[Enoch Root]

So to summarize the 'experts' views on Hudler:

Plays 2nd line on the vaulted Red Wings, potting 25 goals. They don't re-sign him so he sucks. Calgary signs him so he is obviously over-valued and over-paid.

Calgary puts him on the 3rd line and the experts declare that the Flames lack talent.

Detroit, after losing the offense of Hudler, sign Brunner. Experts declare brilliant signing and say 'watch out for this guy - he led the Swiss league in scoring last year'.

Meanwhile, the Flames sign Cervenka - who was MUCH more sought after and was higher-touted - and they are grasping at straws and he is declared 'unproven'.

So Detroit loses a 2nd liner and their second highest goal scorer, and brings in a guy who has never playes in the NHL. Meanwhile, they lose a generational talent on defense. No worries -all good.

The Flames ADD that 2nd liner, as well as another player who any rational person has to rank at least as highly as Brunner, and puts both of these players on their 3rd line.

Meanwhile, instead of losing an all-world defenseman, the Flames add a top 3 defenseman that fills a massive hole they had - a RH shot to generate offense from the D.

Experts declare: Detroit will make the playoffs, Calgary does not have enough talent and should blow it up.

I don't suspect conspiracies or anything silly like that, but I do demand that they put in some kind of effort and actually deliver a good product (analysis being the product here)