The ultimate 'what if" in this scenario for me is "What if the Flames stuck with acceptance of a rebuild after Florida offered the superior package?"
It wasn't ever going to happen - Treliving was lauded after that trade (and the Kadri signing) and was even interviewed on CBC for turning Calgary around so quickly. However, it is the what if game, right?
Huberdeau 1 season left @5.9 and just finishing a 115pt season. imagine him on the open market at 2.9 million?
Weegar would have returned at least 1 first.
Calgary would have kept their 1st this year too - no need to unload Monahan. Probably would have received another 1st at the following deadline instead when Monahan healed and improved again.
I would think that the plan wouldn't have been to sell-off everyone, but we did see Lindholm, Hanifin, Tanev and Zadorov all prefer to move on (or sign high-priced crazy deals). I think Conroy did well with the returns, but Lindholm finishing that season with 40 goals and getting some Selke nods, along with his cheap salary - and term - he would have garnered a larger return then. Ditto for Hanifin. On top of this, Backlund would have been gone as well - he asked for a trade when Tkachuk demanded out, but rescinded it when the return was known. So I imagine he would have ended up leaving.
That would have been a huge kickstart to a rebuild. Can you imagine? Don't get me wrong, I am in no way throwing shade Treliving's way here. I just find that to be the most spectacular 'what if' scenario, as Florida's package was vastly superior to any other package offered.
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