Way too much crystal ball thinking to not play him.
What if he plays out the next two years and is solid, but not spectacular? Think 20 goals, 20 assists type. Then they sign him to a 3-4 year, lower dollar contract at that point, and in his third year he breaks out to become an 80+ point player. Burning the year here would have saved the Flames money.
Ultimately, he looks great now and has established himself in the top 6. Play him!
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