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There are three issues with this trade that has generated so much hate:

1) Expectations - there were the rumours that the Oilers were willing to include Poolparty in any Lucic trade as a sweetener; therefore, anything less is considered below market. HOWEVER, you only get Poolparty IF you take on the entire Lucic contract. Because the Flames were shipping their own bad contract back, you should not have expected Poolparty as a sweetener.

2) No good Oilers - it's the Oilers so Flames fans see everything with a bias view. There can be nothing good about the Oilers and therefore if we make a trade with them and it is not an overwelming and one sided win for us, it is a bad trade. When this rumoured swap first came around, I thought I'd do it one for one. That's what I think of Neal.

3) Toughness divide - there is a huge divide on this board between those who think toughness is important and those who do not. There have been many arguments and discussion threads about the importance of toughness. As such, those who think toughness is not necessary will obviously ascribe very little value to Lucic and those who do think toughness is important, will think more of Lucic. Cleary, Flames management believes that toughness is important as they have always tried to acquire it. Actual NHL players also always say they think it's important, and from this trade alone, you have guys like Iggy (who himself didn't need protection, but still valued it anyways) and Giordano saying how important it is.

Even if Neal scores 25 goals and 50 points next year, I'd still take Lucic if he can get to 30 points, because I value the other things that he brings over Neal.