Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Bozek
That was one that really bothered me. The Flames had traded Gary Suter, ostensibly because they couldn't afford to keep both him and MacInnis when their contracts finished. Then they turned around and decided they couldn't afford MacInnis, whom the Blues were able to sign for an amount that within 2 years turned out to be a bargain - even for the Flames.
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Thing is, the Blues had already signed MacInnis at the time of the trade. Rather than take the compensation in the form of draft picks, the Flames matched the offer (which they did not have the money to do) and traded him to St. Louis for Housley. Their hands were pretty much forced; and if you look at their draft history from those years, you'll probably sigh and agree that compensatory picks would have been wasted anyway.