Honestly, I really don't mind this at all. The team was fun last year, but it is hard not to think that the structure of the core, with the bulk of the talent being wingers, was flawed.
This provides a great opportunity to restructure the team.
And Tkachuk is being professional about it, which is helpful and appreciated.
Top contracts last year:
1) Tkachuk: $7M
2) Gaudreau: $6.75M
3) Monahan: $6.375M
6) Lucic: $5.25M
That's $13.75M freed up this year, and $11.625M next year. Plus, Giordano's $6.75M came off last year.
Obviously, losing players is not good. But the upside is that the Flames are a blank canvas at this point. And they have a ton of valuable assets in Lindholm, Coleman, Markstrom, and Tanev. And some young pieces to build around like Mangiapane and Andersson, etc
I don't think things are all that bad.
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