Quote:
Originally Posted by Stay Golden
Not sure if it is Edwards, Burke or Teliving but I firmly believe that the Flames as a business will no longer add any A" list players as UFA's again.
It will be the Raymond, Engelland, Diaz, Setoguchi variety of junk.
The strength of the future Flames teams will be through drafting and that is based on scouting hope and luck.
If the Flames want to get to that next level they are going to have to include at least B" level UFA's.
On paper Raymond in 2013 was a second tier UFA but Engelland, Diaz, Setoguchi are 3rd tier UFA's the bottom of the bottom.
If Burke and Treliving continue this the Flames will continue to just come up short.
Not sure if that is their choice or they are being instructed to not pursue A" list players.
Whatever the case is they will have to hope they hit home run after home run in the drafts.
Kind of reminds me of rainbow thought of buying penny stocks hoping they hit a $.
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The days of A-list players making it to UFA status are drawing to a close. Those kinds of players now get locked up for the duration of their prime. What you're left with are guys on the wrong side of 32 who have A-list reputations but no longer have A-list game.
The NHL is becoming a draft and develop league. Meaningful trades are rare. Free agency is a way to round out the supporting roles on rosters. That may be disappointing to fans who love trades and imagine quick turnarounds. But it's reality. And it's a league-wide approach, not a Flames thing.