Who's your Winners and Losers?

@thehuntman

I hear what you're saying, Huntman...with only next year left on his contract ($5.9MIL cap hit) the Flames will be in the same position next season trying to re-sign a top line player who may not want to stay up north after the sand and sea in Florida.  Flames have a chance to keep him, being born and raised Quebecois with French his first language.  Doubt the Canadians would be able to offer anybody in a trade if he decides he wants to go back to his native province.  He can just play out the string as you suggest and field UFA offers from whomever.  Looks like it'll be "groundhog day" all over again after next season.  Big tax hit as well (33% Canadian federal and he'll be paying sliding scale from 10% to 15% Alberta tax on his earnings)...ouch!!!  Doc said it in one of his threads...Calgary mgmt...Burke (Dir. Hockey Ops) and GM Treliving...doing a terrible job.  And they have 3 asst. GMs and Don Maloney (SVP Hockey Ops and a pretty good player in his time).  If they ever tried brainstorming, that bunch sure as heck didn't get the proper result.  How crazy would it be if he re-signs with the Panthers after next season?

Hey guys...I realize my sentence about the Flames having a chance to keep Huberdeau because he's Quebecois sounded stupid on its face lol.  After posting I was gonna edit but let it slide.  I do recall reading over the years about the "two Canadas", and I did realize when I wrote it that a Quebecois in Alberta is not exactly "coming home" (if he actually wanted to).

I was just trying to say that at least he's back in Canada from the Flames management's perspective and they can have a 50-50 shot "hoping" he'll stay in Canada after next season and sign on long-term.

Who knows, maybe GM Treliving is already planning for a trade mid/late next season sending Huberdeau to a playoff contender looking for scoring in return for a Canadian player the Flames can sign long term.  Willie Nylander is Calgary born and the rumor was the Leafs were thinking about moving Nylander and his almost $7MIL AAV.  Taylor Hall is also a son of Calgary.  His numbers are way down last few seasons (including injuries and covid years) but he could also be a very good fit in Calgary, and he was the league MVP in 2018.

Cheers

@thehuntman

@thehuntman

 He knows they can't beat the Oilers. That's why turtle left as well.

Winners: 

Red Wings Tops

Senators 2nd

Tampa 3rd as they went under the radar to me. They quietly made moves.

Canes

Blue Jackets because they kept Johnny away from Isles and NJD. Also Blue Jackets have a nice roster to me. 

Sabres I believe have the potential to step it up big time this season. Now it appears like a reliable goalie has arrived.

Oilers. Another year together with that kind of skill set. 

Losers

Flyers = Not sure what the plan is in Philly

Vegas = Relying too much on Jack. Their window is closing fast

Question marks:

Flames. Lots can go well but it can also turn into a shit season. 

Caps. I think they were quiet and made the right moves but they are also getting old like Pens. Lots of young talent in Metro to compete with I think both teams will have a difficult time with some of these opponents like Canes.

I think it would be extremely difficult to go against these teams:

Tampa

Avalanche

Canes

Oilers