Quote:
Originally Posted by FlamesFanStrandedInEDM
I have always found he had the arrogance of a much more experienced General Manager.
I was disappointed that they didn't re-sign both Colborne and Nak at the reasonable salaries they would demand.
His pride is his biggest flaw, his need to "Win" every negotiation has lead to decent, affordable, serviceable, NHL players walking out the door.
These are not players begging for work, they will and have found work elsewhere, so they "Well that's my final offer, take it or leave it" doesn't really hold much clout.
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You don't know if his pride is affecting anything at all. In fact, I took it as Colborne's pride was hurt during those negotiations. Treliving came out and hinted that the Flames' offer was higher than what Colborne took in Colorado.
I was all for re-signing Colborne, as I think he was a developing player, even considering his age. He seemed to finally start taking big steps with regards to using his body, and was becoming a sorely-lacking net-front presence for the team. I was hugely disappointed that he wasn't re-signed, but at the same time, I can't pin the blame on Treliving as I have no idea what went on during those negotiations. If Colborne did indeed take less to play in Colorado than in Calgary leads me to believe that Treliving had a firm and fair price in his mind, and that Colborne's pride was what got in the way on that one.
With Nakladal, I just saw it as him blinking first. Treliving was not going to sign any more free agents - especially of the depth variety - until Gaudreau was re-signed and they could figure out how much they had left over. That is probably why the only contract offered was the 2-way. Had he waited a few more days, I bet it was Nakladal that would have been re-signed, rather than Grossman.
Let's say you are right, and his pride is indeed getting in the way - that's ok too. I would rather the Flames lock-up their top talent to decent contracts, and let everyone else go and replace them with cheaper contracts. That is really the landscape of the NHL now. Serviceable means they can do the job at a cheap (or cheaper) cap hit. You get into big trouble over-paying for bottom 6 forwards and bottom pair defencemen.
I wish Colborne was on the team, but I don't know what that price point was. It was higher than Colorado's price.
I really wish Byron was on this team - he was a great PK'er and checking player, and I think he would have been doing really well on the Backlund and Frolik line, and I think losing him was Treliving's biggest error so far (or the Raymond signing). It is still not something you sweat over either.
No GM is perfect. Even at the height of "Trust in Sutter" years, he still let Lydman go, and passed on Stralman.
Go to a Detroit forum, and fans are extremely fed up with Holland.
I look at Treliving's body of work, and I can't say it is perfect (it most certainly is not) but it is definitely more positive than it is negative.