My biggest problem with Treliving is that he locked up up the core for long term when it had not accomplished anything. Outside of the committed core all the Flames can do is tinker with the support players with is an average of 1-2M
There is no way out for at least 4 years without a major blow-up and start over.
They were going along putting together a hardworking exciting team that made the playoffs and rather than build incrementally they went for the quantum leap to the top
signing Hamilton as though he was a proven top 2 d-man. They gave up a 1st round pick in the re-build mode. They filled in the support player budget with high paid UFAs.
Treliving made several long term high risk decisions based on potential rather than actual proven ability.
Monahan got treated as Toews.
Gio got treated as Keith
Hamilton got treated as Doughty
Gaudreau got treated as Kane
The actual accomplishments of Toews, Kane, Keith and Doughty at the stage in their careers when they got locked down significantly exceeded what the Flames guys have done.
If is like Treliving was getting advice on the importance of potential from Kevin Lowe,
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