I think you're building a straw man here.
The Flames have been a cap team, have used the loop holes necessary to exceed the spirit of the cap. As a fan, that's very commendable.
I don't see them spending millions of dollars so a player can play somewhere else and help a competing franchise.
Placing Hagman on waiviers and paying out 50 percent of his salary vs. 100 percent is not a ringing endorsement of their desire pay out money to bury contracts in the minors. Neither is signing a depth defender to 525k in a salary capped world of 50 million, one way deal or otherwise.
They've certainly thrown money around in free agency, and apparently have spent more money on scouting and related technologies. As a fan, I'd say that's commendable too.
So far, though, they haven't traded for any boat anchors with prospect/pick life preservers attached to them. It's certainly too early to say they won't, but the track record isn't there to suggest that they will. That's too bad, because it would be the best way to jumpstart a rebuild that I am sure ownership is hoping to be quick.
Some people might say they're cheap, but it's not my argument.
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