[sureLoss]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article...ayers-calgary/

“I know everybody screams for change, and we talked about that, but we can only do things that are available to you,” said Treliving, whose challenging off-season included losing captain and top defenceman, Mark Giordano, via the expansion draft.

“I can’t click my heels and make things happen. You have to have a trade partner. Nobody is ever done in this business — you’re always looking for ways to improve. But it has got to make sense.

“It doesn’t make any sense for us to give a player away for 50 cents on the dollar. It’s great to say, 'go get this guy.' Problem is, this isn’t fantasy hockey. The idea that you can go pick ‘this player’ off the player tree ... it doesn’t happen that way.”

Calgary is proving to be a tough sell to many players, given the dated arena, winter weather, high taxes, the team’s lack of playoff success, the scrutiny in a Canadian market and a coach who scares some players off.

Zach Hyman, for example, was pursued by the Flames before the former Leafs favourite chose to play alongside the world’s best player in Edmonton’s fancy arena.

Given how attractive so many teams are in places like Florida, Vegas, Dallas and even Seattle, it’s getting harder and harder to lure players here.

“That’s not an excuse for us,” said Treliving, who paid $29.4 million for six years of Coleman’s services.

“I think it’s a really attractive market, but players look at different markets for different reasons. They want to get paid, they want a lifestyle. Not every market is for every player.

“I think it’s an unbelievable experience to play in a Canadian market and in this market, but it may not be for everybody to play in Canada. We get that. But that’s not a barrier to try to go out to make the team better and do the things you’ve got to do. We’re certainly not making any excuses that we have challenges in our market. We’re not playing that card.”