This talk about Hamonic and his cap being the best part for the Flames is kind of ignorant imo.
Salaries off the books in 1.5 years barring a trade
Wideman $5.75M
Engalland $2.97m
Smid $3.5m
Ramo $3.8m
Hiller $4.5m
Raymond $3.1m
Bollig $1.25m
Jones$4m
Hudler$4m
That's over $30mil coming off the books in less than 2 years. Of course those players need to be replaced. But many are going to be replaced by guys on elc's and are already better than a few on that list.
To think the Flames won't be able to pick up a guy to play top D minutes with Brodie or Hamilton or one of our guys in our system won't step up makes it clear that many are just pushing for a trade for the sake of a trade.
Gio is arguably one of the most fit guys in the NHL. No reason he can't play at a high level until 39 with minutes reducing a bit each year and someone stepping up.
And if we need someone, BT goes and gets him. At that point. Not now.
Furthermore, Gio has been dealing with a carrousel of D partners up til Brodie came back.
His issue is simply confidence, much like the rest of the team. Brodie and Gio are getting back to their game which you can see on the ice.
Come March, if he's healthy, he likely won't be "a Norris candidate" but many will be saying "if he didn't have his slow start, he'd be in the conversation".
You don't trade someone like that for cap space when you really aren't going to be in a crunch.
|