Pros- No overpayments
- The Flames still have a full slot of picks for the 2020 draft (might even pick in every round if Neal scores twice)
- No pressure to play Valimaki, which would force the Flames to protect him in the expansion draft
- No need to play AHL scrubs like Yelleshin or Davidson down the stretch
Cons- No large improvment for roster
- No asset recouperation on expiring contracts
The Flames didn't have much to work with, their position of strength coming into the season, was slowly widdled to a position of weakness due to a series of injuries including Valiamki, Brodie, Giordano, and the likely season ending Hamonic injury. Another issue was the aparent lack of tradeable prospects. The Flames drought of prospects, this season, has componded into another issue - draft picks are now increasingly important to this team ( the 1st and 2nd IMO are untradeable this year). As such, the Flames were not able to adress their long term issue of consistent scoring.
The Flames D- will be playoff push ready, as they wont have to rely on AHL level talent to fill in the roster, likewise, they will have a little insurence is another injury were to occur.
That being said, it is difficult to be happy with with a team sitting on the fence, during what has been a very frustrating season. The Flames are a bubble team at best, and without a serious change in team culture, or the addition of a top 6 forward, the Flames are trending to be a 1st round elimination if they make it at all. Over and above that, expiring contracts such as Brodie and Hamonic will likely result in no compensation for the Flames, consolidating the Flames in a luke warm position.
Was there a chance for the Flames to imporve their roster today? Maybe a little, but at what cost? There were lots of overpays for buyers, which should only work to frustrate the Flames should sell crowd. This fanbase, like this team, it seems, is caught in the middle.
Overall grade C+