I think one of the biggest issues at the time of the trade was the number of fans that were focused completely on the ice and not on the contract control, ages and asset management.
3 more years of Hamilton and he would be gone. 1 more year of Ferland and he'd be unaffordable. And a prospect that wasn't going to sign here. Bring in two top players with only RFA rights and the hammer in negotiations to get them done long term.
If those were taken into account it was clear that the Flames actually bought themselves some time and control in the deal essentially extending their window, not damaging it.
From there it all come down to Hamilton or what Hamilton is.
If you believed he was carrying an aging defenseman and was headed to new career heights in Carolina you were worried. If you felt something was off on his "metrics" and that Giordano played a role in propping him up you saw it as selling high, and then maybe fixing the dressing room if the player was a problem.
Lindholm over Ferland was always obvious to me, both have good seasons.
Hamilton over Hanifin was the gap discussion and it's certainly narrowed quicker than I expected.
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