Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
I think others have nailed it. If you traded Tkachuk yesterday you basically are significantly lowering the chances of re-signing Johnny. They weren't going to do that at this stage.
That first domino needs to fall.
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Totally accurate and this is the product of a failure to be proactive. It is understandable that the team needed to show Gaudreau they were committed to winning and Treliving paid a price to do that. Now they are in limbo hoping he decides to stay. They will have to pay a premium and face a similar scenario with Tkachuk. I think Treliving is a real solid manager, but hopefully he has learned from this. His deadline needed to be when the trade clause activated, as that was the last date the team had any measure of leverage. I understand Gaudreau probably wouldn't have signed given the recent history of the team, but now they've charted a course that has cost them assets and left them with only a pail full of hope. Not an enviable position.
As an aside, given the cap, if you're going to commit McDavid/Draisaitl money to players, they better be commensurate talents. Gaudreau and Tkachuk are rock solid players, but not sure they are enough to carry the team to anything beyond good. If you can't sign them without leaving room to pursue high end players, these signings will likely result in the Flames being Oilers-light. (pained me to type that)