Quote:
Originally Posted by cannon7
Not sure why this is funny? This is the logical approach if you are not a prime UFA destination. Which the Flames are not.
What is your solution? Pay top tier UFA prices for second tier UFAs? Sounds like a recipe for losing hockey games.
The best time to cash out on an asset is when it has peaked in value. A peak means going forward the value proposition is downhill. Flames are likely at this point with Hanifin. He is a solid defenceman, no doubt, but likely is not going to get much better from this point forward. He is a huge asset to a playoff team in the middle of their competitive window. The Flames need to accept that they are no longer within this window and maximize the futures return for him.
And for the record, yes, the Flames should be doing this for pretty much every 27 year old pending UFA. They would be stupid not to.
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Not chasing, and overpaying UFAs is definitely a sound strategy. And yes, the Flames, as a less desirable market, need to focus more on drafting and development.
I think almost everyone agrees with those things, more or less.
However, that does not mean that they should never sign anyone past 27. If you never have vets, you'll be the young guns forever. You need vets, and when players want to stay here at a reasonable price, that is a good thing.
Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.
(Again, I would prefer to trade Hanifin, I am just arguing the strategy point on a general level)