By giving up a second round pick for Lazar, the Flames would look foolish not protecting him and then losing him. He could skate through without being claimed, but that would be a big gamble and potential egg on the face moment for management.
IMO - the decision to protect Lazar was made when they traded for him. They knew it was a long term project. Him stink bombing the Caps game did nothing to change that.
That leaves Brower and Ferland who potentially get exposed.
On the one hand, you have a guy who makes little cash, brings his lunch pail everyday and has lit a fire on the top line helping to squeeze out some residual 16' - 17' value on 13mil worth of contract cash paid this year.
On the other hand you have a guy who, despite reports of being great in the room (positive, of course), has vastly underproduced on the ice and is inked long term at a number that just does not make any sense.
Unless we make a deep run (conf finals minimum) and he is a major contributor, I just don't see protecting that kind of cash and term for the current results.
Final thought: If Ferland is exposed he is as good as gone. If Brouwer is exposed I'd take the under on Vegas rolling the dice on him. There is better value out there. Tre knows this. The interesting question at this point is how he will feel if Troy gets scooped. I bet he would prefer to unload the salary. That may change in the next few weeks.
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