I think you have to honestly look at what the Flames were really going to do in the playoffs - for 2 reasons
For one, and TSN even just touched on this - we do have Valimaki returning as well. Hamonic, Gio and whatever Valimaki can bring are big factors in the Flames doing anything in the playoffs. So whatever we sell on defence isn't the final look going forward
But secondly, besides a big deadline shakeup... this team has not been playing like cup contenders. Nothing they can add to this roster, even with adding everything I mentioned and selling no-one, will make this team a contender in the playoffs.
So if they can sell a bit to help next year... I don't know that this writes off the Flames entirely any more than the standings already do. They're still in the 'make the playoffs and anything can happen' status of teams no matter if they have Brodie or not. Add those 3 defencemen back to what's left and you still have enough depth to be whatever this team was going to be anyway
But doing nothing will definitely be a really bad move today - for this year and next. This team isn't in 'lose a UFA for nothing because of the push', nor 'team should be good enough to compete' mode
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