That's a tough one, on the one hand he's irreplaceable, coming into his prime, easy to cheer for and a very solid player. Not the type of guy you want to see traded. On the other hand I think we all realize the flames have no chance of winning a cup with this group and are sleepwalking towards another mediocre draft choice with a prospect cupboard that doesn't really have anyone who seems to have potential to become a superstar. Moving Hanifin probably improves your next three years of draft position as well and means we are cheering for a better team in two or three years, which I know is a hard sell for season ticket holders in the short term but is the logical move when you know your group isn't going to be that good.
The team has a long below average stretch ahead if this existing group stays together with some tweaks and a couple minor additions like a late first or two or a faded top prospect another team is willing to give up on... feels like it has potential to become very young guns era just getting stuck in that pathetic no mans land between playoffs and actually rebuilding.
As far as a blueprint, in order to win in today's nhl with how skilled the game has become and the lack of physicality, the flames desperately need to find a way to add a young star player or two who can really score and I have a hard time seeing another team giving up anyone they see becoming elite for Lindholm the way he is playing, or Tanev.
Especially with the 1st we're about to lose in the Monahan deal - I think they should really focus on accumulating draft picks and try to get those guys in the draft, rather than making more moves like the Toffoli deal and just kicking the can down the road. Preference on my end is that they would move all three of Hanifin, Tanev and Lindholm rather than re-sign Hanifin.
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