I’ve been much more excited to the idea of making a move for one of Stone, Hayes, or Zuccarello. I think Stone is the best option but the cost may be too much.
I think it’s important to get an impact player for a few reasons:
1. The team could definitely use the depth in case of injuries or top players being shut down in a series.
2. Treliving has had some bad high dollar free agent signings (Brouwer, Neal, etc.). These guys should have been good players but have not found a fit. I still think Neal could turn it around though. In any case, getting a guy like Stone now could be a preview to see if he is a fit on the team long term. If he doesn’t produce on the team during the stretch drive or in the playoffs, the team will at least know to not go after him in the offseason. Better than signing an unknown to big dollars for long term to find out it doesn’t work with this team.
3. The team could use a boost/spark going into the stretch drive and into the playoffs. A big splash at the deadline would get the fans and the team buzzing going into the playoffs. I believe that kind of energy can help a team gain momentum into the playoffs. That can be enough to get a team to the second round. This was part of the reason I wanted the flames to get Iginla during the 2016-2017 season. The team had very little excitement behind it despite being a playoff team that had a good second half to the season. While iginla was not as good as Stone is now... he would have brought an excitement to the team that year. Fans would have been louder at the dome and would have come to see the team give Iggy one last shot at the cup. The concept is the same in that I think getting someone like Stone would make the team believe in themselves a little more. And the fans will too.
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