[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I'm all for opportunity when a player is underutilized. So is Conroy. That's why Conroy took Sharangovich.

That was the player offered at the time.

You don't know that Bean nixed Holtz. I suspect that Conroy was selling the team on a pick plus Mercer for Markstrom and Holtz for the retention. When retention was off the table by NJ, Conroy wanted just pick plus Mercer. NJ offered just pick plus Holtz.

Sec214 stated it was Bean who killed the deal, likely during consultation with Edwards. This was supported by other talking heads in the media. He was very consistent in stating what was asked, what was offered, and what was agreed to before the deal was killed off.

Your problem is you think Markstrom is worth a second and a prospect winger. Calgary thinks Markstorm is worth a first and a prospect centre.

I don't have a problem here. I'd take either and run to the bank laughing my ass off. Mercer is the preferred player, but Mercer is also a center and centers are harder to acquire. If New Jersey is hung up on keeping Mercer and is offering Holtz I take Holtz and be exceptionally happy. Holtz will most likely be playing for the team long after Markstrom is nothing but a memory. That is all that matters. Moving an asset that is clearly not part of the future for a player that could very well be in that mix and possibly a core player. Holtz didn't go 7th overall because of his charm and good looks. They kid has the tools, he just needs the opportunity.

I would argue you have the problem here. You have unreasonable expectations that if Conroy holds his breath long enough that teams are just going to fold and give in, making players magically available. That has not happened once in any trade Conroy has made. Sometimes you have to take the best asset available. Holtz is a very good asset, in the same way that Connor Zary is a very good asset. You build by collecting the best assets available to you. Mercer just isn't available. No top center prospect is available for a 35 year old goaltender with two more years on a $6M deal. The Flames would likely have to kick in something substantial which would probably be counter to their rebuild/retool.