Free agency is a chance to add assets without giving up any. In that sense they can potentially be converted into draft picks or traded for other players in the future. So I think adding UFAs is good asset management.
For instance, look at Curtis Glencross. Calgary's own 1st and 2nd would have been insufficient to land Dougie Hamilton, and our 3rd would have been insufficient to get the Kylington pick. Both trades were supplemented by picks we got by trading Glencross, who had been signed without the need to give up a capital asset.
Obviously there are cap space and contract number implications, not mention the actual money being paid as salary, but from a capital asset point of view, free agency is a chance to supplement the 'balance sheet' if you will.
So I do hope the Flames add a couple guys that could have value now and later around the league.
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Shot down in Flames!
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