Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
So you imagine he might be traded and then start lamenting the loss?
ROFL you guys really work yourselves up over your imaginary scenarios eh? Why not live in the present reality with the rest of us instead of worrying about paranoid imaginary situations?
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The
present: In final moments where the Calgary Flames have anything
exclusive to offer Brandon Hickey to sign with the Calgary Flames, he
elected to go back to college. The only remaining card they have is to burn an ELC year in the final 1-2 games of the 2017-18 NHL season which is essentially just paying him his signing bonus, which we've already seen was not enough motivation for him to sign this year.
There is no imaginary scenario. That is what has already happened. Even if he
does sign in the future, the past is reason enough to be dissatisfied and uneasy at present. I doubt Brad Treliving is telling himself "This is fine." two weeks after stating publicly that this was a priority for the team.
Who knows what the actual chances are, maybe they're 45-55 that Hickey becomes a Flame a year from now. But that's a far cry from having him locked down under contract. This isn't directly comparable to
1) Hanowski, Arnold because none of those guys were noteworthy prospects.
2) Gaudreau, Gillies because both those guys signed after three years of college.
3) Jankowski, because the Flames
elected to send him back for his fourth year - he was the one who wanted to turn pro after his third year.
The closest parallel in our system is Agostino. And we managed to get him into
eight NHL games in the first year of his ELC; something we can't likely offer Brandon Hickey.
The odds are against the Flames in signing Hickey. That's not paranoia, it's just the fact that he has 29 other options and very little incentive after this year to become a Flame. He has been a sought-after prospect since his freshman year, he was the only NCAA player to play WJC for team Canada a year ago, and he can do the most coveted thing today on the blue line... skate as well as anyone.
It'll be awesome if he signs with the Flames, but expecting him to would be naive.