[Erick Estrada]

IMO you have to be realistic of the plight of the team and the fact that they are still at least two years away from being a really good team. I know it's not a popular sentiment but I feel Giordano is their best trade chip because he should be able to fetch a quality player such as Matt Duchene for example to a team that has an extreme need at defenseman. I just feel with his injury history and penchant for spotty play every odd year that an eye has to be kept on the salary cap in the coming years. The raises that will be required for Monahan, Bennett, Gadreau, and first and a quality goaltender are going to put this team close to the cap ceiling. I feel his contract is going to be similar to the Ference contract in Edmonton except worse because the money is $6 million and just based on his play alone this season it's hard to imagine him as an effective player when he's between 36-39 years old. Not a popular decision but IMO this is the time to do it before that deal kicks in and could be looked at as another dodged bulled similar to the ROR trade Feaster dodged which would have been disastrous for the organization.

Lets not forget now that trading Iginla a year or two earlier wouldn't have been looked at as a popular decision but in hindsight the organization would have been much better off doing just that. Sometimes you have to take emotion out of the decision and just do the logical thing. We know the deal is going to be a hindrance in 3-4 years so deal with it now and don't look back.