[Caged Great]

Another thing to consider is that you would only be shedding veteran talent for a couple months. If say the Flames deal off 6 or 7 guys at the deadline, those spots are not all going to go to young guys next year. They will likely target another Frolik type of player or two on UFA day up front and potentially a guy like Brian Campbell on D if they deal multiple defenders at the deadline.

It wouldn't hurt to allow the upper portion of the farm system that are either going to need an opportunity in the NHL or be moved on from to be given an audition in the NHL in the last month. That way you can sort out things a bit in order to see which guys have a leg up on any roster spots next year. Guys like Agostino, Hamilton, Grant, Wotherspoon, Kulak, Nakladal, Sieloff etc.