I'm not sure if $11.5M is the real tax equivalent or not. I suspect guys like Burke and other NHL analysts who are referencing this number don't have a firm grasp at all the tax nuances, and different tax breaks that can be utilized. Regardless, I'm guessing it would still be around the 10M range to get the equivalent amount.
And for that price, Stone is way overpaid. He would not be worth $4M more than the Flames highest paid player. Again, the guy is good, but that's up there with the elites in the league, and Stone is not in that tier IMO.
Plus, the amount of futures the Flames would have to give up, and I'm real glad Treliving didn't do the trade. It would have crippled the team both present and future for just one playoff run.
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