[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

It doesn't matter what Backstrom's status in Minnesota is. Heck, if Tre goes out and acquires a goalie tomorrow, Smith would be in exactly that #3G position.

Anyway, yes, the Wild got David Jones back as a rental for their playoff push, while the Flames took on Backstrom's relative uselessness to even out the salary. It didn't matter that Backstrom was terrible, because the Flames had nothing to play for. The Wild were able to add a player to their forward corps without having to deal with Backstrom's additional salary -- they were exactly in the position that Calgary is in now.

If the Flames deal Smith to a team like Detroit or New Jersey along with a pick for a player in return, that could make sense. Smith's value, in that sort of deal, is negligible -- he'd be a cap dumb there just to even out salaries. He wouldn't hurt the terrible team he'd be traded to because they'd have nothing to play for. What would really be of value to the team getting Smith would be the supplementary asset they'd receive.

For instance, as a hypothetical, say Calgary was to trade Smith, Mangiapane, and a 2nd to Detroit for Jimmy Howard. Smith would not hurt the Red Wings' aspirations -- they're bad, and they know it. He can play some games for them down the stretch, who cares. He's done at the end of the year anyway. From Detroit's perspective, they're getting Mangiapane and a 2nd for Howard -- they don't care about Smith being on their roster at all.

And all he did was cost us Patrick Laine.

Tkachuk is a decent consolation, but #### Nik Backstrom with Miikka Kiprusoff's Vezina trophy.