turn up the heat and score 2 quick goals and expect to win anything. Goalies getting hung out to dry, I’m sure one will get an injury trying to save this team.

I would like to see Kuznetsov or Solovyov called up as well, our bottom guy isn’t cutting it and Miromanov could use a spot in the press box.

Time to make a move, we need to shake up our center position. How can we be so terrible at faceoffs?

I’d expect this next game to be a very emotional one with the Gadreaus in the house.
Go Flames!
- K-man25

Time to find out how bad Walker wants to stay with the big team. Lol

Flames are pretty good when they get a couple days off. Bounced back after last four game losing streak. Bet they show up.

Time to find out how bad Walker wants to stay with the big team. Lol

Flames are pretty good when they get a couple days off. Bounced back after last four game losing streak. Bet they show up.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

I agree the Flames will show up but Walker is no match for Olivier.

I agree the Flames will show up but Walker is no match for Olivier.
- K-man25

Dont think Pelts is going to clear waivers again so he's probably up to stay.

Time to find out how bad Walker wants to stay with the big team. Lol

Flames are pretty good when they get a couple days off. Bounced back after last four game losing streak. Bet they show up.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

Trevor lots & lots of chatter about Kadri going to Leafs. Personally, I am for it & Flames need to bury the vendetta on this one with the d!ck moves Treliving did his last year.

Leafs need help navigating the cap hit on this one, I would be ok with eating 2.0 mill per for the next 4 years & taking back Jankrok with 2.1 mill left on another year after this if it means we get their 2025 1st or Minten. Otherwise that is going to be one hard contract to move.

Trevor lots & lots of chatter about Kadri going to Leafs. Personally, I am for it & Flames need to bury the vendetta on this one with the d!ck moves Treliving did his last year.

Leafs need help navigating the cap hit on this one, I would be ok with eating 2.0 mill per for the next 4 years & taking back Jankrok with 2.1 mill left on another year after this if it means we get their 2025 1st or Minten. Otherwise that is going to be one hard contract to move.
- Kevin R

You have to imagine that the Flames would improve by trading him. He’s been brutal lately. Being sheltered down the lineup in Toronto could be just what the doctor ordered.

You have to imagine that the Flames would improve by trading him. He’s been brutal lately. Being sheltered down the lineup in Toronto could be just what the doctor ordered.
- Trevor_Neufeld_

Its funny, the site that gives value for retention say the value of a 50% retention of $3.5 mill for 4 years is a top 15 1st rounder. Obviously Leafs dont have that & giving them Kadri, I would imagine their 1st wont be any better than a mid twenties pick. So many Flame fans think the price of eating one of our retentions for the next 4 years needs more than a Minten or the leafs later 1st. Valid argument, but Markstrom only has 1 more year after this, so that comes off. We lost the Mantha option & Kuzmenko may be the only one we would need to eat at the trade deadline. I think people put too much stock in that 3 retention slots. But thats just me. Why I cut back the retention to $2.0mill & take back Jankrok for another $2.1 & he's a centre which wouldnt be that bad of a thing.

Its funny, the site that gives value for retention say the value of a 50% retention of $3.5 mill for 4 years is a top 15 1st rounder. Obviously Leafs dont have that & giving them Kadri, I would imagine their 1st wont be any better than a mid twenties pick. So many Flame fans think the price of eating one of our retentions for the next 4 years needs more than a Minten or the leafs later 1st. Valid argument, but Markstrom only has 1 more year after this, so that comes off. We lost the Mantha option & Kuzmenko may be the only one we would need to eat at the trade deadline. I think people put too much stock in that 3 retention slots. But thats just me. Why I cut back the retention to $2.0mill & take back Jankrok for another $2.1 & he's a centre which wouldnt be that bad of a thing.
- Kevin R

They talk about getting rid of the players who do not want to be a Flame. I don't think Kadri wants to be here. Find a way to get rid of him already.

Kuzmenko sitting. Hopefully Duer and Pelts will contribute putting pressure on Kuz to pick it up.

Flames need a big man to help protect the youth. Zary takes hits all the time with no answers from the team (other than Lombo).

Hopefully they hang Johnny's jersey in the rafters tonight with his family there.

They talk about getting rid of the players who do not want to be a Flame. I don't think Kadri wants to be here. Find a way to get rid of him already.
- DuranDuran

Some Leaf fans want him back, some don't.

If the Flames and Leafs can make the money work this year, the other 3 will be easier to digest with the cap increasing...

At this point I don't see Cowan or Minten available.

Because of the familiarity, I suspect the chatter will continue.

