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Old 03-27-2019, 01:18 PM   #152
PeteMoss
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Join Date: Jun 2004
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic View Post
I am not disagreeing with you, but the implication here seems to be that the Flames should somehow have made a different decision at the draft given higher risk surrounding their ability to sign Fox. If anything, I think the Flames handled the 2016 draft, this pick and the player about as well as anyone could expect. Let's not forget that Fox was the FOURTH player selected by the Flames that year, and arguably could top-out as the third-best among them. Should they have selected a different player? I don't think so. He was the 66th player picked at the draft, and became a key piece in perhaps one of the most consequential trades in Flames history. The Flames got maximum value from a defenseman that was not likely to ever play for the Flames in part because of their depth on the blue line as well as because of the risk in signing him. As good a prospect as Fox is his value will never be as high again until he plays actual games in the NHL. The Flames used that massively inflated value to their advantage and are a much better team for it today as a result.

So yes, the risk of drafting US-born NCAA prospective players is higher for Canadian teams, but this risk is substantially mitigated by overall good drafting and development. Spending a third-round pick on a high-risk player is the right thing to do, which is precisely what the Flames did. In short, Treliving's handling of Fox was a Master Class in asset management.
Doubt he can pass Tkachuk, but he'll be right there with Dube. Guy is an ELITE scoring defenseman.
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