Quote:
Originally Posted by Royle9
I hate to say it but I feel like the false hope last year and holding onto Andersson for the stretch run will come back to haunt us.
I do know that it’s not lost on the group and there are players wondering what their own situation looks like should Andersson be moved. Which is why it’s advantageous from CGY perspective to get this handled ASAP.
Sorry guys, TLDR: it’s complicated now.
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That's always the thing - action or inaction has consequences. Chasing that short term goal of sneaking into the playoffs has dropped the value of Andersson, and it dropped the value of their own 2025 1st round pick (potentially to the degree of 22 draft spots)
If we look at the top-end competing teams, the majority of them have already spent their prime rental-asset, most of which were moved at the 2025 trade deadline.
Panthers -> Blackhawks owns their pick
Senators -> Forfeitting their pick
Golden Knights -> Flames own their pick
Hurricanes -> Rangers owns their pick (Top-10 protected)
Avalanche -> Islanders own their pick
Stars -> Hurricanes own their pick (Top-10 protected)
Oilers -> Sharks own their pick (Top-12 protected)
Lightning -> Kraken own their their pick (Top-10 protected)
Maple Leafs -> Bruins own their pick
The Flames/Conroy really did make a significant investment in chasing that playoff experience in 2024/2025, and they didn't get it. I disagree with chasing in it in the first place, because I don't think that type of experience is all that important (if piling up round 1 losses was actually important to developing a winning culture, the Flames would have a winning culture). We'll see if it works out for the Flames in that culture department.