Can't quote you TO Fan, so I will do it manually.
[QUOTE][I don’t know. I think it’s too easy to say those depth D didn’t help. How would we know? First of all, ‘moving the needle’ implies an impact player. You’re not getting an impact player for a mid round pick. You can get a complimentary player, and most teams, especially playoff teams need those too. Do we know what would have happened if the Flames didn’t trade for Forbort and/Gustavson? No. We don’t. Would they have been better off keeping this picks? Who knows.
As a GM, you have to assume risk. To me, the discussion is more a methodology based. Are you trying to ice a competitive team, or are you trying to build a long term pipeline of prospects? Hard to do both. I know many prefer the latter, and I don’t disagree with that approach but I can also understand why the Flames did what they did back then. I think these larger directional decisions are made above the GM.
On a somewhat related note, I came across an Eric Tulsky quote from his interview with LeBrun post Rantinen trade. ‘We believe that if you have cap space to use, there are always ways to use it’. To me, if the Flames do not find a way to use their cap space between now and the deadline to be on the other side of this discussion and acquire additional picks, that would be a failure. /QUOTE]
Well, with the benefit of hindsight, we certainly do know how Gustafsson and Forbort did help - the Flames lost the series to Dallas 4-2. Did they move the needle? No. I don't think Calgary won (or lost, to be fair) a game because of either of them. Just to play devil's advocate, let's say that both these players were directly responsible for the Flames winning those 2 games. Was it worth a 3rd and a 4th (that's what they were acquired for). I say no.
The 3rd and 4th weren't the full cost either - we have to also acknowledge that Rasmus probably saw a decrease in his ice-time. This was also Kylington's first "every day NHL'er" season, and once those defencemen came in, he was a healthy scratch for the rest of the season, and didn't see a single game of playoff action (which is important in gaining playoff experience).
It was also part of a larger pattern of bleeding picks on depth guys. I am not including Hamonic, as that was an attempt to bring in a difference maker. I am specifically speaking about trades like a 5th for Carpenter, 3rd for Bollig, a 7th for Shore.. All depth pieces. Again, either use those picks as bullets (like Wolf in the 7th, Gaudreau in the 4th, Mangiapane in the 6th), or package them up with other assets for more of an impact player.
The Flames right now are not a contender. They have absolutely no business spending picks on depth pieces right now. I would rather the experience go to young guys on the team. Who knows? Maybe Solovyov and Kuznetsov are like Commodore and Montador. If they aren't, that's ok too. If the Flames were a consistent playoff team and looking like a dangerous team, adding depth pieces makes sense then.
My argument is that draft picks - all draft picks, regardless of how high or low - should be used on picking players in the draft OR using them as packages to acquire talented pieces that will be here for multiple seasons. They should never be used for guys available every off-season, especially when Calgary has extra cap to spend on tier 2 and lower UFAs (like Lomberg, Mantha, etc., which is fine).
Your last point - I am 100% in agreement of. I do feel that Conroy has to find a way to utilize that cap space, but i also think that it is not that valuable any longer. Too many teams have cap space and announced themselves as being open for that business. Plus with the increasing cap space, maybe teams that would have use this time to help get their ducks in a row won't be doing so and will just hold on for the increase. Last season, it was at an absolute premium, but it is definitely becoming less valuable. This deadline will be the last chance to really use it, but I doubt it will be very valuable. My expectations are a bit low, but I am hopeful that there will be an opportunity.
Using that space to bring in over-priced depth guys is fine with me - that's a different story since the Flames are adding picks along with those players, rather than sending them out. I have absolutely no issue with it, and I hope it happens. Hopefully they can act as middle-men on a deal. If they are spending picks, then my point is that I hope they are taking advantage of a team with no cap room and taking a younger good player for those picks at a discount. I just feel using a depth pick on a depth defencemen is just throwing away assets. I would rather they gamble on another Luke Misa or Henry Mews, then acquire another Forbort or Fatenberg, at least at this stage.
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