Quote:
Originally Posted by Braden
I think the topic was on small goalies, but if we're naming small players how about Martin St. Louis. It was before my time.. What happened there anyway? just didn't get much opportunity in Calgary and they let him walk? What could have been...
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He went undrafted, was invited to the Senators try out, they didn't sign him. He signed an AHL deal with Cleveland before then Flames GM Al Coated signed him to a two-way NHL deal in February. Flames fired Al Coates, hired Craig Button. Button wasn't a believer, he looked like a tweener at that point. 24 years old 3 goals in 50+ games in 1999-2000. Flames place him on waivers, no takers.
Button then leaves him exposed in the 2000 expansion draft, both Minnesota and Columbus doesn't take him. Minnesota takes both Filip Kuba and Sergei Krivokrasov from Calgary instead. Calgary with Craig Button as GM buy him out and he becomes a UFA. Finally late July that summer he signs with Tampa, establishes himself, becomes a star, cup winner and eventually hall of fame player.
Martin St. Louis is the often cited one that got away in Calgary but literally every organization, including two brand new ones, had multiple opportunities to get him and didn't .