Quote:
Originally Posted by The Cobra
How about in 2024 when we would have the advantage of Konecny playing vs. No one as Lindholm would have left?
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If the Flames acquired Konecny and Lindholm was still here in 2023 that means another chunk of the future has been dealt to strengthen the team for 2023. If after that attempt Lindholm were to be gone in 2024 one of two things has likely happened. Either the Flames were contenders at the deadline, retained Lindholm and he chose to walk into free agency, or they were out of contention and traded him at the deadline. Assuming Lindholm is gone in 2024, I don't see a scenario where the Flames would be stronger with Konecny than they are now. If Lindholm leaves via free agency, you get nothing for him and pick from the scrap pile to fill his void or look to an increasingly depleted pool of prospects to fill the void. In the event he were traded at the deadline, that's a deal for future assets and would be a lateral move at best as the team would have already dealt future assets to acquire Konecny. In either case the 2024 version of the Flames is likely better with Konecny than without him, but not better than a team that has Lindholm as well.
In the event the Flames did enter the season with Lindholm and Konecny on the roster in 2023, they are likely backed into a corner where they will have to overpay Lindholm and Konecny as their contracts expire over the next couple of years, which will leave the Flames with longgg term deals for 4 players heading into the back nine holes of their careers. Whoever would be left in charge of watching that unfold for half a decade would have my sympathies. If Craig Conroy is smart he won't position himself to be the guy who crafted that scenario. That appears to be Ron Hextall's MO.