Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
People who run teams understand that players, and teams, have good years and bad years.
They understand that putting a winner together requires patience.
Unlike fans who look at the last few games and demand trades / firings after every loss.
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I get the feeling you're misunderstanding me. First, I'm not demanding Brouwer be bought out or traded. Second, the matter of "should Troy Brouwer be left unprotected in the upcoming expansion draft" is anything but absolute. I'm not saying he will or he won't. I'm saying its reasonable that the Flames might might choose to do so.
I'm simply suggesting that IF - after 82 games and the post-season - Brouwer, (a 30 y/o non-core player) has played a season of mediocre hockey that deserves nothing near a $4.5m contract, the flames may look to leave him unprotected in an expansion draft because the cost-benefit outcome to keeping him isn't clear cut.
- First, if Vegas doesn't select Troy Brouwer, it means they're selecting someone else. There is a cost to that. For example, Bartkowski is signed for $0.65m - that's a lot of value for the cap space given how he's playing.
- Second, the flames have to give up assets in a side deal to keep Brouwer. There is an additional cost to that.
- Third, its unclear whether the flames would rather have $4.5m of cap space or Troy Brouwer under contract given how he's played this year.
You say that people who run teams understand that players have good years and bad years. I'd counter that the people running teams are also fallible but have the framework to understand that sometimes mistakes are made - and if the opportunity to get out of a mistake at a low cost comes around, they should consider taking it.
Is Troy Brouwer a good player? Yes.
Does he belong in Calgary's top 9? Yes.
Is he worth $4.5m for the next three seasons or is that money better spent elsewhere? 100% debatable.