[ComixZone]

This Stone argument always cracks me up.

We know that the Flames went to bed believing they had a trade done and it was to be completed the morning of the deadline. We as fans have speculated that it was a Stone deal, as the Flames were rumoured to be involved. It's believed that Vegas put Brannstrom on the table, and the Flames wouldn't put Valimaki on the table, thus giving the deal to Vegas - but I can't even remember if this was ever substantiated anywhere.

After Stone was traded to Vegas, and had signed there, he said it was a place he wanted to sign all along...which is what you'd expect a player to say after signing that sort of extension. That does not exclude that he may have ended up saying the same thing had he been traded to and signed in Calgary.

The Flames (if the deal they went to bed thinking was done was in fact for Stone) got outbid because they wouldn't include a player they believed to have a very strong future. Call it a miscalculation, but the road of injuries that Valimaki took after that certainly couldn't be predicted.

I used to be on the side of "damn, Stone would have been perfect here I wish we had him" but that has softened recently for sure. Stone is very good...but we are where we are, and Vegas is where they are...and I think I prefer where we are.