If the Flames were looking like a bona fide contender, but were entering the playoffs with very questionable goaltending, I would want my GM to pay the price to fill what is probably the biggest hole a team could have. If my starter is average, I don't make the move. If my team is really good, but my starter is below average, I make that move every time if I can.
A bad trade is a bad trade, but who has a chance of making a better impact in a series - Jacob Markstrom, or Ben Chiarot? If I have a big hole on defence, and a big hole in goaltending, and I only have one first, where do I spend it?
Complete cherry-picking example and position, I know. Every market is different. When was the last time that this number of really good teams are approaching the deadline having the goaltending position be somewhere between questionable and outright bad? I think that Markstrom could move, and only teams desperate enough need apply.
Aside from Markstrom, this could be quite the draft. In 2013, the Flames entered the draft with 3 1st round picks. They may eclipse that this time around. They hold 3, with one going to Montreal. Conroy is looking for a 1st for Tanev, with 12 teams supposedly on the hunt there. Hanifin will return a 1st as part of his trade if he ends up moving. If Markstrom does move, why move him for a 2nd? I would rather move Vladar for a 3rd instead, and use Markstrom to mentor Wolf.
I doubt that Flames walk into the draft with five first round picks, but there is an outside shot of that happening, plus more picks expected, and whatever prospects. That will be quite the injection into the prospect pool. You start entering the territory of the Iginla - Conroy conversation when Iginla asked how many prospects was too many.
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