After sleeping on it, I am fine and whelmed with the trade. The alternate is Hanifin walking to UFA day, and clearly that was unacceptable. Let's say the team for some reason let that happen, but managed to trade his rights the day before UFA day. We'd all be calling that a win, so the fact this happened a few months before doesn't change it for me.
Is it the home run Lindholm-esque trade we all wanted? Hell no. But that's on us ppl here for putting expectations like that and laughing at insiders like Frank who told us to calm our tits. Instead, most of us crapped all over Frank, when he's been right the past few times regarding Tanev and now Hanifin. Anyone going to eat crow in hindsight? There's a few dishes to go around.
Hanifin and his agent played dirty, and it's a lesson to learn going forward. Obviously the other teams involved had worse deals, and I can understand not waiting for TDL day, as it's probable that Vegas gave notice that they aren't waiting until TDL and the deal was off the table by then since they'd go another route. If we truly want to rebuild, which seems the route the Flames (thankfully) are headed, 2026 > 2025 first rounder, by far. I am fine with that. Hoping Vegas decides to load up and let their 2025 pick go by TDL.
After witnessing countless Flames UFAs walk away for nothing over the past few decades, I am fine with this return for what is clearly a rental. Don't really care the Flames had to retain, so what? ~20ish games of Hanifin for this deal is fine IMO.
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