Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
4.
They didnt stand pat, they didnt waste the top picks.
They laid a bunt.
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When you've got someone in scoring position in a tie game and less than two outs, that's a solid play, if well executed.
Considering the alternatives of throwing in the towel with only two NHL-calibre D on the roster after trading Brodie (until Gio returns, and also considering that this would require piling the minutes on Gio when he returns and feeling pressured to bring him back early, increasing the risk of re-injury), and taking a low-percentage swing for the fences with a UFA rental forward who likely would be a minimal upgrade on Mangiapane, this was likely the most logical strategy.
Many here will complain that they got nothing for an injured Hamonic, but with him still weeks away from returning, getting anything for him was a pipe dream. Brodie may have returned a late first round pick, but that would be throwing away the chance to win a round or two in the wide open Pacific Division this year. And winning in the playoffs counts for something if you're building a team to win the Cup in the near future. The Flames shored up the glaring weakness that the team has had in the past two weeks (and no, it's not scoring) by replacing two D who are not currently NHL-calibre with two who are, and who fit specific needs (one large, punishing, stay-at-home D, and one puck-moving D with a wicked shot who could actually give the anemic PP a shot in the arm).
So, no blockbuster deal, but that wasn't in the cards anyway at the TDL, with almost every team right up against the cap. Moves were dictated and limited by injuries that happened at a critical time. I'd call the moves measured and carefully thought out to give the team a chance this season without crippling it in the future.
Finally, I don't get all the fuss about "losing assets for nothing". That mattered when most teams didn't spend to the cap, but with almost every single team right up against it now, cap space has become one of the most valuable assets. So yes, they may lose Hamonic, but they will gain 3.86M in cap space. At this point in his career, and particularly after an obviously significant injury, I know which I would prefer to have going forward. And if Brodie is also gone, that's another 4.65M. There also appears to be just enough cap space available this year to pay all bonuses rather than deferring them to next year, so that's more cap space for next year. Treliving can use his newly-found cap space to sign a top six forward in the off-season. He won't need to add to the top four D next year anyway, as Gio, Andersson, Hanifin and Valimaki should do nicely, and one of Yelesin or Kylington (or maybe even both) will likely be ready to graduate to the main club full-time next year.
Added bonus: there's no rush to bring Valimaki back now, so he can continue his rehab until the end of the season and won't require protection in the expansion draft, which will be huge for the Flames, as they can protect Hanifin, Andersson, and Kylington. If they lose Yelesin in the expansion draft, it's a relatively minor loss.
I was not a fan of these trades at first, but after a more careful consideration of the Flames' current situation and future needs, as well as what was available and at what price, I would rate today as 7.5/10.