If Colorado matches:
Postives:
No really big deal, but hurts team in division with potential high qualifying offer.
Negatives:
Perhaps improves a team fighting for a playoff spot with you - as Colorado may have ROR sit out the season. (some may see this as a positive.
If Colorado doesn't match:
Positves:
-Calgary has picked up a very good young 2 way centre with high upside.
-Assuming that the Flames would be drafting in the 10-20 range again, ROR is as good as the player Calgary would be drafting, but a much surer thing.
-Picking him up doesn't really hurt either way if the Flames push for playoffs, or try and sell. ROR could be an important piece going forward either way.
Negatives:
Risk of perpetually overpaying him to keep him on the team.
Risk of losing out on a really high pick (but I don't think that is likely)
What I think:
Sure there is a risk of this turning bad, but I think that that risk is low. If ROR can play every season like he did last season, he's a very useful player to have on any team. He's 21, and may yet improve.
I think that Colorado likely matches, making all of this somewhat pointless.
But if Colorado doesn't match we've picked up a piece of the puzzle that we need, and who will likely be a better player than what we gave up to get him.
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