Quote:
Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34
Maybe I'm reading into this because I haven't read ALL your posts in this thread.
But are you seriously placing the burden of blame on The Flames' shoulder in this whole debacle? I seriously hope not, I'm not narrow-minded enough to think this rest solely on the Erixon camp, but it does rest largely on it.
|
I am just saying that if the Flames did not have a hint that this was coming then they are not to the management level that is required to get a winning hockey team.
However I do not believe that they were caught with their pants as far down as it seems.
I think that they got near fair market value for Erixon that wouldn't have happened had it really been a 30 minute from the deadline offer by Sather.
The NYR offer had to be enough to keep the Flames from pressing the league for for tampering.
There had to be tampering as you don't give 2 seconds and a prospect for a 30 minute negotiation period that you don't have assurances that Erixon will sign.
If Erixon figured he would go top 3 in this draft he ends up with a couple million/year in bonuses for his 3 year ELC.
He didn't go to the Rangers in the last 30 minutes and say he wanted the same contract as Hall or Doughty
There was no way that the Flames could have traded Erixon to say Columbus for 2 seconds and a prospect when Erixon simply might not have signed with them either.
The NHL (if it was major league) would hold a tampering inquiry and find out when Erixon negotiated with the Rangers...... (likely the Flames gave prior permission to see if they could match or better the offer)
If the Flames did not give Erixon permission to negotiate, the trade should stand and Erixon's contract with the Rangers voided and Erixon put back into the draft.
Erixon is not totally to blame and there is a chance that he did not go out of his way to screw the Flames.
We never will know who knew what when.