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Originally Posted by TOfan
Agreed.
Not only that but I think Flames fans should prepare themselves for the day that they have a $10.5M third or fourth liner. It’s coming.
Frankly, I think the Huberdeau contract is manageable. Specifically for the next 3-4 years. Once guys like Gridin, Honzek, Basha, and others get through their ELC’s, it’s going to be manageable.
Maybe they can buy him out in four years, maybe he ends up on Ronda’s island, maybe he retires, maybe another team is willing to take him on with one or two years left and retention, maybe there’s an expansion draft, maybe there’s compliance buyouts the next time the CBA comes up. Some of these are unlikely, but I suspect that at some point over the next 5-6 years, there’s going to be an off ramp in there somewhere.
As it stands right now, I don’t think it’s a major issue. Mild issue? Definitely. But until some of these younger players start demanding big contracts, the Flames can eat a few years of this and likely will have to.
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Each of those outcomes (injury, compliance buyout, cap dump with 2 years remaining, career resurrection, hockey trade, early retirement) might be unlikely on their own, but the likelihood of at least one of those things happening is probably pretty decent. Even if you say, 5% chance on each of those things, it's 25% chance on at least one of those things. If you say 10% chance for each of those things, it's 50% chance that at least one of those things happen. And if you say 15% chance for anyone of those things, it's like a 65% chance.
For the flames...makes sense to roll the dice while they don't need the cap space. And for Huby, being his old self is the only way back to playing for a cup contender. If he gets back to point per game status, he can take a contending team over the top...ie someone will trade for him.