Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
Right. Brouwer and Neal were guys who played on one level - second or third line, and Treliving hoped they'd maybe take a step up. Stone is a first line player would actually be stepping in on the second line.
Stone plays nothing like those two players.
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Another thing to consider is, Stone might not play on the second line all the time. It could very well turn out that we see:
Gaudreau Monahan Stone
Tkachuck Backlund Lindholm
Given the flexibility Peters has along with how he seems to like to move things around, it wouldn't surprise me to see him role this combination out there.
The only thing that would give me pause it that you're likely entering a bidding war with at least Winnipeg & Vegas, if recent rumours are accurate. The pursuit of Stone from a Flames standpoint should be predicted on him resigning. If he's not resigning, I have a hard time giving up anything more than a first or, say, mangipanne/Kylington and a mid round pick.
If the Flames are able to resign him, things get interesting. First I think this pushes the Flames into a legitimate cup contender status for the next 3 years, at least. But it will be at high cost. The offer likely starts with a 1st, Jankowski, & Kylington. If I'm Ottawa, I'm asking for the first, Jankowski & Valamaki. Maybe more. Maybe you ask for Dube instead of Jankowski as well, or you ask for more picks. For me, the tipping point may be Valamaki. If Valamaki is a must have for Ottawa, I'm walking away.
It may seem like too much, but again, you're likely going to have to outbid Winnipeg, Vegas & who knows maybe there's another more silent bidder out there like the Islanders. It's also important to consider that Ottawa will view this as a can't 'F___ this up' deal. They will look to extract everything they can out of the market. They have to. Sure the Senators have taken a public beating (for good reason), but most hockey exec's aren't as dumb, or smart, as they may seem.
Then again, the market is always shifting. The only people who know what the market actually are the GM's and their staff. Who holds sway? The seller, or the bidder?....
Fun to speculate though.