To answer the OP question, I think the first player traded from the current roster will be Bouma.
Suggesting Backlund and/or Bennett be traded - especially for picks - is exactly how you turn yourself into a perpetually rebuilding team.
The goal isn't to get younger, the goal is to get better. When your team is veteran-laden, and yet not good enough to compete, then you look to get younger. But only because that is the path to getting better.
The Flames don't need to get younger, they need a couple more pieces - and some patience. The Flames are trying to get better.
The only possible way that trading Backlund could make the Flames better would be if a) Jankowski were definitely ready to be a #2 (which isn't the case yet) and b) we got a top line RW for him at a good cap hit.
Trading him for picks is lunacy.
|