It is difficult to lay blame, but I hope that Calgary has learned a lesson here, and adopts a rule:
No core high value players will enter a season heading into UFA status. They either get extended the season before, or they get traded. No exceptions.
That's what should have happened with Gaudreau to begin with. There was some angst about that last season, and it happened.
I am sure that it won't happen with Tkachuk. That's too soon. However, I do hope that this is something that the Flames implement as an organizational philosophy. Calgary simply can't afford to allow high-priced assets to walk out the front door when they aren't a destination that can attract high-priced assets in return.
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