There is often more than one way of looking at things when players leave.
Gaudreau:
Drafted here, signed here when he could have returned to college and then became a UFA (or made it known he didn't want to sign here). Then he re-signed here giving up a few UFA years. Spent a total of 9 seasons playing for Calgary, and 12 in total counting when he was first drafted.
a) He did sway back and forth between re-signing and moving on, and it took until the last minute to just convince himself that he wants to move closer to the USA.
b) He purposefully kept the Flames in limbo, negotiating in bad faith stringing them along with no intent to re-sign in Calgary
Tkachuk:
Drafted and played right away. Signed with Calgary, then extended with a contract that gave him full leverage as a UFA even though he didn't give up any UFA years at all. Told the GM he is not interested in re-signing in Calgary, and forced his way off the team.
a) Tkachuk left Calgary as soon as possible, and the writing was on the wall the second his second contract was signed.
b) Love him because he at least gave the Flames warning so that they could get assets back for him.
Hanifin:
Got traded here, and signed a 6 year deal. Played hard, never complained, never pouted. When negotiations came up, said he preferred to go elsewhere. Some teams were willing to pay a rental price, others a contract extension price. Hanifin provided a list of teams he was willing to extend in.
a) He gave the Flames an opportunity to maximize the return from teams who were happy to extend him
b) He screwed the Flames by not willing to extend anywhere
Probably more angles for each player than listed. I do find it interesting that some people definitely lean into the "screw those selfish players" point of view, and others lean into understanding the players' situations more.
The only time I really boo a player is if a player demands a trade out, or is unwilling to sign when drafted. If a player got drafted, played, and then after a while said that he prefers to sign elsewhere, that's cool. I understand the booing, but personally I am not offended as long as that player doesn't trash the organization and community.
For me, Drury can go suck an egg since he demanded a trade. Nieuwendyk is fine because he was fine right up until he realized that he was severely underpaid, and contract re-negotiations were allowed back then. Riseborough and economics was more of an issue back then. Fox can go suck an egg (and Erixon, and Hickey).
I have always sort of looked at it as the business goes both ways. I like how Conroy is handling things - either sign, or you get traded. I felt it was a mistake to go into Gaudreau's final year without a deal in place - the risk is there that the player leaves, and that's what happened. Don't want to sign a player for what the player is demanding? Trade the player, even if the returns are underwhelming. Calgary is not a organization that attracts high-level UFAs, and they weren't a contender coming off a 3 round playoff run. Brodie should have been traded in the off-season prior to becoming a UFA (or extended) too.
The business for me is both ways. I don't blame the players when they end up choosing to move on, and I don't blame the organization when they decide to trade the players. Losing assets for free is what should never happen. I don't see it as Hanifin screwing over the Flames right now - unless his agent was telling teams that Hanifin wouldn't want to play for them at all, instead of just not wanting to extend there. A bit of a difference to me.
As for the returns, I want to say that I hope Vegas re-signs Hanifin so that the other teams who do want to keep give him a contract but were too cheap to give up enough assets to trade for him get shut out completely. Would serve them right. However, I would prefer that Hanifin move on from Vegas, as I view him as a good defencemen. Vegas has been bleeding assets trying to keep the team competitive. Lots of contracts up between now and the 2026 pick, Stone is often injured, etc. That 2026 pick might be another lottery ball in the McKenna sweepstakes, so I hope he signs elsewhere, and I hope that only cap negative assets remain.
Besides, it would be nice to know that Vegas fans know what it feels like to watch your team suck for a while. Lottery ticket + Vegas fans understanding the pain of mediocrity for a while makes me hope that Hanifin signs elsewhere.
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