Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
At the end of the day it may end up being the best thing for him and the Flames.
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This last part is what I've been thinking about throughout everything this summer. While Treliving has demonstrated that he's not the type to refuse to admit he made a wrong move due to ego, by correcting mistakes shortly after (see James Neal, Troy Brouwer, etc.), I think he really believed in Johnny and to a lesser extent, Tkachuk, as two pieces that could be part of a team that wins it all in Calgary. He had his hand forced by Johnny's decision and then Tkachuk after, and it might be what the Flames needed to do to build a champion, but I feel wasn't Treliving's belief. Total speculation on my part but I also think Treliving truly felt he had a deal with Johnny and going through that experience will make him a better GM going forward, albeit maybe more ruthless when it comes to things a player says to him in private about wanting to stay.