Honestly IMO this sucks more for Gio than it does the Flames.
Flames get $6.5M in cap, and while they lose Gio for nothing and don't get an asset for him, you have to lose something in the expansion draft and a guy who is going to be 38 by the time the season starts isn't the worst thing to lose.
I think it sucks for Gio though. He deserved to be able to choose to leave this franchise on his own terms and have the chance to retire as a Flame if that is what he wished.
|