Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
But when I see a guy linked to a trade demand and then get promoted to the 1st line, and the fans being okay with that, the player has been elevated above the team.
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Wrong. Fans and management have simply acknowledged that there is an opportunity here to make the best of a difficult situation. If Sam has a good showing on the top line here for the next couple of weeks, it is mutually beneficial to both the player and the team. The Flames benefit because of his strong play, extra production, and increased trade value. Sam benefits because the extra points will give him more leverage on his next contract negotiation, and more teams will show interest in acquiring him in a trade.
Then there's the best best best case scenario... where Sam keeps playing better and better on that line, becoming very productive, to the point where he looks like a permanent fit there. It's not likely, but it's possible...