Quote:
Originally Posted by Bingo
I love the passion, but I'm a little surprised this is still an argument two days and 64 pages later.
Sometimes logic should just trump emotion.
Were the Flames mean to Sven? Burke was harsh, I think Hartley has every right to demand two way play in 2015
Did the Flames give Baertschi a chance? He played roughly a quarter of each of the past three seasons. That's a lot of hockey for a guy that hasn't had a chance.
Have the Flames had other top six forwards pass Baertschi in this time frame? Clearly. Monahan, Bennett and Gaudreau are all obvious, and that's three of six spots. Grandlund and Jooris have moved past him. They have Shore, Poirier and Ferland pushing. Klimchuk in the weeds. Notice I haven't mentioned Reinhart in this? Maybe the Flames are wrecking him too!
Should the Flames have traded him? Given the players passing him making it less likely that he can play in the top six in Calgary, yes. Given the fact that he's asked for a trade and said he wouldn't sign here? Clearly!
I just don't get the debate.
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I think a crucial element is the fact that he was traded to not just a divisional rival, but emotionally, Calgary's biggest rival in the Canucks.
The trade itself is not so bad but the amount of regret/consternation will be compounded several times in the future if he becomes successful on our rival and it comes back to haunt us. We've seen this sort of thing before with Martin St. Louis (different circumstances but emotionally similar in terms of regret).