Quote:
Originally Posted by Flash Walken
Thanks for the civil response.
No, he's not part of the system unless he spends the rest of the year or a good portion of it in the minors. He's got 170 games of nhl experience, he's not a prospect anymore, he's an NHL player. So while he may be a contributing roster player, he's not part of the prospect pool of the team, which isn't deep enough, which is why the Flames traded for Lazar. I think part of the assumption here has to be that the Flames at this point don't plan on graduating anyone from the minors onto the main roster at the centre position. The Flames now Monahan, Bennett, Backlund, Stajan and Lazar in the lineup as centres, with a throwaway like Hamilton capable of playing that position, and under contract, as well. I hope the acquisition of Lazar means the Flames will be moving on from Stajan in short order, but I'm not convinced that is possible.
As for the second paragraph, it's not that I think the Flames were in the position to draft an exceptional player or make an exceptional trade, BUT, not having that 2nd round asset prevents you from being involved in that exceptional trade unless you want to move something even more valuable than a second. If the Flames did not have that 2nd round draft pick heading into the draft they may not have been able to capitalize on the hamilton deal.
If the Flames are looking at Duchene or Landeskog in the offseason and someone offers a 1st and two 3rds, I want the Flames to be able to beat that with a 1st and a 2nd offer because they have multiple second rounders instead of none.
I am stoked on the potential for Lazar to be a bottom 6 centre for the Flames making less than 1.5 million, but the Flames definitely lost some flexibility today and the situation does not look great heading into the draft, regardless of how weak, to augment the prospect system that is badly in need of another blue chipper.
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If you think a mid to late first and two 2nds "in this draft" is going to land a top line player, I think your read is way off.
What you're suggesting could be applied to any trade. Wait, save the asset, because an even better trade might come up.
Or, it might not.
This one did, and if you listened to the extensive coverage of Treliving explaining how much time and resources were put into scouting Curtis and making this calculated determination... it's tough to think it's as misguided as you seem to be suggesting.
With how poor this draft is, if we are making a deal with someone and are one asset short, we have a series of prospects and future picks more valuable than that mid to late 2nd in 2017.