[getbak]

I might be concerned that giving Hanowski a cup of coffee in Calgary this year was some sort of face-saving move from Feaster, trying to make the return for Iginla seem better, if it wasn't something that many other teams do every year.

Last year, the Rangers were second overall and still found a spot for Chris Kreider right after he won the NCAA Championship with BC. This year, the likely President's Trophy winner signed the undrafted Hobey Baker winner within hours of the award being announced and he's listed on their active roster right now. The Wings signed DeKeyser right after his season ended and have played him in five games so far. The list goes on and on and no one criticizes the other teams for those moves.


Hanowski was the captain of a Frozen Four team (and teammate of the Hobey winner), and bringing him to Calgary doesn't burn an AHL recall or cost anything other than some minor negotiating flexibility when he becomes an RFA. This is a move the Flames would have done whether he was acquired in the Iginla trade, or a Flames' draft pick, or an undrafted free-agent.


I just hope people don't freak out and start with the "I told you so"s in October when Hanowski starts the season in the AHL (which he almost certainly will). That's just another thing that's to be expected. Hell, even the darling of the Rangers' playoffs last year, Kreider, has played fewer regular season games for the Rangers this year than he did for them in the playoffs last year.