You go out and get Hall at $8M a season (which is unlikely) and then saddle him with Sam Bennett and Dillon Dube? That's one way to make sure you don't attract high profile free agents in the future. Hall's numbers would take a beating. That line would also be a feast for the opposition as Dube is the only one on that line that can spell defense and has any idea what it means.
If the Flames sign Hall it is to be a top LW and most likely a replacement for Gaudreau. Johnny should be traded to improve the team, and that means finding some help on RW, another top six center, pushing Backlund down where he belongs, and hopefully another defenseman with potential. Fill the holes that matter and do so from strength. Don't pull another boner like the Flames did when they signed Bouwmeester. Deal from strength immediately and plug holes.
One last point, Phillips doesn't get a sniff as long as Gaudreau is on the team. You can only have so many small players on a team at any given time, and the counting shall be one. Until Gaudreau moves on, Phillips is in the minors. Flames play small and easy as it is and adding another tiny player is a bad move.
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