Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
I will be stunned if the team is brought back as is. I think they will make changes. And to me that's why not much happened at the deadline. Buyers at the deadline aren't looking to subtract from their core roster, they want to add. The Flames aren't looking to trade their core players for futures.
I think they will look to change the make-up of the team, and perhaps in doing so, acquire players that are younger and/or locked up longer.
And those deals aren't ones you find at the deadline.
I suspect a busy off-season.
The biggest question mark is who will be steering that off-season.
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Totally agree that this was a big part of the Flames thought process at the deadline. The off-season will be busy, as the Flames pursue player for player trades. Unfortunately, this is also how you end up with players like Tyler Toffoli on the first line, or end up dependent on guys other teams were generally eager to move on from.
Maybe it works this time, but acquiring players other teams want to move on from has historically resulted in acquiring "good" players at best. Lindholm is a good player, Hanifin is a good player, the Flames are a good team, but the best league in the world is going to largely overwhelm good.
As a caveat, I was against the acquisition of Tyler Toffoli, and I was totally wrong. He is a solid player, and brings it on a nightly basis. I don't see him being a value added performer on a top line, but a true cup contender could do far worse than have that guy manning the right wing with some fast players on line 2. Definitely a good acquisition.