Its funny, the site that gives value for retention say the value of a 50% retention of $3.5 mill for 4 years is a top 15 1st rounder. Obviously Leafs dont have that & giving them Kadri, I would imagine their 1st wont be any better than a mid twenties pick. So many Flame fans think the price of eating one of our retentions for the next 4 years needs more than a Minten or the leafs later 1st. Valid argument, but Markstrom only has 1 more year after this, so that comes off. We lost the Mantha option & Kuzmenko may be the only one we would need to eat at the trade deadline. I think people put too much stock in that 3 retention slots. But thats just me. Why I cut back the retention to $2.0mill & take back Jankrok for another $2.1 & he's a centre which wouldnt be that bad of a thing.
- Kevin R

Leafs are already projected about 4.4M over the cap once guys come off LTIR. They can't afford to take on Kadri at 3.5-4am, and don't have a 1st this year. And pretty sure they're not interested in trading their top prospects as they need minimum contracts going forward if they want to retain Mitch and The Snake. Yes it could be made to happen, but I don't see it making sense to them in the long or short term.

Its funny, the site that gives value for retention say the value of a 50% retention of $3.5 mill for 4 years is a top 15 1st rounder. Obviously Leafs dont have that & giving them Kadri, I would imagine their 1st wont be any better than a mid twenties pick. So many Flame fans think the price of eating one of our retentions for the next 4 years needs more than a Minten or the leafs later 1st. Valid argument, but Markstrom only has 1 more year after this, so that comes off. We lost the Mantha option & Kuzmenko may be the only one we would need to eat at the trade deadline. I think people put too much stock in that 3 retention slots. But thats just me. Why I cut back the retention to $2.0mill & take back Jankrok for another $2.1 & he's a centre which wouldnt be that bad of a thing.
- Kevin R

What do you mean by this? There’s no reason to trade Kuzmenko unless it’s for a player. We can simply let his contract run out and move on if we can’t find someone to take a chance on him.
I don’t mind retaining on Kadri but would rather work something out with Vladar and Kadri to the Avs. Conroy better make the move soon cause once Ritchie shows his worth at the WJ he’ll be off the board.
I see the Jets recalled Lambert, would still like Conroy to inquire about him or Yager.
Maybe that’s where Rasmus fits in.

Some Leaf fans want him back, some don't.

If the Flames and Leafs can make the money work this year, the other 3 will be easier to digest with the cap increasing...

At this point I don't see Cowan or Minten available.

Because of the familiarity, I suspect the chatter will continue.
- aries1976

Sorry but Treliving left this team in such a mess, it would have to be a home run deal for the Flames to make me feel good. 😊 I’m sure he wants the fans to approve any deal for last years leading scorer.

Sorry but Treliving left this team in such a mess, it would have to be a home run deal for the Flames to make me feel good. 😊 I’m sure he wants the fans to approve any deal for last years leading scorer.
- K-man25

And sometimes you'll have to accept a bunt single to get an overpaid player off your roster....

What do you mean by this? There’s no reason to trade Kuzmenko unless it’s for a player. We can simply let his contract run out and move on if we can’t find someone to take a chance on him.
I don’t mind retaining on Kadri but would rather work something out with Vladar and Kadri to the Avs. Conroy better make the move soon cause once Ritchie shows his worth at the WJ he’ll be off the board.
I see the Jets recalled Lambert, would still like Conroy to inquire about him or Yager.
Maybe that’s where Rasmus fits in.
- K-man25

If Kuzmenko can get any kind of flash going & add some trade value then great. I'm not sure I would want to extend him so yes we can let him walk at the end of the year or we can eat 50% & try to get a 3rd round pick or something for him at the trade deadline.

Leafs are already projected about 4.4M over the cap once guys come off LTIR. They can't afford to take on Kadri at 3.5-4am, and don't have a 1st this year. And pretty sure they're not interested in trading their top prospects as they need minimum contracts going forward if they want to retain Mitch and The Snake. Yes it could be made to happen, but I don't see it making sense to them in the long or short term.
- wreckage

No doubt & they would definitely need to do cap gymnastics, probably why any kind of trade like this wont happen until close to the trade deadline. But here's the thing, if Leafs feel that strongly that Kadri is a missing playoff piece for their top 9, their window is slowly closing with this core group. So either a Minten or Cowan or it would have to be a 2026 1st then the Leafs would have to attach to whatever other moving pieces to make cap work. There is no way Flames will eat that kind of cap for 4 years & not get at least 1 premium piece coming back. Flames dont need to trade Kadri & there are other teams that could be in play for him. It's just not me posting this, there is a lot of smoke out there & when there's smoke you generally will find some fire.