[Macho0978]

Originally Posted by wretched34

I agree, Treliving is not shopping Gio, and shouldn't be, but in my eyes, shopping Dougie is even sillier. I can't understand why so many posters are not only serious about moving him, but hopeful of doing so.

Hypothetically, lets say a team makes Treliving an offer, that he will accept, that includes a top 6 RW under 27, and a 1st rounder. The return has to be Gio, or Hamilton, who does he move?

Gio is the better "All around" Defenseman now, hands down.
Hamilton is the better offesnive Defenseman.
Gio will be 35 this upcoming season, and has 4 more years on his contract at $6.75M.
Hamilton will be 25 this seasons and has 3 more seasons at $5.75M

I'd say our current core has an average age of 25.5, and are locked in for the next 3+ years.

I think it's a pretty tough call to make, personally I move Gio, and sign a solid veteran defensive defenseman as a UFA, but give one of the prospects and actual chance to become an NHLer.

Vegas, Winnipeg, Washington, Tampa and Nashville all have defensive cores that are made up of young prospects proving themselves, or veterans that were young prospects that proved themselves. Eventually the Flames need to give some of their prospects that opportunity. Andersson, Kylington, Valimaki, they could all make a push this year. Now's the time to let them grow, along with the rest of the core, rather than filling holes with Bartkowski's

Take it even further and ask why trade either Hamilton or Giordano? Some have suggested Mark Stone who I like a lot but if everyone is so high on Valimaki and Anderson (I am too) and want them in the lineup potentially next year why not move 1 or 2 of Stone, Brodie, Kulak or Hamonic? Hamonic might be hard to trade because of what we paid but I'm sure Treliving can get a pick for Stone and a first for Brodie. If you traded those 2 there is potential to sign Kane and another quality forward with the 8 mil extra cap space. Even if Treliving traded Kulak and Stone to make room for Valimaki and Anderson it saves a fair amount of space to sign a Kane type UFA maybe even 2 guys of that caliber up front

To me Kane and Hamilton are way better than Mark Stone and I don't think you lose anything if your bottom pairing on d is Valimaki and Anderson over Stone and Kulak.